Rebirthing You: How to Become Your Manifestations

Written by Audrey Hayward

Ever since I was young, I always admired my older sister. She somehow got everything right. From her grades and finances, to her confidence and sense of humor. And if you have an older sister, you get it. I just always wondered, (and still do) how does she do it? I mean, we come from the same parents–how come I didn’t have it together like her? Was there a secret she knew that I didn’t, and if so, what was it? Turns out, there was. My older sister Olivia has lived about 100 lives in her short 25 years–dog sledder in Siberia, defensive cybersecurity engineer in DC, Russian history student in St. Petersburg, propaganda researcher in Tbilisi, and currently a film photographer in Berlin, Germany. That’s honestly just scraping the surface if I’m being honest.  

Olivia’s secret was something we all have, Pinterest. On her personal account, she has carved out specific lives she wants to live, each in a separate board, taking her time to truly visualize and imagine the next 100 lives she wants to have. Making them each specific, like an author in Paris, a ski instructor in the Swiss Alps, sailboat captain in the Mediterranean, ranch hand in southern Texas or even a barista in NYC. By consistently visualizing her goals and desires, it helps her to attract and manifest them into her reality in the future. 

The Power of Manifestation

Manifestation or “manifesting” is the practice of focusing and thinking your thoughts on a desired goal or outcome in order to try to bring it into your reality. Aligning your thoughts, beliefs, and actions with your desires to bring them into reality. But how do we truly become the manifestations we seek?

The Law of Attraction

To talk about manifestation, we must cover the grounds about the law of attraction first. The law of attraction simply suggests that positive thinking and thoughts bring positive actions and events into one’s life, while negative thoughts bring negative outcomes. So when practicing manifestation, the law of attraction is vital, with positive thoughts being crucial in creating and bringing forth the outcomes you want. 

How to Manifest

1. 1. Know exactly what you want. 

To become your manifestation, you must first clearly define what you desire. Whether it's a successful career, loving relationships, vibrant health, or inner peace, articulate your vision with clarity and specificity. Visualize yourself already living that reality. What does it look, feel, and sound like? More importantly, what do you feel like in this reality–your mind and body? The more vividly you can imagine it, the more real it becomes in your mind. 

1. 2. Cultivate belief.

Without belief, there’s no proper fuel for manifestation to flourish. Additionally, this goes hand and hand with the law of attraction. Identify and challenge any limiting beliefs that may be standing in your way by replacing them with affirmations that reinforce your desires. Make positive influences an abundance in your life to attract more positive experiences in your life. This doesn’t have to be intimidating like deleting all your social media and moving, it can be done through small things that impact your everyday life. Like the books you read, people you interact with daily, and the experiences you choose to have.

1. 3. Align your thoughts.

Inner dialogue whether unconsciously or consciously can get in our way a lot of the time. Make an effort to redirect any negative or doubtful thoughts towards empowering ones, focusing on gratitude. Easier said than done, believe me I know. Visualization techniques, such as guided imagery or vision boards can be a way to get out of your head and help further imprint your goals and desires into your subconscious mind when the inner dialogue is hard to get rid of. These techniques help reinforce the belief that your goals and desires are achievable, and motivate you to continue when you can physically see what your life would look like (with the help of our Pinterest icons).

1. 4. Engage in action.

As much as I wish it was just scrolling through Pinterest and daydreaming that brought these desires into our laps, it requires a little bit more than that. When thinking about what you want, being open to opportunities that align with that are crucial. It may not be a direct jump to the lifestyle you want, but this process isn’t about quick and easy fixes, it’s a process and journey like everything else. Break down your vision into actionable and attainable steps that you can start taking. By doing this, and acknowledging every small victory and synchronicity along the way, you acknowledge and celebrate progress, no matter how small, attracting more progress towards your goal in the future.

1. 5. Accept the universe and its timing. 

By trusting the universe and letting go of the need to control every aspect of the process (and your life), you let go from any feelings of desperation or lack, which in turn produces a sense of peace and acceptance. Understanding that you’re not in control allows not only the universe to work, but allows you to relax and accept your life for what it is, knowing things happen for a reason we sometimes can’t explain. For me, this is the hardest one. It’s taken me a while to admit, but a sense of control is very relaxing to me, knowing I'm in control and that whatever outcome occurs, it’s my doing. However, when I started to just believe that things happen for me and not to me, I began to feel a lot more at peace with my current place in life. 

1. 6. Self-love.

You know I had to! At the core of manifestation, is a strong sense of self-love and worthiness. I mean honestly, to manifest a goal and life for yourself, is prioritizing your life and deep desires for your future. By nourishing your body, mind, and spirit with activities that bring you fulfillment and joy, you come closer to living a life that you love and enjoy. Similar to control, by releasing perfectionism and self-judgment you allow more inner peace and positivity to flourish, which can only provide more happiness to your life. 

1. 7. Commitment. 

I wish there was a fairy godmother that I could give to you all (me included) that could grant all your wishes with a quick bippity-boppity-boo, but in reality, this all is a journey and process. Challenges and setbacks will occur, but staying committed to your thoughts, beliefs and actions (that align with your goals) is vital to engaging in manifestation (and letting the universe work!) Remember, we may not control what happens in life, but knowing there’s a reason (we may not see it or understand it now), is a way to keep yourself on the path to your vision. 

Skeptic or not, the steps of manifestation can only bring positivity to your life and allow you to understand yourself and your deeper desires and wants for your time on Earth. 

Whatever your goals and desires in life are, know that they are achievable, whether that be in a similar way you pictured, or completely different. Anything is possible. Want to scuba dive in Belize? Start by dipping your feet in the water. Want to be a photographer in Thailand? Watch some YouTube videos on basic photography skills. 

Life is fun, messy, inspirational, devastating, exhilarating, fun, intimate. It’s whatever you want it to be. So get that journal out, and start your dream life. 

Be well,

Audrey