Here's how manifesting works: once while on a road trip home, my husband and I made a list of every single thing we needed to do to get the long-neglected property I'd inherited ready to sell. It was a ridiculously long and arduous list. Over a year later, when we'd sold the property (for an excellent price) I found that list and realized we'd completed every item on it. And we toiled like serfs to get it done. Manifesting is nothing more than focused intention: there's the crucial difference between intending to get your ass off the couch and actually standing up.
The "Prosperity Gospel" of the Christian Nationalists is based on that manifesting mindset. God's grace is only bestowed on the rich. Their favorite phrase? "There but for the grace of God go I" while pointing fingers at the poor and marginalized.
While I occasionally dance in the land of the unicorns (meaning spiritual and cool quantum stuff) and find myself comfortable there, I appreciate you pointing out this obvious, vital fact about moving forward in our life toward things we want or need. It's bizarre to me that people miss the small point that we have to actually DO something to GET something, but I guess it's a result of new-agey brainwashing combined with folks believing any crap that will get them what they want the easiest and fastest way. That being said, there is some interesting new research about how our brain works in response to seeing things we've been thinking about that can play an interesting role in 'manifesting' (I hate that word). The important thing, as you said, is that it can only play a role when we get our butts off the couch.
Well said Donna. New agey is fine as long as you don’t forget the practicality, don’t expect manifesting to work on its own, and buy shiney rocks that represent health but still go to the doctor for a UTI hehe.
To change larger realities like this, we need to shift the collective consciousness. The more people wish for this change, the more possible it becomes. It’s complex, and simply wishing for change won’t accomplish much.
We need many positive minds who are also willing to take action and actually do something! There are so many billionaires who COULD make a real difference, but their minds are not open.
If we redirected just three years' worth of the U.S. military budget (which is nearly $1 trillion annually) we could potentially cure world hunger.
We can create a better world, but only if everyone works on healing their emotional traumas and wounds and then come together.
Humans have lost empathy and connection to their higher selves. Without these, we are doomed.
I'm not sure if the principal works or not, I've read a bit of the Silva mind things & the MindValley talks etc., they're very intriguing and I wonder if practicing the stuff daily would improve one's life???
I will say that being vegan IS cheaper than the meat eating lifestyle..... that's a fact 😉
Rarely can we ever be completely sure of everything. Hardwork and determination do have a proven track record though so I'm sticking with that.
Vegan can be cheaper yeah. If you go to normal stores and don't get sucked into the whole-foods-type stores and lifestyle. That shit is expensive as all hell haha.
Yes, the whole foods store is expensive lol, I think it's because everything's organic and you don't have to hunt for the organic stuff like in average stores. ☺️
But I have noticed that their produce is much better and lasts longer in the fridge. But the best produce is from my local farmers, their veggies last incredibly long and they're organic.
I remember this article! Interestingly, I once worked as a therapist with a client who was seeing a life coach at the same time. His life coach worked with law of attraction ideas. So it was intriguing to (indirectly) collaborate with his life coach to help my client. I paid attention to our parallels and overlaps. As a crude example, if we believe that nothing will ever work out for us, then we'll be less likely to ask for help, make new friends, or search for opportunities....which then shrinks the possibility that things will work out for us. If you believe that things will work out and you will succeed, this encourages you to be more open to opportunities and new people, which increases your chances to achieve cool things. Have you heard of the term "luck surface area"? Networking a lot, is a powerful way to increase our opportunities and "luck."
So my client's life coach and I, don't have the same philosophy for how the cause-and-effect mechanics work. But we do agree on what he could do to help himself, LOL.
Love this article and 100% agree that without action, manifestation won't work.
In my opinion, manifestation is real, but as much as I'd love to think it's something to do with the universe, I actually believe it's to do with the Reticular Activating System, which is the part of our brain that's responsible for filtering out & letting through information.
When we tell our brain what we're interested in (or not) we'll see more opportunities, notice articles, books or podcasts on the topic, see job adverts which our brains would've ignored for us before.
So if we train our brains to see what we want in life, we'll see it, and be in a position to take advantage of the opportunity. ❤️🧠
I'd agree with that, in seeing opportunity. I just think people get too bogged down in the manifesting and not enough in the practicality of making it happen.
Just to let you know, Robin, because Kristi Keller plugged you in a comment thread about getting paid for being kicka$$ funny. (The "kicka$$" is my term after reading this post, because you are!)
I subbed because I desire to laugh more. Love your sarcasm.
One point in defense of the author of The Secret:
A few years after the book was published, and I have no idea where that was, the author wrote that editors of the book cut the most important parts => You have to do the work!
Without taking [precise] action, the law of attraction doesn't work.
It makes me think of the popular quote, "God helps those who help themselves." (Doesn't have to be read in a religious way. We can substitute "God" for the universe, life, fate/ destiny, nature, etc.)
I think you're on the right track here but you're right, manifestation needs ACTION to actually become the thing. It doesn't materialize out of thin air! Mindset is everything. If you don't think it'll happen then you don't take the steps to MAKE it happen.
I agree with you Kristi. Manifesting is powerful, but only if there is action taken with the right mindset. Otherwise, it was just wasted thoughts - going nowhere slowly!
It's interesting. I have always said things similar to this, about the law of attraction. I still think that most (if not all) happens because you are in the right mindset and therefore working towards your goals.
But at the same time I have seen a huge difference in my life after doing therapy for years. I used to have plan A to Z for everything and then somehow another problem letter popped up for me to deal with. That's no longer the case now, and my sciency brain can't figure out how to explain it! Very fucking annoying 😂
😂 extremely fucking annoying haha. And agreed, if you plan everything to a T, and those things require specific results you're setting yourself up for failure. It's like trying to plan the perfect party, then the haphazardly put together one ends up being the most fun.
Everyone can manifest. But not many know how to receive. Look into why your soul needs to expel such an outburst of bad light towards an innocent and easy practice. Don’t yuck positivity’s yum ✨
Well it's hard to respond to your counters when you keep editing your comments, so sure! I think your geese posts are fantastic and I hadn't laughed that hard in so long! Your impact with you readers is more well received and beneficial when you're spreading laughs. THAT post, to me, took hard work. This post, seems like an outburst of frustration. I rage write all the time, it's healthy as fuck and necessary. But sometimes we need to be wise and know when to share those thoughts or not. I apologize if your perception of me checking someone if attacking your ego, it's not the goal. Expand your vision as to why someone would feel the need to comment this. I love your work regardless!
You're very right on the issue of being able to receive..... for some, it's very difficult to achieve that mindset. I think if one can attain a state of gratitude, then learning to receive becomes easier to incorporate into one's life.
Yeah it's a mindset thing, right? If we call it "mindset" or "attitude," it might be better received than calling it "manifesting," because of the cultural connotations of these different terms... And lol, my relationship coach friend bluntly told me that I might have "closed heart energy." 😅 Which is in the same vein as mindset/ attitude/ manifesting.
I prefer terms like mindset too. Things like recognizing opportunity are solid but I also believe the harder you work the more opportunities and ‘luck’ seem to magically come your way.
Absolutely! You're right. Our hearts are directly in tune with our thoughts and mindset, it's a symbiotic relationship.... also, how we "see" things greatly affects all the chakras, said chakras all balance upon each other. It all comes back to our unique perspectives on life and experiences. We can gradually adjust our balance when we're ready to take the journey and put in a little effort each day.... even the smallest effort can make a huge difference. 💕
My first exposure to the law of attraction, was actually a book written by a physicist. (Don't recall the book title, though.) He said that it reminded him of quantum particles and how vibrations spread through the universe...I'm no physicist, lol. But that's pretty cool to think of the law of attraction in terms of quantum mechanics! I'm a psychotherapist, so I think in terms of psychological mechanisms. Maybe we explain the phenomenon in different ways, but we're still describing the same phenomenon, haha.
Robin. Robin. Robin. It's abundantly clear you've missed several Common Sense Anonymous meetings. (We're always here to help you come to terms with your addiction to common sense. Meetings happen every day. On Zoom even!)
To suggest souls actually work! WORK? W O R K !! Really. How dare you. How dare you reduce Rumpelstiltskin into a mirage. Tsk tsk tsk.
Now, I'm off to manifest my avocado toast . . . oh! Wait. I have to get up now? Geeze!
Here's how manifesting works: once while on a road trip home, my husband and I made a list of every single thing we needed to do to get the long-neglected property I'd inherited ready to sell. It was a ridiculously long and arduous list. Over a year later, when we'd sold the property (for an excellent price) I found that list and realized we'd completed every item on it. And we toiled like serfs to get it done. Manifesting is nothing more than focused intention: there's the crucial difference between intending to get your ass off the couch and actually standing up.
Focused intention, now that makes sense.
excellent, teach your children this
My children are 42 and 36, so my work there is done . . . I think they got the message (all credit is due to them)! Thanks.
I kinda got that feeling from you! 36, 30 & 30, they're keeping up good work too
Congrats!
Right! The hardest thing is getting your ass up!
Indeed! Once that's done, the rest is . . . well, not easy, but at least it can happen.
The "Prosperity Gospel" of the Christian Nationalists is based on that manifesting mindset. God's grace is only bestowed on the rich. Their favorite phrase? "There but for the grace of God go I" while pointing fingers at the poor and marginalized.
Don't get me started on that group 😆😆😆
Right, because that's exactly what Jesus said about the poor, right? Gaarrrhhh . . .
While I occasionally dance in the land of the unicorns (meaning spiritual and cool quantum stuff) and find myself comfortable there, I appreciate you pointing out this obvious, vital fact about moving forward in our life toward things we want or need. It's bizarre to me that people miss the small point that we have to actually DO something to GET something, but I guess it's a result of new-agey brainwashing combined with folks believing any crap that will get them what they want the easiest and fastest way. That being said, there is some interesting new research about how our brain works in response to seeing things we've been thinking about that can play an interesting role in 'manifesting' (I hate that word). The important thing, as you said, is that it can only play a role when we get our butts off the couch.
I love this essay Robin!
Well said Donna. New agey is fine as long as you don’t forget the practicality, don’t expect manifesting to work on its own, and buy shiney rocks that represent health but still go to the doctor for a UTI hehe.
Exactly!
Maybe the children dying in war zones need to wish for peace harder.
To change larger realities like this, we need to shift the collective consciousness. The more people wish for this change, the more possible it becomes. It’s complex, and simply wishing for change won’t accomplish much.
We need many positive minds who are also willing to take action and actually do something! There are so many billionaires who COULD make a real difference, but their minds are not open.
If we redirected just three years' worth of the U.S. military budget (which is nearly $1 trillion annually) we could potentially cure world hunger.
We can create a better world, but only if everyone works on healing their emotional traumas and wounds and then come together.
Humans have lost empathy and connection to their higher selves. Without these, we are doomed.
Love this. I want to have a t shirt made that says, Disgruntled Manifester.
Team shirt!
Interesting perspective 🤔
I'm not sure if the principal works or not, I've read a bit of the Silva mind things & the MindValley talks etc., they're very intriguing and I wonder if practicing the stuff daily would improve one's life???
I will say that being vegan IS cheaper than the meat eating lifestyle..... that's a fact 😉
Rarely can we ever be completely sure of everything. Hardwork and determination do have a proven track record though so I'm sticking with that.
Vegan can be cheaper yeah. If you go to normal stores and don't get sucked into the whole-foods-type stores and lifestyle. That shit is expensive as all hell haha.
Yes, the whole foods store is expensive lol, I think it's because everything's organic and you don't have to hunt for the organic stuff like in average stores. ☺️
But I have noticed that their produce is much better and lasts longer in the fridge. But the best produce is from my local farmers, their veggies last incredibly long and they're organic.
The Faux Christian billionaires are making gobs of money while controlling their “flocks” by telling them to follow this very method.
Thanking you for being real in a world of let’s be positive and it will all be ok; such not the reality for most.
I remember this article! Interestingly, I once worked as a therapist with a client who was seeing a life coach at the same time. His life coach worked with law of attraction ideas. So it was intriguing to (indirectly) collaborate with his life coach to help my client. I paid attention to our parallels and overlaps. As a crude example, if we believe that nothing will ever work out for us, then we'll be less likely to ask for help, make new friends, or search for opportunities....which then shrinks the possibility that things will work out for us. If you believe that things will work out and you will succeed, this encourages you to be more open to opportunities and new people, which increases your chances to achieve cool things. Have you heard of the term "luck surface area"? Networking a lot, is a powerful way to increase our opportunities and "luck."
So my client's life coach and I, don't have the same philosophy for how the cause-and-effect mechanics work. But we do agree on what he could do to help himself, LOL.
That’s really cool to work in tandem like that. Especially since it could provide different viewpoints of topics.
Love this article and 100% agree that without action, manifestation won't work.
In my opinion, manifestation is real, but as much as I'd love to think it's something to do with the universe, I actually believe it's to do with the Reticular Activating System, which is the part of our brain that's responsible for filtering out & letting through information.
When we tell our brain what we're interested in (or not) we'll see more opportunities, notice articles, books or podcasts on the topic, see job adverts which our brains would've ignored for us before.
So if we train our brains to see what we want in life, we'll see it, and be in a position to take advantage of the opportunity. ❤️🧠
I'd agree with that, in seeing opportunity. I just think people get too bogged down in the manifesting and not enough in the practicality of making it happen.
Absolutely agree!
Ummm candor? Yes and thanks for throwing it down like Adam Sandberg about superficial New Age easy streeters.
Just to let you know, Robin, because Kristi Keller plugged you in a comment thread about getting paid for being kicka$$ funny. (The "kicka$$" is my term after reading this post, because you are!)
I subbed because I desire to laugh more. Love your sarcasm.
One point in defense of the author of The Secret:
A few years after the book was published, and I have no idea where that was, the author wrote that editors of the book cut the most important parts => You have to do the work!
Without taking [precise] action, the law of attraction doesn't work.
It's not for couch potatoes.
That last line is mine.
It makes me think of the popular quote, "God helps those who help themselves." (Doesn't have to be read in a religious way. We can substitute "God" for the universe, life, fate/ destiny, nature, etc.)
I think you're on the right track here but you're right, manifestation needs ACTION to actually become the thing. It doesn't materialize out of thin air! Mindset is everything. If you don't think it'll happen then you don't take the steps to MAKE it happen.
Mindset is definitely pivotal, the right mindset with putting plans into actions has solid returns.
I agree with you Kristi. Manifesting is powerful, but only if there is action taken with the right mindset. Otherwise, it was just wasted thoughts - going nowhere slowly!
It's interesting. I have always said things similar to this, about the law of attraction. I still think that most (if not all) happens because you are in the right mindset and therefore working towards your goals.
But at the same time I have seen a huge difference in my life after doing therapy for years. I used to have plan A to Z for everything and then somehow another problem letter popped up for me to deal with. That's no longer the case now, and my sciency brain can't figure out how to explain it! Very fucking annoying 😂
😂 extremely fucking annoying haha. And agreed, if you plan everything to a T, and those things require specific results you're setting yourself up for failure. It's like trying to plan the perfect party, then the haphazardly put together one ends up being the most fun.
Oh no I meant more like, having a plan in place in case things would go wrong.
Everyone can manifest. But not many know how to receive. Look into why your soul needs to expel such an outburst of bad light towards an innocent and easy practice. Don’t yuck positivity’s yum ✨
We have different ideas of positive I guess. My positivity comes from encouraging people to try their hardest with tangible elbow grease.
Well it's hard to respond to your counters when you keep editing your comments, so sure! I think your geese posts are fantastic and I hadn't laughed that hard in so long! Your impact with you readers is more well received and beneficial when you're spreading laughs. THAT post, to me, took hard work. This post, seems like an outburst of frustration. I rage write all the time, it's healthy as fuck and necessary. But sometimes we need to be wise and know when to share those thoughts or not. I apologize if your perception of me checking someone if attacking your ego, it's not the goal. Expand your vision as to why someone would feel the need to comment this. I love your work regardless!
You're very right on the issue of being able to receive..... for some, it's very difficult to achieve that mindset. I think if one can attain a state of gratitude, then learning to receive becomes easier to incorporate into one's life.
Yeah it's a mindset thing, right? If we call it "mindset" or "attitude," it might be better received than calling it "manifesting," because of the cultural connotations of these different terms... And lol, my relationship coach friend bluntly told me that I might have "closed heart energy." 😅 Which is in the same vein as mindset/ attitude/ manifesting.
I prefer terms like mindset too. Things like recognizing opportunity are solid but I also believe the harder you work the more opportunities and ‘luck’ seem to magically come your way.
Btw you might find this article on Luck Surface Area interesting: https://www.codusoperandi.com/posts/increasing-your-luck-surface-area
Absolutely! You're right. Our hearts are directly in tune with our thoughts and mindset, it's a symbiotic relationship.... also, how we "see" things greatly affects all the chakras, said chakras all balance upon each other. It all comes back to our unique perspectives on life and experiences. We can gradually adjust our balance when we're ready to take the journey and put in a little effort each day.... even the smallest effort can make a huge difference. 💕
My first exposure to the law of attraction, was actually a book written by a physicist. (Don't recall the book title, though.) He said that it reminded him of quantum particles and how vibrations spread through the universe...I'm no physicist, lol. But that's pretty cool to think of the law of attraction in terms of quantum mechanics! I'm a psychotherapist, so I think in terms of psychological mechanisms. Maybe we explain the phenomenon in different ways, but we're still describing the same phenomenon, haha.
True 😊
yes, open yourself up to receive the goodness of the universe.
Robin. Robin. Robin. It's abundantly clear you've missed several Common Sense Anonymous meetings. (We're always here to help you come to terms with your addiction to common sense. Meetings happen every day. On Zoom even!)
To suggest souls actually work! WORK? W O R K !! Really. How dare you. How dare you reduce Rumpelstiltskin into a mirage. Tsk tsk tsk.
Now, I'm off to manifest my avocado toast . . . oh! Wait. I have to get up now? Geeze!
Yup, I missed the meeting. I must've worked right through it.
Ooh avocado toast--how fancy. You'll never buy a home if you eat that apparently, so it's an unmanifesting food.
You crack me up Soul lol