Manifestation... is it for real!?!

Does the word manifestation make you roll your eyes? Maybe it takes you back to blowing out birthday candles, silently wishing for something magical to happen. Or perhaps it reminds you of a teenage crush and the mental (or maybe even physical) shrine you built, certain you were destined to be together. Maybe you’ve tried to “manifest” a good grade, that dream job, or even the perfect home… only to be left disappointed, convinced that manifestation was just another term for wishful thinking.

Been there, done that. I even sought out books about how to attract what you want. However, the word "pseudoscience" kept popping up, and that was a term I knew well and wanted nothing to do with. So I walked away from the so-called magical world of manifestation and decided that if I wanted something, I had to work for it. And if it didn’t happen? Well, then it just wasn’t meant to be.

When I started studying yoga and meditation, manifestation made an unexpected comeback. My first reaction? An eye roll. 🙄 But since it was woven into the meditation practices I was learning, I couldn’t avoid it. It didn't take long for this practice to change my perspective as I quickly discovered two things.

First, I discovered it’s actually backed by neuroscience. 🤯
Second, I realized I’d been doing it entirely wrong. 🤦‍♀️

Pairing manifestation with mindfulness is a powerful and essential component of the process (which is backed by science, did I mention that already? 😉). A little side note: as we continue this wellness journey together, you'll discover my fascination with the brain. So learning that it's a real thing, that the brain can "create a reality" that we desire... I was intrigued, to say the least.

So what does mindfulness have to do with all of this?

Every. Thing.

More specifically, it all starts with acknowledging our actual reality. When we observe life as it truly is—without judgment—it changes the brain. Our focus sharpens. Our attention steadies. And, surprisingly, the brain can actually relax.

You’ve probably heard of the sympathetic nervous system—our fight, flight, freeze, or fawn response. Well, mindfulness helps that system simmer down so we can shift into the parasympathetic nervous system—the one that handles rest, repair, and deeper thinking. In this state, the brain isn’t locked on survival mode. Instead, it can process information in ways that align with our conscious values and intentions.

When we move through life with intention and in alignment with our inner self… that’s magic. Not the hocus-pocus, crystal-ball kind, but the kind I once would have rolled my eyes at—before I understood what was really happening (and yes, you’ll soon hear all about my tiny obsession with “magic” 😂).

The truth is, the magic isn’t outside of you, it's within, it’s in your brain. When your thoughts, values, and actions align, your brain literally rewires itself. And as your brain changes, the way you move through the world changes too. You stop waiting for life to happen to you and start shaping it yourself.

In other words, you’re not just wishing anymore. You’re manifesting—only now, it’s grounded in intention, mindfulness, and science.

This month at Mindfully Radiant, our focus is on Intention—and yes, that choice was intentional. Every practice we share with you each week is designed with purpose, offering tangible tools to help you cultivate your most radiant self. 💫

Visualization, meditation, vision boards, and journaling are just a few of the techniques we’ll explore to help you find clarity and set meaningful intentions. And the best part? We’ve got them all right here for you.

In 2024, I created my very first vision board. Some images were clear and planned, but what I didn’t expect were the surprises that unfolded later. Like the unplanned trip to Switzerland, where I found myself hiking among breathtaking mountain views. Or the spontaneous spring visit to Amsterdam, not to sit in lavender fields, but to marvel at endless tulip 🌷 blooms! There were moments when I felt called, drawn to places and experiences without knowing why, until, months later, the pieces fell into place. By the end of 2024, I realized I had organically checked off everything on my vision board… even after honestly forgetting about it along the way.

I can’t wait to share my 2025 vision board with you later this week. And I truly hope you take some time to create your own, it might just surprise you (and it's fun!).

Before I go, I have one last thing to share. Anyone else a Mel Robbins fan?

Today, I was listening to a podcast, and guess what it was about? 🥁 Manifestation! It featured Dr. James Doty, a neuroscientist and so much more, who recently passed away. What he shared deeply resonated with the heart of Mindfully Radiant’s intention.

If you’re short on time, I highly recommend listening to just the beginning, where Dr. Doty humbly reflects on his early life.

I’ll leave a link to the podcast here—hope it inspires you as much as it did me.

With love,

Amy 💜

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