I think the idea of creating life circumstances with one's thoughts is a manifestation itself... A manifestation of the ego-centric spirituality that has become en vogue. In the search for self-empowerment, external events and people turn into a way to validate that one is in total control of their life, whether consciously or not - regardless of it's inconsistencies and problems as a theory. I think that it's good to take responsibility for your actions. It's essential. But there's a chasm of difference between owning up, and taking needless blame for events and people you can't control; or at least can't control besides some sort of magical thought power. One thing that it can easily engender as a worldview is that there are no victims. While it is true the victim card can be played far too often, there are real victims who don't need "well, just remember, you planned this all out/you've brought this on yourself". It's all a side-effect of the ravenous quest to make the individual the most important.