Manifestation, Debunked: What I’ve Learned So Far

I used to call it my spiritual journey, until a coach reminded me that everything is spiritual. Fair point. Still, I know the moment I started to wake up. When I began questioning old beliefs, seeing things differently, and realizing: wait… I actually get to create my own reality?

Along the way, I’ve had amazing teachers. One of my biggest influences is Wayne Dyer. His story always stuck with me: he was about to make tenure as a professor, but he had this pull towards something different. He started writing, and realized this was his true calling. His quote, “Don’t die with the music still inside you”, has lived in my soul ever since.

That’s manifestation in action. It’s not about being perfectly high-vibe or floating away from reality. It’s about listening for those whispers, trusting them, and having the courage to step out of autopilot and consciously create.

The problem? There are so many myths floating around about manifestation that keep people frustrated or doubting themselves. I definitely don’t have it all figured out, but I want to share what I’ve learned so far and bust a few myths along the way.

Myth 1: Manifestation is Just “Thinking Positive”

You’ve probably heard this one: that if you just think good thoughts, good things will magically appear. Positive thinking helps, but manifestation is much more than that.

It’s about alignment, not the kind that demands perfection, but the kind where you honor your energetic cycles, listen to your body, and take action when you feel the pull. When I shifted from retail management into a Head of Recruiting role in 2017, I didn’t have a traditional background for it. But I believed it was mine, aligned my energy with that truth, and opportunities unfolded. I wa spositive, yes, but I was also embodying the energy of that person already in the role.

Myth 2: You Have to Be High-Vibe All the Time

No one is high-vibe 24/7. Life ebbs and flows. You’ll feel low, heavy, or messy sometimes, and that doesn’t cancel your ability to manifest.

What matters is consistency and how you move energy through your body. Trauma, stress, and suppressed emotions clog our system. But as Peter Levine describes in Waking the Tiger, animals naturally shake off trauma. We can do the same and allow emotional waves to flow through us. Feeling the emotion and moving our energy both help to do this. It's not all high-vibe, and that's a good thing. We grow and evolve from the healthy tension, but we can't hang onto the lows forever.

Myth 3: Manifestation is Magic and Not Real

This one’s tricky because, yes, manifestation is magical. But it’s also practical and scientific. Neuroscience shows us how the Reticular Activating System literally filters reality to match our beliefs. For example, when you decide to buy a certain type of car, and then you see that car everywhere. Now you think everyone has it. Not true, your brain just deemed it important because you focused on it. A-ha! Get it?

Energy work, epigenetic awareness (what patterns do we hold from family?), and inner healing are ways we shift our blueprint to reflect what we desire. I remember a story of a monk traveling through LA. Driving past vast open land someone next to him said, that area would be great for the temple. The monk did not look beause he knew his manifestation power was so strong that the temple would manifest quickly. He was a clear vessel, healing trauma and honoring his energy. Whether literal or metaphorical, the story reminds us that what we focus on holds power. We’re manifesting constantly, through our words, beliefs, and where we place attention.

Myth 4: If It’s Not Happening Fast, It’s Not Working

We live in a culture of instant gratification. A study last year mentioned that the human attention span is shorter than a Goldfish now. But remember in this fast paced world, manifestation unfolds with divine timing. Sometimes delays are protection, preparation, or redirection.

Think of it as planting seeds. You don’t dig them up the next day to see if they’re sprouting. You water, nurture, and trust the process. “Set it and forget it” has become one of my favorite practices: be crystal clear, release control, and let the Universe work with you. But remember a vital part of the set it and forget it equation is to become the energtic match for what you desire.

Myth 5: Manifestation Means You’ll Never Have a Low Again

Manifestation isn’t a guarantee of a challenge-free life. Low moments still arise, but the way you move through them, and even view them, changes. You begin to see obstacles as invitations to grow or redirect. You trust that even when things feel off, they are aligning for something greater.

Here’s the thing: magic is real. Not the pull-a-rabbit-out-of-a-hat kind, but the everyday kind that shows up when you trust yourself, play with energy, and let the Universe surprise you. We’re all manifesting constantly, whether we realize it or not.

So why not do it on purpose? Get clear on what you want, keep your energy light, shake off the stuff that weighs you down, and leave space for the wild, unexpected ways it can all come together. Manifestation isn’t about being perfect, it’s about being present, playful, and open to the little winks life keeps sending your way.

With love and magic,

Nikki