From changing the bodies pharmacy to generating success, manifestation is one of the most powerful tools available to us. However, due to its many intangibles and non-conventional lore it is often relegated to the world of hippies and magicians and shunned in professional contexts. Today, I want to share a different perspective on manifestation in the hope that you might see it differently and benefit from its application in your life.
For centuries people have been willing things into existence. Thus, our ability to conjure thoughts and fantasies of what we desire is a defining aspect of being human – a dream job, luxury car, the ideal romantic partner, a picture-perfect lifestyle. Yet have you ever wondered why it is so hard to make these dreams a reality? One theory is people’s base-level instincts and conditioning, which either empower or undermine. From this perspective, manifestation is like a supercomputer with dual operating systems – one empowers with courage and resolve, the other fuels fear and cynicism. Self-talk determines which operating system takes precedence.
In The Mastery of Love, Don Miguel Ruiz explains that “whilst we may not be able to control what is going to happen around us, we are responsible for the consequences of whatever we do, say, think and feel.” Therefore, if you can condition your mind and control your reactions, then you can change your patterns, and you can change your life. In essence, our outer experience is simply a manifestation of our inner world.
Consider the tale of two children – one is told all its life that it is unwanted and will amount to nothing; the other is told that it is loved and special and can accomplish anything. Which child do you think will be successful? It is likely child 1 won’t even attempt to improve its circumstances. After all, it’s a failure at life, so what’s the point? However, child 2 has different programming – it believes in itself – and trusts intuition and better judgment to face challenges head-on.
In its simplest form, manifesting is about becoming child #2 by choosing which thoughts to accept and believe and rejecting the others. When we come to understand this basic principle – that all things begin with thought – we choose our thoughts more carefully and start to see the world from that viewpoint, irrespective of what happens around us. Think about it: we swim underwater and fly through the air – seemingly impossible feats – yet someone had the tenacity to use their mind to solve these challenges. When you look at success from this perspective, manifestation starts with a belief that it is possible. Notwithstanding, Thomas Edison failed more than 1000 times before he created a working light bulb.
“You may encounter many defeats, but you must not be defeated. In fact, it may be necessary to encounter the defeats, so you can know who you are, what you can rise from, how you can still come out of it." – Maya Angelou
Here’s the thing: whatever your dream entails, the dreaming part is easy. Making dreams real, however, requires an entirely different mettle. In fact, anyone who thinks manifestation is simply a matter of dreaming and expecting it to materialise is headed for disappointment. Rather, let us guide our attention to the most significant aspect of manifestation – consistent–positive–action.
Over the past decade I’ve studied hundreds of successful people from all walks of life to identify patterns of manifestation. Many say their biggest challenge was keeping the dream alive amidst failure and doing whatever it takes to get there.
Here’s the key...
1. Know your aspiration [create a vision]
2. It’s a long game; stay mindfully and positively focused [imagine your vision is already a reality]
3. Do everything possible to achieve what you desire [be consistent, be disciplined, and don’t give up]
Manifestation isn’t a far-fetched, new age concept, and not nearly as glamourous as some people imagine. However, adhering to these simple steps will ensure that you are running the right operating system – the one that empowers you to realise your dreams.
Until next time...
