Manifesting... is it even real?
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Manifesting, one of the buzzwords of the year, but what exactly is it? According to the Cambridge Dictionary it was the 2024 word of the year, so that must mean something, right? But does it even work? Short answer coming from my experience and what I've observed is, hell yeah. But, how? Well, for starters, manifesting is a bit of a belief system, or a mindset. An act of intentionally stating your desires, and trusting that if they're for you, they'll come to you. Manifesting is like a fast track to getting to where you want to go by beginning with the end in mind. It’s not only helped guide my creative processes, or cultivate my personal goals, but its also been a major part in building something as real as my petite vintage shop (check out my latest collection). But really, in my opinion, asking whether manifesting works is like asking whether or not the sky is blue. People manifest by accident all the time without even realizing it, but when used intentionally, it can change your world. Trust in the universe and put your goals out there.
At its core, manifesting is about aligning your thoughts, actions, and energy toward achieving a desired outcome. Writing things down, talking about your desires with like-minded people who encourage rather than discourage you, and visualizing your goals are important starting points. Honestly, a bit of delusion helps too, because you're essentially conjuring up ideas and outcomes that don’t exist yet and trusting that you're on the right path even when results aren’t seen right away. People may not understand your vision, but you have to trust your journey.
That’s why celebrating small wins is important. Each small victory is a step closer to your larger goal. Like planting seeds that need tending to in order to grow, your manifestation goals are those seeds, and they require consistent care and attention. Manifesting isn’t about leaving everything to chance—it’s an act of faith paired with action. As the saying goes, faith without work is dead. Dreaming up your desires is only 30% of the process; the remaining 70% lies in taking actionable steps to bring them to life.
Let Go, Let God
One of the most important lessons in manifesting that I've learned is to let go of expectations. Writing down your goals in a journal, or sharing them with a trusted person is a powerful first step, but clinging too tightly to how things will unfold can hold you back, or block your blessings from coming in in surprising ways. I try to think of it like this, be specific in the desired outcome you want, but then sort of become indifferent towards how things will unfold, or better yet, forget about the outcome you want! Doing this while still being mindful towards putting in the work is really where the change happens. There’s only so much you can control, and the rest requires trusting in the process. Ironically, after releasing the need to control every detail often brings you closer to what you want.
Trust Your Journey
How you achieve your dreams may look completely different from someone else’s path—and that’s okay. Your journey is yours. Comparison only invites negative emotions like jealousy and a lack of gratitude for where you are, into your reality. And besides, I'm sure you have big goals on that vision board, and big goals take time to achieve, so just because you don’t see immediate results doesn’t mean progress isn’t happening. So trust that every step, even the seemingly small or insignificant ones, is moving you closer to your final destination.
Assume It Will Work Out
Believing that you're lucky or that things happen for your greater good can be super transformative. Assuming the best (using the law of assumption) suggests that by simply adopting the mindset and believing that things will work out for your greater good can help shift your physical reality. It may feel counterintuitive or be challenging at first, but assuming that things are working for you rather than to you can help you stay focused and aligned with your goals.
Stay Consistent
Consistency is key. Working toward your goals a little each day builds momentum and keeps you moving in the right direction. Stacking days of effort is objectively a great approach. Effective manifesting is more layered than reciting a few positive mantras in front of a mirror. It involves faith, discipline, and action. As Venus Williams once said, “Discipline equals freedom.” Remembering that discipline and faith together lead to results can make all the difference.
For me, this approach has made a big difference. Taking small, consistent steps toward my goals has taught me that manifestation is about combining vision with effort. It’s not enough to write down what you want—but working for it too is necessary. When I’ve achieved certain goals, it’s because I trusted the process and released any attachment to how getting to the outcome could look. What I desired often came to me, maybe later than expected, or sometimes in unexpected ways, but regardless, in some form.