What I Learned About Affirmations and Manifesting

If you’re anything like me, you may have noticed you’ve become inundated with content featuring people living out their best lives while attributing their success and abundance to the implementation of vision boards and affirmations. You’re convinced there’s something to this manifestation business, so you set out to create your own vision board, maybe even attending a party or two. You’ve found the perfect images of whatever brings you joy and what you hope to have in your future. You find the perfect spot to hang your vision board, it’s the first thing you see when you wake up, and the last thing you see when you go to sleep. For the first couple of weeks, it excited you to look at your vision board. Eventually, you’d realize you looked at it less, you got less excited when you looked at it, and eventually it became a decoration.

There’s actually a bit more to turning your visions into reality. Sure, making your dreams come true involves seeing and believing in the dreams that you conceived, but that’s only the beginning.

There’s work to be done.

Your Vision: Be Specific

Our imagination knows no bounds, so it is not the place to be basic and timid. Remove the boundaries from your imagination and imagine everything that you want in life, everything that makes you feel good, no matter what it is or how over the top it seems.

In visualizing what you want, visualize how you’ll feel once you have it, and hold on to that feeling whenever the vision gets a little hazy.

Pay attention to the details in your vision, not just the big picture. If you have visions of a new home, your vision of your home should be so clear that you can see where your phone is charging.

Once you’ve seen what you can have, the next step is to visualize and implement a plan of specific actions. Visualize a clear plan of how you will get what you desire.

Speaking Affirmations

If affirmations are a new concept to you, and you find yourself looking online for ideas on where to start, you’re sure to come across an abundance of positive affirmations, many of which sound, and may even feel really good to say out loud. There’s nothing wrong with borrowing an affirmation, just as long as you truly believe it, and it truly applies to you. It’s important to be honest with yourself. If you feel like you’re going through the motions, or even lying to yourself by speaking something you don’t believe, assess what makes the statement untrue and maybe make adjustments by affirming what you truly believe and also including affirmations to hold yourself accountable to improving.

Remind yourself of your affirmations. This is especially helpful for affirmations you speak at the start of your day. For example, if you affirm you will be patient today, and you happen to be a driver in Los Angeles (hi), a simple post-it with PATIENCE! written on it does the job.

Put some action behind your affirmations. Sure, we’re talking about the power of affirmations because words are powerful, and they have the ability to affect change; however, we must remember to back these words up. Action doesn’t have to be grand. It can be as simple as pausing to take a breath before reacting to something upsetting, when you affirmed today would be a good day.

Manifesting with Intent

When you set out to materialize your desires in life, you first need to be clear on what you want, and why you want it. Having a clear what and why gives you an even clearer focus. These are your desires for your life; the focus should be on you.

Why do you want something?

Have you ever wanted something so bad and you find yourself delighting in the idea of people being jealous when you get it? Blessings aren’t conceived with bad intentions.

Have you ever chased a dream that someone else had for you? You find that no matter what you do, you struggle to find the motivation to get anything accomplished. Or maybe you do accomplish the goal but you aren’t happy about it. You aren’t working toward fulfilling your purpose.

What are you doing to prepare for what you’re manifesting?

You should prepare to receive what you manifest. For instance, if you desire to be married, make the necessary adjustments so that there’s room in your life for a partner. Make room in your bed as if you expect to share it with someone. Practice learning to compromise more in your present relationships. Don’t allow the wrong person to take up space.

Show the universe through action that you expect to receive what you ask it for.

Getting a clear vision, doing the work, and preparing for what you've worked for, you really can have