It’s All In The Mind: Manifestation

There’s a new buzzword that has grown in popularity all over social media, and that is – “Manifestation!”

Manifestation has become a phenomenon that everybody seems to be interested in at the moment, particularly on TikTok. The platform’s bite-sized content format has transformed the topic of manifestation into digestible, shareable snippets, empowering users to explore techniques like visualization, affirmations, and goal-setting.

Although manifestation has been known about for centuries, and many people throughout history have shared their insights, having this exposure to a broader audience has largely helped in making the concept of manifestation more digestible to the younger generation.

As straightforward as it may be, manifestation can be a tricky concept for some.

What is Manifestation and how does it work?

Manifestation is a concept that’s often associated with the law of attraction, which suggests that positive or negative thoughts can affect our experiences in life. Essentially, it’s grounded on the idea that you can bring something into your life through thoughts, feelings, and beliefs.

“Manifestation is the mental process of envisioning and positively affirming a desired outcome − whether that’s a new relationship, a promotion, a trimmer waistline, or inner peace. The idea is that mental exercise can lead to real-world achievement. And while it’s no panacea for mental health and a purpose-driven life, manifestation really can help people formulate and achieve their goals.” (McGraw and White, 2023)

In practice, manifestation involves a combination of visualization, positive affirmations, and maintaining a belief in the possibility of a desired outcome.

How can I start manifesting what I want in life?

The mere idea that achieving your goals can be attainable just by believing you can achieve them seems like a shot in the dark. For skeptics, it can appear overly simplistic or even naive.

However, there are several ways you can navigate through this concept. There are step-by-step guides that demystify the process, showing that it involves more than just wishful thinking—it requires consistent action and a positive mindset. By breaking down manifestation into practical steps, these guides make it easier for individuals to incorporate the practice into their daily lives and see tangible results.

There are several ways to start mastering this practice, let’s explore some of the basics here:

Self-reflection

Before you can even identify your goals, the most important thing you should do is gain a deeper understanding of yourself. It will be difficult to set meaningful objectives or chart a clear path forward without this self-awareness. Take time to reflect on your values, strengths, weaknesses, and passions.

Engage in activities that challenge your perspectives and broaden your horizons. Seek feedback from those you trust, and be open to constructive criticism. As you deepen your understanding of who you are, you’ll find it easier to align your goals with your true self, ensuring they are both fulfilling and achievable.

Set clear goals

After rediscovering yourself, you now have a better picture of the road ahead of you. Use this newfound clarity to set detailed and specific goals that will guide you through this journey. Reflect and align your objectives to what you truly desire. Look at this as your action plan for achieving each goal. Identify the resources and support you’ll need along the way.

Additionally, you can also prioritize them by determining which goal is more important and would require immediate attention. Taking this one step at a time gives you the opportunity to track your progress effectively while staying motivated. A smooth ride isn’t always expected. Keep in mind that part of the journey is making adjustments along the way.

Visualization

Laying the groundwork is always the hardest part. As soon as you have those in check, it’s now time for the more fun stuff– visualization. The idea of visualization is basically creating a vivid mental picture of your desired outcome.

It’s your mind’s way of showing you what achieving your goal looks like before it even happens. This is a vital step in the practice of manifestation as it bridges the gap between your current reality and your envisioned future.

Once your brain is set on that outcome, you’ll stay focused and motivated, making it easier to stay committed to your goals and take action toward realizing them. Moreover, visualization stimulates your creativity and problem-solving abilities, as your mind begins to explore different pathways and opportunities to manifest your desires into reality.

Positive Affirmations

Another practice that you can include in your journey is positive affirmation. Having positive words and statements spoken out loud reinforces and affirms your desired outcomes. This also helps re-frame your mindset further by teaching your brain to focus on the positive thoughts rather than the negative ones.

Positive affirmations are indeed powerful tools that help shape your perspective and cultivate a mindset that attracts success and fulfillment. The trick to staying consistent is repeating your phrases regularly, even multiple times a day. These should always serve as a reminder of what you can and will be accomplishing.

Believe and have faith

The core values of manifestation are believing and having faith. This practice tells us that you should act as if it’s already happened. You should be living your life as if your goals are already achieved. This belief alone can already align your actions with your desires.

Having doubts, while completely valid, can just hinder your manifestation process. This is why it’s also important to set realistic goals to avoid being too hard on yourself if progress is not immediate. Believing and having faith, paired with realistic expectations, pave the way for successful manifestation.

Trust the process

While it’s important to stay proactive when it comes to achieving your goals, you should also learn to let go and trust the process. You don’t have to dwell on the nitty-gritty and obsess over how and when your goals will manifest.

Always be open to the possibility that success may come in different forms, at unexpected times. Sometimes, the universe has a unique way of steering you toward what’s truly right for you.

Embrace the journey with an open mind and a flexible attitude. Understand that setbacks and detours are not necessarily failures but rather opportunities for growth and redirection. Each step, even the missteps, teaches you something valuable. Trust that you’re equipped with the resilience and adaptability to navigate whatever comes your way.

The power is in the present moment

More importantly, always find joy and fulfillment in the present moment. Sometimes, we tend to put our whole focus on the future outcomes that we overlook the beauty and lessons of the present. Every day provides an opportunity to be better.

Celebrate small victories and appreciate the progress you make each day. By doing so, you cultivate a positive mindset that not only fuels your motivation but also attracts positive outcomes.

At the end of the day, we only manifest what we truly believe is possible and are in alignment with, but that shouldn’t stop us from dreaming big. After all, it’s all in the mind.