How to manifest what you want (without the woo woo fluff)

May 31

Let’s be real for a second:
When you hear the word manifestation, do you picture someone sitting cross-legged on a yoga mat, “calling in abundance,” and waiting for the universe to Amazon Prime their soulmate?

Yeah. Me too.

And listen, I love a good meditation and I’m all for positive vibes.

But for most high-achievers, the “just think positive and it will appear” version of manifestation feels…well…a little out there.

Here’s the good news: Manifestation actually works. But only when you understand how your brain is wired and pair it with action.

No crystals required.

**What Manifestation Actually Is (and Isn’t)**

Manifestation isn’t about pretending everything’s fine or “thinking happy thoughts” while your life stays exactly the same.

It’s about training your mind to focus on what matters, so your actions line up with your goals.

This is backed by neuroscience. Specifically, your Reticular Activating System (RAS). It’s the part of your brain that filters information and decides what to notice.

For example, a few years ago my husband decided he wanted a Jeep Grand Cherokee. Suddenly, he was seeing them EVERYWHERE, and yelling out, “There’s my car!”

Meanwhile, they looked like every other SUV to me. And even after we eventually bought one, it still took me about a month to recognize it in the parking lot of Kroger.

When you get clear about what you want, your brain starts scanning the world for evidence and opportunities to support it.

This is why, when you decide you want a certain car, you suddenly see it everywhere.

It was always there. You just weren’t filtering for it.

Why Manifesting Hasn’t Worked for You (Yet)

If you’ve ever rolled your eyes at manifestation because you watched The Secret, tried it, and nothing happened, you’re not alone.

Here’s where most people (especially high-achievers) go sideways:

1. You focus on lack, not creation. You spend more time thinking about what you don’t have than what you’re building. Your brain then filters for more “not having it.”

2. You visualize the outcome, not the process. When I was in grad school, I studied professional athletes and the power of visualization. Here’s what I learned:

Top athletes don’t just visualize themselves SUCCEEDING. They visualizing everything that could go wrong AND HOW THEY OVERCOME IT AND SUCCEED ANYWAY (yelling at you for emphasis)

If you see yourself with the dream house, job, partner, or business, but not the messy, uncomfortable, human steps required to get there - You’re doing it wrong.

3. You don’t let yourself want what you really want

You gaslight yourself into thinking, “I should just be grateful,” or “That’s unrealistic.” (Psst — that’s gaslighting in disguise. I wrote more about the career version of this here.)

How to Manifest Effectively: 3 Simple (and Non-Fluffy) Steps

Step 1: Get crystal clear on what you want
Your brain can’t filter for something vague. Write down what you want in plain language. No judgment, no editing.

Don’t worry about the how yet. This step alone shifts your brain into possibility mode.

Think:

A specific income goal
A kind of work environment
A vacation or lifestyle upgrade
A creative project
A feeling you want more of

Pro tip: If you catch yourself saying “I don’t know what I want,” it usually means you do. You’re just afraid to claim it.

Step 2: Visualize the process, not just the end result
Close your eyes and imagine yourself taking the actions to create that result. Not the perfect, polished version. The real, messy one.

Visualize:

Feeling nervous and doing it anyway
Overcoming roadblocks
Taking micro-steps consistently
Building evidence that you can do hard things

This is where manifestation gets powerful. You’re not “wishing.” You’re training your brain to see yourself as the kind of person who creates results.

Step 3: Take micro-moves, daily
Manifestation without action is just daydreaming.

Once your brain is locked in on what matters, back it up with tiny, deliberate steps.

You don’t need to overhaul your life overnight. Just give your brain something to work with. Over time, small steps create massive momentum.

And you take the action you need to take to create the life and career you really want.

Common Manifestation Pitfalls for High-Achievers

If you’re wired to overthink, overwork, and chase perfection, these traps will sound familiar:

Overcomplicating it - You research vision boards, morning routines, scripting, and try to do all of it perfectly.
Tying self-worth to results - You make success mean you’re “enough” and failure mean you’re not. ([See: Do You Have a Messed-Up Relationship With Success?])
Quitting too soon - You expect instant results, and when they don’t come, you decide “it didn’t work” instead of adjusting and persisting.

What Happens When You Manifest the Right Way

When you manifest effectively (aka train your brain and back it with action), everything starts to move faster:

You notice opportunities you were previously blind to
You waste less time in doubt and more time in motion
Confidence grows, because you’re proving to yourself that you can
You collapse timelines and things happen faster than you thought possible

Final Thoughts

You don’t need to hustle harder or wait for the universe to drop your dream life on your doorstep. You need to get clear, train your brain, and take aligned action.

Manifestation isn’t magic. It’s practical psychology + courage.

If you want support bringing your goals to life with both strategy and mindset, this is exactly the work I do with my clients. And you’ll want to set up a call with me to talk about working together 1:1.

Are you ready to do the impossible?

Hi! I’m Erica

Wife to Brendan. Mom to twins + one. Dog mom. Slow runner. Coffee drinker. GIF enthusiast.

I’m a licensed mental health therapist and life coach and career coach. I help you accomplish in 6 months that thing you’ve been thinking about doing for years.