Since then, I have made it a point to truly manifest my biggest, boldest goals. While I don’t think manifesting your dreams will automatically make them happen — I mean, you need to work hard for them — I do believe it’s an important step to turning your ambitions into action.
That’s why I’m so excited to re-introduce you to Neha O’Rourke. As a career and energy coach, Neha knows we all have the power to achieve our biggest goals.
“The act of manifesting is harnessing the power of your thoughts, actions, and positive mindset to create a desired outcome,” she explains.
To help, Neha shares her tips for manifesting a successful 2021. You got this!
What even is manifesting?
Before you start manifesting, you should probably understand exactly what you’re doing in the first place. For Neha, manifesting is all about how you harness your thoughts and energy.
“Unlike traditional goal setting practices that can elicit feelings of shame or judgement, as success is measured against rigid expectations that often include factors outside of your control, manifestation allows you to efficiently use your energy towards what’s actually within your control, and release the draining energy associated with factors that are outside of your control,” she explains.
More gain and less pain? Sounds like a win-win.
How do I start manifesting?
Chances are, you want to manifest your biggest business goals into existence, but have no idea where to start. Don’t worry, Neha breaks it down into five, actionable steps:
1. Start with gratitude: By reflecting on what you’re grateful for, you start to acknowledge the abundance that has already been given to you. This helps reprogram your mind to seek abundance, which is a key element of the manifestation process. (Psst…you can always pick up a gratitude journal.)
2. Find some clarity: It’s easier to achieve your desired outcome when you have clarity on what exactly you’re trying to achieve. Especially when manifesting, you want to ensure you’re clear on what you’re working towards. Unlike traditional goal setting, manifestation leaves room for possibilities instead of being tied to the outcome.
3. Visualize and embody the outcome: Now it’s time to bring the vision to life. Tap into your imagination and visualize what it would look like to achieve your goal. Hone in on the feeling you want to feel. As silly as it sounds, there’s a purpose to this. Your brain doesn’t know the difference between reality and what you’re envisioning. When you visually manifest it, you will [let your brain] start to subconsciously make decisions that’ll get you closer to your goal. This is a common practice many Olympic athletes use when training! To help, write your “year from now” statement in the present tense — as if it’s happening right now.
4. Take inspired action: Another key element of manifestation is inspired action. Traditional goal setting is often riddled with words like “should,” “have to,” and “must,” which feel draining. Manifestation relies on taking action from a place of desire, intuition, and passion. Inspired action allows us to achieve our goals quicker and with less energy expended because we enjoy the process. Set your action plans based off of things you “want” to do versus what you “should” do.
5. Don’t sweat it: Make a conscious effort to surrender and have faith that the universe is working in your favor. Believe that you are worthy of receiving abundance and that the universe has your back.
How do I keep myself accountable?
That said, manifestation isn’t magic. In order to achieve your biggest goals, you need to work hard and hold yourself accountable. One way to do so is by doing the “inner work,” which will help you bolster your business from within.
“The more you work on your sense of self, purpose, confidence, and raise your consciousness, the easier it will be to manifest what you want into reality,” Neha says.
Another tip? Share what you’re manifesting with friends, family members, fellow self-starters, or a coach like Neha. And, since this is a safe space, why not share my goals here? This year, I’m hoping to bolster my writing business, enforce my boundaries, be better with deadlines, grow this newsletter, and have a candle column. (A girl can dream, right?)
What if I don’t achieve my goals?
Just because your goals don’t happen exactly as you had hoped doesn’t mean you should throw in the towel on manifesting. According to Neha, it’s important to loosen your grip on a specific outcome.
“The only things that are within your control are your thoughts, feelings and, actions,” she explains. “The rest is up to external circumstances that you can’t control. Rather than fixating on the how, what, and when of what you’re trying to achieve, focus on the why and have that be your guiding light.”
Amen to that!
A special thanks to Neha for such an important and inspiring conversation. You can give Neha some love by following her on Instagram and subscribing to her newsletter.
Hustler of the Week: Abigail Koffler
Congratulations on “This Needs Hot Sauce!” What inspired you to launch your own newsletter?
I’ve always loved food, and friends and family would constantly text me for restaurant recommendations. I was unhappy working in the nonprofit sector and wanted to do something different. I first had the idea after a breakup and decided to launch it as a Sunday evening project. (The Sunday Scaries are the worst when you hate your job). The first issue [was sent to] 40-something people, but I stuck with it. The following spring, I was laid off from my nonprofit job and decided to give food writing and freelancing a real shot. The newsletter helped me land my first paid stories.
You’ve built such an impressive community with your newsletter! What’s your advice for growing an audience?
Growth is slow, especially if you’re not starting with a huge social following or prestigious job. Be genuine, keep sharing that link, and don’t be afraid to invest in growth. I’ve done two paid ads in another newsletter and they led to bumps. Don’t get too caught up in numbers, though. A smaller, engaged audience is absolutely wonderful and will grow over time.
Of course, you’re also an incredible freelance journalist! What’s your favorite part about being your own boss? Least favorite?
I love having the freedom to pursue the stories I care about, plus the opportunity to cover such a wide range of topics. I never enjoyed sitting behind a desk for eight hours straight, so I structure my days according to my own productivity levels and preferences. The worst part is the instability and lack of a predictable income, which was a big challenge last year with Covid-19.
Give Abigail some love by following her on Instagram and subscribing to “This Needs Hot Sauce.”
(Psst…like what you see? Join the community and score exclusive discounts by subscribing here.)
