The term ‘manifest’ has been declared Cambridge Dictionary ’s Word of the Year for 2024, and many singles are embracing the concept by reflecting on the type of partner they desire and the qualities they seek in a relationship.
For 24-year-old Jammu-based Varchasvi Mahajan, Pinterest is more than just a creative platform; it’s a space for saving motivational quotes, couple-goal images, and ideas for ideal dating plans. Guided by her belief that “thoughts become words, and then words become actions,” Varchasvi is exploring the concept of manifestation to shape her future.
“I’m still figuring out who I am, and that helps me define the kind of partner I’d want,” she says. “Manifestation, for me, is about working on yourself first. Once you understand who you are, it becomes easier to think about what qualities you’d want in a partner.”
With limited free time, Varchasvi skips traditional methods like journaling or vision boards but occasionally uses Pinterest to reflect. She also makes simple notes about non-negotiable traits and flexible preferences. “Thinking about a partner often comes as a side note while I focus on my daily life,” she adds.
In another instance, 25-year-old Shamail Khan, a Mumbai resident, enjoys journaling and creating vision boards to visualise her ideal relationship, including the qualities she wants in a partner. When asked what inspired her to start manifesting for a dating partner, she says, “I observed the relationships around me and began writing down what I don’t want in a partner and what I do. It’s helpful to learn from different relationships.”

'Manifesting a partner helped me better understand my own needs and boundaries'
According to Shamail, who regularly journals and uses vision board techniques, the process has also helped her better understand herself and improve her qualities. “While writing down the traits I want in a partner, I realised I needed to work on some of my own traits too. For example, I’ve been working on being less short-tempered to improve myself. Manifesting a partner helped me better understand my own needs and boundaries,” she shares.

- According to a dating app’s annual report, nearly 20% of singles globally reported creating vision boards to manifest their ideal relationships for 2025
- “Singles are embracing intentionality in their dating lives—being upfront about what they want and refusing to settle. This shift has driven three standout trends: Loud Looking, Kiss-met, and Nano-ships,” explains Melissa Hobley, chief marketing officer of a dating app