Have you ever stopped to ask yourself what you really want in life?
And not just vague impressions of having a good life…
What exactly do you want in your life that would make you excited to get up every morning?
What people, practices, experiences, or other things would give you a deep sense of vitality and inner peace simply by being a part of your existence?
These are the things you should be focusing on manifesting to attract positive outcomes.
But that’s often easier said than done. It’s not always obvious what would truly bring us joy and fulfillment — especially if it’s something you’ve never experienced before.
In this blog post, I’d like to share some steps you can take to decide exactly what you want to manifest, so you can get on track to creating a life you’re excited to live.
How Intention Affects Manifestation
Before we explore the intricacies of how to decide what to manifest, it’s important to recognize the foundational element of the process — intention.
This is the invisible force that drives many of your thoughts, which, in turn, prompt you to take certain actions.
Research shows that setting a clear intention can impact the outcome of a situation. A recent study found that middle-aged adults who set implementation intentions were more likely to exercise and feel confident about reaching their fitness goals, even when short on time.
Intentions work because they influence your subconscious mind, and particularly your reticular activating system. This special area of your brain acts as a filter for incoming information and prioritizes what is considered important based on your goals and intentions.
Setting a clear intention helps program your reticular activating system to seek out opportunities and information that align with your desired outcome, which increases the likelihood of manifesting your intentions.
Not only do intentions get you into motion, they can also have an effect on your emotional and mental well-being. Studies have shown that people who set positive intentions experience greater levels of happiness, optimism, and overall life satisfaction.
This is because setting intentions allows you to focus on what you want to create in your life, rather than dwelling on negative thoughts or past experiences. A more positive mindset infused with positive energy allows you to attract more positive outcomes and experiences into your life.
7 Steps to Identify What You Want… and Manifest It!
In order to gain clarity on what you want, whether you want to manifest things like a new job and make enough money to feel abundant, or manifest love in a relationship that makes you feel expansive and cared for — it’s important to identify your intentions.
Follow these seven steps to help clarify your goals and manifest positive change in your life.
Step 1: Allow Yourself to Daydream
Giving yourself time and permission to daydream is a powerful first step in the manifestation process. It opens up your mind to positive outcomes by activating your imagination and tapping into your deeper desires, helping you find just what you need.
Focus on what would bring you joy, fulfillment, and all the feelings you want to experience. Think back to what brought you joy as a child, or what activities you enjoy so much that time just seems to fly by.
Try to imagine that anything is possible for your life, and write down your thoughts in a stream of consciousness style. Set a timer for 10 minutes and let the words pour out without analyzing or censoring them.
Step 2: Organize Your Thoughts
After your daydreaming session, take some time to review the notes you made. Look for themes or concepts that repeat throughout your thoughts or stand out as being particularly relevant to you.
Are there any ideas that seem related or could be grouped together? Pay attention to any intuitive impressions you may have about where your thoughts and ideas are heading.
Step 3: Identify Your Priorities
As you review the themes and concepts from your daydreaming session, circle the three that resonate with you most strongly. You’re not committing to anything yet — you’re simply recognizing the possibilities that are available to you.
By honing in on the themes that resonate most deeply for you, you can start to clarify your goals and desires. These themes will help guide you towards what you truly want to manifest in your life.
Trusting your instincts is key in this step. Your intuition knows what is best for you, even if your rational mind is unsure. By trusting in yourself and what lights you up, you can align your actions and intentions with what will truly bring you fulfillment and joy.
Step 4: Choose Your First Priority
With your chosen three themes, zero in on the theme you want to start manifesting first. Write out a deliberate and clear statement of what you desire.
This statement will be revisited, energized, and ultimately brought to life, so it doesn’t need to be perfect right now. Remember, trying to do everything all at once can set you up for failure, so keep your focus on one step at a time.
To write a good goal statement, consider the following suggestions:
Be specific: Clearly define what you want to manifest.
Be positive: Frame your goal statement in a positive light, focusing on what you want to achieve rather than what you want to avoid.
Be measurable: How will you know you’ve achieved your desired outcome?
Be personal: Ensure your goal statement reflects your true desires and values.
Here’s a goal statement example:
“I am manifesting a stream of passive income that allows me to achieve location freedom. I envision myself earning $5,000 per month passively through real estate investments, online courses, and digital products. This income supports my desire to travel the world and work from anywhere, aligning with my dreams for freedom and travel.”
Step 5: Make a Manifestation Plan
When you build a manifestation plan, you want to combine both subjective and objective elements. Subjective elements in a manifestation plan refer to the internal aspects, such as your thoughts, beliefs, emotions, and intentions.
Objective elements, on the other hand, are the external and tangible aspects of your manifestation plan. These are the actions and steps you take in the physical world to manifest your desires.
Both are essential for success!
Start by considering which manifestation methods resonate with you most. You can combine them as well. Here are some manifestation practices to consider.
Visualization: Create a mental image of your desired outcome as if it has already happened. Visualize yourself living your desired life with as much detail and emotion as possible.
Affirmations: Use positive affirmations to reprogram your subconscious mind and align your thoughts with your intentions. Repeat affirmations that affirm your desired reality.
Vision Boards: Create a vision board that visually represents your goals and desires. Include images, words, and symbols that resonate with you and inspire you.
Scripting: Write a detailed script or story about your life as if you have already manifested your desires. Describe your ideal life in vivid detail, focusing on how you feel, what you see, and what you experience.
The 2 Cup Manifestation Method: The 2 cup method involves using two cups, with one symbolizing your current reality and the other your desired reality. Fill your “current situation” cup with water and pour it into the second “desired situation” cup while focusing on your intention.
Incorporating spiritual practices like meditation, journaling, and mantras can enhance your manifestation efforts by aligning your inner self with your goals.
Planning practical, inspired action is essential. This involves writing out concrete steps that you will take towards your goals, such as networking, learning new skills, or creating a business plan.
Combine these practical steps with your chosen manifestation methods to create a holistic approach to manifesting your desires.
Step 6: Put Your Plan into Action
Action is the catalyst that propels the manifestation process forward, but it must be done with inspiration and from a positive emotional state.
As you put your plan into action, seize the opportunities that arise and don’t be afraid to make mistakes. Reframe everything that occurs as “happening for you” so you can learn the lessons you need to achieve your goal.
Be consistent — take daily steps towards your goals, no matter how small they may seem. Consistent effort will help you build momentum and utilize the compound effect.
Remember to have fun and enjoy the journey! Manifesting is not hustling and forcing things to happen. Instead, it’s about energetically aligning yourself with what you truly desire, taking inspired action towards it, and allowing it to manifest.
Step 7: Release It to the Universe
This step involves releasing your desires and intentions to the universe, trusting that they will manifest in the perfect way and timing for you.
This can be challenging, especially if you are someone who likes to feel in control. But remember, surrendering does not mean giving up or being passive — it means trusting in a higher power and allowing things to unfold naturally.
Surrendering your desires to the universe is an active process, not a passive one. It involves the work of transforming limiting beliefs and negative feelings into positive thoughts, so you can maintain the vibrational frequency of your desire.
Ways to release your desires:
Write down your desires on paper and engage in a burning ritual to symbolize releasing them to the universe.
Visualize yourself living your desired reality so completely that you feel satisfied and fulfilled.
Practice gratitude to feel good about the journey and all that you have in your life.
Regular meditation can be helpful in finding the peaceful place within where you already have all that you need right now.
Engage in activities that bring you joy and raise your vibrational frequency, such as spending time in nature, listening to uplifting music, or practicing yoga.
Step 8: Assess Your Progress
As time passes, it’s important to review and revise your goals or intentions. Your desires may evolve and what you once wanted may no longer resonate with you.
Stay flexible and open-minded, and be willing to change course if needed. This process of reflection and adjustment is a natural part of the manifestation journey and allows you to stay aligned with your true desires.
Ready to Manifest Your Dream Life?
Now that you know what you want to manifest, the real adventure begins.
You have the opportunity to become the person who is energetically aligned with your desires, and the entire universe is here to help you on your way.
The most important aspect of manifesting, even more than actually receiving what you desire — is how you feel along the way. So remember to enjoy the journey! Learn, grow, and have fun.
That’s what this life is all about.
