Chances are, you’ve heard the phrases “manifestation” or “manifest it” thrown around at some point in your life. Self-help is a multi-billion dollar industry with best-selling books like “The Secret” and “The Universe Has Your Back” offering readers easily accessible ways to bring their dreams into fruition by way of intentional manifestation.
A big house on the beach. New cars. Unlimited funds. Global Travel. A well-paid career. Designer clothes. Expensive Dinners.
In theory, all of these things *sound* desirable, but what if they appeal to us because we’ve been conditioned to want them?
A Modern Disease Called “More”
During our earthly experience, we crave connection, love and acceptance. And these desires are rooted back to the Stone Ages where being part of a community was directly equated with survival. After all, in the absence of others, our ancestors were susceptible to dangers lurking around the planet. Their power was in numbers, and the bigger the tribe, the more protection and safety they enjoyed as a collective group.
But, as time has gone on and societal advancements in medicine, technology and daily living has changed, so too has our sense of community.
These days, true in-person connections with people are all too often replaced with online connections. Social media, email and online forums provide safe-havens for us to connect with each other remotely, ask questions and find like-minded people. But, with 93% of communication being nonverbal, how can we truly connect with and communicate with each other on a deep level when we aren’t together?
We can’t. And so we try to fill the void we feel with stuff. We set out on an insatiable quest for “more”. As we scroll through our social media feed, we see countless carefully crafted photos and ads showing us the kind of lifestyle and look we should desire. And after a while, we subconsciously accept these photos as truth. We begin to believe we should strive for a big house, new cars, tons of money, the perfect body etc.
So we begin a quest of trying to quench our thirst for more. And each time we take a sip of this “more” water, we become thirstier. In turn, we end up wasting all of our time trying to be what others think we *should* be, rather than discovering who we truly are and allowing our authentic selves to shine.
What Do You Mean by Manifestation?
Manifestation as rooted in spirituality is defined as, “the theory that through regular meditation and positive, constructive thought, you can make your dreams and desires become reality. Spiritual manifestation holds that if you really want something and truly believe it’s possible, it will happen.“
Essentially, manifestation is the act of focusing on what you want, visualizing it, believing you will receive it, and then releasing attachment so it can come into your life. It’s an act of creating your own reality — consciously. Sometimes it involves taking inspired action, other times it’s about just releasing and letting it come to you.
And it works. I know this from experience. But, not all manifestations are created consciously or equally, and sometimes it’s best to NOT manifest the things you think you want…
Discovering the Root of Your Desired Manifestations
If you’ve read this far, you know probably where I’m going with this. Before you manifest ANYTHING you need to get to the root of your desired manifestations, and ask yourself the following questions:
1.) Where does this desire stem from? (Parents, peers, society?)
2.) Will achieving/receiving this thing bring more light and love into the world?
3.) What value does this desire add to my life?
4.) WHY do I want this?
5.) Once I receive this, then what?
6.) Am I basing my happiness, success or fulfillment on this achievement? **If the answer is yes, then this is NOT something you should work to manifest in the immediate term because it means you have some self-work to do to figure out why you’re placing emotional contingencies on external achievements or things.
7.) Will manifesting this outcome bring me closer to my spiritual nature, or take me away from it?
As you work through these questions, be honest with yourself. Don’t try to censor your answers. Write the first thing that comes to your mind without judgement. The whole point of this exercise is to help you uncover whether or not your desires stem from you or something else.
When to Manifest Your Desires
When your desires align with your true purpose for being, then manifesting them is part of your birthright. There’s nothing wrong with financial freedom, traveling the world, having nice things and achieving great things in your life. All of these things are positive so long as your worth, value or emotional freedom isn’t based on their acquisition.
To truly manifest what you want, start by getting clarity on why you want what you want using the questions above.
Xx,
Antasha
About Antasha Durbin: Antasha is a spiritual writer and life-long student of the universe. Her website, cajspirituality.com, is dedicated to simplifying the spiritual experience and making it attainable for everyone. Follow her for free, easy-to-digest and highly actionable advice on spirituality, mindfulness and empowered living.
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