30 Powerful Manifestation Methods to Become Your Best Self

Even small actions can lead to big improvements in your life, which is why we came up with 30 manifestation methods to help you become your best self.

30 Powerful Manifestation Methods to Become Your Best Self

In an increasingly busy world filled with distractions and deadlines, it’s easy to get caught up in day-to-day living. Before you know it, you may look around and start to wonder if the life you’re living is actually what you want. Maybe it is, but it’s missing a few things. Or maybe it’s totally different from what you want, and you need to make big changes but aren’t sure where to begin.

Enter manifestation. It’s the belief that you can shape your life by focusing your thoughts on a desired outcome. Sometimes, even small actions can lead to big improvements in your life, which is why we came up with 30 manifestation methods to give you a head start in making meaningful change in your life. While you may think you already know how to manifest everything you need (or think this is just a bunch of spiritual hoo-ha), perhaps some of these ideas will inspire you to take your goals to the next level.

After all, the most successful people in the world are great at focusing their intention in order to achieve what they want in life. Who's to say you can’t do that, too?

1. Learn the Art of the Vision Board

When you begin learning about manifestation, one of the first tips you’ll always encounter is the vision board. That’s not just because it’s easy to do. It’s also incredibly effective. So much of manifestation is about triggering your subconscious, which responds to images and feelings more than logic and reasoning.

Creating a series of images that give you the exact feeling you want to manifest is like fertilizing the garden rather than just planting seeds in unwelcoming rock. It’s easy, fast and incredibly effective.

2. Affirmations? Affirmative.

In pop culture and musical lyrics, we often remember simple lines and lyrics that resonate with us. The same can be true in your own life for creating your goals. Think of a simple yet packed sentence that reminds you of whatever it is you want to manifest, and then repeat it daily.

Sometimes, the easy act of reminding yourself that you’re powerful enough to achieve whatever you want can be enough to trigger change. Other times, it’s about repeating that you are capable of getting to your goal before you start to really believe that you are. Whatever you do, make sure your affirmations are positive, written in first person and in the present tense.

3. Crystals Are Your Friend

Manifestation isn’t easy. But you can get help from anywhere — including your friendly neighborhood crystal shop! Using protection crystals around either a vision board, affirmations you’ve created for yourself or a special space you’ve set up in your home to work on self improvement will help you to keep bad vibes at bay.

And, if you’re feeling down or frustrated, you can also use crystals to help give you that extra boost you need to keep going. Don’t get too lost in the rabbit hole of needing the “perfect” crystal for the “perfect” situation. Simply think of what you want to manifest, and then choose a crystal you’re drawn to in order to help you out. It can be that easy.

4. Journal With Intention (in an Intention Journal!)

Journaling can help you clear your mind to figure out what you really want and need. Writing down how you feel, what you want and what you’re frustrated with can help you to see just how much is going on in your head. An intention journal can help you keep yourself focused on just one intention or goal.

Decide what you want, and then start writing down everything you feel about that goal and even what you did that day to achieve it. It won’t take long before you start to see progress. And if staring at blank pages makes you anxious, you can always use prompts or specific questions to get your writing started.

5. Get to Know the Stars

Learning about the zodiac sign can help you to be even more effective in your manifestation. The zodiac is many things to many people. At its core, though, it’s a story of diverse personality types coming together to create a society. So, if you think of your own sign as fulfilling a specific role, it may help you to better understand what your purpose is. And knowing your purpose can get you closer to manifesting goals that are in line with your highest self.

Plus, knowing the zodiac can help you to harness the energy of whatever sign the sun (or moon!) is in so that you can take advantage of all the strengths of that particular sign.

6. Let Your Dreams Help

A lot of manifestation can be done while you sleep. It may sound counterintuitive since most manifestation techniques are active and done while you’re awake. But sleeping is actually a great time to tap into your innate potential and figure out what you truly want.

Before you go to bed, think about what you really want. When you wake up before you start your day, think about it again. If you are feeling stuck or confused, ask yourself to find answers in your dreams. And while you’re at it, keep a small journal next to your bed to write down impressions and scenes from your dreams. Be sure to do this first thing when you wake up, or the dreams may disappear back into your subconscious!

7. Be Simple, Specific and Prolific

Sometimes, people hold themselves back from achieving amazing things because they don’t think they can ask for too much. That’s nonsense! Ask for as much as you want in this world. Just know that the most effective way of achieving a goal is to be specific about how you want it to make you feel.

Also, be sure your goal is really simple. You may want to live in a giant mansion in paradise surrounded by luxury, and that’s fine. But hone in on what you can achieve right now that might get you one step closer to that vision. Then, once you achieve that, keep asking for more.

8. Gratitude Is the Best Attitude

Notebook with "I am grateful for" in handwritten text

One of the best ways to bring good things into your life is by acknowledging the good things that are already in it. If you already love and appreciate the people who surround you, you will naturally attract others who will make you feel the same way. But if you overlook so many of the gifts that surround you, you might not even notice that you’re manifesting new things.

A very simple way to make sure you’re filled with constant gratitude is to keep a gratitude journal. It doesn’t have to be in-depth. It can be as simple as taking a few minutes in the morning or at night (or even during a lunch break or afternoon coffee) and writing down what you’re grateful for in the moment. It will make you feel good and put you in a great state for attracting even more goodness to you.

9. Put That Imagination to Work!

In order to achieve something you never thought possible, you have to first believe that it is possible. Rather than having it be a “someday” thing, sit down and let yourself really see the achievement happening for you. Feel what it’s like to see yourself already having what you want. Feel what your body feels like when you get it. What sights, sounds, smells do you sense?

If you have an active imagination, this will be an easy exercise. If it’s been a while since you’ve let your imagination run wild, this is a great chance to rekindle your relationship with it. Imagination is vital to manifestation. Amazing things have come from people simply believing them to be possible.

10. Use Fantasy Map Making to Create Your Reality

Fantasy map making is something that became really popular during lockdown. It typically refers to creating maps of imaginary locations, like Westeros in “Game of Thrones.” But with a little tweaking, it can also be a powerful manifestation technique, especially for visual learners. Think about where you’ve come from and translate that to a physical reality on Earth. Has it felt like you’ve overcome mountains? Then, let it be mountains and give it a location name (like Difficultville … or ideally something better).

Now, think about where you are. If you feel overwhelmed and like you’re drowning in anxiety, perhaps draw an ocean. Now, think about where you’re going. Let that place inform you. Map it all out, so you can see how you may physically want to move from one location to another. This technique allows you to feel like you’re making progress while recognizing the past you’ve overcome to get where you are.

11. Take Advantage of Natural Elements

There are so many easy ways to harness everyday elements that can take your manifestation to the next level. If you want to let go of something, consider writing it down and then watching it (safely) burn. As you watch the dancing flames, you can see the power of whatever you wrote down disappearing in the smoke.

If you want to fill your emotional cup, perhaps write down some things you want to do for yourself on a glass, then fill it up with literal water. Take time to see this full cup and to also feel yourself full of potential. Then, pour the water into a plant so you can help nourish the Earth with that good energy (and the water, of course). If you’re feeling out of sorts, go outside into nature and take off your shoes. Stand on whatever land you have available and feel it beneath you. This will give you the foundation to remember that you are capable of achieving anything.

12. Work With Your Eyes Closed

It’d be difficult to find any list of manifestation methods that don’t include meditation. Meditation is one of the key exercises not only to live a healthier, happier and more fulfilled life, but also to create a more positive mindset. There are so many ways to start meditation that, sometimes, it can feel overwhelming to a new participant.

But don’t be intimidated! It can be as easy as setting a timer for one minute and letting yourself simply breathe. Even though it might not feel like a lot, you’re calming your mind and resting your nerves. Work your way into more time or adding in visualizations or specific breathing exercises from there.

13. Sweat the Small Things (at Least at First)

As much as we all want to achieve major changes in our life, we have to start where we are. Starting with small changes can be really powerful. You show yourself that it’s possible to manifest whatever you want. As you gain more confidence, you can begin to ask for bigger things if you want to.

However, you may end up realizing that all those big achievements you want are actually just the result of a series of very small changes you’ve made over a long period of time. So really, it’s all small stuff.

14. Visualize Your Higher Self

As you become more comfortable with taking some time to unplug, it’s vital that you get to know your “higher self.” If you’re not a particularly religious person, this doesn’t have to have any dogma attached to it. Your higher self is just the best version of you that you can think of in this moment.

Take time to visualize what your higher self looks like. Visualize what they are wearing, what they’re doing, how they present themselves. Take in everything you see about your higher self. Let that experience teach you how you can, in your here and now, begin to become more like that visualization.

15. Know Your Why

Just like anything in life, manifestation is not a direct path. There will be times when you feel like you can really see what you want forming in front of you (or inside of you!). And there are other times you’ll feel like you’ve regressed from where you started in the first place. That’s totally normal!

Before you set out on the manifestation process, be sure to connect with a strong “Why?” Why are you doing this in the first place? Why do you want what you’re trying to manifest? Why do you feel like you need it in your life? If you have a strong answer to that why, you can overcome any of the inevitable challenges placed in your path.

16. Give Yourself Permission

Author and researcher Brene Brown shared a story of the first time she met Oprah and how she learned about giving herself permission to be, well, herself. While her interaction may have been specific, the lesson was universal. You have to give yourself permission to be whoever you are and have whatever you want.

When we were children, we sometimes got permission slips to do something out of the ordinary. As adults, we can use this same idea to allow ourselves to get out of our comfort zone.

17. Don’t Worry About How, Just What

Because we have the world at our fingertips, thanks to the proliferation of information on the internet, we can sometimes obsess over how something can come into fruition. When we want to achieve something, certain personalities may find themselves heavily researching how others have achieved it. And while there might be helpful lessons to learn from other people’s journeys, they are not yours.

Part of manifesting is trusting that small changes you make can bring about what you truly want, even if you don’t yet know how exactly that may happen. Believe you already have everything you need and are on the right path. That energy allows you to live in abundance and attract even more.

18. Get Real, Get Honest, Get Clear

There’s a lot of self awareness that comes along with manifesting. You need to honestly assess what you believe about who you are right now. Get real about your circumstances and how you got to wherever you are. If you’re not fully satisfied, this doesn’t have to be a totally negative conversation.

You can appreciate a lot of the positive elements in your life while recognizing there are others that have room for improvement. If you live in denial of what’s around you, though, it’s going to be hard to manifest a reality that’s different in any way.

19. Marie Kondo Your Emotions

Marie Kondo is a master at decluttering your home and your life. One of the most effective techniques she uses is the fact that you thank whatever item you’re letting go of for whatever purpose it served in your life. That’s really important to do when it comes to your own emotions and belief systems.

If you’re trying to add new things into your life, there may not be space for it. You have to make that space by letting go of whatever is no longer serving you. This could be pent-up emotions, long-standing belief systems or even friends. By thanking these elements, you acknowledge they were once useful, but no longer are.

20. Talk to Higher Powers

Some people may not love the term “prayer” because it’s heavily associated with religion. But the act of speaking to a higher power is absolutely potent. And doing so can help you manifest whatever you want. The simple act of taking the time to recognize that there might be powers beyond your control allows you to be in touch with them. And, inevitably, it also allows you to trust in them.

If you’re adverse to believing in anything outside of yourself, the act of talking your wants and needs out loud can also have a positive psychological association that allows you to reaffirm whatever you want, without the need for any outside help.

21. Just Breathe

There are times when the process of manifestation can feel overwhelming. A lot goes into a daily practice of becoming a better person. There are ongoing processes of letting go and accepting new changes. And just because it’s good for you as a human doesn’t mean it’s necessarily easy.

So, it’s vital you learn how to breathe through the pain and frustrations. Breathe deeply to let yourself feel more grounded. Breathe when you feel overwhelmed. Breathe when you’re happy to relish in the positive feelings surrounding you. Making a conscious effort to really fill our lungs with energy and vitality can give us that extra edge to achieve amazing life changes.

22. Make a Pretty Cage for Your Worries

It’s natural to worry about what’s happening in the present moment. It’s also natural to worry about the future. Often when you’re manifesting changes, it means that there are a lot of unknowns that can shatter your sense of stability. Many cultures throughout the ages have had various ways of capturing these worries.

You could create a worry box, somewhere that you write all your worries and periodically set free (by burning or simply throwing away). Or maybe you could whisper your worries into a specific item, like a worry doll, to acknowledge it without it taking up any more space in your mind. Telling yourself not to worry likely won’t work. So get creative about how to harness it so you can move on from the worry itself and allow yourself to thrive.

23. Write Your Own Script

If you’re a person who loves to write things down, scripting may just be the best manifestation method available to you. You take a pen to paper and write out a day in the dream life you want to manifest. You can type it out, but there’s a somatic element to the writing that can help sear the ideas into your brain. So, physical writing is usually more effective.

As you write out what you want, think about it in the present tense. Get clear about what that day looks like for you. What you’re wearing, how you’re feeling, what surrounds you, where you’re going and so on. You can write it in a journal or maybe even like a play (or screenplay!). After it’s written out, feel free to edit it until it’s perfect for you. Then, let yourself read it as often as possible, searing that imaginary image into your brain as if it’s reality.

24. Interview Your Future Self

This technique is especially helpful if you’ve already cultivated a practice of visualizing your higher self. One of the ways you can get to know who you really are and what you really want is to interview the future version of you that has achieved all the goals you set out to manifest.

Ask them how they did it. Ask them how they’re feeling. Ask them about their habits, their lifestyle, their tips and tricks for cultivating that ideal living situation. Don’t judge whatever they say and don’t let yourself think too hard about it. Just write it out, and see what lessons you can implement from whatever they say.

25. Get in Touch with Your Inner Child

It’s easy when you get older to get more serious about life. There are a lot of burdens, responsibilities and heavy realities that can be placed on people that get them further from their carefree childhood days. But every person has an inner child who still dreams of running free. Let the playful, imaginative, fun-loving version of you continue to teach you about what you truly want.

Were you happiest playing make believe? Maybe you need more stories in your life. Did you love the stars and dream of being an astronaut? Maybe you won’t actually leave the Earth, but you can spend more time in observatories or camping outdoors to soak in the starlight. There’s a lot you can learn from the effortless joy that came along with childhood. Don’t lose those lessons since they can help you create the happiest version of yourself.

26. Write Yourself Future (Love) Letters

Much like the process of interviewing yourself, act as if the future you is a real person who has achieved whatever it is you want to manifest. Write them a letter telling them how proud you are of them. Tell them how amazing it is that they are where they are, given everything they had to overcome. Tell them how much you admire them and be specific about the traits they have that you admire.

After you write this letter (or letters!) to yourself, take a moment to remember that this is you. You already have every one of these capabilities and abilities. So, do whatever you can to harness them and become the version of yourself that you admire.

27. Make Allies of Your Timers

Phones can be a distraction from helping us achieve whatever we want in life. We spend a lot of time scrolling social media apps that seem to only remind us that other people have (or at least seem to have) already achieved many of the things we want. But you can use your trusty phone sidekick to actually help you out by simply setting timers throughout the day that remind you to do, well, whatever you need most.

Some timers can give you affirmations. Others may just be a reminder to reread your scripted vision for your future. Other timers may be a reminder to meditate or breathe. Whatever you need most, you can set a timer for it. Even one timer per day to shake you out of your regular routine and remind you that you’re manifesting a happier future can make a major difference.

28. Always Be Improving

With so many ways to manifest, there’s no one-size-fits-all solution here. Some techniques may work really well for you. Others will fall flat. Some may work for a while but then lose their luster. Some might only work for certain areas of your life while you need a different technique for other parts of it.

The most important thing you can do as you continue to manifest your dream life is to be honest with yourself and to be continuously open to improvements.

29. Manifest on Your Own Terms

At the end of the day, you know yourself better than anybody. While many of these manifestation techniques can be jumping off points for your own manifestation journey, they should be done your way. If something seems like mostly a good idea but you don’t like one element of it, change it up! If you think of something different that you absolutely love to do, figure out a way to have it help you manifest!

Manifestation is about creating. And creating means getting creative. So, make any and all of these ideas your own. They should really resonate with you and your personal journey.

30. Commit to Showing Up for Yourself

No matter what you do, be consistent and patient with yourself. Big changes don’t just happen overnight. They happen as a result of consistently making small changes.

Sometimes, those small changes are undetectable, like changing your outlook or letting go of a belief system that’s holding you back. As long as you keep showing up and keep trying, you can truly make major changes in your life.