15 Manifesting Mistakes Almost Everyone Makes (Without Even Realizing It)
I looked around me at the golden sun setting over the ocean. I noticed every detail; the water glimmering like gold and the palm trees silhouetted behind me.
It was February, and it was warm (something I’d never experienced living in Ohio or Delaware.)
“I did it! I manifested this. I created my dream life.” I didn’t even say it out loud, but my heart was screaming with happiness.
Everything I put on my vision board last year came true. Every single one, no exceptions.
But how did I do it? How did I avoid the many manifesting mistakes most people make?
I am writing this blog post to share all the manifesting mistakes you might be making without even realizing it.
Before we begin, you should know, I am very practical, and I am not a manifesting expert.
I do not always know the proper terminology or the right words to describe certain principles.
Others are much more knowledgeable on this subject; true experts who have spent years learning the Law of Attraction.
However, I have personally manifested my dream life going from being completely broke, in debt to the tune of $100k to running a business that pulls in $150k/cash every single month.
In addition, I know how to help others get real manifesting results -- perhaps because I keep things simple and practical.
So, I feel like I do have something to add to this conversation around manifesting.
Let’s dive right into the 15 manifesting mistakes you might be making!
Manifesting Mistake #1: Not understanding what exactly manifesting is.
Angelina Lombardo says,
““Manifesting is making everything you want to feel and experience a reality... via your thoughts, actions, beliefs, and emotions.””
I recommend reading that definition slowly, intentionally savoring each word.
Each word there has a purpose, and if you are currently leaving out any part of that definition (for example, you have a shaky belief or you aren’t taking aligned action), you might be struggling to see results from manifesting.
Manifesting Mistake #2: Not starting from a place of gratitude.
If you want to start bringing in more abundance, I always recommend you start by expressing gratitude for what you already have.
Gratitude expands your heart, and it shifts your mindset from scarcity to abundance. If you are just getting started with manifesting (or you feel it hasn’t been working very well for you recently), I suggest making a list of ten things you are grateful for every single day.
Some days it will be easier than others, especially if it feels like you don’t have a lot to be grateful for. (For example, when I first started doing this, I struggled to think of ten things. So I wrote down, “I am grateful for the clouds.” It works, lol.)
The important thing is you shifting from scarcity to abundance, and intentionally expressing gratitude is a fantastic way to start.
Manifesting Mistake #3: Not taking “aligned action.”
We briefly touched on this in the first mistake, but it’s so critical I wanted to give it its own bullet point.
In my experience, it is typically not enough to simply think or journal your way towards getting what you want.
You typically need to follow that with what I call aligned action.
We always hear those examples where people manifest winning the lottery or getting random checks in the mail (but even then, they went out and bought a lottery ticket).
The way I understand it, those are simply the exceptions that prove the rule.
For the most part, from what I have seen, you can’t get what you want unless you have a holistic understanding of manifesting, and that includes taking aligned action.
“Aligned action” is doing things that are aligned with what you want to receive.
For example, I want to move to CA one day. So I will do research on what that will cost. I’ll research good places to live and also work on my business to up my income.
Aligned action ensures that you aren’t just sitting around waiting for your life to change.
(Note: I am not a manifesting expert. This is simply my observations in creating my own success and helping others succeed.)
Manifesting Mistake #4: Not understanding how to see the manifesting you are already doing.
Right now, you are already bringing good things into your life. You just might not be noticing it.
One of the fastest ways to become a powerful manifestor is to notice, appreciate and get excited about what you are already manifesting.
For example, when I was just getting started, I always manifested green lights when I drove. Every time I drove through the light without having to stop, I was joyful!
It was proof that manifesting could be something for me.
I highly recommend you take a step back and look at your life over the last 12 months. Even if it’s a really small thing you manifested, that’s something to be hugely celebrated.
Because the more you notice, the more you’ll manifest.
Manifesting Mistake #5: Not being specific enough.
When I made over a million dollars last year, my actual annual income goal was $502,402.95. That’s right, I made more than double my income goal.
They say you get what you ask for, so be specific! I find that when we get really specific with our desires (example: “I am so grateful for the $10,502.34 that I made so that I can pay off my Capital One card!”), our vision and our manifesting suddenly become very clear & very tangible.
You have something you can grab on to.
Instead of “I wanna be debt-free.” (not specific enough), try something like, “I am going to pay off $86,312.85 in credit card & student loan debt by December 31, 2022.” (very specific.)
Be sure to take the time to really drill down into the nitty-gritty details as you describe what you want.
Manifesting Mistake #6: Not being flexible with the timeline.
I get it. We want what we want when we want it...now!
But I have learned to be flexible with the when.
Sometimes I get it sooner, sometimes I get it later.
What I find, though, is the timing is always exactly perfect.
Release your timeline for when you want the things you want.
In my experience, a joyous detachment allows you to actually receive things faster, but you have to also be okay with it taking longer—all in perfect Divine Timing.
Manifesting Mistake #7: Not being faithful to your true desires.
How can you get what you want if you aren’t honest about what you really want?
Sometimes, we are afraid to bring our deepest desires to the surface because we are worried we won’t get them.
Whether we don’t believe we deserve it or we don’t see how it could ever happen...we push down our deepest desires.
My friends, you must be faithful to your truest desires.
It’s okay to keep them private to you and your journal, but I beg you to get honest about what you really want.
It does take bravery and courage to put it out there, yes!
But, when you do manifest those truest desires, you will be so glad you did.
Manifesting Mistake #8: Not continually learning & improving.
Learning how to manifest is a lifelong journey.
You will never know everything there is to know about manifesting -- and that’s the fun thing!
I have manifested so much abundance into my life (love, money, freedom, etc.) by committing to continually learning about the Law of Attraction.
I consider myself a student, always, so I am constantly consuming new books, courses, and video training that help me better understand this beautiful, mysterious way to bring in wealth and happiness and all my deep desires.
Manifesting Mistake #9: Not focusing on what you do have, rather than what you don’t have.
Imagine you give someone a gift and, instead of enthusiastically thanking you, they ignore it. Or worse, they complain about it.
Now, imagine you gave someone else the same exact gift, and they raved about it. They thanked you over and over again, gushing over the gift in detail. Which interaction would you walk away happier from? Which person would you be more likely to give another gift to? Obviously, the person who happily received your gift.
That little analogy is how I like to approach the gift of Life.
I try to enthusiastically notice every little detail, focusing on what I do have.
Remember earlier where I said I was grateful for clouds?
There’s actually a lot of joy that comes from focusing on what you do have, and it has the additional benefit of shifting you into a better frame of mind to receive even more good things.
Manifesting Mistake #10: Not paying attention to your karma.
Maybe you don’t believe in karma.
Perhaps you call it “consequences” or “what goes around, comes around.”
It’s okay; we don’t have to get too hung up on the terminology here.
But I notice good things come into my life when I try to do good things myself. I notice that when I go out of my way to leave nice testimonials, I receive good testimonials myself, in abundance.
There’s a common saying in the manifesting world, “What you put out is what you attract.”
So what do you want to attract?
How can you start giving that to others? In a way, how can you be the change you want to see in your own world?
Manifesting Mistake #11: Not seeing this as a lifestyle.
Sometimes, I see people get hyperfocused on the quick wins. (example: I want to manifest $1000 this week.).
I notice it doesn’t seem to work out very well that way. There is too much desperation energy around this.
I found much more success with manifesting when I communicated to a lifestyle of gratitude and, naturally, as a by-product, I started attracting abundance in all forms.
Consider what it would look like for you to assume the identity of a “powerful manifestor.”
Likely, it’d change your mental approach to manifesting.
Believe it or not, I have found that shifting from a “quick wins” attitude to a “lifestyle” is actually the fastest way to create the life of your dreams.
Manifesting Mistake #12: Not having fun with it.
It makes me laugh a little.
I see people taking manifesting so seriously. But really, it’s not all that serious. You’re supposed to have with manifesting, and I do it to this day.
For example, we went to the dog park, and I said, “I am manifesting a dog to come up to me so I can give it pets and scratches.” Little fun things like that just to stay in a playful state around manifesting. (PS, an adorable little caramel pupper came up and made friends with my husband and me. It actually followed us as we walked for a good three or four minutes.)
Just relax.
Have fun with manifesting.
Don’t take it too seriously.
Manifesting Mistake #13: Not being respectful towards current abundance.
For example, if you are trying to manifest more money in your life, I find it really important to treat the money you do have with respect.
The following approach is not necessarily for everyone, but here’s what I did when I first wanted to go from being broke to being wealthy.
I started by properly managing the money I did have. I got on a budget. I was respectful of every dollar that came to me, even when it wasn’t much.
This attitude of respect helped demonstrate to myself that I was good with money, that I made smart choices with money, and that I could handle small amounts of money well.
This increased my confidence around money and helped me feel really good about asking for more. The same can be done for your relationships.
If you’re trying to manifest the love of your life, look to your other relationships. Appreciate your friendships. Bask in the warmness of your family’s love.
Respect what you currently have in order to attract more.
Manifesting Mistake #14: Not holding your desires lightly.
It’s a nuanced thing because you have to be really clear and honest about what you want.
At the same time, you need to hold it lightly, not with scarcity.
A helpful mantra to explain the nuance could be the one I use daily, “This or something better.”
That openness to receiving what you want...or something better...creates a healthy detachment that allows abundance to shower you.
If you are a visual learner, try closing your palm very tightly. (Squeeze it shut). Is there any room for anything to land on your palm? No.
Now, breath deeply and slowly open your palms. Relax. Now, your palms are literally open and ready to receive.
In the same way, practice holding your desires lightly, with an open palm.
Manifesting Mistake #15: Not giving to others & worrying only about yourself.
I’m paraphrasing, but somewhere in his build, Building a Story Brand, Donald Miller says something like, “The minute you are up at night worrying about your client’s problems is the minute you will start to see success.”
The point of that is to remember that when we start helping others, we see success in our own lives, too.
Do you know how you feel good after you volunteer? Imagine that good feeling filtering into every aspect of your life.
Your entire life will radically shift if you start to make it about serving others, and a by-product of that is that you will be rewarded with your own abundant life.
I hope you found this helpful!
If you want a little additional bonus, I thought it would be helpful if I shared the audio meditation I listened to as every day during the year I manifested my first million dollars in revenue:
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