Do you believe in manifestation?
What are you currently manifesting?
Manifestation isn’t about magic, shortcuts, or wishing something into existence, it’s about clarity, belief, and intentional action. In today’s episode, Jay unpacks the biggest myths around manifestation and explains why vision boards, affirmations, and journaling alone often leave us feeling stuck or unfulfilled. Instead, he shows us how to set clear goals, pair affirmations with real action, and create systems that actually move us forward.
Through practical steps and powerful research, Jay reshapes our understanding of manifestation, not as wishful thinking, but as the alignment of our thoughts, words, and actions. He reveals why positivity without effort quickly falls flat, how struggle signals growth rather than failure, and why surrender can be an act of wisdom instead of passivity. Jay shows us how to actively create the life we imagine. Whether your pursuit is abundance, purpose, or simply the courage to take the next step, he reminds us that manifestation isn’t about waiting for the universe to deliver, it’s about showing up ready, prepared, and fully present for the opportunities ahead.
In this episode, you'll learn:
How to Set Clear Goals for Manifestation
How to Pair Affirmations with Daily Action
How to Break Big Dreams into Small Steps
How to Turn Desire Into Direction
How to Value Growth Over Outcome
Growth is rarely smooth or instant, but it’s always possible when you stay committed to the process. Keep showing up with clarity, with consistency, and courage, because the life you dream of is created one intentional choice at a time.
With Love and Gratitude,
Jay Shetty
Join over 750,000 people to receive my most transformative wisdom directly in your inbox every single week with my free newsletter. Subscribe here.
Check out our Apple subscription to unlock bonus content of On Purpose! https://lnk.to/JayShettyPodcast
What We Discuss:
00:00 Intro
00:50 What is Manifestation?
01:52 Myth #1: Manifestation isn't Magic
05:42 Myth #2: Positive Thoughts Alone Attract Success
08:12 Myth #3: Writing it Down is Not Enough
11:11 Myth #4: The Universe Rewards Wanting
13:35 Myth #5: The Path Will Be Smooth If It's Meant to Be
16:14 Myth #6: Manifesting is Passive
20:07 Myth #7: Manifestation is About Stuff
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Manifestation is not magic. Manifestation is not wishing and waiting.
Manifestation is not writing it once in a journal and
closing the book. Manifestation is not saying affirmations while avoiding action.
Manifestation is not the universe delivering without your participation. Manifestation
(00:24):
is not a shortcut around hard work. It's clarity, belief,
and consistent action. In Alignment, the number one health and
wellness podcast, Jay Sety Jay Chatty, Hey everyone, welcome back
to On Purpose. I'm Jay Chatty, author of New York
(00:45):
Times bestsellers Think Like a Monk and Eight Rules of Love,
and today I want to talk to you about a
topic that I feel we're all completely fascinated by, but
I think we really don't understand station. There is so
much about this word out there. There's so many interpretations,
there's so much about how to do it and what
(01:08):
it is, and I feel like often we set ourselves
up for failure by subscribing to a word that we
don't fully understand, by subscribing to an idea that sounds good,
it makes us feel good, but it doesn't really transfer
into reality. How many of you have ever tried to
manifest a vision board and not seen it come to life.
(01:28):
How many of you have tried to repeat something constantly
in affirmations and not seen it come to life. How
many of you have tried to manifest something big and
beautiful in your life and actually felt like you went
down the wrong path. If that applies to any of you,
this episode is for you, because I'm going to talk
about the myths of manifestation and how to actually build
(01:50):
the life that you truly want. Myth number one, manifestation
is magic. We think if I think about it hard,
it will appear. Here's the reality. Your brain isn't a genie,
it's a GPS. If you don't type in the address,
it can't take you anywhere. Do you ever get in
(02:12):
the car and just start driving without a destination. You'd
waste gas, You'd waste time and energy. That's what wishing
without clarity does to your life. Research from Locke and
Latham's goal setting theory of two thousand and two show
specific goals lead to higher motivation and success than vague intentions.
(02:37):
So here's what I want you to do. I want
you to swap I want to be successful for I
want to grow my business revenue by twenty percent this year.
Vague wishes drift, clear goals direct. So anyone who's saying
manifestation is just I want abundance, I want to be free,
I want to create greatness. These are beautiful inspirations, there's
(03:01):
nothing wrong with them, but without clarity, we don't know
what action to take. Your goal has to be clear,
Your vision of what you're building has to be clear. Now,
I'm not saying that it's going to work out just
as you think it is. I'm not even saying you're
going to get exactly what you envision. But the truth
(03:21):
is to start any journey, you need clarity. Manifestation is
not magic. Manifestation is not wishing and waiting. Manifestation is
not writing it once in a journal and closing the book.
Manifestation is not saying affirmations while avoiding action. Manifestation is
(03:43):
not the universe delivering without your participation. Manifestation is not
a shortcut around hard work. Manifestation is not about getting
everything you want instantly. Manifestation isn't magic. It's clarity, belief,
(04:03):
and consistent action in alignment. For so many people, they
may tell an amazing story about how they manifested something.
It's not that they didn't vision it. It's not that
they didn't have clarity. They also aligned their action, their time,
their energy, their resources in that direction. Manifestation truly is
(04:27):
the alignment of what you think, what you say, and
what you do. When those three things are aligned, that's
what creates impact in the world and in your life.
Whereas when you think in your head, I want abundance,
you say it out loud, but your actions are completely
the opposite. Nothing changes. The problem is we think manifestation
(04:51):
means if I think abundantly, then I'll be abundant in
my business. No, you might actually have a beautiful habit
for happiness, But the strategy for sex is watching the
patterns of success. It's analyzing the journeys of success. It's
being locked into a different mind. Myth number two is
that positive thoughts alone attract success. People think if I
(05:15):
stay positive, the universe will deliver. This sets us up
for a lot of disappointment because I know so many people,
good people who think positively, but then difficult things happen
in their life. Hard things happen in their life. The
reality is positivity is fuel, but it's not the vehicle.
(05:38):
It gets you moving, but you still have to drive.
Imagine this. Think of going to the gym telling yourself,
I believe in myself. That won't build muscle unless you
pick up the weights. But it's great that it made
you show up, So it's important. It's just incomplete. Barbara
Fredrickson's Broaden and Build the shows positivity expands our creativity
(06:04):
and problem solving, but without action, it just fades. Here's
your step. Pair every affirmation with one action. If you
say I'm building wealth, then at the same time, set
up an automatic transfer to savings as soon as you
get your paycheck. The moment you take action, your life
(06:25):
will change. The moment you take action, clarity replaces confusion
the moment you take action, momentum begins. The moment you
take action, the right time finally arrives. The moment you
take action, you stop waiting for permission. Notice how affirmation
(06:48):
and action together creates alignment. Affirmation on its own is
wishful thinking. Action on its own doesn't feel like it's
fueled with a higher way of living. Affirmation and action
together are an unbeatable formula. And so I want you
to really think about in your life about the things
(07:09):
you've been struggling with, the things you're always trying to
pump yourself up about, and ask yourself, what habits have
I not built? What actions have I not built? What
systems have I not built? We're not failed by our
desires or our expectations. We're failed by the systems we
don't build. We're failed by the processes we don't create.
(07:29):
We're failed by the criteria we don't have. We're failed
by the boundaries we don't make. That's what fails us.
Myth number three, Writing it down is not enough. We
think I wrote in my journal, so it's on its way.
Here's the reality. Writing helps focus the brain, but it's
(07:49):
step one, not the finish line. Think of it like
making a grocery list. Everyone needs one of those. You
need to know what you're missing, what you need to
fill your fridge with what you need this week. But
if you never go to the store, the list doesn't
feed you. Research known as the generation effect shows writing
improves memory and focus, but memory isn't momentum. Here's the
(08:13):
step after journaling, ad what's one step I can take
today toward this? If you write, start a podcast, your
next step could be outline an episode, learn how to
record a podcast, research a podcast. For so many of us,
we write down what we want. We don't write down
(08:35):
how we're going to get there. It's the how we're
going to get there that makes things seem manageable. What
our mind does is when we say I want to
start a podcast that feels so big, we feel overwhelmed.
We feel overburdened by doing this huge thing. When you
break it down into all the multiple steps of how
to get there, the key is to figure out the
(08:58):
next step you can take right now. The next step
you can take right now, which is calling up a
friend who has a podcast, watching podcasts to find out
a format that works for you, looking up a YouTube
video from a creator telling you how to start one.
Without those steps, you can think about starting a podcast
for months and years, and nothing will ever happen. Manifestation
(09:20):
is clarity about what you want and what it takes.
Manifestation is writing it down and then building it step
by step. Manifestation is persistence when motivation fades. Manifestation is
aligning your choices with your values, not just your wishes.
(09:41):
If you just make it about your wishes, if you
just make it about what you're writing. If you don't
ever make it about the how, right people say, start
with why really important. You should know why you're doing
what you're doing. You should know what you want to build.
But if you don't know how you're going to get there,
it's almost the hardest thing. If you don't know how
(10:01):
you're going to get to the party on a Saturday night,
if you don't know how you're going to get to
your vacation destination, if you don't know how you're going
to build that company, it becomes a lot harder. Spend
more time figuring out the how, and you'll know that
you're making momentum. You'll know you're making progress, you'll know
you're moving in the right direction. So the thing is,
(10:23):
I really want you to get there. I really want
you to experience the joy of building something you love.
I don't just want it to remain a dream in
your mind and your heart space that never gets to
see the light of day. Myth number four, The universe
rewards wanting. If I want it badly enough, I'll get it.
(10:44):
It does not work that way. Desire its fuel, But
direction is the map. Without it, you spin in circles
have you ever desperately wanted a job, relationship, or whatever
it may be, but you had no strategy. Desire without
direction is like stepping on the gas with no steering wheel.
(11:06):
The reticular activating system, also known as RAS, filters what
you notice, define a goal, and your brain literally starts
spotting opportunities. For example, once you think of buying a
red car, you see them everywhere. So here's the step.
Each morning, write down three things you want to notice
(11:27):
that day, maybe new clients, learning opportunities, or ways to connect.
Your RAS will tune in. This is so important if
you have a goal to write a book, start a podcast,
build a company, ask yourself what is it that you need.
I was talking to a friend the other day and
(11:47):
I'd said to him how important it was for him
to show up to networking events. I said, if you're
out of those events, you're going to meet people. People
are gonna see you, You're gonna get to connect with them.
He was avoiding it for months and months and months.
He finally went to one, and he was shocked at
what it felt like to be front of mind. When
you're present, you get to have the conversations you would
(12:08):
never get to if you weren't there. So many of
us avoid the actual action, even though in our mind
we're wondering, why is this business not taking off? Why
is it not starting off? Because we're not positioning ourselves
in the places that we need to be. Remember, you
don't see things as they are. You see them through
your own fears and hopes. You don't see yourself as
(12:32):
you are. You see the story you keep repeating about
who you are. You don't see the future as it is.
You see the version you believe is possible. So many
of us have the wish, we have the one, we
have the desire. We don't have the direction. We don't
have the drive. And where does that drive come from?
(12:54):
Comes from picking something that you really value. I mean,
everyone would want to be financially free, everyone would want abundance.
Those are things we all want. What does that look
like for you? How does that manifest for you? When
I say that, what I mean is how do you
envision that? How's it unique to you? And how are
you going to get there that's unique to you? Myth
(13:31):
number five, The path will be smooth if it's meant
to be. We think, if I face obstacle, maybe it's
not my destiny. The reality is, struggle doesn't mean you're
on the wrong path. It usually means you're on a
real one right. Struggle doesn't mean you're making a mistake.
(13:53):
Struggle could mean that you have a lot to learn
to get to this goal. If you have something you
really value, don't change what you value, change the path
to get there. Ask any athlete, artist, or entrepreneur. I've
interviewed so many of them on the podcast. The dream
always comes with resistance. You'll get to where you want
in life, just not in the way you imagined it.
(14:17):
Pain isn't proof of misalignment. It's proof you're growing. It's
proof it matters, and ultimately it reveals to you whether
it matters enough. If you give up because something's hard,
it means you didn't care enough about the thing. We
do the most difficult things as humans for things we
care about. Parenting is one of the most thankless jobs.
(14:38):
It's one of the hardest jobs, but people do it
because they love their child. Their love outweighs the pain.
That's what purposes, That's what manifesting really is. Is where
your love for something, your dedication, your devotion to something
is more than your pain, stress, and difficulty that you
(14:58):
go through to get there. Angela Duckworth's grit research shows
sustained effort through challenges predicts achievement more than talent. Here's
a step. When you hit resistance, reframe it. This is
the workout, not the wall. Write down what this obstacle
is teaching you. Just because something is right for you
(15:23):
doesn't mean it will be easy. Just because something is
meant for you doesn't mean it will come quickly. Just
because it's your purpose doesn't mean it won't test your patience.
Just because you found your calling doesn't mean you won't
doubt yourself along the way. And just because you're ready
(15:46):
doesn't mean life won't make you wait. If number six
manifesting is passive, I just have to wait and trust.
I was at an event the other day and someone
asked me about how do you surrender? How do you
create detachment? How do you do something but then leave
the result up to what's going on? And here's what
(16:07):
I said. I said, surrender only starts when you've already
done everything under your control, if you have given one
hundred percent of your energy, if you have left no
stone unturned, and if you have given it all you've got.
That's when surrender starts. Sometimes we only do fifty percent
(16:27):
of that, and then we're thinking, there's fifty percent of surrender.
That's not surrender, that's just hoping, wishing, and waiting. Surrender
says I've done everything I possibly could. I've put in
all the energy, knowledge and wisdom I have. At this
point in my life, I'm now detached from the result
because I realized whatever comes is what's truly meant for me,
(16:52):
and I have no idea of what I'm being prepared for.
I'll give you an example. Eight years ago, when one
of my videos went crazy viral on social media, a
TV company in LA reached out to me and said
they wanted to make a TV show. I had no
idea what that meant. So I spoke to a friend
(17:12):
who I thought made a TV show, someone who I
was producing with. We created a sizzle rule, we made
a deck, We flew out to La on our own money.
I used to live in New York at that time.
I went and built this and went back and forth.
We went around and pitched it to every major's TV
network and streamer at the time. Everyone rejected it. No
one wanted it. Now I had done everything I possibly could.
(17:35):
Was I upset? Yes? Was I disappointed, of course, But
I'd done everything I possibly could to make that the
best pitch I could have. I was detached. I was surrendered.
It's only because I got rejected that I started on purpose,
something that was built by me, something that I started
from scratch, something that I get to define who I
(17:57):
speak to when I speak to them, what we talk about,
where we go. So I would never have this if
I got given a TV show that could have lasted
two to three seasons and got canceled, I will never
have this opportunity. Surrender begins when endeavor is complete. If
your endeavor is incomplete, there's no surrender. It's just wishing, hoping,
(18:19):
and wanting. Put in all the energy that you possibly have,
all the wisdom and knowledge you possibly have, and then
surrender to the fact that what you receive may save
you for what's to come. I was given something better
than I imagined in on purpose, than I could have
(18:40):
ever imagined from any show I could have created. Waiting
isn't manifesting, it's stalling. Action is what flips vision into reality.
Imagine planting seeds and then sitting indoors hoping they grow
without watering, sunlight, or care. That's what waiting does to
(19:00):
your dreams. Research by Bandura's self efficacy theory shows confidence
comes from doing small things successfully, not from waiting for
a big break. Here's a step. Break one big dream
into a seven day goal. You want to change careers,
update your resume this week. Momentum builds confidence. Myth number seven,
(19:25):
manifestation is about stuff. We think if I manifested money,
a car, a house, I'll be happy. And here's the reality.
Stuff is a byproduct of meaning and value that you create.
It's not bad, it's great to have, it's wonderful to have,
but it can't be the goal in and of itself.
(19:45):
Here's the context. How many times have you gotten what
you wanted, the promotion, the gadget, the trip, and still
felt empty after a week. That's because fulfillment is about
alignment with values, not just getting the thing I SAIDs
From the Harvard Study of Adult Development. This is the
Grant study that lasted over eighty five years shows quality relationships,
(20:08):
not wealth or fame, are the strongest predictors of long
term happiness. Now I'm not saying and I always want
to clarify this. Wealth is important. Success is important. That's
why we have so many amazing money experts on on
Purpose to help you figure that out. When you write
a goal, add your why. So don't just write I
want one hundred thousand dollars salary or whatever it may be. Right,
(20:31):
I want one hundred thousand dollars salary so I can
have freedom to travel, take care of my parents, and
live without stress. When you make the end goal about
a thing or stuff, it ends up letting you down
versus when that is just a byproduct of creating value
in success. If you analyze patterns, you'll become successful. If
(20:53):
you learn how to market your product, you'll become successful.
If you learn how to solve someone's problem, you'll become successful.
If you do all those things, the car, the house,
the travel, that will all come from that. So that's
what you want to put your energy into, not the
vision of what that thing is that you want. That
doesn't drive. That doesn't make you a better salesperson, It
doesn't make you a better marketer. It doesn't make you
(21:15):
a better coder. It doesn't make you a better user
of AI. It doesn't make you a better videographer photographer,
but looking at a picture of the car or the
house you want every day. That will come by becoming
better at your art, better at your skill. That's what
you want to focus on. Don't overvalue the goal and
undervalue the growth. Don't overvalue speed and undervalue direction. Don't
(21:40):
overvalue success and undervalue sanity. Don't overvalue approval and undervalue authenticity.
Don't overvalue being right and undervalue being kind. Don't overvalue
recognition and undervalue can and see. Don't overvalue the outcome
(22:03):
and undervalue the process. Don't overvalue what you gain and
undervalue who you become. It's not about wanting for the
universe to deliver. It's about getting clear, rewiring your brain
to see opportunities, and taking consistent steps until your vision
becomes a reality. Thank you so much for listening to me.
(22:25):
I hope you enjoyed this episode. Pass it on to
a friend, Tag me on social media and let me
know what resonated with you, and I'll see you on
the next episode. Remember I'm forever in your corner and
I'm always rooting for you. If you love this podcast,
you love my episode with Lewis Hamilton Lewis and I
talk about why you should stop chasing society's definition of
(22:47):
success and how to be more intentional with your goals.
You don't want to miss it like it's not about
being perfect. It's about just every day, one step at
the time, trying to be better, trying to do more.
I'm learning a lot about myself. I have to break
myself down in order to be out to be better.
Manifestation is not magic. Manifestation is not wishing and waiting.
Manifestation is not writing it once in a journal and
closing the book. Manifestation is not saying affirmations while avoiding action.
Manifestation is not the universe delivering without your participation. Manifestation
(00:24):
is not a shortcut around hard work. It's clarity, belief,
and consistent action. In Alignment, the number one health and
wellness podcast, Jay Sety Jay Chatty, Hey everyone, welcome back
to On Purpose. I'm Jay Chatty, author of New York
(00:45):
Times bestsellers Think Like a Monk and Eight Rules of Love,
and today I want to talk to you about a
topic that I feel we're all completely fascinated by, but
I think we really don't understand station. There is so
much about this word out there. There's so many interpretations,
there's so much about how to do it and what
(01:08):
it is, and I feel like often we set ourselves
up for failure by subscribing to a word that we
don't fully understand, by subscribing to an idea that sounds good,
it makes us feel good, but it doesn't really transfer
into reality. How many of you have ever tried to
manifest a vision board and not seen it come to life.
(01:28):
How many of you have tried to repeat something constantly
in affirmations and not seen it come to life. How
many of you have tried to manifest something big and
beautiful in your life and actually felt like you went
down the wrong path. If that applies to any of you,
this episode is for you, because I'm going to talk
about the myths of manifestation and how to actually build
(01:50):
the life that you truly want. Myth number one, manifestation
is magic. We think if I think about it hard,
it will appear. Here's the reality. Your brain isn't a genie,
it's a GPS. If you don't type in the address,
it can't take you anywhere. Do you ever get in
(02:12):
the car and just start driving without a destination. You'd
waste gas, You'd waste time and energy. That's what wishing
without clarity does to your life. Research from Locke and
Latham's goal setting theory of two thousand and two show
specific goals lead to higher motivation and success than vague intentions.
(02:37):
So here's what I want you to do. I want
you to swap I want to be successful for I
want to grow my business revenue by twenty percent this year.
Vague wishes drift, clear goals direct. So anyone who's saying
manifestation is just I want abundance, I want to be free,
I want to create greatness. These are beautiful inspirations, there's
(03:01):
nothing wrong with them, but without clarity, we don't know
what action to take. Your goal has to be clear,
Your vision of what you're building has to be clear. Now,
I'm not saying that it's going to work out just
as you think it is. I'm not even saying you're
going to get exactly what you envision. But the truth
(03:21):
is to start any journey, you need clarity. Manifestation is
not magic. Manifestation is not wishing and waiting. Manifestation is
not writing it once in a journal and closing the book.
Manifestation is not saying affirmations while avoiding action. Manifestation is
(03:43):
not the universe delivering without your participation. Manifestation is not
a shortcut around hard work. Manifestation is not about getting
everything you want instantly. Manifestation isn't magic. It's clarity, belief,
(04:03):
and consistent action in alignment. For so many people, they
may tell an amazing story about how they manifested something.
It's not that they didn't vision it. It's not that
they didn't have clarity. They also aligned their action, their time,
their energy, their resources in that direction. Manifestation truly is
(04:27):
the alignment of what you think, what you say, and
what you do. When those three things are aligned, that's
what creates impact in the world and in your life.
Whereas when you think in your head, I want abundance,
you say it out loud, but your actions are completely
the opposite. Nothing changes. The problem is we think manifestation
(04:51):
means if I think abundantly, then I'll be abundant in
my business. No, you might actually have a beautiful habit
for happiness, But the strategy for sex is watching the
patterns of success. It's analyzing the journeys of success. It's
being locked into a different mind. Myth number two is
that positive thoughts alone attract success. People think if I
(05:15):
stay positive, the universe will deliver. This sets us up
for a lot of disappointment because I know so many people,
good people who think positively, but then difficult things happen
in their life. Hard things happen in their life. The
reality is positivity is fuel, but it's not the vehicle.
(05:38):
It gets you moving, but you still have to drive.
Imagine this. Think of going to the gym telling yourself,
I believe in myself. That won't build muscle unless you
pick up the weights. But it's great that it made
you show up, So it's important. It's just incomplete. Barbara
Fredrickson's Broaden and Build the shows positivity expands our creativity
(06:04):
and problem solving, but without action, it just fades. Here's
your step. Pair every affirmation with one action. If you
say I'm building wealth, then at the same time, set
up an automatic transfer to savings as soon as you
get your paycheck. The moment you take action, your life
(06:25):
will change. The moment you take action, clarity replaces confusion
the moment you take action, momentum begins. The moment you
take action, the right time finally arrives. The moment you
take action, you stop waiting for permission. Notice how affirmation
(06:48):
and action together creates alignment. Affirmation on its own is
wishful thinking. Action on its own doesn't feel like it's
fueled with a higher way of living. Affirmation and action
together are an unbeatable formula. And so I want you
to really think about in your life about the things
(07:09):
you've been struggling with, the things you're always trying to
pump yourself up about, and ask yourself, what habits have
I not built? What actions have I not built? What
systems have I not built? We're not failed by our
desires or our expectations. We're failed by the systems we
don't build. We're failed by the processes we don't create.
(07:29):
We're failed by the criteria we don't have. We're failed
by the boundaries we don't make. That's what fails us.
Myth number three, Writing it down is not enough. We
think I wrote in my journal, so it's on its way.
Here's the reality. Writing helps focus the brain, but it's
(07:49):
step one, not the finish line. Think of it like
making a grocery list. Everyone needs one of those. You
need to know what you're missing, what you need to
fill your fridge with what you need this week. But
if you never go to the store, the list doesn't
feed you. Research known as the generation effect shows writing
improves memory and focus, but memory isn't momentum. Here's the
(08:13):
step after journaling, ad what's one step I can take
today toward this? If you write, start a podcast, your
next step could be outline an episode, learn how to
record a podcast, research a podcast. For so many of us,
we write down what we want. We don't write down
(08:35):
how we're going to get there. It's the how we're
going to get there that makes things seem manageable. What
our mind does is when we say I want to
start a podcast that feels so big, we feel overwhelmed.
We feel overburdened by doing this huge thing. When you
break it down into all the multiple steps of how
to get there, the key is to figure out the
(08:58):
next step you can take right now. The next step
you can take right now, which is calling up a
friend who has a podcast, watching podcasts to find out
a format that works for you, looking up a YouTube
video from a creator telling you how to start one.
Without those steps, you can think about starting a podcast
for months and years, and nothing will ever happen. Manifestation
(09:20):
is clarity about what you want and what it takes.
Manifestation is writing it down and then building it step
by step. Manifestation is persistence when motivation fades. Manifestation is
aligning your choices with your values, not just your wishes.
(09:41):
If you just make it about your wishes, if you
just make it about what you're writing. If you don't
ever make it about the how, right people say, start
with why really important. You should know why you're doing
what you're doing. You should know what you want to build.
But if you don't know how you're going to get there,
it's almost the hardest thing. If you don't know how
(10:01):
you're going to get to the party on a Saturday night,
if you don't know how you're going to get to
your vacation destination, if you don't know how you're going
to build that company, it becomes a lot harder. Spend
more time figuring out the how, and you'll know that
you're making momentum. You'll know you're making progress, you'll know
you're moving in the right direction. So the thing is,
(10:23):
I really want you to get there. I really want
you to experience the joy of building something you love.
I don't just want it to remain a dream in
your mind and your heart space that never gets to
see the light of day. Myth number four, The universe
rewards wanting. If I want it badly enough, I'll get it.
(10:44):
It does not work that way. Desire its fuel, But
direction is the map. Without it, you spin in circles
have you ever desperately wanted a job, relationship, or whatever
it may be, but you had no strategy. Desire without
direction is like stepping on the gas with no steering wheel.
(11:06):
The reticular activating system, also known as RAS, filters what
you notice, define a goal, and your brain literally starts
spotting opportunities. For example, once you think of buying a
red car, you see them everywhere. So here's the step.
Each morning, write down three things you want to notice
(11:27):
that day, maybe new clients, learning opportunities, or ways to connect.
Your RAS will tune in. This is so important if
you have a goal to write a book, start a podcast,
build a company, ask yourself what is it that you need.
I was talking to a friend the other day and
(11:47):
I'd said to him how important it was for him
to show up to networking events. I said, if you're
out of those events, you're going to meet people. People
are gonna see you, You're gonna get to connect with them.
He was avoiding it for months and months and months.
He finally went to one, and he was shocked at
what it felt like to be front of mind. When
you're present, you get to have the conversations you would
(12:08):
never get to if you weren't there. So many of
us avoid the actual action, even though in our mind
we're wondering, why is this business not taking off? Why
is it not starting off? Because we're not positioning ourselves
in the places that we need to be. Remember, you
don't see things as they are. You see them through
your own fears and hopes. You don't see yourself as
(12:32):
you are. You see the story you keep repeating about
who you are. You don't see the future as it is.
You see the version you believe is possible. So many
of us have the wish, we have the one, we
have the desire. We don't have the direction. We don't
have the drive. And where does that drive come from?
(12:54):
Comes from picking something that you really value. I mean,
everyone would want to be financially free, everyone would want abundance.
Those are things we all want. What does that look
like for you? How does that manifest for you? When
I say that, what I mean is how do you
envision that? How's it unique to you? And how are
you going to get there that's unique to you? Myth
(13:31):
number five, The path will be smooth if it's meant
to be. We think, if I face obstacle, maybe it's
not my destiny. The reality is, struggle doesn't mean you're
on the wrong path. It usually means you're on a
real one right. Struggle doesn't mean you're making a mistake.
(13:53):
Struggle could mean that you have a lot to learn
to get to this goal. If you have something you
really value, don't change what you value, change the path
to get there. Ask any athlete, artist, or entrepreneur. I've
interviewed so many of them on the podcast. The dream
always comes with resistance. You'll get to where you want
in life, just not in the way you imagined it.
(14:17):
Pain isn't proof of misalignment. It's proof you're growing. It's
proof it matters, and ultimately it reveals to you whether
it matters enough. If you give up because something's hard,
it means you didn't care enough about the thing. We
do the most difficult things as humans for things we
care about. Parenting is one of the most thankless jobs.
(14:38):
It's one of the hardest jobs, but people do it
because they love their child. Their love outweighs the pain.
That's what purposes, That's what manifesting really is. Is where
your love for something, your dedication, your devotion to something
is more than your pain, stress, and difficulty that you
(14:58):
go through to get there. Angela Duckworth's grit research shows
sustained effort through challenges predicts achievement more than talent. Here's
a step. When you hit resistance, reframe it. This is
the workout, not the wall. Write down what this obstacle
is teaching you. Just because something is right for you
(15:23):
doesn't mean it will be easy. Just because something is
meant for you doesn't mean it will come quickly. Just
because it's your purpose doesn't mean it won't test your patience.
Just because you found your calling doesn't mean you won't
doubt yourself along the way. And just because you're ready
(15:46):
doesn't mean life won't make you wait. If number six
manifesting is passive, I just have to wait and trust.
I was at an event the other day and someone
asked me about how do you surrender? How do you
create detachment? How do you do something but then leave
the result up to what's going on? And here's what
(16:07):
I said. I said, surrender only starts when you've already
done everything under your control, if you have given one
hundred percent of your energy, if you have left no
stone unturned, and if you have given it all you've got.
That's when surrender starts. Sometimes we only do fifty percent
(16:27):
of that, and then we're thinking, there's fifty percent of surrender.
That's not surrender, that's just hoping, wishing, and waiting. Surrender
says I've done everything I possibly could. I've put in
all the energy, knowledge and wisdom I have. At this
point in my life, I'm now detached from the result
because I realized whatever comes is what's truly meant for me,
(16:52):
and I have no idea of what I'm being prepared for.
I'll give you an example. Eight years ago, when one
of my videos went crazy viral on social media, a
TV company in LA reached out to me and said
they wanted to make a TV show. I had no
idea what that meant. So I spoke to a friend
(17:12):
who I thought made a TV show, someone who I
was producing with. We created a sizzle rule, we made
a deck, We flew out to La on our own money.
I used to live in New York at that time.
I went and built this and went back and forth.
We went around and pitched it to every major's TV
network and streamer at the time. Everyone rejected it. No
one wanted it. Now I had done everything I possibly could.
(17:35):
Was I upset? Yes? Was I disappointed, of course, But
I'd done everything I possibly could to make that the
best pitch I could have. I was detached. I was surrendered.
It's only because I got rejected that I started on purpose,
something that was built by me, something that I started
from scratch, something that I get to define who I
(17:57):
speak to when I speak to them, what we talk about,
where we go. So I would never have this if
I got given a TV show that could have lasted
two to three seasons and got canceled, I will never
have this opportunity. Surrender begins when endeavor is complete. If
your endeavor is incomplete, there's no surrender. It's just wishing, hoping,
(18:19):
and wanting. Put in all the energy that you possibly have,
all the wisdom and knowledge you possibly have, and then
surrender to the fact that what you receive may save
you for what's to come. I was given something better
than I imagined in on purpose, than I could have
(18:40):
ever imagined from any show I could have created. Waiting
isn't manifesting, it's stalling. Action is what flips vision into reality.
Imagine planting seeds and then sitting indoors hoping they grow
without watering, sunlight, or care. That's what waiting does to
(19:00):
your dreams. Research by Bandura's self efficacy theory shows confidence
comes from doing small things successfully, not from waiting for
a big break. Here's a step. Break one big dream
into a seven day goal. You want to change careers,
update your resume this week. Momentum builds confidence. Myth number seven,
(19:25):
manifestation is about stuff. We think if I manifested money,
a car, a house, I'll be happy. And here's the reality.
Stuff is a byproduct of meaning and value that you create.
It's not bad, it's great to have, it's wonderful to have,
but it can't be the goal in and of itself.
(19:45):
Here's the context. How many times have you gotten what
you wanted, the promotion, the gadget, the trip, and still
felt empty after a week. That's because fulfillment is about
alignment with values, not just getting the thing I SAIDs
From the Harvard Study of Adult Development. This is the
Grant study that lasted over eighty five years shows quality relationships,
(20:08):
not wealth or fame, are the strongest predictors of long
term happiness. Now I'm not saying and I always want
to clarify this. Wealth is important. Success is important. That's
why we have so many amazing money experts on on
Purpose to help you figure that out. When you write
a goal, add your why. So don't just write I
want one hundred thousand dollars salary or whatever it may be. Right,
(20:31):
I want one hundred thousand dollars salary so I can
have freedom to travel, take care of my parents, and
live without stress. When you make the end goal about
a thing or stuff, it ends up letting you down
versus when that is just a byproduct of creating value
in success. If you analyze patterns, you'll become successful. If
(20:53):
you learn how to market your product, you'll become successful.
If you learn how to solve someone's problem, you'll become successful.
If you do all those things, the car, the house,
the travel, that will all come from that. So that's
what you want to put your energy into, not the
vision of what that thing is that you want. That
doesn't drive. That doesn't make you a better salesperson, It
doesn't make you a better marketer. It doesn't make you
(21:15):
a better coder. It doesn't make you a better user
of AI. It doesn't make you a better videographer photographer,
but looking at a picture of the car or the
house you want every day. That will come by becoming
better at your art, better at your skill. That's what
you want to focus on. Don't overvalue the goal and
undervalue the growth. Don't overvalue speed and undervalue direction. Don't
(21:40):
overvalue success and undervalue sanity. Don't overvalue approval and undervalue authenticity.
Don't overvalue being right and undervalue being kind. Don't overvalue
recognition and undervalue can and see. Don't overvalue the outcome
(22:03):
and undervalue the process. Don't overvalue what you gain and
undervalue who you become. It's not about wanting for the
universe to deliver. It's about getting clear, rewiring your brain
to see opportunities, and taking consistent steps until your vision
becomes a reality. Thank you so much for listening to me.
(22:25):
I hope you enjoyed this episode. Pass it on to
a friend, Tag me on social media and let me
know what resonated with you, and I'll see you on
the next episode. Remember I'm forever in your corner and
I'm always rooting for you. If you love this podcast,
you love my episode with Lewis Hamilton Lewis and I
talk about why you should stop chasing society's definition of
(22:47):
success and how to be more intentional with your goals.
You don't want to miss it like it's not about
being perfect. It's about just every day, one step at
the time, trying to be better, trying to do more.
I'm learning a lot about myself. I have to break
myself down in order to be out to be better.
Host
Jay Shetty
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