A logical guide to manifestation – for beginners
If you have been on social media much in the last year, then you have probably heard of manifestation or the law of attraction. Manifesting got its first big break when over 30 million copies of The Secret sold after it’s 2006 release, and has gained even more popularity this last year during the pandemic. The art of manifestation teaches that you are capable of attracting anything that you want into your life. You can manifest tangible things like money, or something more emotional like love. Essentially if you can dream it, you can manifest it! So if you’ve ever wondered how to manifest something into your life, you’re in the right place.
While I think that this popularity explosion is awesome, manifesting in general is somewhat controversial. For instance, some people think that Manifestation is complete woo-ha-ha and should not be taken seriously (*cough* like my husband *cough*). And then there are the believers, but even among the believers there is some disagreement. Some people have hard and fast manifestation rules that they live by. Some people say that manifestation is whatever you want it to be. It all depends on who you ask!
Personally, I am on team ‘as long as it works for you, it doesn’t matter.’ However, I will be discussing a few different ways to manifest, so feel free to follow them to a T if you are someone who likes rules. Otherwise, take them as a lose suggestion. Either way, I hope this guide is helpful in starting you on your manifestation journey! It’s super fun and rewarding, I promise.
But first… does it actually work?
Yes and no. You can manifest and daydream all day, but if you’re not putting in any work it is very unlikely that you will get your desired outcome. As far as I am concerned (and as far as science is concerned, really) no amount of high energy can change that. However, there is scientific evidence that using visualization tools can improve your chances of actually seeing your dreams through to fruition, and I think that’s pretty cool. So in conclusion, if you are motivated and ready to put in the work, then manifestation can be a powerful tool for you. Unfortunately, if you aren’t interested in meeting the universe halfway, you may have tougher luck.
Who are you talking to when you manifest?
The most popular addressee in manifestation is simply ‘the Universe.’ This is used mostly as a reminder that you are conversing with a higher power. If you are a Christian, you can envision that you’re talking to God. If you’re not a Christian, all you need to do is have a belief that there is something larger at play than yourself. In Jen Sincero’s book You Are a Badass, she simply describes it as the “source energy that’s surrounding you and within you.” Honestly you can call it whatever you want – just choose something that you like and that you’re comfortable with.
Different ways to manifest
There are many different ways to manifest, but I will be touching on three of the most popular modes of manifestation. Starting off with writing, then verbally speaking your manifestations into existence, and lastly visualization methods. Give them all a read, and then try one or two of them out and see what it does for you.
How to manifest something through writing
Compose a letter
One method of manifesting through writing is to compose a letter addressed to the Universe (or your chosen entity/name). You then write three things that you are grateful for that you already have, and you follow those with your manifestations. Most people who manifest say that you should write your manifestations as if they have already happened. For instance, instead of saying, “I would like a new car please, lovely Miss Universe” you would write “I am very grateful for my new car that I was able to purchase at an affordable price.” It is also good practice to go into detail about your manifestation as well. Write about how you will feel when your manifestation comes true, and write about how you were able to make it happen. Be as detailed as possible, so that you start to feel it!
Some people have a difficult time writing about something that hasn’t happened yet in the present tense. Sometimes I find this difficult as well, so I will just write something along the lines of “I am grateful for the upcoming opportunity I have to purchase a new car.” This acknowledges my manifestation as something that is already predestined, but as something that does not yet belong to me.
Use repetition
Write your manifestations down on a piece of paper, and then write it again. And again. Some sources say that using repetition is a good way to unlock the subconscious mind, therefore unlocking the full power of your brain. Even if you don’t want to get into the science of it, I think that most would generally agree that the more often you think about something, the more likely you are to accomplish it.
The 5 x 55 method says that you should choose one manifestation and write it down 55 times, for 5 consecutive days.
The 3-6-9 rule instructs you to write your manifestations down three times in the morning, six times in the afternoon, and nine times at night.
Rachel Hollis, author of Girl, Wash Your Face, and the host of the self help RISE podcast, writes down her goals every single day.
Needless to say, there are many different ways to utilize repetition – whether that is through writing your manifestations down 55 times a day, or just writing down your manifestation once a day. Pick something that you can stick to, and allow it to center you!
How to manifest something verbally
Saying your manifestations aloud
Manifesting verbally is very similar to using affirmations.
When I was 15 years old I had a friend that was experiencing some self esteem issues. She talked to her mom about it, and got signed up for therapy for a few months. My friend was told by her therapist to look at herself in the mirror every morning and tell herself that she was beautiful, smart, kind, or anything that she wanted to see in herself more. Within a few weeks my friend had seen a noticeable improvement in her self esteem, and therefore in the rest of her life as well.
If therapists use it, then we know it must be a powerful tool. Let’s say your goal is to lose weight and be a healthier person in general. When you wake up in the morning, look in the mirror and say something along the lines of “I am a capable and fit person. Health and happiness come to me easily.” Prepare yourself to become the person that you want to be by saying your affirmation in the current tense. Pave the way for you to easily step into being the person that you want to be.
Note that you can also use repetition verbally as well.
How to manifest something using visualization methods
Make a vision board
One of my favorite ways to manifest is by using a vision board. Every year in January I make a vision board for the year ahead. All you need is a poster board, and some pictures that represent what you want to accomplish or the type of person that you want to be. For instance, the three main categories on my 2021 vision board are fitness, my blog, and travel destinations that I would like to go to. You can keep it contained to the year ahead, or you can make it broad – I personally like a good mixture of both. Just make sure that the pictures you pick really speak to you and provide a clear image of what you want your life to look like.
Close your eyes and see it
This is a great exercise to make a ‘before-bed’ habit. Once you’re in your bed, close your eyes and envision your dream life. Again, I’ll remind you to be specific. What exactly is it that you want? What is the reason that you want it? Once you have this pinned down, really get into your visualization. How would you feel if you accomplished your goal? What sounds would you hear? Smells? Tastes, even? Really try to get yourself in the moment. And then when you get up, CHASE THAT FEELING and make it REAL! Ask yourself: what could I do today that would bring me one step closer to this outcome?
Honorable mention: The Pillow Method
This one is pretty straightforward: write your affirmation/goal on a piece of paper, and place it underneath your pillow before you go to sleep. And then, quite literally, sleep on it! People who are fans of the pillow method claim that this method helps put you into a happier dream space, therefore allowing you to wake up in a good mood and ready to take action.
Now that you know how, here are a few important things to remember…
- Be grateful. One of the most important aspects of manifesting is to always be practicing gratitude. Starting a gratitude journal can be really helpful if you struggle in this area.
- Be very clear about what you want. I know that I sound like a broken record telling you to be specific over and over, but it is so important. For example, instead of manifesting money in general, try manifesting a certain amount of money to be used for a specific reason. This will give you the clarity that you need in order to meet the universe halfway and make your manifestation come true.
- Be willing to put in the work. We already briefly touched on this, but it is so important that I wanted to stress it one last time. You will not reach your dreams if all you’re doing is hoping for them.
- Believe. Believe in the process, and more importantly, believe in yourself. Know that YOU have the ability to make anything happen. The universe wants to help you, and it wants to see you succeed. So go and get it baby.
I hope that this manifestation guide was helpful to you, and that you learned something from it. It can be hard to believe in yourself, and to believe that you can make a significant difference in your life, but believe me – you can. And luckily for you, the universe is on your side, cheering you along! So stop right now and ask yourself what do I want? And then make it come true. Best of luck my friends!