Radar | Jul 13,2025
Apr 22 , 2023
By Kidist Yidnekachew
I was intrigued watching a testimonial of this young and beautiful lady who claimed to have transformed her life by changing her mindset. She convincingly spoke about how she constantly nurtured herself to attain success by reconciling the immediate approval-seeking and the long-term goal-driven self.
She claims to have managed to start a small business, which eventually flourished using savings from her previous work and bought a car. I was impressed by her speech, especially at such a young age. Although she seemed superficial and futile on the outside, she was actually driven and accomplished, unlike her peers. She continued to explain the process of her achievement today.
The lady talks about how her desire to own a car and make a particular amount of money by a certain age all came to pass by writing it on a piece of paper. It would not have been a big deal if this had been done elsewhere, but owning a car in Ethiopia elevates a person's social status to being rich.
Now people who watch her think it could be them. Some jot down their dreams on paper and might even wish to take training to change their mindset to emulate her. In reality, multiple factors could be attributed to her success.
I do not believe a few weeks of training created that much of an impact and caused a mindset shift. Simple positive affirmations and words of comfort do not guarantee success.
Motivational speakers often talk about how a person can transform their life which is fascinating and momentarily feasible. The effects of speeches last by getting more of them throughout the day. It is like having a daily dose of motivation in the system and constantly charging the sense of self that it is all good.
I was awed the first time I read the book, The Secret by Rhonda Byrne. I was ready for the manifestation, writing down the things I wanted to achieve back then and trying to focus on them but I got sidetracked, forgot about them and lost interest after a while. I never followed through because I started doubting the method somewhere down the line.
I have been sceptical about how saying I will own a house by the end of this year actually transforms me into owning a house. It is not that it will never happen, but I doubt that it will just because I wrote it down on a piece of paper and stared at it. That is unrealistic and far-fetched.
Another woman had a similar encounter a while back and wrote on a piece of paper the amount of money she would earn in a specified period. Although this was a ridiculous amount of money to be acquired in a little span, she claims the universe somehow pulled strings to make that happen for her. It puzzled me how within a short period of time, she managed to get the exact amount of money, precisely the number she jotted down.
Maybe the magic is in the pen.
I compare life to a ladder, where one can get to the top after climbing the steps. Perhaps a few have the superpower to skip many steps at once and attain the desired results; but not really everyone.
Many believe in the power of manifestation and how anyone can put their desires out there for the universe or higher power to grant them their wish. Some call it a prayer. It is followed by believing in the heart that the prayer shall come to pass, forgetting and being grateful when they do. It usually takes time and consistency.
A person makes a wish, and the universe opens doors and sometimes windows, granting their desire. I find it difficult to consider that it works for everyone. Many people assume manifestation happens by putting what they want out there and not doing anything about it. Unless they move towards their goals or even make intentions in their heart to act upon them, the odds of achieving them are very slim.
PUBLISHED ON
Apr 22,2023 [ VOL
24 , NO
1199]
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