How to manifest: from creating your vision to catching your thoughts

Manifesting was very much in the spotlight this year. More than 8.2million posts were tagged #manifestation on Instagram and a host of celebrities are fans: Megan Fox revealed she ‘manifested’ her fiancé Machine Gun Kelly.

It’s become part of our lexicon, on screen and IRL, with numerous books on the topic imminent. They include Roxie Nafousi’s Manifest: Dive Deeper, a follow-up to her bestselling debut, Manifest: 7 Steps To Living Your Best Life, published in January. Nafousi’s book ignited an interest in the subject – and not only because supermodel Bella Hadid was seen clasping a copy.

Part of the appeal is the concept. To ‘manifest’ is to make something happen, using your thoughts (and actions) to create the life of your dreams. But arguably there’s another factor – a desire to reclaim power.

‘In an increasingly unpredictable world, “manifesting” can provide a sense of hope and a feeling of control over our lives and future,’ says Dr Elena Touroni, a consultant psychologist at The Chelsea Psychology Clinic.

‘The idea we can transform our reality – and fulfil our deepest wishes – is appealing.’

‘Understanding what success means for us and getting clarity on what that feels like is the beginning of the manifestation process,’ says Simon Alexander Ong, life coach and author of Energize.

‘It’s all about energy. When you give your mind instructions on what you desire and back that up with an elevated energetic state, disciplined consistency and actions, anything becomes possible.’

It’s no surprise that so many celebs have used visualisation to project their personal and professional dreams. Demi Lovato, Megan Thee Stallion, Lady Gaga, Ariana Grande and One Direction’s Niall Horan have all embraced the technique.

But it’s not a case of simply wishing and receiving, says Victoria Jackson, mindset coach and author of Manifesting For Beginners.

‘A common misconception of manifestation is that you simply ask out loud for something and it arrives the next day,’ she says. ‘But life isn’t Amazon Prime. If it was as easy as that we’d all have everything we’ve ever asked for. Manifestation is consciously choosing what you’d like to attract into your life and understanding how to take aligned action towards achieving those goals.’

How to manifest

Victoria Jackson, a mindset coach and author of Manifesting For Beginners, shares her tips on getting started

Be specific: Take time to work out how you want your life to look and feel. Discover your soul goals, rather than a life that looks good for social media.

Create your vision: Create a physical vision board with images and text that remind you of your goals every time that you look at it.

Visualise: Spend as little as two minutes per day visualising your dream life. Allow yourself to smile, to daydream, to imagine what life looks and feels like when your manifestations have come to fruition.

Catch your thoughts: Choose how you want to approach each day. If you feel yourself focusing on the negative, consciously do something to change your energy. Play high vibe music, move your body, or call a friend.

Be thankful: Practise gratitude for all you have, even the smallest thing. Try listing five things each night that you’re grateful for from the day and notice how your mindset shifts.

Take action: Meet the universe halfway and take action towards your goals, dreams and desires. Even the smallest steps can have a huge impact on bringing your vision board to reality.

‘Critics will try to debunk it by claiming it is magical thinking,’ says Lowri Dowthwaite-Walsh, senior lecturer in Psychological Interventions at the University of Central Lancashire. ‘However, manifestation is more than just wishing and thinking. It is setting intentions and acting on our thoughts to bring them to fruition.

‘I use visualisation as a tool to help me picture what I want to achieve, whether that’s a party, a new project or a difficult conversation I need to have.

‘It is a technique used as part of manifesting and studies show visualising successful outcomes often enables them to become reality. This can be seen with athletes, musicians and students.’

For Dowthwaite-Walsh, positivity is crucial. ‘Research shows when people have an optimistic mindset, they are more likely to act in a positive way that will bring about change. So, psychologically, manifesting is very motivating and will often not only lead to a change in thinking but behaviour, too. And a change in behaviour is key.’

New books to read

Buy Manifest Day By Day by Alanis Cooper, via Headline Home, for £14.99, it’s published December 29.

Buy Your Manifesting Year by Joey Hulin, via Happy Place Books, for £14.99, it‘s published Dec 29.

Buy Manifest: Dive Deeperby Roxie Nafousi, via Penguin Michael Joseph, for £16.99, it’s published January 5.

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