Why I prefer grit and a growth mindset over manifesting

This article develops a piece originally published on Substack in July 2026

By Mervin Straughan

Call me evidence-minded, but when it comes to personal growth, you'll find that I tend to be guided by what psychological research tells us. I accept that no theory is beyond challenge or refinement, but research can give us valuable clues about what's most likely to help people flourish and achieve their goals.

The growth mindset and grit, one of its key components, are two such examples. US psychologists
including Angela Duckworth and Carole Dweck have shared valuable insights to help us to succeed by developing the characteristics and qualities to identify opportunities and learn from setbacks.

For me, ideas such as growth mindset offer a more compelling way of achieving success than concepts such as the law of attraction or manifesting. Psychological research has given the former at least some foundation while the latter appears to have developed around anecdote and personal testimony.

An entire industry has grown up around this, and, in my view, the claims made may be harmful.

First, the law of attraction is not a scientific law at all but rather a principle that some people believe can help them attract what they desire into their lives. This might damage the self-esteem of people who make no progress because they might conclude they are somehow getting it wrong. This might make them believe that they have failed to manifest strongly enough.

Plan and persistent action

In my experience, our chances of getting something we want from life improve if we have a plan and take persistent action, rather than relying on positive thinking alone. I find that results tend to come from consistent effort.

This is where the growth mindset differs significantly from manifesting.

In brief, the research indicates that long-term success isn't only driven by intelligence and talent but also by effort, learning, and perseverance. Those with a growth mindset believe that, in most cases, their abilities can be developed if they learn and apply themselves. These also see setbacks as learning opportunities, not evidence of failure. They ask questions such as: "What is this situation telling me? What can I learn from what is happening at this point?"

A core component of a growth mindset is grit, an amalgam of determination and belief in one's own ability. Angela Duckworth documents the power of grit in her book Grit - the power of passion and perseverance. There's a well-known TED talk which has notched up 11m views. 

While teaching seventh-grade maths, she became interested in why some pupils persevered while others gave up. This led to her research into grit, which she found to play a significant role in success across a range of settings.

Although some pupils weren't academically gifted, they had the grit to persevere over the long term regardless of family income challenges or school environment. Many more talented kids were unable to achieve success because they lacked the staying power.

Which explains why you're more likely to hear me refer to research on topics such as goal-setting theory and locus of control. You're less likely to hear me put forward ideas associated with popular interpretations of the law of attraction and manifesting.

The law of attraction has been espoused for a long time but recently saw a renaissance with a plethora of books and blog articles during the past 20 years. As you'll have gathered by now, it's my view that more conventional factors are important. For me, it's about approaches that encourage action, learning through feedback, and perseverance.

It won't provide any shortcuts to success, but this evidence-informed and practical approach appeals more.

October 2026