How to Manifest in 5 Simple Steps

Wouldn’t it be great to be able to wave a magic wand and watch any dream or desire materialize? Perhaps a genie on call who could grant wishes at a moment’s notice…? Putting the stoppers on such instantaneous gratification is a little thing called reality and all its complexities. So, let’s take a look at the next best thing and find out how to manifest in five easy steps!

What is Manifestation?

Manifestation is all about conscious creation and transformation. In other words, building the life you desire, transforming reality from one state to another. Beginning with an idea, thought, vision or dream, and taking tangible steps to make it into reality. Whether that’s material things, experiences, relationships, a new state of being etc.

The concept of manifestation is tightly associated with the Law of Attraction and often the terms are used interchangeably. But, there is a difference, with the Law of Attraction being one of a range of methods that can be used to manifest.

A Surge in Interest

Manifestation has exploded in popularity in the age of social media. Quotes, positive sentiments, affirmations, memes, angel numbers and many other types of posts – they’re everywhere!

TikTok users have embraced the concept with posts racking up millions of views and hashtags counting in the billions. Other platforms such as Facebook, Instagram and Pinterest. It’s not just social media platforms, Google Trends shows a worldwide uplift in searches for “manifesting” and related terms.

All that said, the concept of manifestation has been around for a long time. The idea that reality can be shaped or attracted dates back to ancient times through spiritual teachings.

Indeed, experts on the topic, thought leaders in areas such as mindset and success, as well as well-known celebrity figures have long talked about the concept of manifesting – Oprah Winfrey, Tony Robbins, Jim Carrey, Steve Harvey, Wayne Dyer, Jack Canfield, and many more.

How to Manifest Something

A 5 Step Process

Get clear on what you want
Address negative thinking
Plan and take action
Keep the momentum going
Trust the process

1. Get Clear on What You Want

The first step is to gain clarity around exactly what it is you want to manifest – what’s your intention, your goal?

A key part of this process involves getting into the right mindset. Imagination plays a key role here. By first thinking uninhibited and later factoring in some practical realities can result in an aim or vision for manifestation. As self-development guru Brian Tracy says:

“Imagine no limitations; decide what’s right and desirable before you decide what’s possible.”

Perhaps the most important part of this manifestation startup process is to be specific. Saying that you’d like to be rich is too vague, for example. What if you’re starting a new business, consider things like:

What products or services does it provide?
What sales are you hoping to achieve and in what timeframe?
What does your website look like?
What type of clients are you working with?
How are you marketing or selling your business?
Are you giving talks and networking?
Are you launching a social media presence, what will consist of?

The idea is to build up a full and clear picture of what it all looks like.

Consider this advice from psychic medium, spiritual advisor and destiny coach, Anthon St. Maarten.

“To successfully manifest whatever you most desire in life, you must set a crystal clear intention for it…with resolute focus and unshakeable determination…but without any trace of negative emotional attachment to the outcome.”

Visualize the Outcome

Visualization is crucially important to a successful manifestation outcome. It’s a powerful technique that can help to crystalize what’s truly desired.

It can be an exciting process as you map out all the details; the more the better! In turn, a clear visualization can help to guide positive thoughts and behaviors as you focus only the actions that will bring you closer to that now very visual representation of where you want to get to.

Create a Vision Board

A hugely popular technique that feeds into visualization. In short, it involves filling a poster sized board filled with images and words that represent an outcome that you’d like to achieve.

Think tabloid (or tabloid x2) or A2/A3 size. Alternatively, there are now some awesome apps and platforms for phones, tablets, and personal computers.

Here are some suggestions:

2. Address Negative Thinking

At this point it’s a good idea to think about any internal blocks manifesting. The reason for this is because manifesting has a lot to do with energy and happens in collaboration with the Universe.

As Gabrielle Bernstein, author of The Universe Has Your Back and Super Attractor says:

“Manifesting is the process of vibrating at a high frequency so that you become a vibrational match with the Universe and can co-create your world.”

So, even with the clearest of intentions and a well put together vision board, not much is going to happen when our energy is in a low vibration. The major culprits are things such as self-doubt, self-limiting beliefs, fear of failure, a lack of confidence; anything that’s creating resistance to embracing the process, feeling worthy and trusting the Universe.

“The most important thing to understand about manifesting is this: you do not manifest from your conscious thoughts alone. You manifest from your subconscious beliefs about what you deserve. This means that you can only manifest what you truly believe you are worthy of attracting into your life.”
Roxie Nafousi, author of Manifest: 7 Steps to Living Your Best Life

We’re moving into the realm of the Law of Attraction here but there is one crucial difference.

Where the Law of Attraction is based upon the principle that what we think about most we attract into our lives, manifestation involves undertaking an aligned plan of action.

Yes, our feelings need to be aligned with what we want, but consistent action is required for successful manifestation.

Getting into the right mindset might not happen overnight but addressing this now when feeling inspired by the manifestation vision and prior to the planning process is a great place to start.

3. Plan and Take Action

Planning the actionable steps to achieve your manifestation goal is what really starts to get the wheels in motion.

“While intent is the seed of manifestation, action is the water that nourishes the seed. Your actions must reflect your goals in order to achieve true success.”
– Steve Maraboli

And as renowned numerologist and life strategist Michelle Arbeau says,

“Humans operate on three levels of reality; we think, feel, do. In order to manifest in the physical world, we must put the rocket fuel behind our thoughts (emotions) but must also take physical action to make it happen. That’s the missing key to the Law of Attraction.”

What sort of questions might you pose to yourself that will help prompt the identification of those actionable steps. This is far from an exhaustive list but illustrates the point… what if you’re studying for a qualification and want a top grade.

Do you know how to take the right notes?
Are you keeping up with the classes and going over the content as you go?
Are you putting enough time into coursework assignments?
Are you making sacrifices to create more time to study, such as spending less time socialising, playing games, or scrolling through social media?
Have you created a routine that is conducive to the type and amount of study required for success?

How about looking for a new job…

Have you registered for all the right job search websites and set up job alerts?
Are you creating opportunities to network with people?
Have you contacted recruiters who specialize in your chosen field?
Are you honing your interview skills?
Have you thought back through your work history and found examples of times you demonstrated certain skills or gained experience?
Is your resume up to scratch?
Have you thought about what type of company you want to work for?

Bear in mind, these changes don’t all have to happen at once. Doing things like incorporating new habits and routines can be overwhelming.

The manifestation process doesn’t happen overnight, so take things one step at a time. Prioritize easy wins.

In the case of a job search, while identifying networking opportunities and actually engaging with those people might take time, registering for job alerts and getting your resume professionally produced is something that you can control and focus on first up.

Ask yourself, where am I now and where do I want to get to? What are all the steps in-between?

“Now, having seen the differences between where you are and where you want to be, begin to change – consciously change – your thoughts, words, and actions to match your grandest vision.”
– Neale Donald Walsch

4. Keep the Momentum Going

You’re off and running, taking those initial steps. But what can be done to maintain momentum on the journey, making consistent efforts towards your manifestation goal?

Affirmations

Feeling worthy is an important part of the process of co-creation with the Universe.

Repeating affirmations can help overcome negative thinking patterns such as self-doubt and pessimistic self-talk.

Use them to remind yourself that you’re worthy of the end goal, or to overcome adverse situations on the journey such as job interviews, exams, or public speaking.

Practice Gratitude

A pillar of any manifestation effort. Manifestation isn’t necessarily a straightforward process. Getting from A to B might be more like A to Z, and stopping at each letter in-between, and not in the right order.

In other words, even though you don’t get what you visualized exactly when you wanted it, make sure that you recognise and are thankful for what you do get.

For example, you might be looking for a particular dream job. Perhaps you apply and get invited for some interviews for some really promising positions.

Then, get rejected for all of them. But what if this is part of the journey? You’ve gained enormously valuable interview practice along the way, allowing you to be much better prepared for when that golden opportunity comes along.

Keeping a journal is an ideal way to document and help to remember the things that you’re thankful for. This is a relatively low effort method to that even the little aren’t forgotten.

Similarly, it’s also a great idea to jot down the things that might be bringing you closer to end goal. Having that on record will allow you to read back and realize that progress has been made.

Take Encouragement From the Signs

Manifestation can take a little time but thankfully, the Universe is here to lend a helping hand. By way of a showing a range of signs, these little droplets of emotional fuel let you know that progress is being towards end goal.

“In every moment, the Universe is whispering to you. You’re constantly surrounded by signs, coincidences, and synchronicities, all aimed at propelling you in the direction of your destiny.”
– Denise Linn

Find out more about these are the little signs and synchronicities here.

Do activities to Raise Your Vibration

We are the ones generating our own energy frequency and it’s important we do things that lift and maintain our energy vibration levels. Consider what brings you peace, joy and happiness.

As Garbielle Bernstein highlights:

“We’re all beings of energy. When our energy vibrates at a low level, we attract low-level circumstances. But when our energy is in a high vibration, we attract positive outcomes.”

Some examples of vibration raising activities might include:

Exercise (e.g. gym, running, yoga)
Walking or relaxing in natural surroundings
Meditation
Helping others

Keep those energy levels in check to ensure that you’re attracting back the kind of energy you want. It’s important to remember, this is something we initiate ourselves, as Mitesh Khatri points out:

“We are always responsible for what we attract in our life because we are the only ones generating our Energy frequency.”

Meditation

Following on from the list of activities above, a brief word on meditation because it can be such a powerful activity to incorporate into your life for a variety of reasons.

For now, though, there are different ways to do meditation that can help with the process of manifestation.

You could try a guided meditation that is focused on manifesting your dream life, for example. If you’d prefer to listen to sound only, read our article on the best frequencies to use for manifestation.

The 369 Method

This is a great way of keeping that original intention top of mind. All you have to do is write down what you want to manifest:

Morning – three times
Afternoon – Six times
Evening – Nine times

5. Trust the Process

This is a critical part of the manifestation mindset – faith that the Universe, or higher power, will guide you towards your desired outcome(s).

Two words come to mind in relation to trusting the process of manifestation – flexibility and control.

Don’t try to control every part of the journey towards manifestation
Be flexible, have faith that the Universe knows best and has a superior plan to yours

Whichever manifestation method(s) you follow – stick to the steps, have belief. Let things take their course and trust that the Universe wants what’s best for you.

The Universe has your back: Trusting the universe, knowing that what you truly desire is coming your way, means having an understanding that everything is happening for a reason. Things can unfold in ways that you can’t yet image. But, ultimately, it’s for a beneficial outcome for you.

Read our article on trusting the Universe…

Patience is essential: An essential part of any manifestation effort. Of course, it’s possible to become disheartened on the way, but using some of the techniques above to keep self-doubt and self-limiting beliefs at bay is the best remedy; affirmations, for example. Keep an eye out for signs and draw encouragement from them. This process can take time. In some cases, a long time.

We must be convinced that abundance is the natural state of the Universe. To experience and accept abundance in our life, we must be convinced that as we conceive and believe, the Universe handles the details.”
– Ernest Holmes

Be open to an alternative, but beneficial outcome: Yes, be clear and specific at the beginning but you may not end where you initially thought. This part of the manifestation mindset is very close to my heart. In trying to manifest a particular career outcome, and after a series of twists and turns during one of the most challenging periods of my life, I ended up starting my own online business. And it wasn’t what I had planned at the beginning. In hindsight, I realise this was a series of tests and in my own way, I was unwavering that a good outcome would eventuate.

“It’s important to have a vision of the long run and make wise decisions for our highest good in the present moment; however, we don’t want to become attached to how everything must look. When we show up in good faith, life provides. And when we trust, we are always in the flow of manifestation.”
Alaric Hutchinson

Co-creation vs the Scientific View

How to Manifest by Co-creating With the Universe

What’s been discussed so far is manifestation as a collaborative effort with the Universe. Whereby both you and the Universe have equally important parts to play.

While the Universe is always listening and ready to respond, it’s us, as the human element of this partnership that are the directors.

Whether we’re thinking about what we want or what we don’t want, that is enough to initiate or continue the process of co-creation with the Universe.

Just keep those thoughts aligned with what you actually want, rather than what you don’t want to manifest, and attracting exactly that!

The Scientific View

Popular contemporary thinking on how to manifest typically involves co-creation with the Universe and the Law of Attraction. While this is has become mainstream, its legitimacy is questioned and even disputed. This article (What is Manifestation? Science-Based Ways to Manifest) talks about the science behind manifestation.

Whether you’re committed to the idea of co-creation with the Universe or higher power, the article is well worth reading. Indeed, one might conclude that both approaches can comfortably co-exist and even complement each other.

Some salient points from the article:

Genuine belief in your ability to achieve something, means you’re more likely to be willing to put in the hard yards.
A lack of self-belief in terms of achieving a goal, i.e. finding the perfect job, means that we’ll inadvertently do things that will sabotage our efforts. For example, convey negativity in an interview. And the article gives more examples of this phenomenon.
If someone already holds a negative view of their life circumstances, they will see something that is neutral through that negative lens. So, whatever it is, is interpreted as a negative. Conversely, someone with a more positive mindset, focuses on how their actions have resulted in the part or full manifestation of their goal(s).
Consider the following – a positive mindset fuels creative thinking, and happiness is a precursor success, rather than having to achieve success before having a chance at happiness. Happy and positive people are more likely to get the doors of opportunity opened for them, they enjoy better quality relationships, and can more easily manifest what they set out to achieve.

Complementary and Not Competing Approaches

A hybrid solution that most would-be/practising manifestors are looking for. Manifestation is based on positive thinking and there are also tangible benefits to exuding a positive mental attitude.

So, whether you’re incorporating the Law of Attraction and the Universe into your manifestation practices or simply underpinning your approach to achieving desirable life outcomes, a positive mental attitude is an essential building block.

How to Manifest