Do you believe that our thoughts alter reality?

I do, especially based on the research I have reviewed, but I do not think our thoughts can necessarily predict those future situations exactly. I also don't think though A necessarily leads to situation B, it is more complex than that.

Essentially, cognitive dissonance theory suggests that it is more important for our brains to feel like things "make sense" (based on what we believe) than it is to be realistic. So, if we have a belief we are much more likely to (a) see proof of that belief out in the world, (b) to even subtly or subconsciously alter our behaviour in order to prove our beliefs true and (c) to ignore information in the world that contradicts our beliefs. So it's not necessarily true that "if I believe that guy is going to come say X" that he does it when I think he will and in the way I think he will. But it IS likely that I will make more eye contact (which tends to be inviting), or present myself in a way that seems more attractive (i.e. stand up taller, smile more, be more gregarious, etc.), or place myself in situationally opportune moments so that he is more likely to come talk to me in general.

Now, the reality is, this is really powerful stuff because it means whatever we want to change in our lives we should work to believe psychologically first and then consciously change some habits (and other things will happen without conscious effort). BUT, it means things still aren't entirely predictable and we should be aware of that too.

Now, the one other thing I would say is that we also attract this stuff at a broad (almost "energetic) level. In other words, if we have a strong victim mentality in general we will attract more "victimization" to ourselves (i.e. the specific events might not be exactly what we predict but we attract more of that STATE of being overall). Or if we have a strong belief that we are awesome, we will attract people who also think and tell us we are awesome.

In general, both work in broad strokes - however you think of it. That can be frustrating to some, but also a relief. For example, people who worry that their fear of a plane crash is going to cause a plane crash aren't likely to ACTUALLY see that come to fruition. Instead, they are putting themselves in a broad state of "vulnerability and fear" and so they may simply attract more "vulnerability and fear" (i.e. they are more aware of the turbulence and so they get more scared, or they attract others with subtle fears of flying who say things that make them even more afraid, etc.).

Does that make any sense?