Manifest. It’s the buzzword of the year, the darling of social media trends, and a concept that’s sparked endless debates. For some, it is the closest thing to magic or “pure energy"; for others, it’s a mix of skepticism and side-eye. For me? It’s a little of both.
I don’t buy into the idea that you can just sit back, think happy thoughts, and watch your dream life materialize. But I also don’t dismiss it as fluffy nonsense. Instead, I’ve found a middle ground—a practical, grounded approach to manifestation that blends intention with action, and yes, a bit of magic.
So here’s my take on manifestation—for the realists out there who want something practical yet deeply personal.
Step One: Build Your Self-Value
When we talk about manifestation, we often hear about visualizing goals, setting intentions, or asking the universe for what we want. But here's the truth: if you don’t feel that you deserve the life you’re imagining, no amount of visualization will bring it to you. That’s why self-value is the first, crucial step in manifesting anything in your life. When you truly value yourself, you essentially believe that you deserve to live/have whatever it is you're aiming for—whether it's success, happiness, or abundance. If you don't believe in your intrinsic value, then even the most powerful manifest techniques will not be effective, because quite simply “we do not manifest what we want but what we subconsciously believe we deserve to receive!”
The good news is that self-value can be built. And just like confidence, it’s something you can grow with small, consistent actions. Here's how to start:
- Practice Self-Acknowledgment Start by acknowledging your wins every day, no matter how small. When you pause and celebrate these little victories, you send a signal to your mind that you are deserving of recognition—and that in itself builds your value.
- Set and Enforce Boundaries: Boundaries are one of the clearest ways to communicate your value to the world and yourself. By setting limits and saying "no" when something doesn't align with your needs or values, you're teaching yourself that your time, energy, and well-being are worth protecting.
- Cultivate Positive Self-Talk: How you speak to yourself shapes how you perceive your worth. Negative self-talk, comparison, or self-criticism all chip away at your self-value. Try replacing those thoughts with affirmations or compassionate self-talk.
Step Two: Identify Your Core Values
Here’s where my personal theory comes in: manifestation works best when it’s aligned with your values—the things that truly matter to you right now, not what you’ve been conditioned to want, society’s version of success or someone else’s dream life. Maybe you think you want to live like a millionaire—jet-setting across the globe, wearing designer clothes, and sipping cocktails on private yachts. But when you pause and dig deeper, you realize what you value most is freedom. Not “buy-a-private-jet” freedom, but the kind that lets you spend your evenings cooking dinner with your family, or working a job that allows you to clock out at five and spend your weekends hiking in nature. Maybe you think you want a good romantic relationship and you want to manifest the perfect partner. But if you think about it on a deeper level, you may realize that what you really crave is love, connection, or a sense of security, and these can come into your life in many different ways. That's exactly why it's so helpful to let your values guide you in this process. Keep an open mind and be honest with yourself. A happy life might look different from what you’ve been conditioned to want, and that’s the point.
Tip: Start with this question: What does happiness look like for me, today? Use tools like my Wheel of Values (you find it here) to uncover what matters most.
Step Three: Set Your Goals
This is the fun part—setting goals that resonate deeply with you. Write down your dreams and aspirations, put them on paper, and let them come to life visually. Create a vision board that reflects not only what you want but also how achieving those goals will make you feel. Place it somewhere you can see it daily as a reminder of what you’re working toward. This process isn’t just about dreaming big; it’s about clarity. When your goals are clear and visible, your mind starts working toward them even subconsciously. Take your time here—this is where your vision starts to take shape.
Step Four: Confront Your Limiting Beliefs
Once your goals are set, it’s time to address what might be holding you back. A powerful way to identify your limiting beliefs is to look at your goals and ask yourself: Do I truly believe I can achieve this? Do I feel deserving of it? If doubt creeps in, that’s your cue to explore deeper. These beliefs often stem from past experiences, societal conditioning, or fear of failure, and they can sabotage your progress if left unchecked. Therapy is possibly the best way to help yourself. You can also work with a good life coach or even a journal to uncover these patterns.The more aware you are of what’s holding you back, the easier it becomes to replace those beliefs with empowering ones that align with your goals.
Step Five: Align Your Actions
Manifestation without action is just wishful thinking. To bring your goals to life, you need to align your daily behaviors with your aspirations. Think of your actions as the bridge between intention and reality. Each small, intentional step you take moves you closer to the life you’re manifesting. Whether it’s learning a new skill, networking, or setting aside time to nurture your relationships, your actions should consistently reflect the person you’re becoming. The key here is consistency—regular, purposeful actions compound over time to create the transformation you’re aiming for.
Step Six: Trust the process
Here’s the hardest part: letting go and trusting the process. Here’s the hardest part: letting go and trusting the process. Manifesting is like planning a trip, let’s say to Bali. You start by deciding on your destination and envisioning yourself there, enjoying the sun, the beaches, and the culture. Then you take action: you save up money, research flights, book your ticket, pack your bags, and head to the airport. Once you’re on the plane, you trust the process. You don’t sit there worrying if you reach your destination—you know you will. The flight might be smooth, or there could be turbulence. It might even take longer than expected due to delays. But you don’t panic or second-guess whether you’ll get there. You trust the process knowing you did what you had to do to get there. The same goes for manifesting. You do your part—get clear on your goal, take aligned steps, and stay committed. Then you trust the journey, even if it’s not always linear or predictable. It might take some detours, but if you stay the course, you’ll get to where you’re meant to be
Turning Intentions Into Reality
As you probably understood, manifesting is less about dreaming and more about conscious creation. It's about deeply knowing yourself and your priorities—what you value, what you want, and what's holding you back—and taking steps to move in alignment with that vision. It’s also about being patient, because the best things in life often require time. But if there's one thing I truly believe, it's that when you combine self-worth, aligned action, and a bit of belief in the magic of life, incredible things can happen.