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When’s the last time you had one of those idea-to-reality moments?
You know, when you thought about something you wanted to see, do, create, experience, or become — and eventually, you actually did it?
This is the manifestation of our desire.
Manifesting (n): Cultivating the experience you want to feel — and then living and believing in that experience so you can allow it to come into form. ~ Gabby Bernstein
I’m pretty comfortable with the word “manifesting” these days, but a few years back I couldn’t stand the word. I thought it was waaay too passive and airy fairy. Not the kind of thing that worked for my highly action-oriented demeanor.
Over the years, though, I’ve heard the term more and more, so I thought it would be useful to get schooled on the topic. What exactly is manifesting? How does it work and what, if any, manifesting mishaps do we all need to look out for?
What Is Manifesting?
My favorite definition of manifesting is co-creating with the universe.
I love this, because it means manifesting is a creative process. All you’re doing is using your creative energy to co-create with the energy around you. We all put out vibrations, from super negative to super positive, and your vibration attracts good or bad things into your life.
When you’re open to experiences the universe brings your way, you can receive anything you want. (Note: you can call this God, spirit, love, Smurf faires or whatever else you want.)
Airy fairy or not, a lot of us receive manifestations without even realizing it.
A few years ago, a friend whipped out her computer over brunch and asked me a series of questions, then voila! generated an analysis about how I create results in the world.
It said right there: I’m a manifestor. Like, a power manifestor. Meaning I’m someone who is a great catalyst in life. Wherever I go and whomever I meet, it seems I’m a trigger and cause for activity.
Makes sense, given what I do, right?
This activity doesn’t happen because I’m pushy or lucky. It’s because I stay open and receptive to what the universe calls on me to experience.
Life is supposed to be easy — if we could just stay out of our own way. Negative beliefs and fears block what the universe has in store for us. Manifesting is about actively removing those blocks so you can see what you want and become receptive to the gifts the universe provides you to make it happen.
What Is the Law of Attraction?
The Law of Attraction is the principle that manifesting puts into practice.
If you’ve read, watched, or heard of The Secret, you probably know the basics: The Law of Attraction says your positive or negative thoughts bring positive or negative experiences into your life.
Mention the L.O.A., and critics will probably come out of the woodwork.
Don’t let them steer you wrong. It doesn’t mean you can sit back and let fortune roll in in the form of gold bars and round-the-world vacations. It just means you get back what you put out.
The idea was around for about 200 years before The Secret made it popular. We’ve been talking about concepts like mind over body and the power of positive thinking since the early 1800s.
What Do We Mean When We Say “Miracle”?
If you look into manifesting, you’ll hear folks throw around the word “miracle,” which can feel intimidating.
In this case, a “miracle” is simply a shift in your perspective, a moment when you see something more clearly. It’s a moment when you break free of resistance and become open to receiving what you desire.
For more on manifesting miracles, watch this MarieTV: How to Make Big Shifts This Year w/ Gabby Bernstein
It’s a big deal, but the clouds probably won’t part, and some holy force won’t come down from on high to hand you a new MacBook or big promotion. It’s an energy shift. A new way of seeing and being in the world.
That shift opens the door for everything you need to fall into place.
How to Use Manifesting to Get Anything You Want
Nothing exists in our world that doesn’t first exist in our mind.
In this MarieTV with my friend, manifesting expert, and bestselling author Gabby Bernstein, we learn three steps to manifest anything you want:
- Get clear about what you want and why.
- Release your limiting beliefs.
- Have patience, and know the universe will bring you what you desire.
Keep reading after the video for more tips to use manifesting in your life.
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Marie Forleo: Hey, it’s Marie and you’re watching Marie TV, business and life advice that works. We are here in the East Village of New York City, and I’m bringing you something different, not a normal Q&A Tuesday. We’ve got a very special interview, so come on.
Marie Forleo: Are you only getting a fraction of what you want in your business and life? Are the things that you’re looking to achieve taking way too long to come your way? If so, Gabby Bernstein may have your answer. In fact, she says that to manifest anything you want in your business, whether it’s career goals, maybe it’s relationships, your health, your happiness, the real work is an inside job. I am so thrilled today to bring you my dear friend and bestselling author, Miss. Gabby Bernstein. Yeah, can you believe you’re on Marie TV?
Gabby Bernstein: I know. I was saying I was on Oprah today. It’s just like being on Oprah.
Marie Forleo: This is awesome. So manifesting is such a cool topic. It’s something that a lot of people may have some resistance to if they think it’s a little too woo, woo and it’s a little too passive. I know for me in my life, I’m such a go getting, driven girl that in the past, I used to have my own resistance to it. But as I’ve become older and a little more mature, I’ve opened my mind and I actually do consider myself quite a good manifester. So for our audience, can you define what exactly is manifesting?
Gabby Bernstein: Manifesting is acquiring the experience of what it is that you want to feel, and being and living and believing in that experience, and then allowing that experience to come into form.
Marie Forleo: So not only the experience, like say, wanting to go on a vacation, but even if you want something like a new MacBook Air. You can manifest a new computer or-
Gabby Bernstein: Absolutely.
Marie Forleo: … or being a published author, or having your business reach a certain level, so everything falls into that [crosstalk 00:01:50].
Gabby Bernstein: Everything falls in that category. Sometimes we manifest things far beyond our wildest dreams. Sometimes, if we have a vision of something, it happens in a far greater way, so we want to stay open. We can say, “I want that MacBook Air,” but maybe we get that MacBook Air that’s a little bit bigger than we thought, or maybe it comes with an extra little gift, but allowing ourselves to be open this or something more.
Marie Forleo: Cool. The way that I think about manifesting too, it’s involved in the process of creation or creating. I consider myself an artist and a creator. Do you see a distinction between manifesting and creating?
Gabby Bernstein: Manifesting is very creative. It is the process of using your power energy and being in that presence of your high powered energy and allowing the energy to co-create with the energy that’s around you. So you’re vibrating at a high frequency. I’m vibrating at a high frequency. We’ve done a lot of work. We’ve cleaned up a lot of our own crap. We believe in ourselves today. That that energy of believing in ourselves has attracted us together today and brought us into this space where we, together, are co-creating and teaching. If I hadn’t cleaned up my side of the street and if I didn’t believe in myself the way I do, I would never have manifested being on Marie TV.
Marie Forleo: That’s very true. So I know I like to always believe that I’m co-creating with the universe because I really believe there are no such things as coincidences. I’ve had too many experiences in my life where I’m like, “Oh my God, that’s what I wanted,” and it all seemed to line up and it was incredible. So that’s really part of what we’re talking about here, right, is our ability to play an active role, but almost paradoxically, a passive role in helping things that we want come into our life.
Gabby Bernstein: Yeah, there’s a really nice line from A Course in Miracles, which is the metaphysical text I teach. It is, miracles occur naturally and when they’re not occurring, something has gone wrong.
Marie Forleo: That’s interesting.
Gabby Bernstein: It’s a good one, right? What happens is, is that synchronicity, that flow, that effortless action, that just allowing, oh, I was thinking about that and it just showed up, that’s how life is supposed to be. We get in the way. Our negative belief systems, our fears, our anxiety, or our anger towards the past, that future tripping and projecting, all of that energy gets in the way of allowing all of the miracles to occur naturally.
Marie Forleo: This is awesome. What I like to do on Marie TV, which you know, because I know you watch this every week, is to take this, an idea or a concept, and really break it down and make it super actionable. So if someone has never heard of manifesting or maybe they have, but they’ve been quite a skeptic and they’re like, “This is BS. This stuff doesn’t work.” Can you break it down, how to manifest? What’s the first thing that we should be doing?
Gabby Bernstein: The first step of manifestation is to get very, very clear. If we’re not clear about what we desire, then we can call in some really funky stuff.
Marie Forleo: Yeah, this is big. I just want to interrupt you for a moment because one of the things that I say again and again, when I’m working with clients, I can help you get anything you want, but you have to tell me what that is.
Gabby Bernstein: Yeah, that’s it.
Marie Forleo: The clarity is really, it’s that secret key
Gabby Bernstein: Because you’re like a manifestation can opener. If somebody gets clear about what they want-
Marie Forleo: That’s really funny.
Gabby Bernstein: That’s your new name.
Marie Forleo: That’s my new title, manifestation can opener.
Gabby Bernstein: Yes, go for it. It’s true because if somebody gets really clear about what they want, your work is just releasing all the blocks and all the disbelief. So if you’re clear, first and foremost, you must be clear. You must be clear because if you are unclear, you’ll start to call in some things that are not really what you want. You’ll be confused. The other piece is that once you’re clear, you can also then get clear about all the ways that you don’t believe, all of the limiting beliefs, all of the negativity that might be blocking it.
Marie Forleo: Oh, this is good, so let’s use an example. Let’s take it from a top. I know, for both of us, this is something we share. You’re a published author, I’m a published author and I know many people in the world, it’s one of their dreams to have their own book out in the shelf. So I know you must have gotten clear at one point, I am going to be a published author, right? So clarity, step number one. Number two, getting clear on everything that’s preventing that, right, your limiting beliefs?
Gabby Bernstein: Yes.
Marie Forleo: So tell us some of yours when you first had that clarity.
Gabby Bernstein: Well, I often joke that I was a published author three years before I actually was a published author because I believed so deeply. But of course, there was disbelief and there was actually a period in my life where it was right when the recession hit. My stepfather says to me … I’m telling him all about my book that I wanted to bring into the world, and he said to me, “Well, it’s a really tough time. It’s going to be really hard,” because we’ve got resistors, people just having a hard time with the realities of the world and saying, “Oh, you’re going to have a hard time getting your book published.”
Gabby Bernstein: I looked at him with so much conviction and so much faith and I said, “I believe in miracles. I believe I am a published author.” One month later, my first book was published. So that faithfulness, that belief system is what allows it to come into the reality that we live. But what we must understand is that I had done quite a significant amount of work to release all of the limiting beliefs that I had been holding onto. A limiting belief, I have eighth grade English. I have never written anything beyond eighth grade.
Marie Forleo: Yes.
Gabby Bernstein: I had to teach myself how to write. So the limiting belief, which, I’m not a writer, I don’t know how to write, that was a major one for me to overcome.
Marie Forleo: This is great. We have step one and step two. It’s getting clear on the thing that you want, and then also having the courage to really look inside and see all the limiting beliefs that can be holding you back from that. Okay, good, so we’ve-
Gabby Bernstein: Then clean them up.
Marie Forleo: Then clean them up, okay, awesome. Tell me, so can that be as simple as recognizing that it’s a story you’re telling yourself is just simply doesn’t have to be the truth?
Gabby Bernstein: Yes. The healing process of anything can just be the witnessing of, okay, that’s not working, that limiting belief is holding me back. When we wake up to that call of, that’s not working, that’s when teachers like you come into our life. That’s when books fall off the shelf. That’s when we land on Marie TV because we’re tooling around YouTube, right? We are led to what we need to heal. So the first point is just to recognize how you are blocking yourself and trust that the universe will give you exactly what you need to heal those limiting beliefs.
Marie Forleo: Awesome. Okay, so we’ve got our two steps. Is there a third step? Now we’re in the process. We’re healing. We’re healing our limiting beliefs. We’re active. We’re engaged. We’re aware. What do we do next?
Gabby Bernstein: We’re getting into the know.
Marie Forleo: We’re getting into the know. Okay, so step three, step three is getting into the know.
Gabby Bernstein: Know the universe has your back.
Marie Forleo: Love that.
Gabby Bernstein: I think my mug says it, “The universe knows.”
Marie Forleo: Awesome. Tell me more about what that means.
Gabby Bernstein: Okay, so what happens when we get into the know is that we have released … we’re working on releasing that disbelief and that’s a daily process. The more we let go of that disbelief, the more we begin to acquire the presence of what it feels like to be in that manifestation, so the same way I was saying I was a published author. I felt like a published author years before I was a published author. I felt abundant even when I was scrapping to get by. I still felt the presence of abundance, which has allowed abundance to come into my life.
Marie Forleo: I think that’s probably the hardest part for all of us, and I can almost hear our audience members. Again, we’re in 188 countries around the world. So some people are going like, “Okay, that all sounds cool, but if I don’t have any money, right, if I don’t have any resources, if people don’t believe in me, what can I do on a daily basis?” Is it just a matter of saying, I really know this, and just honestly, having that leap of faith and saying, I’ve got to stay in this state?
Gabby Bernstein: You cannot let your outside world dictate your internal condition. The outside world will reflect your internal condition. So if you are letting the outside stuff tell you, I’m not good enough, then you are a manifestation mishap. You are not allowing yourself to co-create.
Marie Forleo: I’m going to pause us there just for a second. A manifestation mishap, which you guys know, I love cute phrases for things. A manifestation mishap would be thinking oh, I’m having this clarity. I want to be a published author. But what would the mishap be there if they were …
Gabby Bernstein: Well, but my outside experience is not reflecting that. How am I going to get published? I don’t have enough, and all of that is really not supporting your desire.
Marie Forleo: Got it.
Gabby Bernstein: The most important point here is to not let the outside world dictate your internal condition. Your internal condition will support your external experiences. So your work is to focus on the internal. I’ve done that in many cases in my life, like picking up quarters to pay my gas money. In that presence of not having a lot of money, I still felt abundant. I did all that work to release my disbelief, and in that presence of believing in my abundance, I have allowed a tremendous amount of abundance to come into my life. So we’ve got to hold the energy and let the outside world reflect that amazingness inside.
Marie Forleo: Okay. So another piece of resistance that could be coming towards us right now from the audience, from someone saying, “Hey, you know what? I’ve I’ve manifested before, or I’m in this process, but it’s taken a long time. I’ve been in the knowing. I’m affirming, but it just aint here yet.” What would you say to someone like that who is just going, when is it going to come? When is this really going to happen?
Gabby Bernstein: The most important step in the manifestation process is patience. There’s another beautiful line from A Course in Miracles, which is “Those who are certain of the outcome can afford to wait and wait without anxiety.”
Marie Forleo: I freaking love this, and I’m going to make her say it again because it was that beautiful. Gab, say it one more time.
Gabby Bernstein: Those who are certain of the outcome can afford to wait and wait without anxiety.
Marie Forleo: Love that.
Gabby Bernstein: When we have that presence of being certain, that certainty, I am a published author, that man is on the way, I am abundant, when we have that certainty, we can allow. We can be patient. We can be in the know. Another manifestation mishap when you’re not patient, is that you’re controlling. You’re grasping. You’re manipulating. You are therefore blocking the natural order. You’re blocking the positive energy to flow towards you because you were vibrating a frequency of negative energy. Because you’re in fear, you’re controlling and manipulating.
Marie Forleo: Love that. This is all really good stuff. Can you give us a quick recap again, our little manifesting how to, for anyone out there who, this is all new to them?
Gabby Bernstein: First is clarity, become very clear about what it is that you desire so you don’t call in some crazy crap, right?
Marie Forleo: Love it.
Gabby Bernstein: The next piece is to be clear about all the limiting beliefs that are blocking you from believing and knowing that you are worthy of what you desire.
Marie Forleo: That takes some courage, [crosstalk 00:11:46].
Gabby Bernstein: That takes courage, takes some time, and that willingness, you just wake up and say, I am willing. I’m ready to have that guidance come forward, and you’ll be led to teachers like Marie. Then the third step is to be in that presence, in that energy of knowing that you are ready to receive. That you are in that presence of believing and knowing, I am a published author, I am abundant, I am exactly what you want.
Marie Forleo: And having the patience.
Gabby Bernstein: Then the final step is the patience. To be really relaxed, released, and allow and stay in the know, letting the universe bring you exactly what it is that you desire.
Marie Forleo: That’s awesome, really, really great stuff. I absolutely love this. I actually want to hear from you guys. Do you have a manifesting story that you want to share in the comments below, or perhaps you have a manifesting mishap that you want to tell us about? We would love to hear from you. If you want to hear more from Gabby, she’s got so much great stuff. You can go to gabbyb.tv, and check her out.
Marie Forleo: If you like this video, you better subscribe and share it with all your friends. If you want more great information to kick some ass in your business and life, come on over to marieforleo.com, sign up for email updates, and it’ll be great to have you on board. So thank you so much. Thank you, Gabby, for being on Marie TV. It was really, really great.
Gabby Bernstein: Thanks Marie.
Marie Forleo: Hope to catch you next time. Have an awesome day and we’ll see you soon. Thanks everybody.
Gabby Bernstein: Bye.
Marie Forleo: B-School is coming up. Want in? For more info and free training, go to joinbschool.com.
Marie Forleo: We’re in the kitchen making tea nuggets.
Gabby Bernstein: Yeah, we’re in the kitchen cooking tea nuggets. Can you cook tea nuggets? We’re in the kitchen making tea, making tea nuggets.
Marie Forleo: Making tea.
There’s no secret to manifesting. Nothing works unless you do.
It takes daily action to listen to your inner voice, stay clear about what you want, remove your blocks, have patience, and be open to what the universe brings.
Follow these steps to start manifesting anything you want.
Step 1: Get Clear
Before you can manifest anything, you need to know what you’re aiming for.
If you’re unclear, you welcome in things you don’t really want. This is how you wind up following a path that doesn’t feel right.
Don’t know what you want? Ask yourself — deep down, don’t you really know your heart’s desire? Most of us do, we’re just afraid we’re not good enough to get it, or that we’ll fail if we try.
The real challenge isn’t getting clear, it’s owning the fact that you already are clear and being courageous enough to name that dream.
Next, ask yourself why you want it.
When your why is connected to your highest self and being of service to others, you’re aligned with what the universe wants for you. But when your reasons are self-serving, competitive, or fear-based, you’re fighting against your bigger purpose.
Step 2: Release Limiting Beliefs
Once you know exactly what you want, you have to remove the blocks — negative thoughts, fears, and disbeliefs — that keep it from manifesting.
Beliefs are the hidden scripts that run our lives.
To manifest something, you must believe you’re worthy. That’s why Step 2 requires you to release the limiting beliefs that tell you you’re not good enough.
This is going to take courage and time, but the great news? You can manifest the guidance you need to heal those beliefs. Recognize how you’re blocking your manifestation, and trust the universe to give you exactly what you need to grow — because you might not be ready to make the change on your own yet.
Just watch! Books will jump off the shelf at you (okay, maybe not literally), you’ll stumble on just the right YouTube video, or you’ll meet your new best friend at a conference.
This article you’re reading now may even be a manifestation of your desire to start manifesting the life you want! Trippy, right?
Here’s an exercise to start challenging your negative beliefs. Come back to it as often as you need. Grab a journal, and write your answers to these questions:
- What’s the most important change you want to make right now?
- What negative or limiting beliefs have stopped you from figuring this out until now?
- Now, cross out each of those limiting beliefs and write “BULLSH*T” next to each. (It’s fun!)
- Write about why each of those negative beliefs is, indeed, total B.S.
- Who would you be without these limiting beliefs?
The expectation isn’t that you’ll feel good or have a positive attitude 100% of the time — that would be impossible. Instead, commit to realigning yourself whenever you recognize those negative beliefs holding you back.
Because when you change a belief, you change everything.
Step 3: Stay in the Know
Challenging and letting go of your limiting beliefs is daily work.
Manifesting isn’t something you do only while you’re journaling, meditating, or in yoga class. Sure, those things can help reinforce these practices, but manifestation is something you take with you throughout every day.
Gabby calls this step “staying in the know” — meaning, knowing the universe has your back.
This is important, but your manifestation might not be what you expected.
Manifesting isn’t about getting what we think we want, but about knowing the universe has a higher plan, and being open to receiving that plan. For example, what if you spent all your time hyper-focused on landing a promotion at work, that you blocked yourself from receiving an even better opportunity at a different company?
Actively stay in the presence of believing in yourself, knowing the universe has your back, and being certain you’ll achieve your highest purpose.
How Long Is This Supposed to Take??
If you’ve been in the knowing state for a long time and have started to wonder, “When is it gonna come?” please have patience.
Being anxious and afraid, or grasping for control creates a negative energy and blocks your manifestation. Patience lets you stay open and positive, which will help you receive gifts as they come.
Those who are certain of the outcome can afford to wait and wait without anxiety. ~ “A Course in Miracles”
Manifesting doesn’t work like a genie in a bottle. Achieving what you desire may often feel messy and twisted. Stay patient, and trust that you’re on the right path.
Can You Manifest More Money?
Two questions I can hear you asking about manifesting:
- Can you manifest money?
- Does wanting money make you unspiritual?
Let’s tackle the second one first: Are you working against becoming your highest self if you want to earn money?
Absolutely not! I consider myself a very spiritual person, and I l o v e making money.
Now, it’s not about earning money for money’s sake. Money can create opportunities for me to contribute to others, create experiences, and enjoy my life.
To keep your money goals from working against you, stay in touch with the deeper reason you’re trying to earn it in the first place. Is it to find freedom for yourself and your family? To donate to causes you care about? To create jobs for talented, creative people?
The more successful you are, the bigger difference you’ll make in the world and the more people you’ll serve — and that’s plenty spiritual, if you ask me.
Now for No. 1: Can you manifest more money?
Let’s be clear: You can’t expect anything to just drop into your lap — manifesting isn’t magic. This is a major misconception.
Manifesting is about being open to the opportunities the universe presents and letting the universe guide you — not trying to force an outcome you think is best.
Yes, earning more money can help you be your highest self and have a greater impact. But if your goal to earn more is based on an ego-driven scarcity mindset, you’re putting up all kinds of blocks to achieving your dream.
Adopt an Abundance Mentality
Money in your bank account isn’t the manifestation of you putting in an order with the universe for $1 million.
Peace and satisfaction with your finances comes from a mindset of abundance. That includes:
- Appreciating what you have. Reality check: Over 1 billion people in this world live on $2.50 a day or less, according to FINCA International. There’s nothing wrong with wanting more, but true abundance starts with appreciating what you have right now.
- Spreading the wealth. When you feel a lack around money, shift your mindset by giving some away. Donate to your favorite charity or pick up the tab with family or friends.
Money’s like you and me. It’s attracted to respect and appreciation. If you find yourself battling a scarcity mindset, try these two weird money habits to train your brain for abundance:
- Never say no to honest money. Let me tell you a secret: I’m not too good to pick up loose change off the ground. It’s a reminder that the universe is always there to give me what I need and to not be too arrogant to accept the small blessings.
- Keep your money tight and right. I keep my physical money tidy and organized. Probably a habit I picked up working in restaurants. All the bills are faced the same way, organized by denomination, and laid flat in my wallet. It’s a sign of respect for myself, and a way to be a good steward for the money that comes into and flows out of my life.
An abundance mindset not only invites more money into your life, but it also lets you appreciate what you have and give more.
What Will Your Manifestation Look Like?
Manifesting turns your desires into reality.
We all have a higher purpose in this world, big dreams we want to achieve. By getting clear about what you want, releasing limiting beliefs, and trusting in the higher plan the universe has in store for you, you can achieve anything.
Now it’s time to turn all this insight into action!
Grab a notebook and spend five to 10 minutes answering these questions:
What limiting beliefs are you willing to let go of right now? What blessings will you welcome into your life without those beliefs to block them?
Remember: The universe has big plans for you, but only you can take action. I hope this inspires you to adopt an open and abundant mindset and receive the gifts the universe has waiting for you.
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