Manifest What You Are

To manifest what you are might sound obvious, or even a little ridiculous, but it’s the secret to a happy, meaningful life. It starts with picking intentions that rise from your real nature. When your desires match your true self, your manifesting caloric output flows perfectly. But when you chase what isn’t really yours, all that manifesting fire can burn and burn and in the end leave you empty.

The world is always telling you who to be. It nudges you toward certain dreams, certain achievements, certain versions of success. With all that noise, it’s easy to pick intentions that sound right on the surface but feel hollow once you start moving toward them.

I learned this the hard way. Many times, I tried to manifest things that weren’t actually mine. They didn’t match my inner design. They didn’t speak to who I was or who I was suppose to become. And, of course, nothing flowed. The things that didn’t land were often the things that never belonged to me in the first place. And the times I did manifest something that wasn’t aligned… it created chaos rather than joy (more on that later).

This is why alignment is not enough on its own. You can align with something that feels true in the moment but still isn’t rooted in your deeper identity. You can want something with intensity and still feel a quiet tug inside that says, This isn’t quite right.

The real work begins before you set the intention. It begins with returning to yourself—asking what you value, who you are at your core, and what feels honest. Only then can you choose desires that match your inner truth.

Aligning to Something Out of Alignment

The most popular advice for manifesting and using Law of Attraction is “to be in alignment” with your intention. But it’s quite possible to manifest from a false self or a temporary self that seems genuine at the time. You can even be in alignment with it. But do you want something that doesn’t belong to your authentic self? How does it feel to want something that somehow deep inside feels untrue to you?

I suggest that the key to manifesting is to first align with your truest identity and authentic self. Once you feel like you are in touch with yourself then begin the process of selecting intentions that are worthy and true to YOU.

This means that manifesting successfully is not just about producing an outcome you desire. It’s also about developing self-awareness and questioning your desires before committing to them.

This might mean shedding limiting beliefs, adopting new behaviors, or even redefining values and priorities that feel more real and honest. It’s a call to look inward and make internal assessments that pave the way for external manifestations. It reinforces the idea that real change begins within.

When we attempt to take on values or identities that don’t resonate with our core, it can lead to a sense of dissonance and frustration, rather than fulfillment and success.

I Thought I Was a Great Manifester Until…

In my 20s and 30s, I thought I was pretty good at manifesting. I wanted to be a fine artist. Being a fine artist is definitely part of my authentic expression. I found great paying work as a typesetter. The gig afforded me to paint and go to school. I eventually moved to New York City because a co-worker offered me their rent control apartment in Chelsea. I painted every day and my work developed beautifully. I was manifesting on an artist’s budget.

Then, in my 30s, another dream of mine was to play music in bands. I shifted gears and became a bass player. I played in punk and R&B bands. It required rehearsing several times a week and performing on weekends. I was able to do this AND support myself with a job.

However, everything changed when I co-founded a Silicon Valley start-up company, where the singular focus was on making money. The drive for financial gain from investors and clients overshadowed everything else.

The start-up provided humanitarian services so part of my authentic self was satisfied. I worked for years every single day on the computer without taking weekends off and of course burned out and continued to burn even after the out occurred.

I found myself moving away from my core values of creativity and joyful expression. The focus instead was only on work and the success of the company. This shift made me incredibly unhappy and, ironically, led to horrific financial loss. It was a tough lesson that straying from my core identity and values can throw everything off course.

I eventually moved back to Boston and worked at an art school where I found myself again. I also started teaching vision board making there (and that’s a whole other story).

To Manifest What You Are Is Worth the Effort

True manifestation occurs when there’s a harmony between our desires and our authentic nature. It involves a deep understanding of ourselves where we recognize not only our aspirations but also our inherent values, strengths, and limitations. 

This self-awareness allows us to choose paths and identities that genuinely fit us. This makes the process of manifestation feel more natural and less like a constant struggle.

It’s also important to acknowledge that growth and change are part of being authentic. Our true selves are not static; they evolve as we gain new experiences and insights. 

Aligning with our authentic selves means being open to this evolution. This allows our identities to expand and transform in ways that bring us closer to the lives we wish to manifest. The key is making sure that these changes resonate with our inner truth. This means taking some time to quiet the noises of desire and look within for real intentions.

It now seems ridiculous that I wanted to be a “Lady Boss.” I’m a creator. How could I have missed that memo?

Recognizing that I had thrown myself off-balance in pursuit of an identity that didn’t align with my true self was a painful lesson. I did learn a lot and developed skills I never would have had if I stayed in the creative and teaching arts. But at what cost? My misalignment left me feeling like a failure. It took over a decade for me to get back on my feet and believe I was worthy again.

Manifestation, then, becomes not about acquiring what you want but becoming who you are meant to be. And in this process of becoming, you might find that the universe has a way of surprising you with experiences and successes far beyond what you could have planned for yourself.

Remember, the key to manifesting a fulfilling life lies not in exclusively chasing after external desires. Rather it comes by aligning your inner world with your true essence then chase. I’ve come to believe that chasing after your sacred truth is the only way manifesting works the way it’s supposed to.