We're Men We Don't Do This Manifesting Thing, Right?

"One million dollars, I'm going to get there. It's going to happen," a friend of mine tells me as he continues writing "1,000,000" in his notebook, closing his eyes and visualizing it. I couldn't help but ask, "Um, so what exactly are you doing?" "I'm manifesting," he replied.

Yes, this actually happened a couple of years ago. In that moment, I was like, "Oookkayyy, do you need help or someone to talk to?"

What Manifesting Really Means (And What It Doesn’t)

Manifesting. I don’t know about you, but I had never heard about this concept until recently (three or four years ago), and I was like, "This so captures this generation." What are we busy doing? Well, glad you asked we’re manifesting. But joking aside, let me jump into this new-agey concept and dispel what it is, what it isn’t, and why it’s actually pretty darn relevant.

Like many guys that I've come across, we hear these concepts and ideas and are like, "Add it to the list of things like the zodiac, energy healing, and meditation" (which I will discuss in another post and why women vs. men are drawn to it more, etc.) and kind of say, "Live and let live. If you believe in it, good for you, but it's not my thing."

Manifesting isn’t just a Tony Robbins or Dr. Joe Dispenza selling and marketing technique. And it’s not just some mystical practice reserved for a person from Tzfat or a Kabbalist-style guy.  it’s something actually integral to success.

So, let's first dispel what it isn't. (Maybe a good time to say a little PSA that this is all my understanding from the classes, podcasts, and research I've done.) It isn't just writing down quotes and ideas, even though that can definitely be a part of it. It isn't just listening and saying mantras over and over, even though that can really speed up the process. It isn't something you need to go to the forest or some gathering with people to find this special energy, even though that can lend a hand to manifesting. Actually, as much as manifesting sounds like a super floaty idea, it’s pretty darn down-to-earth and concrete. It really demands you to be your best self. Let me explain.

Story Time

So, when I set out to dedicate my life to helping others by getting my social work degree (oh, and by the way, did I mention it wasn’t just about helping others? Turns out, I was also filling a little void of my own something I came to understand through all that schooling), I had this neat, idealized picture of what my future would look like. You know, sitting down with people, working through their challenges, fixing up those areas that needed healing, and then heading home to my perfect little suburban life. Picture it: coming home to my lovely wife, kids causing just enough chaos to keep things interesting, getting them to bed, and then winding down with the wifey to talk about our days, maybe reading a book or catching a documentary after a quick workout. Boom, the picture-perfect life, right? Well... guess what? That’s exactly what happened! Yep, totally nailed it.

Just kidding! (You so didn't see that coming, right?) As you could have guessed, that’s definitely not what happened. But let me get to the point I'm trying to make with this story. See, I went into school with a pretty generic picture of what I wanted my life to look like. However, through schooling and post-school life, I've come to understand the complexities within this field (what demographic, where to work, what approach to use, and many more considerations), coupled with personal life (relationship with wife, kids, community, personal goals and ambitions, etc.). And this, my friends, is where manifesting comes into play and why it’s integral to success and life.

The Power of Clarity

Manifesting demands that you get really clear about what exactly you are aiming for. Not in general, but in specifics like not just "I'm wealthy, healthy, and happy," but what does that actually look like and mean? Is $100k a year wealth for you? Is being able to run a marathon your bar of health? Does happiness look like having time for your hobbies? See, manifesting means getting as clear as you can about what you think will actually bring out the best in you. You don’t have to take my word for it try it yourself. Are you clear about what exactly you want your relationships to look like? Are you clear about what your abilities are, what you want your future to look like, and the challenges that will come?

It’s like with my wife. When we get into something where she would like something or I'm missing something, I’ll mention, "You got to give me something to aim at." The same thing happens for us internally. You got to give yourself things to really aim for, and then once you do this, you can add all those other tools mentioned above to train your mind, body, heart, and spirit toward it.

Unlocking Potential

We truly have unlimited potential within us, but it can only emerge when we’re able to call upon it. That only happens when we have clear aims, when we know where we want to go.

To clarify: once we manifest, meaning once we do the hard work of creating a clear picture of our best selves, we then focus on each present moment, trusting that whatever happens is part of the journey that needs to unfold.

In other words, manifesting isn’t about rigidity. Quite the opposite, it allows you to be open and adaptable because you’ve already done the deep work of being honest and authentic with yourself while recognizing the greatness within. Once that’s done, it’s about being present and putting one foot in front of the other.

We surrender the outcomes after we manifest, believing that whatever is happening now is exactly as it’s meant to be. These two sides, clarity and genuine self-understanding coupled with surrendering the outcomes and journey, are the key.

Trust the Process

See, the body is filled with an insane amount of intelligence, way beyond mere cognition as we know it. So once we get clear and give it an aim that it knows is beneficial, and work through the limiting beliefs, it almost naturally will bring and attract opportunities and experiences for this picture to happen and become reality.

So go manifest (and yes, if you would have told me years back I would be writing about manifesting, I would have thought you were crazy, and yet you’re not, and here we are). See what comes up within you. Go off autopilot and take the wheel (is that what you call it? I don’t know, but you get my point).

Oh, that friend isn’t a millionaire (yet), but he is following his talents and passions and is really creating some amazing things in the world. And just to add, maybe being a millionaire isn’t what would bring out the best in him or really manifest all his talents, personality, etc.

#KeepBecoming