Unlocking the Power of Manifesting: My 21-Day Journey
This month, I completed Gabby Bernstein's 21-Day Manifesting Challenge. While I approached it with an open mind, my curiosity about the psychology and neuroscience behind manifesting remained piqued throughout. The experience was a blend of visualization, gratitude, journaling, and focusing on positives. I learned a lot—both practically and personally—and want to share my reflections, along with an exploration of why manifesting might work (or not).
My Manifesting Experience
The challenge started with a clear goal: getting intentional about what I wanted to manifest. This included creating a vision board, which turned out to be one of the most impactful exercises. To my amazement, something on my vision board came to life almost exactly as I envisioned it. Seeing my dreams take shape in the physical world was both empowering and spooky.
One exercise involved asking the Universe for a sign that I was on the right track. For whatever reason, I asked for something yellow. Two days later, I noticed a man wearing a bright yellow hat stepping out of a house with a yellow front door—a door I had never noticed before, despite driving past it almost daily. Was it a coincidence, or had my awareness shifted?
The last 21 days also brought unexpected opportunities. A friend suggested a new client for my business, an old colleague contacted me with a business idea and a playdate with another mum led to a conversation about her husband, who specializes in scaling small businesses—something I’ve been contemplating. These moments felt serendipitous and aligned with what I had been visualizing.
The Psychology and Neuroscience of Manifesting
So, what makes manifesting work? At its core, manifesting engages several psychological and neurological mechanisms:
Reticular Activating System (RAS): This part of the brain acts as a filter, deciding what information is worth focusing on. By clarifying what we want (e.g., through vision boards or journaling), we prime our RAS to notice opportunities and connections aligned with our goals.
Visualisation and Mental Rehearsal: Athletes have long used visualisation to improve performance. When we visualise a desired outcome, the brain fires neurons in similar patterns to actually experiencing it, creating a sense of familiarity and readiness.
Positive Thinking and Gratitude: Focusing on positives rather than negatives can rewire neural pathways, fostering a mindset that’s more open to opportunities and solutions.
Behavioural Alignment: Manifesting often involves setting intentions and taking aligned actions. This focus helps us work toward our goals, consciously or unconsciously.
Why Manifesting Might Not Work
While many find success with manifesting, it is not a guaranteed formula. Some common pitfalls include:
Lack of Action: Manifesting isn’t magic. Without actionable steps, dreams often remain just that—dreams.
Unrealistic Expectations: Expecting instant results or focusing on unattainable goals can lead to frustration and skepticism.
Confirmation Bias: It’s possible to attribute coincidences to manifesting, while ignoring the role of chance or effort.
Toxic Positivity: Overemphasizing positive thinking can dismiss valid emotions like doubt or fear, which are natural parts of personal growth.
Final Thoughts
My experience with the 21-Day Manifesting Challenge was both eye-opening and affirming. While the process wasn’t without its questions, it reminded me of the power of clarity, focus and gratitude. Manifesting shares similarities with working with a life coach—both involve setting clear goals, staying intentional and focussing on tangible steps to move forward. A life coach, however, can add an additional layer of support by helping you break down your goals into actionable steps, holding you accountable, and guiding you through challenges that arise along the way. Whether through manifesting or coaching, the key is aligning with a mindset of possibility and taking intentional action toward your desired outcomes.
Have you tried manifesting? Or have you worked with a life coach to achieve your goals? I’d love to hear about your experiences and whether you’ve noticed shifts in your life!
