The Trend of Shifting
Shifting is a recent phenomenon, or trend, from Tiktok and YouTube, claiming that you can shift to alternate universes, even fictional ones, like the MCU or the Harry Potter Universes, by simply setting the intention. It most notably peaked during July 2020, following the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic.
What Is Shifting?
As this Tiktok-er explains, reality shifting is moving your subconscious to another reality. This belief is based on the physical theory that there is a multiverse and that every action and possibility creates different universes.
Is there actually a multiverse?
The multiverse theory was first suggested by the physicist Hugh Everett III, using the theories of quantum mechanics. It suggests that each universe is at a different energy level, and there are an infinite number of different realities coexisting at the same time. However, the theory does not show that individuals can create their own realities, so it is considered questionable by most in mainstream physics education.
The Psychology of Shifting
However, many psychologists around the world have stated that shifting is, in fact, just lucid dreaming. Especially since most shifting methods require the shifter to be asleep, a common requirement for lucid dreaming.
What is Lucid Dreaming?
Lucid dreaming is when you are able to control your dreams that feel realistic and vivid. Lucid dreaming has been used as a means of entertainment, where people might go to “another world” and interact with people unlike how they would in real life.
Lucid Dreaming vs Shifting
Both lucid dreaming and reality shifting are often used by people to achieve unattainable goals in their current waking reality. Moreover, the subliminal affirmations used to induce shifting do seem similar to the motivational affirmations used by some lucid dreamers to induce a lucid dream.
However, there are some differences in lucid dreaming and shifting in that a conscious effort is not needed to lucid dream as many have done so simply because they were dreaming and realised as such.
The Benefits of Lucid Dreaming
However, we are not trying to dissuade you from shifting/lucid dreaming. There have been many healthy side effects that have come from lucid dreaming, including: Decreased anxiety, better motor skills, improved problem-solving and increased creativity! It has also been a method of therapy in many countries.
Sources:
"Reality shifting: psychological features of an emergent online ...." 30 Oct. 2021, https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s12144-021-02439-3.
"Achieving Presence through Evoked Reality | Psychology - Frontiers." https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2013.00086/full.
Researcher: Megan
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