How To Manifest Anything in 10 Simple Steps, According To Real People Who’ve Done It
Read these simple tips to begin manifesting your dreams.
Turning your dreams into reality is the stuff fantasies are made of—literally. And while you might not know much about what manifesting is or how manifesting works, people who know how to manifest can't stop talking about it because they say it really works.
Interested in trying it out? We'll fill you in on exactly what manifesting involves, how to tell if it's working, give you ideas on what you could work on manifesting and a how-to manifestation guide of 10 easy steps to take.
What is manifesting?
Simply put, “Manifesting is putting what you want out in the world and attracting it like a magnet,” says Lisa Petsinis, a life and goal coach. “Manifesting is tapping into your fullest potential.”
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Does manifesting work?
These experts say yes—and once you understand the logic behind manifesting (it’s not as woo-woo as some might think!), it’s easy to see why it works.
“Manifestation is the act of telling yourself something is true until it becomes your reality,” says Rachel Kennedy, founder of @thekennedycurate, where she shares manifesting tips on the reg. “The reality is, we have the ability to change anything we want if we shift our mindset around what is ‘reality' and what is ‘possibility’.”
Think of it this way: “As humans, we use our minds for a lot of over-thinking, stressing and creating negative scenarios in our heads that don’t exist, and this causes us to build non-existent walls between our current realities and the dream life we wish we had,” Kennedy says. But when you manifest, you break down those mental and spiritual barriers and open yourself up to receiving the things you truly desire.
In short, “The difference between your current reality and your dream life is what you tell yourself is true,” says Kennedy.
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What things can a person manifest?
Anything—yes, ANYTHING! “People can manifest anything they can feel or think,” says Kennedy, including money, health, business opportunities and relationships. “As someone who has manifested every single one of these things, I know it’s possible.”
Some examples of things to manifest:
A new house or car
A raise
A dream vacation
A loving relationship
New business opportunities
Better health
Good grades
More confidence
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How To Manifest Something in 10 Steps
Knowing how to manifest your dreams is easier than you might think. All you need are these 10 steps for manifesting.
1. Get laser-focused on what you want.
To do this, Kennedy suggests combining manifestation with visualization: “You simply sit still for a few moments and allow thoughts begin to drift into your mind like clouds—thoughts about the perfect dream life you want.”
Now, get really specific. “Let’s say you want to manifest your perfect new home. Imagine running your fingers along the brick walls… smell the fresh paint… shout and hear your voice echoing off the ceilings. Walk from room to room visualizing plants by the window… your dog lying on a rug in front of the couch. Your clothes in the closet. You’re visualizing your new home as if it already exists—and it does. You’ve just created it,” says Kennedy.
2. Eliminate limiting beliefs.
If you’re not manifesting your desires, you’re probably blocking your path to success unintentionally. “Most of the time, you get in your own way by holding onto beliefs that don't serve you,” says Petsinis. To combat this, “Ask yourself what's really stopping you from getting what you want. Are you believing in ‘false facts’ or are you open to believing that anything is possible?” says Petsinis.
One small change you can make today: “Stop telling yourself you can’t or something isn’t,” Kennedy says. “Get out of your own way. Stop telling yourself no. Start manifesting better things for yourself instead.”
3. Raise your vibration.
Just like negative energy attracts more negative energy, “Positive energy attracts positive energy,” Petsinis explains, “so pay attention to your mindset throughout the day. Catch yourself when you're getting frustrated, discouraged, or sad, and then turn your situation around.” Simply put, “Choose your energy,” she says—rather than letting your current circumstances dictate it for you.
A quick way to lift your spirits: “Even for a few minutes, do something that will pick you up,” says Petsinis, “such as singing your favorite song, mindfully sipping a cup of herbal tea, or simply smiling and you can get yourself in the zone again.
4. Use present-tense affirmations.
“Always use present tense affirmations,” Caro says. “Never say ‘I want’, always say ‘I have’,” Caro says. Why? “You want to attract your manifestation now, not in the future that never comes.”
Instead, flip the script and say your dreams in the present tense in order to manifest them. “For example, ‘I am rich’, ‘I am healthy’, ‘I have met my soul mate’,” she says.
5. Adopt a mental state of already being.
To do this, you have to embody the version of yourself that you want to be, Kennedy says. She suggests asking yourself questions, like: “How would she walk, talk, conduct herself? What would she wear? What sort of things would she spend her time doing on the weekend?”
Then…”Begin being that version of you now,” Kennedy says.
6. Try journaling.
When you’re manifesting, it’s a good practice to “Get into the habit of journaling every day,” says Georgina Caro, a spiritual life coach and Reiki master. It’s another tool you can use to get super specific about what you want and get clear on your intentions, she explains.
To get started, “Spend time thinking about your dream life,” Caro says. She suggests asking yourself questions, like “What would you do on a daily basis? What job would you have? Who would your friends be? The more specific you can be the better. Write it all down in your journal,” she says.
7. Ask for what you want.
Another way to make your manifesting more powerful is asking for what you want—literally! “Definitively put what you want out into the universe by requesting it out loud so it can be heard by whoever needs to hear it, as well as your subconscious mind,” Petsinis says.
“You can also directly ask someone for what you want, such as a pay raise or commitment,” she says. While it might be nerve-wracking at first, “You’ll make your wishes known, and it'll be guaranteed to be on the other person's radar.”
8. Practice gratitude.
“Start writing down three things you’re grateful for every day,” Caro says. “It can be something as simple as you had a lovely dinner or appreciation for a partner or loved one. Whatever it is write it down.”
Why it works: “Keeping a gratitude journal focuses your attention on the positive, rather than the negative,” she explains, which helps raise your vibration.
9. Let go.
Letting go can often be the hardest part, but “Once you've tapped into all the manifestation tools, it's time to step back and let the universe do its thing,” says Petsinis. “Sometimes you get what you want, sometimes you don't get what you think you wanted, and sometimes you get something better.
10. Have faith.
“Faith is knowing in your heart, mind and soul that what you cannot see does in fact exist,” says Kennedy. In order for manifesting to work, you have to "Hold on to the belief and truth that what you desire is on its way to you the moment you get extremely clear about what you want and declare that it is so,” says Kennedy.
For powerful manifesting, Kennedy says it’s important to reaffirm that faith often: “Before you open your eyes in the morning say a little mantra: ‘I am so grateful I have everything I want and need.’ ‘I am deserving of everything I desire.' ‘I live an abundant, full life, and am surrounded by beauty and prosperity.’”
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