by Alexandra Nicole Nuralam
What Is Manifestation? Here Are 6 Steps to Get Started
You may be familiar with “manifestation”, or the practice of thinking aspirational thoughts with the purpose of making them real. After all, it’s something that thought leaders, including Deepak Chopra, Gabrielle Bernstein, and Oprah have spoken about. (For the record, they all agree that you really can manifest things.)
In a moment where all the average person can really do is hope for a better future than the one we’re currently living in, it’s no wonder that manifesting has been growing ever more popular. Like so many self-care trends (popularised by lockdown and stay-home downtime), manifesting feels like a way to gain some semblance of control in a time when most people feel powerless to effect any real change.
Looking to give manifestation a try yourself? Here are some steps to take if you’re ready to get started on manifesting your thoughts and desires.
Be clear about your goals.
While everyone approaches manifestation differently, you should start with the basics. First—and perhaps most importantly—you need to know exactly what you want.
Whatever you desire—a better job, healthier lifestyle or a new relationship, one thing is essential: Make your intention as specific as possible. Instead of, for example, “I want a better job,” develop a detailed picture of what your dream job would look like (think: working environment, salary, etc.)
Once your intention is set, ask for what you want—and write it down on paper.
Once you’ve determined exactly what your hopes, dreams, and goals are, you need to ask the universe for what you want. It’s up to you to decide the method—prayer, meditation, speaking your intentions out loud or even a vision board. You can even do it the old-school way: on paper. Think of it as a letter to the universe.
And start working towards your goals.
Knowing what you want is only half the battle—you will not see any results without action. It’s as New York Times bestselling author Gabrielle Bernstein said, “Manifesting is also known as co-creating because it’s a collaboration between you and the Universe.”
Set aside a bit of time to think about what steps you can take to reach your goals yourself, then put them into action. For example, if you’re looking for a career change, start networking with people and set yourself up for a job interview.
Make sure to check your energy.
Energy is everything. The energy we put out in the world is the energy we get back. If you are continually sending out negative energy—either through your thoughts or feelings—you will attract that same energy back to you. On the flip side, if you are able to shift your energy, you’ll also attract more positivity, which puts you closer to realising your goals.
Lucky for you, lifting your energy is quite simple: Just focus on activities that make you feel happy or relaxed. It can be simple actions like helping a friend or family member, volunteering, starting each morning with a quick yoga session, or even treating yourself to some well-deserved self-care.
Be flexible—and trust the process.
All that said, the process is fluid. The steps you take do not matter as much as your belief. Let faith be your motivation and guiding force.
The next step is to be mindful of—and thankful for—what you receive.
While you may not get everything you wished for ASAP, you should receive and acknowledge what you do receive—no matter how big or small it may be. Gratitude is key.
Consider creating a gratitude journal. Spend 5 to 10 minutes a day noting down a few things you’re grateful for, as well as anything that happened that day to bring you closer to whatever it is your trying to manifest. Maybe you came across a podcast that inspires you to start cooking at home for healthier meals.
At the end of the day, choosing to believe in the powers of manifestation is up to you. After all, we all have our own ways of willing our dreams into reality.
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