5 Reasons Why Manifestation Works Even If You Think It’s Bullsh*t
The seed you plant today may never blossom — and that’s ok.
The most delicious fruit in the world comes from a tree that began as a seed… planted in a pile of manure.
Yet cow dung is universally accepted as unappetizing — to say the least.
Most people view manifestation and visualization practices the same way. They’re judged solely on the fruit they bear.
The truth is, manifestation is an effective habit regardless of the outcome.
Here’s why you should practice manifestation— even if it doesn’t fertilize the life of your dreams.
The catch-22 of self-belief
I’m a big believer in positive self-talk.
Humans are highly influenceable, making your internal dialogue incredibly important.
“You are the average of the five people you spend the most time with.”
So make sure you are being a positive influence — on yourself and on the people around you.
Most people have practiced manifestation at some point in their life, unknowingly. Perhaps they were hoping to run into their romantic crush on the elevator. Or praying they land their dream job despite a shaky first interview.
But humans are notoriously skeptical. And anything that sounds too good to be true, usually is.
I’ve been skeptical of manifestation in the past — not to mention frustrated by it.
After hearing celebrities and motivational speakers wax poetic about the power of manifestation, I decided to try it for myself.
I started writing down my goals, speaking confidently about my future, and visualizing my dreams, daily.
I’d sit and imagine my dream life for a few minutes only to open my eyes to my regular life — where nothing had changed.
No boat would be docked outside my house and my summer body was still lost in the mail.
Over time (as my dreams did not become reality), I felt silly. Seeing is believing, but it became hard to believe when I had nothing to show for my efforts.
That is, until I realized the real value of manifestation has nothing to do with the outcome.
The point is in the practice itself.
Perception is nine-tenths of the law
You’ve heard the expression, ‘possession is nine-tenths of the law.’ Well, when it comes to The Law of Attraction, it’s perception that creates reality.
Ronda Byrne first popularized the concept of The Law of Attraction in the book “The Secret”.
The theory is, thoughts manifest themselves into reality — positive or negative. By focusing on what you want in life, you can will it into existence.
The book was a smashing success as millions of people found comfort in the notion that they have the power to control their destiny.
… Others looked at it as spiritual mumbo-jumbo.
Regardless of your beliefs, the power of visualization is not up for interpretation — it’s backed by science.
Studies show that when thoughts are reinforced over time (especially through imagery), they become indistinguishable from reality. It’s in this sense that perception becomes reality.
Manifestation can be sniffed out as bullish*t — or it can be seen as fertilizer, depending on your perspective.
Manifestation isn’t wishful thinking – it’s brain training
There’s a common misconception that manifestation is simply hoping, praying, or wishing for your dreams to come true.
This couldn’t be farther from the truth.
The vast majority of our growth happens unconsciously. In fact, one study showed that 95% of all brain activity is unconscious.
By focusing your attention on a particular area of your life, you will subconsciously work toward it. The Law of Attraction doesn’t shape the world around you, it helps you navigate it.
Here’s why manifestation is valuable, regardless of the outcome:
1. It trains unconscious action
In his book, “The Power of Habit”, Charles Duhigg talks about the origin of habits — he explains that they’re survival mechanisms.
In the past, we relied on habits to save brain space for important tasks like creating weapons, shelter, or spotting danger.
Instead of stuffing your conscious brain with goals, make them unconscious. Set your intentions regularly to train your unconscious brain to work toward them.
2. It reminds you of your purpose
“Why” is the most powerful word in the English language — it’s also the driving force behind anything we do.
When you feel unmotivated or lost, it’s important to remind yourself what you’re working toward — and more importantly, why.
Repeating your goals acts as a constant reminder of your purpose. Life’s a journey. Your ‘why’ is your compass.
3. It builds self-confidence
Fearing success is just as common as fearing failure.
Many people hope, wish, and dream for success only to feel caught off guard when it comes. Plus, with success comes expectations:
- “What will happen if I succeed?”
- “What if I lose it all?”
- “Do I deserve it?”
As William Shakespeare once said,
“Expectation is the root of all heartache.”
Build confidence in yourself by mentally preparing for your future.
4. It builds self-awareness
Modern life can feel like one big distraction at times.
And often, it’s a welcomed one — we all have feelings we’d rather avoid. But, it’s important to listen to them. Especially the unpleasant ones.
Facing your goals constantly forces you to analyze your life.
If you want to start a business, what have you done to move toward that goal?
What starts out as a simple reaffirmation of your goals may lead you down a journey of self-discovery.
Let it.
As Aristotle said,
“Knowing yourself is the beginning of all wisdom.”
5. It smashes your glass ceiling
When you’re young, anything seems possible — heck, I had real aspirations of becoming a Pokémon trainer.
But as life goes on (and you become more familiar with failure), you may start to limit yourself.
I’m guilty of this.
I’ve always been very confident, but after experiencing a few big failures in life, I began setting my sights lower and lower. It became hard to envision a life that was anything other than ordinary.
That is, until I learned this one manifestation hack.
If you have a hard time seeing your future because of past failures, feel it instead. Be certain of it.
Just as certain as you are that you will take your next breath or wake up tomorrow, be certain of your future. Bask in the feeling.
You don’t need to be able to see your future — if you can feel it.
Manifestation is real-life alchemy
In “The Alchemist”, Paulo Coelho writes about the fictional practice of alchemy.
A trained alchemist can turn copper to gold or cure incurable diseases by bending the chemistry of natural elements.
To the naked eye, alchemy looks like magic — but it’s based in science. Even the most skilled practitioner cannot create something out of nothing.
They must abide by the laws of nature.
Manifestation follows a similar principle.
No one can manifest their dream life without working for it. The practice of manifestation itself creates unconscious habits, powerful mindsets, and aligns your desires with your actions.
To summarize, it:
- Trains unconscious behaviour
- Reminds you of your ‘why’
- Builds confidence in the future
- Keeps your personal compass tuned
- Helps you move past limiting beliefs
You don’t need magic to build your dream life — you have the tools.
👉 Free mindfulness tools for creators.
💻 Click here to gain unlimited access to stories like this one.
