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Manifestation

Updated: Jan 25

Manifesting is defining an intention so deeply that it gets embedded in your subconscious. Your inner intention guides your life. The first step in successfully manifesting is not relying on an external source. The recipe for success is the power of your own mind.


This seems paradoxical as your own mind creates your limiting beliefs. This is the result of childhood trauma. Manifesting is your internal source of infinite possibility. There are no gurus or external saviours. There is no saviour but you.


This is how to harness the power of manifestation. This is how to harness the power of you...


Manifestation


Neurosurgeon James R. Doty wrote in ‘Mind Magic: The Neuroscience of Manifestation and How it Changes Everything’, which is in my 'Suggested Reading' list, that manifestation is the art of framing an intention so vividly that it becomes deeply lodged in the mind’s unconscious, activating brain networks oriented toward achieving that goal.


Doty says that “The Universe doesn’t give a fuck about you.” What does he mean by that bold statement?


I have written an article on ‘Abundance’, which is the same as manifestation: Please click on the link to read my full article:



Manifestation involves cultivating a fierce belief in possibility, that you are capable of ensuring your own well-being and success, rising beyond your circumstances. This practice generates dispositional optimism, a trait that has been linked to numerous benefits including better physical and mental health, increased resilience and a greater likelihood of achieving goals. It’s rooted in ancient spiritual traditions like the Vedic scriptures and the New England Transcendentalists’ Law of Attraction. Today, our understanding of neuroplasticity, the brain’s ability to reorganise neural pathways, provides scientific insights into manifestation’s mechanisms, showing that this ancient spiritual practice is rooted in science.


By focusing thoughts and emotions on desired outcomes, we strengthen associated neural pathways, increasing the likelihood of aligned actions and creating a self-reinforcing manifestation cycle. While not a panacea, manifestation empowers resilience, positive mindsets and aligning actions with our deepest aspirations by unlocking the mind’s potential. This article will walk you through the six steps of effective visualisation and manifestation. At the same time as focussing on desired outcome, we have to let go of those outcomes for true manifestation.


Step one: Focus

Focus within each of us lies a potent inner power waiting to be activated. With this power, we can endure discomfort, delay gratification, and control our response to any situation. What is this power? Focus.


Through focus, we can channel our attention toward our positive inner intentions, transcending the distractions and obstacles that life throws our way. In the world we operate in today, our focus is under constant threat. Smartphones, for instance, are designed to pull at our attention, with the average American spending a staggering 1,460 hours per year on these devices, equivalent to 91 waking days. What a total ‘brain rot’ waste of time. These devices are engineered to steal our attention, and when we lose control of our focus, we can feel helpless and fatigued. However, smartphones are not the only culprits. Other environmental factors, conditioned discomfort and cycles of negative thought and behaviour can all contribute to a sense of helplessness and inability to change. But this helplessness is an illusion. We all possess agency, the power to shape our lives and circumstances. You always have a choice. What we need to regain is the sense of agency and self-efficacy, the belief that we are capable of accomplishing our goals. Self-efficacy is a potent force, often serving as a self-fulfilling prophecy. A robust sense of self-efficacy drives us to aim higher and work harder in pursuit of our aspirations. It is the foundation upon which our power to manifest rests, enabling us to break free from the mental habits that keep us trapped in feedback loops of misery, apathy, and hopelessness.


To produce the results we desire, we must first believe in our ability to produce those results. This is where metacognition, the awareness and understanding of our own thought processes, comes into play. Metacognition allows us to recognise and overcome the limiting beliefs and patterns that hold us back, paving the way for personal growth and transformation. To build your inner power of focus and cultivate a sense of agency and self-efficacy, try this exercise. Find a comfortable position, relax and breathe deeply. Visualise your Self displaying the behaviour you would like to manifest.


See in great detail how you would perform this behaviour. After five minutes of visualisation, write your goal down on paper. Close your eyes and embed this intention by visualising your Self carrying it out. In the morning, read your written goal to reinforce the intention for the day. Whenever you actualise this intention, record a sentence congratulating yourself for meeting your intention. Visualisation is how the 4 minute mile was broken by Roger Bannister: It can work for any other hurdle too.


Step two: Clarify

Getting what you want depends on knowing what you truly desire. In today’s manifestation culture, there is often a misguided focus on material wealth, cars, houses and status symbols. However, this is a distortion of the true power of manifestation. While manifestation can certainly bring abundant gifts, trying to manifest a high-end car isn’t aiming high enough. This comes from a place of lack, which always brings more lack.


To unlock the full potential of manifestation, we must cultivate a more discerning approach to our feelings and needs. Be mindful of times when you feel positive, fulfilled and whole. Reach into your memory and recall those moments when you felt aligned (for me, that’s a tingling sensation in my hands, feet, and abdomen), supported, and at peace. Perhaps it was when you were surrounded by loved ones, lost in a deep focus on a passion project, serving others or connecting with nature. Positive emotions are powerful catalysts for manifestation. They activate our inner reward system and direct our brain’s attention to the experiences that caused them, setting our internal compass to recreate those experiences over and over.


You can harness this cognitive pathway by attaching an intention to feelings of strong positivity. The brain filters information through a process known as value tagging, in which it assigns emotional value to various stimuli, experiences and memories. When we tap into and are mindful of positive experiences, we can remind ourselves of how real and attainable those positive feelings will be when we accomplish our intention. Reconnecting with your inner power and potential can be overwhelming, as a flood of desires and wants may suddenly surface. Which ones should you pursue? To gain clarity, set aside some dedicated time and quiet space.


Sit in a relaxed position and visualise success. Don’t fixate on any specific image or idea that presents itself. Instead, let your mind wander freely. Next, engage in a body scan relaxation technique. This involves mentally scanning your body from head to toe, consciously relaxing each muscle group as you go. This practice helps release physical tension and quiets the mind, preparing you for deeper visualisation.


Now visualise success again, this time homing in on the details. Engage all your senses. What does success look, feel and sound like? Immerse yourself in the experience, allowing your vision to become vivid and tangible. Finally, record your image of success in writing. Silently read what you have written, then read your text aloud, further reinforcing the intention and embedding it into your unconscious.


Step three: Silence the inner critic

The greatest obstacle preventing you from achieving your goals is not external. It’s the negative inner voice that constantly puts you down and erodes your self-belief. This internalised negativity stems from the sympathetic nervous system, or SNS, the network of nerves responsible for the ancestral fight-or-flight response. While this system was once crucial for our survival, it is maladapted in the modern world, creating an inner critic that discourages risk-taking and dampens ambition.


Each time we listen to this negative internal monologue, we metaphorically add another brick to the wall, imprisoning us within our own limitations. The more energy we expend on these self-disparaging thoughts, the more we internalise them as facts rather than destructive fictions. This inner critic acts as a resource vampire, sapping cognitive and emotional reserves that could be better directed toward our goals. To break free from this toxic cycle, we must find ways to soothe the primitive nervous system driving the negativity bias. One powerful technique is to consciously cultivate self-compassion through meditative practice. By relaxing the body and mind, we reassure our brains that all is well, allowing the anxious voices to quiet.


Try this exercise: Dedicate some uninterrupted time to being alone. Sit comfortably, relax your breathing and systematically release tension from each muscle group. Vividly recall a cherished memory of feeling unconditionally loved and allow the positive emotions to wash over you.


As negative self-beliefs inevitably arise, imagine them gathering outside your safe perch rather than letting them in. Write each one down, then replace it with its opposite affirmation. For instance, transform I’m not good enough into I am good enough. With regular practice disempowering the inner critic, you can rewire ingrained mental patterns and reclaim the optimism and resilience to go after your biggest dreams.


Step four: Embed your intention

When Jim Carrey was a struggling actor living in a run-down Toronto apartment, he did something audacious. He wrote himself a cheque for $10 million for acting services rendered, dated it for Thanksgiving 1995 and carried it in his wallet. This bold act of manifesting his dreams into reality may seem foolish, but just a few years later, Carrey was one of the biggest comedy stars on the planet. His story illustrates the power of embedding intentions deeply into the unconscious mind.


You see, our brains tend to be miserly about absorbing new information, a by-product of our energy-conserving evolutionary past. Just as an iceberg has most of its mass underwater, our minds often take in only the tip of mountains of incoming data, filing away just the essentials. For an intention or goal to really take root, it needs sustained reinforcement. This is where visualisation comes in. By repeatedly imagining our desired outcome in vivid detail, we train our brains to recognise and become comfortable with that future reality. This cognitive ease signals the mind to start devoting mental resources to making that vision a tangible success.


Incredibly, the subconscious will even work on manifesting goals in the background while our conscious mind is occupied elsewhere. To start embedding your own powerful intentions, try this exercise: Set aside quiet time for meditation, sitting upright with eyes closed. Bring to mind a specific goal or dream you wish to manifest and spend several minutes visualising it as richly as possible. The location, accompanying people, your emotional state, every shimmering detail. When your mind wanders, gently return it to the image.


Take deep breaths, relax your muscles and really absorb the visualisation into your body. Afterwards, describe the experience in detailed writing. Then read it both aloud and in silence. With daily reinforcement, you’ll be priming your unconscious to make that intention a reality.


Step five: Chase your intention passionately

Manifestation is not a magic wand. It’s a practice that unfolds step by step. Like any skill, it’s best to start small before attempting more audacious goals. Demonstrating passionate commitment and learning from setbacks along the way are crucial.


When you do experience success, no matter how incremental, savour that achievement. It’s not just the repetition itself, but the positive feelings you cultivate around manifesting that will mold the practice into a habit. Pay close attention to the clues from your unconscious mind, which often communicates through synchronicity. If a phrase or memory keeps surfacing unprompted, or you feel inexplicably drawn to a certain place, it may signify something your unconscious is trying to elevate into awareness. Likewise, weird coincidences, like three different people recommending the same book, could be the Universe’s way of sending you a message. For maximum power, align your specific intention with a deeper sense of purpose that drives you.


For example, if your goal is to get a promotion, connect it to providing for your family or supporting cherished values. Anchoring aims in meaningfulness catalyses the mind’s manifesting abilities. Try this exercise. Find a quiet private space and relax through deep breathing. Visualise your current intention, then zoom out. What’s the broader context surrounding this goal?


Who else is affected, and how might achieving it create positive ripples? Will it inspire others, bring joy to your community or solve problems? Open your eyes and write a statement capturing how this intention ties into your life’s greater purpose. Refer back to this purpose statement whenever you feel doubt or uncertainty creeping in. By aligning conscious aims with subconscious drivers, you’ll be channelling the maximum energy into manifestation.


Step six: Open yourself up to magic (I would say miracles)

Open yourself up to magic: The process of manifesting an intention involves clarifying it, visualising it in vivid detail, repeating the visualisation and deeply embedding it into the subconscious mind. Counterintuitively, however, the final step requires learning when to let go of rigid expectations regarding how that intention will materialise. It’s easy to become overly attached to specific outcomes when manifesting goals. Remember, the purpose of detailed visualisation is to imprint the aim into the unconscious, not necessarily preview the exact real-world result.


When putting intentions out to the Universe, you must remain open to how synchronicity may respond. As we take action toward realising desires, observing the impacts allows us to calibrate our inner compass. When actions create positive effects, the brain’s salience network — the system that identifies what’s important amid constant stimuli — devotes even more resources to the intention. Conversely, if efforts meet frustration, it provides a useful pause for re-evaluating whether that aim truly serves our greater good. Clinging too tightly to a particular envisioned outcome blinds us to other emerging opportunities and causes us to lose presence in the current moment. We may overlook wonderful developments unfolding simply because they don’t match our predetermined ideals.


To practice allowing the Universe’s magic to guide your intentions, try this. Find a private space and do a body relaxation scan. Reflect on a past goal that became an obsession and on how that laser focus both aided and limited you. Remember the thrill of your eventual achievement, but recognise that those peak feelings can never last. Then consider an unaccomplished aim and the disappointment you felt, which also proved temporary. Take deep breaths, opening your heart to self-compassion.


Send that warmth into any tension arising from attachment to specific results. Restore your wider perspective that the deepest meaning comes from being fully present, regardless of particular outcomes. Gently loosen your grip and realign with simply living each moment as it unfolds. The main takeaway of this article about 'Mind Magic' by James Doty is that there are six steps to the manifestation process.


Summary so far

  1. Focus and build self-efficacy.

  2. Clarify your true desires.

  3. Silence the inner critic through self-compassion.

  4. Embed your intention through vivid visualisation.

  5. Chase your intention with passionate commitment.

  6. Open yourself to how the Universe may guide your intention.

 

Understanding neuroscience manifestation

Doty explains, “Manifesting, at its heart, is a practice of well-being, engagement with the world, and living a good life.” This is something you can practice.


To learn the six steps of neuroscience manifestation which Doty delivers in detail and with practice swings, it helps to unlearn areas that have messed with our ability to take charge of our brains. Most of the misunderstandings and misdirection come from that desire to think the answers are external, such as the Law of Attraction.


“Manifesting is neither a get-rich-quick scheme nor a misguided wish-fulfillment system but is part of the brain’s extraordinary ability to change, heal, and remake itself, known as neuroplasticity,” Doty emphasised.


Manifestation is an equal opportunity. This is not limited to the 5% of the world that is gifted. This works for 100% of each human who can think and learn.


The detailed discussion of each of Doty’s six steps cuts through pseudoscience and mysticism to show the brain mechanics that underlie relaxation, detachment, compassion, visualisation, intention, and removing the obstacles blocking our goals and movement — tiny and large, to our desires.


We’re going to explore the science behind meditation and how it works its incredible magic on your brain and body. So, fasten your seatbelts, and let’s unravel the mystery.


The brain on meditation:

Meditation isn’t just a practice for the mystics and gurus; it’s a science-backed tool that can transform your brain. Here’s what happens up there when you meditate:

  1. Boosted gray matter: Studies have shown that regular meditation can increase the gray matter in your brain. This is the stuff responsible for memory, self-awareness, and compassion. So, meditation is like a workout for your brain’s muscle.

  2. Reduced stress: Meditation is a stress-buster. It lowers the production of stress hormones like cortisol, giving your overworked brain a chance to chill and find some peace.

  3. Mindfulness and concentration: Meditation improves your ability to focus and be present. It’s like sharpening your mental sword, making you a mindfulness ninja in a world of distractions.

  4. Emotional balance: The emotional centres of your brain get a makeover through meditation. It enhances emotional regulation and helps you navigate the rollercoaster of feelings with more finesse.


The body’s symphony:

Meditation isn’t just about the brain; it’s a full-body experience. Here’s what it does for your physical health:

  1. Relaxation response: When you meditate, your body shifts into a relaxation response. Your heart rate slows, your blood pressure drops, and your muscles relax. It’s like pressing the reset button on your entire system.

  2. Enhanced immune system: Meditation can boost your immune system’s defences. It strengthens the body’s ability to fight off diseases and infections.

  3. Pain management: Meditation has a powerful impact on pain perception. It’s like a natural painkiller, helping you manage discomfort without the need for pills.

  4. Improved sleep: If you’re struggling with sleep, meditation is your go-to remedy. It calms the mind, eases insomnia, and helps you drift into a peaceful slumber.


The science of stress reduction:

One of the most significant benefits of meditation is its ability to combat stress. When you meditate, your body undergoes a series of physiological changes that work together to reduce stress levels. It’s like a superhero cape for your well-being.

  1. Lower cortisol levels: Meditation decreases the production of cortisol, the body’s primary stress hormone. It’s like turning down the stress dial and letting your system breathe.

  2. Enhanced brain connectivity: Meditation strengthens the connections between different regions of the brain, including those responsible for stress regulation. It’s like creating a superhighway for calmness in your brain.

  3. Improved heart health: Meditation is a heart-healthy practice. It lowers blood pressure, decreases the risk of heart disease, and supports overall cardiovascular well-being.


A happier, healthier you:

So, what’s the bottom line? Meditation is not just a spiritual journey; it’s a science-based gateway to a happier, healthier you. It enhances brain function, reduces stress, improves physical health, and makes you more resilient in the face of life’s challenges.


Now, isn’t that something worth exploring? Meditation is a tool that gives you the power to transform your brain and body, and the best part is that it’s within your reach. So, go ahead, take a deep breath, and dive into the world of meditation. Your brain and body will thank you for it. Stay blessed, blessed, and more blessed.


Namaste.


Sending you love, light, and blessings brothers.


Olly

Dr Olly Alexander Branford MBBS, MA(Cantab), PhD.

Fully qualified and certified coach


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Hello,

I am very pleased to meet you. Thank you for reading this far. I very much look forward to connecting with the highest version of you, to seeing your highest possibility, and to our conversations. Please do contact me via my email for a free connection call and a free experience of coaching.

See you soon,

Dr Olly Alexander Branford MBBS, MA(Cantab), PhD

Fully qualified and certified coach


“Transformative life coaching uniquely creates and holds the space for you to see your self afresh, with clarity, and step into new ways of BEing, which will transform how you perceive and intuitively create your world. My work is to guide you to raise your own conscious awareness to the level that you want to achieve.”

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I have a Bachelor's degree in Natural Sciences from Trinity College, Cambridge; a Master's Degree in Philosophy from Trinity College, Cambridge; a PhD Doctorate in Scientific Research from University College London (UCL); a Medical Degree (MD/MBBS) from The Royal Free Hospital School of Medicine, London and have been a doctor and reconstructive trauma and cancer surgeon in London for 20 years. I have published over 50 peer reviewed scientific journal articles, have been an associate editor and frequent scientific faculty member, and am the author of several scientific books. I have been awarded my Diploma in Transformative Life Coaching in London, which has International Coaching Federation (ICF) Accreditation, as well as the UK Association for Coaching (AC), and the European Mentoring and Coaching Council (EMCC). I have been on my own transformative journey full time for over five years and I am ready to be your guide to you finding out who you really are and how the world works. I have written 400 articles for you and an eBook to guide you on your transformative journey, which are all available for free on my website - click on the link below:


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