Manifestation is the process of bringing something into your life through belief, focus, and positive thinking. It involves a mental shift where you align your thoughts and actions with a desired outcome. The idea is that by concentrating on your desires and maintaining a positive mindset, you can influence your reality and attract what you want into your life. In other words, positive thoughts and energy can attract positive outcomes. At its core, manifestation is about creating a mental environment centred around growth and success. So, if you’ve ever wondered: ‘What is manifestation?’, this article will explain everything you need to know.
What Is Manifestation And How Can It Help Me?
While manifestation might sound mystical, it actually has roots in psychology. The process involves setting clear intentions, visualising goals, and taking steps towards achieving them. This practice can help you stay focused, motivated, and optimistic, which can have a transformative effect on your mental health. By regularly engaging in manifestation practices, you can create a resilient and adaptive mindset. Keep reading to learn how to use manifestation to boost your mental well-being.
- What Is The Science Behind Manifestation?
- Manifestation Methods
- How To Write Manifestations
- How To Manifest During Low Periods
What Is The Science Behind Manifestation?
Manifestation is rooted in the brain’s ability to focus and filter information. When you set clear intentions and visualise your goals, your brain becomes more attuned to opportunities and resources that can help you achieve them. This is known as the Reticular Activating System (RAS), which acts as a filter for the information your brain receives. By focusing on positive outcomes, you can train your RAS to prioritise information that aligns with your goals. Not only this but engaging in manifestation practices can stimulate neuroplasticity, the brain’s ability to reorganise itself by forming new neural connections. This adaptability allows individuals to reinforce positive thought patterns, increasing their ability to recognise opportunities and make the most of them.
What Is The Law Of Attraction?
The roots of manifestation and the science behind it lie in the law of attraction. Coined by American spiritualist Andrew Jackson Davis in 1855, the law of attraction suggests that positive thoughts bring positive results into a person’s life. While research to support this theory was limited in the 19th century, numerous studies have since delivered evidence to support this idea. These are the three universal principles that make up the law of attraction:
- Like Attracts Like: This law suggests similar things are attracted to one another. In terms of your mental health, this means negative thinking is believed to attract negative experiences, while positive experiences produce desirable experiences.
- Nature Abhors Vacuum: Simply put, this law of attraction suggests removing negative things from your life can make more space for positive things. It’s based on the idea that it’s impossible to have completely empty space in your mind, and something must fill it at all times.
- The Present Is Always Perfect: This final law acknowledges that there are always things you can do to improve the present moment. However, rather than feeling unhappy, your energy is best spent finding ways to make the present moment the best it can be.
Manifestation Methods
There are several methods for practising manifestation. These techniques can be tailored to suit individual preferences and lifestyles, making manifestation accessible to everyone.
1. Visualisation
Visualisation involves creating a mental image of your desired outcome. Regularly imagining yourself achieving your goals can reinforce your commitment to them and maintain a positive mindset. This practice can be enhanced by including sensory details, such as sights, sounds, and emotions, to make the visualisation more vivid and impactful. For many, visualisation serves as a mental rehearsal, allowing them to experience success before it happens, boosting confidence and reducing anxiety. Additionally, visualisation can be a powerful tool for overcoming mental barriers, as you can envision yourself overcoming challenges and achieving your desired outcome.
2. Affirmations
Affirmations are positive statements that you repeat to yourself to reinforce your intentions. By consistently affirming your goals, you can shift your mindset and increase your confidence in achieving them. It’s important to frame affirmations in the present tense and focus on positive outcomes. This technique also helps reprogram negative self-talk, replacing it with positive and empowering narratives. By adding affirmations to your daily routine, you can create a strong and determined mindset.
3. Vision Boards
A vision board is a visual representation of your goals and desires. It typically consists of images, words, and phrases that symbolise your goal. Creating a vision board can help you clarify your intentions, stay focused, and maintain motivation. The process of assembling a vision board encourages introspection, helping identify what truly matters to you. Additionally, sharing vision boards with others can create a supportive community that encourages progress.
4. Journaling
Journaling involves writing down your goals, intentions, and progress. This practice can help you organise your thoughts, track your achievements, and reflect on your journey. Writing manifestations can also reinforce your commitment to your goals and provide a sense of accountability. Beyond goal-setting, journaling can be a therapeutic exercise, offering a safe space to explore emotions and process experiences. In the LADZ app, you’ll find a daily journaling tool to help you practice gratitude and keep track of your day-to-day emotional well-being.
How to Write Manifestations
Writing manifestations is a powerful way to clarify your intentions and reinforce your commitment to achieving your goals. Here’s a simple guide to help you get started:
- Identify Your Goals: Begin by clearly defining what you want to manifest. Be specific and focus on positive outcomes. Consider breaking down larger goals into smaller, manageable steps to make the process less overwhelming and more attainable.
- Use Present Tense: Write your manifestations as if they are already happening. This can help you internalise your goals and believe in their possibility. By framing goals in the present tense, you align your mindset with the reality you want to create.
- Be Positive and Affirmative: Frame your manifestations in a positive light, focusing on what you want rather than what you don’t want. This encourages a mindset of abundance and possibility, steering clear of negativity and doubt. Emphasising positive outcomes can shift your focus towards proactive behaviours that support your goals.
- Include Sensory Details: Enhance your manifestations by including sensory details, such as sights, sounds, and emotions, to make them more vivid and impactful. Engaging multiple senses can strengthen your emotional connection to your goals, making them feel more real and attainable.
- Repeat Regularly: Consistently review and repeat your manifestations to reinforce your commitment and maintain focus. Repetition can solidify your intentions, embedding them into your subconscious mind, where they can influence daily actions and decisions.
How To Manifest During Low Periods
Manifestation can be particularly difficult when you’re feeling overwhelmed with negative feelings. During these low periods, it’s important not to try and suppress these negative feelings. Instead, actively feel them and acknowledge that they exist. This can help release the negative energy you’re feeling and bring clarity. Instead of aiming for complete happiness, target your energy towards a peaceful mindset.
Often, the easiest way to find peace is by practising gratitude. Whether it’s a relationship you appreciate or food you’ve enjoyed recently, there’s always something to be grateful for, and this can help restore some of the positive energy you might feel as though you’re missing. Take a look at our article on gratitude journals if you want to shift your mindset towards the things you’re grateful for.
What Is Shadow Work?
Manifestation isn’t always about relentless positivity. One way you can use manifestation to navigate turbulent times is with shadow work. This type of self-reflection explores emotions you usually try to suppress. Rather than avoiding these emotions, this process tackles them head-on and establishes their root cause. Shadow work helps promote effective manifestation by identifying the origin of negative thoughts and releasing emotional blocks that contribute to negativity. These are a few ways you can do shadow work:
- Journal: Note down negative thoughts and reactions. Try to identify patterns or themes that evoke strong reactions.
- Meditate: Passively observe your negative thoughts without judgment.
- Reflect: Consider your past and present mistakes. Try to understand and forgive yourself.
- Practice self-compassion: Be patient and friendly with yourself. Accept that your negative energy is normal.
Start Manifesting Your Goals
Evidently, manifestation is a powerful tool that can help you maintain a positive mindset and improve your mental health. Now you have a clear understanding of the practice and the science behind it, you can begin using manifestation to achieve your goals. Whether you opt for visualisation or journaling, try to embed manifestation in your daily routine for its full effect. Remember, manifestation is best used as a complementary practice alongside professional help for those struggling with severe mental health conditions.
If you’re looking for further advice on managing your mental health, you’ll find plenty of useful articles on the LADZ app. Additionally, you can explore our extensive network of qualified mental health professionals and join a community of like-minded men putting their mental health first. Download the LADZ app to get started.
