Your manifestation looks like greed
Did I stutter?
Money Manifestation Course: 12 weeks to 3x the Income, How I Manifested My Dream Job, 6 Figure Launch Codes, 6 Steps to 6 Figures, The Fast-Track to Manifesting Your Income Goals and so the list goes of just some of the masterminds/online courses you can purchase.
I bet Miss Cleo is laughing so hard right now. If you aren’t familiar with Miss Cleo, do yourself a favor and enjoy this Best Of moment. The short of it, is Miss Cleo was an actress posing as a psychic on the Psychic Readers Network and was sued for fraud - there’s a HBO Max documentary on the whole wild ride - take it.
But just like the Get Out of Debt Now ads on late night TV (if you are old enough to remember ads, or aren’t springing for the ad-free experience), the way manifestation is showing up today is a fast-track to disappointment.
TLDR: By some loose definition, and this is definitely loose — manifestation is a holistic approach to achieving your dreams by combining positive thinking, belief, and intentional action. But right now, I’ve noticed the concept of manifestation has evolved into this commercialized trend that focuses more on the positive thinking and belief, and less on the action. You know… the work.
No one wants to work anymore.
The Vision Board Illusion
Now don’t misunderstand - I love a vision board just as much as the next person. I’ve loved them since I was 14 years old and called it a collage. I would bust out my YM, Teen People, Seventeen, Alternative Press, RollingStone, Dance Spirit - love a magazine. My collages were next level bad ass. I made collages all the time, whenever the mood stuck me. It didn’t have to align with the beginning of a new year or a new moon - I just created when I was called to.
Trust, I know manifestation is more than collages. I do. We got affirmations and gratitude lists, journalling and meditations — But just like that morning routine - manifestation is starting to look a lot like habit stacking and God forbid we forget to do our daily affirmations, cuz then our whole vision will crumble and how will I ever get that 6-figure launch so I can afford my dream home on the beach?
OMG… does this sound like a first-world problem to anyone else?
With the advent of Pinterest and Instagram… these platforms practically create your vision for you. They are flooded with aesthetically pleasing boards complete with everything you could ever want… luxury cars, sprawling mansions, the designer label bag and shoes - you know all the THINGS you could ever want.
While there's nothing inherently wrong with aspiring for financial success, the problem is when these boards are created with the expectation that visualization alone will make it so.
Manifestation, in its truest form, is not about dreaming but about aligning one's actions with those dreams. The law of attraction teaches that like attracts like, meaning that positive actions and hard work are as crucial as positive thoughts. Yet, the current trend emphasizes the former at the expense of the latter.
The Mastermind Mirage
We live in the internet. The future is now. Everyone is an expert. Yet everyone is stalled with decision paralysis. With so much information on the internet, people are constantly searching for the quick fix, the right answer, just tell me and I’ll do it mentality. And Manifesting Masterminds are cashing in.
Mastermind groups and courses that promise five and six-figure incomes in record time have proliferated, capitalizing on the allure of quick success. These programs often market themselves with testimonials of overnight success stories, creating an unrealistic expectation that wealth and success can be effortlessly achieved. The reality is that sustainable success requires time, dedication, and resilience.
The appeal of these masterminds lies in their promise of a shortcut—a way to bypass the grind and fast-track success. This mindset can lead to disappointment and disillusionment when the promised results don't materialize. It undermines the value of genuine effort and the growth that comes from overcoming challenges.
Basically, your manifestation has already been set up to fail when your mind is set on how you can achieve your desires quickly, with minimal effort on your part.
There is no such thing as passive income. There’s just not.
The Forgotten Art of Hard Work
At its core, manifestation is about more than just material wealth. It's about self-improvement, personal growth, and aligning with one's true purpose. The commercialization of manifestation has stripped it of these deeper, more meaningful elements.
The narrative that "thoughts become things" should not overshadow the importance of the journey itself. The process of working towards a goal, facing setbacks, and persevering is what builds character and resilience.
Look at me! I’ve built a lot of character over the years.
Hard work fucking sucks.
It’s late nights.
It’s early mornings.
It’s saying no.
It’s being misunderstood.
It’s getting uncomfortable.
It’s choosing yourself when no one else will.
It’s believing in your idea when no one else does.
It’s character building.
It’s fucking tough.
But you know what else it is…
It’s fucking brilliant. It’s the best high. It’s inspiring. It’s the biggest smile on your face. It hurts your heart just a little bit (well a lot) cuz you think it might burst from pure joy… you don’t know if your having a heart attack, anxiety attack or if this is what happiness is. It’s a very confusing, but immensely rewarding feeling. Is this pride?
Go FERAL with Manifestation (include the work):
Let’s balance dreaming with some work, shall we? What do I mean?
Be Honest. Are These Your Dreams?: How often do you sit still and listen to yourself? No TV, no tiny internet (what I call my cellphone), no music (this one is a struggle for me) and really reflect on what you want. Or are you just listening to the collective want and think because everyone else has a side hustle you should too? Or just because everyone else wants a house on the beach you do too? Do you even like the beach? Or want to own a house? Pro-Tip: Dreams don’t have to be material.
Do. Just Do: Complement your vision board, your affirmations with an action plan. Be reasonable. Break down your goals into manageable steps and commit to working towards them daily. And I do mean daily - we are moving pebbles here, not mountains. Really just start. If you are waiting for the perfect time, you are going to die waiting. And while you are waiting, someone else is going to pick up that idea and run wild with it… be the one who dares to run wild. You might not get what you want, but you won’t regret it. You’ll regret wondering what could have been or what might have happened.
Be Better Than Scrolling: Engage in practices that promote personal development - some of my favorites are journaling, meditation, and taking classes (at the gym, at a local art studio, etc). Focus on you and becoming the best version of you, not just on the things you want - those will come. Well, the real truth is once you start focusing on you, you don’t really want those things much anymore cuz they probably don’t align with you - they align with everyone else’s expectation of what success looks like. What does success look like for you?
Be Skeptical of Quick Fixes: Approach mastermind groups and courses with a critical eye. Look for programs that emphasize long-term growth and sustainable success rather than quick wins.
Take a Mentor Out (I like tea): Learn. Challenge yourself. Find someone or a group of someone’s who you want to learn from. Look for your community, mentors, the people who will challenge you and celebrate you - those are the groups to align with. Find someone who’s story resonates with you. Someone who you aspire to be like. They might have a program- enroll in it, or see if they offer an intro meeting, they might not - reach out anyway, see if they like coffee or tea, and ask them if you could have a bit of their time to pick their brain.
Just a one last thought–
Dreams are not meant to be handed to us on a silver platter; they are meant to inspire us to reach higher, work harder, and be better.
