How to Manifest to Have the Best 2025—and Beyond
Design by Channing Smith
Manifestation. It’s a buzzword that seems to be popping up everywhere these days, but is it just another passing woo-woo trend? Or is there real power behind the spiritual belief that you can turn your dreams into reality through visualization, positive thinking, and other methods?
The truth is, there’s value in knowing how to manifest, regardless of whether or not it “works.” In a world that often feels chaotic and out of our control, manifestation offers a sense of agency. When you try to deliberately direct the energy of the universe to bring your desires to life, you are forced to think about what you really want out of your life’s journey and how you can take action steps toward it.
How do we tap into this force? And how can we do it in a way that actually works? Let’s break down how to manifest so you can start putting things in place to have the best year—make that years—of your life.
What Is Manifesting?
How do you manifest something, you ask? At its core, manifestation is the act of bringing something into your life through focused intention, belief, and positive energy. Whether you are manifesting love, wealth, career success, or personal growth, the idea is simple: What you focus on, you begin to attract.
However, the art of manifestation is not just about wishful thinking or writing things down on a comprehensive list. Manifestation requires aligning your energy with your desires, deeply believing in the possibility of their existence, and being open to receiving them. It’s planting a seed, nurturing it with your thoughts, putting your beliefs and your actions into alignment to grow the garden, and then allowing the universe to work its magic from there.
Think about it this way: If you're constantly focused on lack or negativity, you open yourself up to attracting more of the same. It’s like your social media feed’s algorithm: Whatever, or whoever, you’re engaging with trains the universe to bring in more of what you “like.”
Manifesting
The viral manifestation trend is all about the power of positive thinking.
So when you start vibrating at a higher frequency through optimism, positive beliefs, and abundance, you stay grounded in your self-worth, and you trust in the process, you might feel things start to shift. If so, it could be the universe responding to the energy you emit. That’s how manifestation works. It is energetic alignment, not wishful thinking.
But first, a disclaimer: As someone who struggles with C-PTSD, I want to note that having negative thoughts does not mean that life is going to punish you when you think about challenging things. Instead, I’ve found the practice of manifestation works more like a mixing bowl when you’re baking: It’s okay to add a pinch of salt in when you’re making a cake. The finished product will still mainly taste like the ingredients that you used the most. So if you are mixing in thoughts and beliefs that are abundant, rooted in self-confidence, and focused on growth, that is what your cake—a.k.a. life—will taste like!
I was raised in a rural town in New Hampshire, off a dirt road. I used to tell my mom when I was little that I was going to move to a big city someday. I went through school telling my friends that I wanted to be some sort of therapist who helped women by chatting with them while integrating fun tools like tarot and astrology into my practice. I’ve even written down every specific little trait about a partner that I envisioned coming into my life, down to things like “freckles on his cheeks” and “has one older sister.” Long story short, I moved to Los Angeles when I was 21, have been working full-time as an astrologer, tarot reader, and writer since 2018, and met that exact man the day after I wrote my “partner list” in 2022.
Manifestation is very real for me, but I’ve found that the key is to be a clear and grounded channel in order for these insights to come through. You also have to be willing to take action and be responsible for doing whatever it takes to make those manifestations come to life. Sitting at home and journaling is only one part of the process. Getting out into the real world to put yourself in the line of sight for all the opportunities and connections you are calling in is another very important part.
The History of Manifestation
While manifestation might seem like a modern concept, its roots stretch back thousands of years. In ancient cultures, people practiced forms of manifesting through rituals, prayers, and visualizations. Various forms of manifestation have popped up through the centuries across different religions and spiritual movements, including Hinduism, Buddhism, the New Thought “mind cure” of the 1800s, and the New Age “Law of Attraction” philosophy of the 20th century. From the teachings of Hermetic principles in ancient Egypt, which stated “the all is mind, the universe is mental,” to the metaphysical ideas explored by thinkers like Wallace Wattles and Napoleon Hill, the act of manifesting has been tied to understanding the relationship between thought, energy, and reality for centuries.
Fast forward to 2025—the rise of popular self-help books, online gurus, and social media posts on TikTok and Instagram have made manifestation more mainstream than ever before. Influencers, major media personalities like Oprah, and spiritual teachers like Dr. Joe Dispenza have all shared their own wisdom on how to manifest your best life. Manifestation nowadays tends to blend science with spirituality, offering a holistic approach to realizing your dreams.
It's Cosmic
Let’s start with the basics.
Tips on How to Manifest
As I said before, manifestation isn’t a passive activity. It requires focus, action, and alignment. If you want to manifest effectively, it’s important to follow certain steps.
Here’s how you can start:
1. Set clear intentions.
Clarity is key when it comes to manifestation. The universe can’t deliver what you want if you don’t know what you’re asking for. Get specific! Instead of just saying, “I want to be happy,” ask yourself: What does happiness look like for me? What does success mean in my life? The more defined your goal is, the easier it is to align your energy with it.
2. Visualize and feel the experience.
Visualization is one of the most powerful tools for manifestation. When you visualize yourself living your dream, don’t just see it—feel it. What does it feel like to experience the success or happiness you desire in your body? Engage all of your senses during the process. The more vivid the experience in your mind, the easier it will be to bring it into reality.
3. Align your beliefs with your dreams.
If your inner dialogue contradicts your desires, manifestation will be harder. A big part of manifestation is reprogramming your beliefs to align with your goals. When we believe we are deserving of our dreams, then they can start to materialize. So make sure your actions and thoughts are aligned with your desired outcome, and trust that what you want is already on its way.
4. Feel gratitude.
Gratitude is one of the highest vibrational energies we can emit. When you are grateful for what you already have, you create more space for abundance. Gratitude keeps you in the present moment and helps you stay aligned with positive energy. Start your day with a gratitude practice—it can be as simple as saying one thing you’re grateful for that day—and watch how your energy shifts.
5. Take inspired action.
Manifestation is not just about sitting back and waiting for things to happen to you. Inspired action is a crucial component. Manifesting requires an open mind and a willingness to step out of your comfort zone. If opportunities arise, trust your intuition and then take bold, actionable steps toward your goals! If you’re looking for love, chances are you won’t find it while sitting at home. If you want to manifest your dream trip with a group of friends, maybe start by asking them all to coffee to brainstorm destinations first!
6. Trust the process.
Remember my example of writing a long list of traits, qualities, and feelings about a boyfriend—and then meeting him the next day? While that worked for me, try to remember that not everything happens overnight and have patience. The more you trust in the universe and its process, the more quickly everything will fall into place...even if it feels like it is taking time in the moment.
Manifestation Techniques
Meditation
Meditation is a powerful tool when it comes to manifestation because it helps you clear your mind, tune into your intuition, and connect with the energy of the universe. When you meditate with intention, you’re signaling to the universe that you’re ready to receive.
Dispenza speaks about how meditation can lead to brain rewiring and emotional healing; when done regularly, it can help create the mental space for manifesting. A simple method to start with is sitting in a quiet space. Once you’re there, close your eyes and start to focus on your breath. As you breathe in, imagine breathing in positive energy; as you breathe out, release any negative thoughts or limiting beliefs with your exhales.
Once you feel grounded and centered, visualize the life you want—whether it’s a loving relationship, financial abundance, or a thriving career. Or all of the above! See it as if it is already happening, and feel the emotions associated with that success. I recommend meditating regularly to keep those vibrations high.
Mental Health
If you've felt anxious or depressed, or you've been fixating on worst-case scenarios, it might not be a bad time to try a meditation app. Here is a list of our absolute favorites.
Journaling and vision boards
Journaling is another powerful tool in your manifestation toolbox. Writing allows you to clarify your desires, track your progress, and align your thoughts with your goals. Try writing down what you want to manifest as though it's already happening. For example, write, “I am so grateful for my dream job that allows me to be creative and fulfilled.”
Vision boards are also an incredible way to visualize your dreams. They are essentially collages of images and words that represent your desires. The process of creating a vision board allows you to engage in the visualization process in a tactile, creative way. Every time you look at your board, you’re realigning your energy with your desires. It’s a reminder to stay focused and keep moving forward.
Use the 369 Method
The 369 Method is a manifestation technique popularized on TikTok by creators like @valeriefune. It’s simple and effective, and doesn’t require much more than a notebook and a few minutes a day.
Here’s how to manifest something via the 369 Method.
Step 1: Choose a specific affirmation or desire you want to manifest.
Step 2: Write it down three times in the morning, six times in the afternoon, and nine times in the evening.
Step 3: Focus on the emotions you want to feel once that desire is manifesting.
The 369 Method is a powerful tool because it combines repetition with emotional intensity. Each time you write down your goal, you’re reinforcing your belief and aligning with it energetically.
Household rituals
Manifestation is about more than positive thinking. This practice can also include clearing away old energies and beliefs to make room for newer and more aligned ones. This process can be as simple as doing physical rituals around your home space to call in your manifestations.
In my own practice, I love to pair cleaning with major “portal” moments, or moments in time where there is a big shift. One example is cleaning your stovetop on New Year’s Eve. If you missed it this year, try to do it on the astrological New Year (March 20, when Aries season begins), your birthday, or before a full moon. This practice helps me to clear out the old, both physically and energetically, to create space for new energy in a new year or new chapter of life.
On the first of each month, I also use cinnamon and a quarter outside of my front door as a tool for manifestation. This ritual is thought to attract prosperity and positivity into your home. By incorporating small, intentional rituals into your life, you can clear the path for your manifestations to come to you more easily!
Embrace Your New Role as a Master Manifestator
Finally, the key to manifestation is trust. Trust in yourself. Trust in the process. And trust that the universe is working on your behalf. It’s easy to get caught up in the impatience of waiting, but remember that everything is unfolding in divine timing.
Manifestation is not just about getting what you want—it’s about aligning with the energy of abundance, trusting in your worth, and allowing life to flow toward you. The more you practice, the easier it becomes to navigate the ups and downs of the process. When you stay grounded in your faith, your dreams will start to manifest before your very eyes.
Manifestation is not just an abstract concept. It’s a practice—a tool to help you align with your inner power and create the life you desire. With these tips and techniques, I believe you’ll be able to step into your full potential and have the life you’ve always dreamed of. Let’s manifest it.
Originally Appeared on Glamour
