NADINE DORRIES: The trend for manifesting is real. I’ve done it my entire life with huge success… here’s how YOU can make my techniques work, too

I was at a barbecue this weekend when the topic of Taylor Swift’s wedding extravaganza and the song she chose to walk down the aisle came up.

It was an instrumental version of Love Story, one of the first songs he wrote. As all Swifties will know, she described it as the most romantic song she’s ever written; His own version of Romeo and Juliet with an epic proposal and happy ending.

‘It’s like Taylor came up with her own proposal and wedding,’ one guest said. This made me smile.

These days I hear someone mention that they cheer at least once a week; Even the male contestants on Love Island are in on it.

I realized that I have been performing with great success my entire life.

I didn’t realize what I was doing until my first novel, Four Streets, became a bestseller in 2014.

I remember that moment clearly. I was in a café in the Cotswolds with a friend when my agent Piers rang me and told me to check the status of my newly released book on Amazon.

I opened the page on my phone and saw the number of five-star ratings steadily increasing. As I refreshed, the orange #1 best sellers tab appeared.

This may sound presumptuous, but I honestly wasn’t surprised in the slightest, which probably detracted from some of the joy I must have felt at that moment.

This wasn’t because I thought I was super talented, but because I expected nothing less.

Each word was written against a backdrop where I imagined that call from Piers and visualized that orange banner next to the title of my book. In the coffeehouse, I was reliving a memory that had been floating around in my mind for over a year.

However, the words of my (now ex) friend in front of me prompted me to think more deeply.

‘This is amazing,’ he said. ‘Because you really didn’t have the right to do so, did you? I mean, a lot of people write a book, but only a handful of the thousands of books published each year become bestsellers. How did this happen? Why isn’t yours one of the others?’

He was right, but how could I explain to him that I knew exactly why. This happened because at no point was another scenario an option.

Call it manifesting or setting goals or an abundance of self-belief and courage, but it’s happened to me before.

When I started my child care consulting business for working parents and companies out of my bedroom in 1988, I set a mental goal of selling it within ten years. I explained this passion to my husband every day; not as a possibility, but as a reality.

When I decided I wanted to be an MP, I spoke and acted as if it were happening. I wrote ‘My Workplace’ on a photo of the House of Commons and stuck it to the fridge door. I would read this out loud to myself every time I opened the refrigerator door. And I imagined myself standing among the green benches and giving a speech.

Now I know I’m not the only one doing this. Many people dream of the future they want and make it happen. The key is to eliminate every shred of self-doubt and believe deep down in your soul that it has already happened.

Take actor Nick Frost, who has been cast as Hagrid in the upcoming HBO TV adaptation Harry Potter. ‘Before I was cast as Hagrid, my partner suggested I try pitching it,’ he said. ‘So I watched every Harry Potter movie back to back and wrote the word Hagrid by hand 7,000 times.’

Actor Nick Frost, cast as Hagrid in the upcoming HBO TV adaptation of Harry Potter, says he used the manifesto to secure the role

Manifestation coaches would say that Frost told the Universe that he was Hagrid. That he manifests a version of himself that exists in another space/time dimension and the Universe does the rest.

Others will argue that Frost is an accomplished actor who knew he could take on the role, did his research, and successfully auditioned. I also disagree with this comment.

Many attribute my successes to the fact that I am a visionary, ambitious working-class girl who works with steely courage to achieve her life goals.

But things don’t always go as planned. After paying for an expensive holiday last week, I said to my parents: ‘No problem, I’ll win a nice prize in Premium Bonds this week.’

The next day I saw that I had won £425. It’s my fault. I should have said: ‘I’m going to make a million!’

But I remain a believer. I feel like I’m at a crossroads in my life now, so last night I set five ‘goals’ for my future. I wrote each one. I thought a lot about them. Then I said each one out loud and imagined how I would feel when they appeared.

My job now is to feel, think and act as if all five have already arrived, not to let any doubt in.

To the skeptics, I say: This is what I want from life, because if you don’t really know what you want – or even who you want to be – how are you going to achieve it?

Find a man who hugs like this

Princess Kate of Wales gets a hug from Prince William after completing the Three Peaks Challenge in aid of the Royal Marsden cancer charity

The bear hug Prince William bestowed on Kate after completing the Three Peaks Challenge tells you everything you need to know about the journey this couple has come.

This was the hug of a man who knew and valued who and what was next to him and who admired his wife. It was a heartfelt embrace from a man who faced the possibility of loss and never wanted to let go. And that’s a lesson to single women everywhere.

Find a man who hugs you like William hugs Kate and settle for less.

The important thing is to win

Last week my grandson told me that sports day was coming up. Remember, I told him, it’s not about participating, it’s about winning.

The lesson that followed for my daughter was off the charts. You’d think I told the kid to cut his hair. But my grandson understood what I meant, looked into my eyes and smiled.

It’s a grandmother’s job to stamp out this woke ‘participation’ nonsense! Yesterday was sports day and dear reader, he won! Grandma always knows best.

Cheer up Adele, F1 is exciting

Adele walks in the paddock during the British F1 Grand Prix at Silverstone Circuit

Adele was at Silverstone over the weekend and looked pretty bored of it too. Maybe the cameras caught her ‘resting bitch face’. I am joking.

So how could anyone attending the British Grand Prix not enjoy it? I spent one of the best days of my life there as Minister of Culture; I presented the F1 trophy to Spanish driver Carlos Sainz and sprayed champagne from Lewis Hamilton.

I spent the day wandering around the grid, the trophy room and with the drivers before watching the race. It was extremely exciting and an amazing day that I will always remember. If you think F1 isn’t for you, watch the Netflix TV series Drive To Survive; But let us warn you, you will be addicted.

I have been reliably informed of the potential for a local tornado ban if this nice weather continues. I can tell you that no amount of tornado bans will be responsible for the drying up of my glorious agapanthus. I will rebel!

If you didn’t get an invite to Taylor Swift’s wedding, check your spam folder, because it seems like everyone (except her ex-wife) BFF Blake Lively) got one!