Manifesting, Is It Real?
Is the idea that you can manifest things to happen for you a real thing? I hear people argue that it is real and they absolutely swear that manifesting does happen. I also hear people who disagree completely and find it preposterous that you can make something happen that you want to see happen. They believe it is all about your actions and in their mind there is no other explanation. I’m always surprised that this is a debate. If you go to google it will tell you that manifesting is “The practice of using focused thoughts, visualization and affirmations to bring goals into reality. Rooted in the belief that a positive mindset influences outcomes, it combines psychological priming with intentional action.” When I evaluate the definition it sounds to me that if you live with intentional positivity in your actions, thoughts and self talk more positive things will happen for you. If you combine those things with putting in the work how can you ever go wrong?
I look no further than my own life to realize that when I focus on intentional positivity in my relationships with other people, my goals and even myself that things are more likely to work out for me than not. When I have accomplished big things or small things that required effort they were only fully achieved because I was intentionally and positively determined to make them happen. When I have failed or fallen short of my goals I can with almost 100% certainty identify the role negative thoughts and feelings played in the outcome. Take some time right now and look back on some of your accomplishments both big and small and evaluate your attitude, feelings and effort that went into making them happen for you. Then take a few minutes to look at the things you have failed to accomplish and do the same thing.
Why is it that people continue to debate the idea of manifesting being a legitimate or real part of success? Is it that we have been so accustomed to the idea that hard work is the be all, end all in becoming a success? When it comes to success I think manifesting and a high level of effort and commitment are like the old story of the chicken and the egg. You can’t have one without the other. So back to my original question: is manifesting real? I say it is real and if you're hung up on the word then change it instead of manifesting say you are going to be positive. This last week I heard Arnold Schwarzenegger talking about his time as the Governor of California. He mentioned that he worked to bring both sides of an argument together by simply changing one word in an issue that divided both parties and it created common ground between the two sides. I would wager that most people who believe in manifesting and those who don’t really aren’t that far apart. It’s more in the words that are used than it is in the practice of how to obtain success.
Success isn’t mutually exclusive to one strategy; it takes an entire tool box of skills and a truck load of ideas to get you to where you want to go. Don’t limit yourself based on a word without evaluating what it means, because you may already be halfway there. Have a great week and don’t forget when your commitment is greater than your feelings you get results.
