WORD OF THE YEAR

Here’s the Cambridge Dictionary’s word of the year for 2024.

“Manifest (v): To use methods such as visualisation and affirmation to help you imagine achieving something you want, in the belief that doing so will make it more likely to happen.”

Nicely put. Apparently Dua Lipa manifested herself on-stage at Glastonbury, and lo, there she was! Not to mention the gymnast Simone Biles, who would obviously be stacking shelves at Walmart had she not visualised gold medals and Olympic greatness.

Don’t let me get snippy. It’s just that reducing success to this weird idea that you can get what you want simply by thinking about it - is really depressing.

Also, when did we all turn into mystic wizards? I mean, I don’t want to jump on a bandwagon but waving a wand around and declaring yourself a penguin, well - it doesn’t make you a penguin any more than the act of imagining and chanting to yourself that you are a pop star or an incredible sports person, actually makes you one.

Now. Two things. I’m not having a go at penguins. If you want to be a penguin, you get yourself to wherever penguins are from and go be a penguin. Penguins are awesome. I mean you’ll miss out on all the lovely things that humans have, but that at least will be in common with… every other penguin… so fair enough.

Second. I’m not saying that manifesting is a bad idea. Actually, it makes perfect sense to focus on what you want; to be laser-guided by your beautiful imagination, and to really see yourself getting there. 

That is great!

But listen. Don’t just do that. Do the other stuff that’s needed - buy a pommel horse or singing lessons, or the Usborne Book of Penguins or something. Put the work in too, and in the context of your efforts, your determination will be fuelled by your aim - whether it’s manifestation or not.

And who knows, even if you don’t make it, maybe there’s something beautiful for you on the way. But you won’t find it if you sit there daydreaming.

It’s interesting that it’s the word of the year. I think they calculate it on lots of different metrics like - proliferation online, how often it’s searched for, maybe by survey or by canvassing. It definitely fits with a wider view, a sort of cultural shift towards post-truth mysticism. Say the magic word, visualise the impossible, chant your truth… I think that’s what makes me feel sad, especially when my two great worldviews: faith and science, tell a really different story, a very hopeful story.

Second in the list by the way was ‘brat’. I’ve got no idea what that is.