Now if you’re not of the Christian faith, re-read that last paragraph and use “Universe” or “Mother Earth” or whatever term you identify with in place of “God.” The principle is still the same. The Universe is not going to hand you something that’s not in alignment with your purpose. Or at least not for very long. You’ll be presented with your learning moment and then need to move forward in pursuit of your purpose. As the old saying goes, the Universe has your back.

Ok, now that we’ve cleared that up, let’s jump into some of the keys to manifesting. There are many ways to manifest, and what I discuss here are just tools that I’ve used that resonate with me. This is not the end-all, be-all instruction manual for manifesting, but it’s a great start!

Manifesting before Sleeping

Manifesting before sleep… I love this approach because it puts me in a more positive headspace before going to sleep, which results in better sleep. Life is heavy; whether it’s just the mundane day-to-day grind or more serious struggles, it’s human nature (especially for women) for our brains to kick into overdrive as soon as our head hits the pillow. We replay events of the day, go through the mental to-do list, rehash conversations that we wish had gone a different direction, worry about more serious issues plaguing our family or friends, and the list goes on. But, going through some steps for manifesting before sleep makes that stress take a hike and lets optimism and calmness prevail.

First, TURN OFF YOUR SCREENS!! This is so important. Screens are distracting, and the blue light has a negative impact on our mental health, serotonin production, and eyesight. Once you’ve severed that proverbial cord, take a nice long full body stretch. Stand straight or lie on your back, reach your arms overhead, stretch through your torso and down through your legs, spread your toes, flex and point your ankles (if lying down) or root your feet to the ground and rock on your feet a little (if standing up). Take a nice long deep breath in, hold for 4-5 seconds, and then take a nice long exhalation. Take inventory of how your body feels, and repeat if you feel drawn to that.

Second, meditate/pray to clear your mind. What’s bothering you in this moment? Give it to God (or the universe). Make your desires known to the Lord. Ask for His guidance. Offer thanks for at least three things from your day… the sunshine, an unexpected message from a friend, hitting all the green lights, good news from a doctor… find three things for which you can offer thanks. Be in meditation/prayer with God for a few minutes and get our whatever comes to mind. Some people like to write their prayers. If this speaks to you, do it. Otherwise the traditional “conversation” is perfect as well.

Third, recite some releases and affirmations. If you’re not familiar with this practice, these are simply “I” statements to let go of the negative and invite in the positive. First are releases to move out the negative. These can be simple or more complex. For example, I release feeling stressed about laundry. I release old patterns that no longer serve me. I release feeling like I’m not enough. … You get the idea. While you’re reciting releases, be sure to stop and take a deep breath every so often. These releases are powerful and can make you feel heavy or make your chest feel tight, so stop to breath through the emotions. After your releases comes the super fun part, AFFIRMATIONS! The sky is the limit with these. Affirmations invite in the positive. For example, I am choosing joy. I am a shining light for my friends and family. I am productive with little pockets of time. I intuitively know what to focus on now. I am creating the life I want. I am ready to fulfill God’s purpose. I am able to partner with God for positive change for me and my family. I am worthy of a healthy mind and body. I am empowered to care for my wellness. Affirmations may feel “false” at first if you’re deeply rooted in limiting beliefs, but take time to really feel what you think it would feel like for these to be true. Harness that positive energy and feel God’s love for you!

Fourth, journal about your ideal life for three to five minutes. This can be about one specific piece of your ideal life or it can be your ideal life in general. Some ideas include journaling about your ideal partner if you are currently single, journaling about a new house if you are wanting to move, journaling about that ideal job or career, journaling about how you will live once your health issue is resolved, etc. No detail is too small to include; write down whatever thought comes to mind during this exercise. Do you want that new bathroom to have a deep, jetted tub with a window facing west? Write it down!

Last, but certainly not least, climb in bed, get in a comfortable position, and visualize what you journaled. Visualize that deep, jetted tub; visualize yourself in your new office at your dream job; visualize yourself crossing that finish line of your first race; visualize that partner being at your side. Now that you have filled your brain with new, positive ideas, your subconscious will work on that while you sleep. Your brain will be rewriting your story without you being aware of it. You may find yourself having vivid dreams about your journaling topics. You will rest better with your new positive mindset. If you do this regularly, your thought patterns will change. You will notice new responses that serve you better than your old, negative patterns. You will see things happen moving you in the direction of your dreams.

Go manifest, my friends! Release the old and bring in the new! Give yourself permission to truly show up in your life! You have a divine purpose! If you need help coming up with a plan for manifesting before you sleep, we can help you develop a step-by-step checklist.