Manifest your goals into reality

"Whether you think you can or can’t, you’re right." - Henry Ford

"If you can dream it, you can do it."- Tom Fitzgerald, Disney Imagineer

"Leap and the net will appear." - "John Burroughs

"If you build it, they will come." -Field of Dreams (Movie)

These quotes all share an important message: trust yourself and trust the process. 

We know what trusting ourselves looks like (or doesn’t look like, as is often the case), but what about trusting the process? What process? 

I’m talking about manifestation - bringing something into existence through one’s thoughts, beliefs, and actions. If you have a goal in life - no matter how big or how small - using these steps will greatly improve the chances of turning that goal into reality. 

1. Have clarity of intention. Set clear, measurable, achievable goals for yourself. Here at The Well Being, we've partnered with Still I Run to lead the Starting Line Scholarship program; a "Couch-to-5K" training program that is specifically focused on mental health. The program participants have goals every week of running, attending a fitness class, and participating in a support group. They do this for 12 weeks as they prepare to run the Riverbank Run 5k in the Spring, or the LMCU Bridge Run in the Fall. These are VERY clear goals. They can be measured and they can be achieved. 

2. Utilize visualization and positive thinking. Whether you are training to run your first 5k or you are an Olympic athlete - visualize, visualize, visualize. Athletes regularly talk about how they visualize every scenario in their minds before a big game, meet, or match. Gymnasts go over their routine in their heads even when they are not physically performing. Football players imagine all of the potential outcomes of their plays. This works for non-athletes, too. Imagine yourself nailing a presentation, getting a promotion, or starting a new career path. Visualizing trains your brain. Brain scans show that when you visualize yourself performing an action, you stimulate the same part of the brain you use when you are actually performing that action. Just think - you can train while you are laying in bed at night! Or when you are waiting at a doctor’s office! If you have a dream, you can make strides towards success AT ANY TIME. Ask yourself what’s the BEST that can happen? and focus on that! 

3. Take action! Once you have clarity of your goal and you imagine yourself obtaining that goal, take action to make it happen. I suggest writing down what you are envisioning to help with focus. Break your goal down into smaller steps to lessen feelings of being overwhelmed and to be able to check each step off your list as you work your way towards your finish line. Remember that forward is a pace and every step along the way is leading to your overall goal. Picture every step in your mind and see yourself accomplishing those steps one by one. Be as specific as you can with both your action steps AND your visualization of accomplishing those steps. Having a growth mindset as you are taking action is vital. A growth mindset allows us to believe that our efforts are worthwhile and that change can and will happen. 

4. Give yourself grace and patience. Surround yourself with supportive people and consider working with a therapist. Setting intentions, visualizing it happening, and manifesting your dreams takes time. There will be ups and downs with any journey, but having encouragement from positive people can go a long way. If you have a good support system or a therapist, share your goals with them! Sharing your goals helps with accountability and staying on track. Be kind to yourself and practice visualizing it all working out. Chances are, it will! 

So what is something YOU want to manifest in your own life? What can you start visualizing to help train your brain into making it happen? What action steps will you begin today to turn your goals into reality? Good luck and dream big!