‘Manifest’ is the Word of the Year. It nearly ruined my life

The belief that you can achieve your goals through positive thinking has gone mainstream. But Kate Orson’s attempts to “manifest” wealth led instead to debt. She believes the practice can be dangerous - and it’s not worth the price

Manifest; meaning to dream or will something into existence has been declared the Word of the Year by Cambridge Dictionary.

Cambridge chose the word based on how often it’s been looked up, along with its increased use, and the way the word has changed meaning over time.

Although the word can mean “to make clear, or obvious,” it is now more often used to describe the act of thinking positive thoughts, and the claimed ability of being able to reach a desired goal simply by attracting it with positive vibes.

Fifteen years ago, I read the…