The power of symbols, intention, and the subconscious mind have been a topic of conversation increasingly in recent years, but is based in practices that have existed for hundreds, if not thousands of years. When you look at a dollar sign, you know it means money and wealth; a heart is used to show love. These are examples of how simple images have an impactful place in our conscious and subconscious mind. We as people, having a spiritual experience in a physical world, give power to names and symbols by believing they carry that energy. When we believe something strongly, it causes us to feel and move differently. When you are focused on what you want, you can open the doors to how to get there.
The concept of humans giving power to a name or thing can be seen in various cultures for as far back as history goes. Ancient people put names, as well as energies, belief, and personalities, to the planets believing them to be Gods and Goddesses who had influence over our daily lives. When they wanted to attune with and benefit from these energies, they would use symbols, names, colors, and other corresponding elements in complex and structured rituals to achieve their goals. As the belief and rituals were reinforced in their culture, so were the powers of the concept they were recognizing. Because all thing are connected in one way or another, this created an archetypal energy in the universe and collective consciousness of people, essentially giving it life.
Even in major organized religions, people's belief in their deity causes them to behave in a certain manner and the behaviors they engage in shape their experience in the world. They call on or pray to their deities in times of need and to honor them. The who and what (although valid to each person as it's their experience to have),is not the relevant point here. Instead, it's that their belief has effect on their experience, showing that focusing your intentions and thoughts on what you wish to have and achieve in life has more impact than passively wanting. This is because just having the focus on something is already opening the door or lighting the candle towards the way you're trying to go. You'll make choices that align with your goal, it will be present in your conscious and subconscious mind, and it will help you notice opportunity and experience gratitude because you're receptive to it.
Power doesn't necessarily have to come from the "thing" itself, but can come from the belief in the power of the idea or energy of the"thing".