Manifesting your dream life is not up to you. Sorry.

There are a lot of people making a lot of money selling their teachings on how to manifest your dreams, more money, a skinny body and the list goes on.

Am I against it? No. Do I believe in it? Partly (I’ll explain).

First, what is manifestation? According to vocabulary.com, “a manifestation is the public display of emotion or feeling, or something theoretical made real.  Manifestation's origins are in religion and spirituality because if something spiritual becomes real, it is said to be a manifestation. The word's usage has spread to include all aspects of life.”

According to Huffington post, you must follow these 7 steps to manifest your dreams, a job, money, anything you want:

1.    Get clear about what you want (define it and be specific. Ex. I want a vacation home within walking distance of the beach)
2.    Tell the universe (using visualization, meditation, prayer)
3.    Work toward your goals (don’t sit and just wait, thinking since you’ve put it out in the “universe” that now it will happen regardless)
4.    Trust the process (knowing that it will happen, it’s just a matter of time)
5.    Receive and acknowledge what you get (meaning, be thankful for the small wins and any challenges along the way, because it means you are working toward the goal)
6.    Keep your vibration high (i.e. positivity and joy all day, every day)
7.    Clear your resistance (meaning, get rid of limiting beliefs like “things never come easy for me” or “I will always struggle in life”)

Manifestation is a lot like the law of attraction. If you have ever read the book The Secret you know what I mean. Basically, what you think, how you act, believe and portray is what you will receive. For instance, if you are jealous of others for what they have, you are blocking yourself from receiving those same things; or if you believe you can’t lose weight, then you won’t lose weight. It is what we believe and how we put those beliefs out into the world, that manifests itself into a reality.

What these manifestation coaches are selling is the belief that if you follow all the above steps (and their teachings, of course), all your wants, desires, and dreams, will come true. 

This is where I say, nope.  Not true.

I do believe in the law of attraction.  I also believe that we have the power to create change and that when you take these steps to renew your mind, shift your way of thinking, etc., your life will change. 

BUT here’s the caveat: if what you have manifested is not what God desires for you or it is not in line with what he has destined for you, (AND for others, because the world does not revolve around you.  It is about the greater good for everyone), then it will not become a reality for you.

I’m going to give you a personal example. Part of my “day job” is being a realtor.  Last year, I was hired to sell a property in a high-end market.  I was extremely excited because the high commission would provide for me and my family, and I felt it would give me a more prominent position in my field.  Essentially, I would make a nice, big paycheck and people would notice my accomplishment.  So, when I landed this listing, I focused on manifesting selling the property and closing the deal.

Here’s how I applied the 7 Steps and manifested my desire:

1.    I was clear on what I wanted – I want to sell this property within one month
2.    I put it out into the “universe” – I prayed, asked and told God: “Lord if this is your will for my life and for my client, then please send me a buyer and let’s close this deal within the next month.  [Yes, I gave God a timeline. Ha! By the way, putting a timeline on your want is one of the “no-no’s” in manifestation]
3.    Work toward the goal – I did everything and anything I had to, to sell the property
4.    Trust the process – I trusted that it would sell because I was being positive and hopeful; I was doing the work, the client was positive, the market in this area is ‘hot’ and promising, etc. And I trusted in the Lord.  I also felt that God would want this for me too! Therefore, it was going to happen.
5.    Receive and acknowledge what you get – yup. I did this.  I got great feedback, offers, etc.  And I was patient when things didn’t go the way I thought they would.
6.    Keep your vibration high – I was super positive!  I kept declaring, “I will sell this property by July”, “I will have a buyer”.  I envisioned the closing day - sitting at the closing table with the seller, lawyers, etc. I envisioned receiving the check from the closing.  I envisioned my reaction and happiness.  Believe me, I manifested, prayed, envisioned, believed, trusted, and did the work.
7.    Clear your resistance.  I didn’t even let any negative thoughts enter my brain.  NONE. Zero.  I would wake up on high vibrations and go to bed envisioning selling this property.

But guess what?  If you haven’t figured it out, well, it didn’t happen. 

That property didn’t sell.  I won’t bore you with specific details, but the short of it is, the seller decided to take it off the market because it wasn’t the right time.

After all my hard work, praying, manifesting, it was over.  And I was devastated.  I couldn’t understand how it didn’t happen after all the “manifesting” and praying and work I did.  I just didn’t get it? ! I did all the steps.  I MANIFESTED like crazy! No one could tell me I wasn’t going to sell that property and make a killing. But I didn’t sell it.  And I lost money, to be honest.

After feeling sorry for myself for a few days, I realized a couple of things:
1) I can’t put a timeline on things.  They will happen when it’s the right time for me and for everyone else around me because it’s not just about ME. God has a plan for everyone, even my client.  It wasn’t the right time for her; therefore, it wasn’t the right time for me. And
2) That above all, God decides.  He’s in control. Bottom line.

Don’t get me wrong, we should believe in and work toward our dreams. We should do all the above steps because living a life without positivity, hopes, and dreams is living a life without purpose, without vocation.  And that Is not what God has meant for you.  God’s plan is BIGGER and BETTER than what you manifest or what you could ever imagine.

When I was in the market of looking for a home a few years ago, I prayed for a beautiful home for my family, never imagining the home the Lord would bless me with, would be the home I had always dreamed of. I get to live in a home that I dreamed about but never really thought I would ever have (this was a limiting belief). Some would say I manifested this home, but I didn’t “manifest” it into being on purpose. That is God at work.

Don’t give up on your dreams, but pray that they line up with what God wants for you and trust that whatever he does do in your life is what is right for you. Remain positive and believe in the truths of His Word.  Not the words or opinions of others. You can follow positive people, manifestation coaches, or whatever, (I still do!) but know that ultimately, it’s God decision.  And you have to be ok with that. 

The universe was made by God.He is abundant and infinite. His love and goodness never end. So, know there will always be more goodness available for you.