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How to Manifest By Writing

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Writing your goals down can remind you that what you want to manifest isn’t just a dream, it’s something you’ll put energy into every day – and that can create some real changes.

With the pandemic throwing off our ability to maintain structure, stability, and motivation, it can be harder than ever to follow through with our goals.

One of the easiest ways to create structure and get back on track with our goals is to write them down. Techniques such as the 369 Method can help motivate us to manifest our desires. Try my free 369 Journal Template to make it even easier!

Writing Your Goals Down Helps You Manifest Them

A study by Dr. Gail Mathews showed that people who write their goals down are significantly more likely to complete them than people who simply verbalize their goals.  The study also showed that people who wrote their goals and sent them to a close friend accomplished their goals at an even higher rate.

How can you start implementing this finding today?  Here are some tips for manifesting through writing your goals down as affirmations.

5 Ways to Start Manifesting by Writing

1. Write about what you want and why you want it

Instead of just writing down what you want, make sure to include the reason that you want it.  In Write it Down, Make It Happen: Knowing What You Want – And Getting It! author Henriette Anne Klauser calls this technique  the “outcome of the outcome.”

For example, rather than writing down that you want a house with a lot of windows, write down I live in a beautiful house with large windows so that I can enjoy the extra light.

Uncovering why your goals are important to you can help you focus on the functionality of your goals and allow you to come up with creative solutions.  In fact, you might just find that when you focus on the essence of what you’re looking for, there are many things that can meet your desired outcome.

2. Focus on the feeling

Rather than just writing down your goal, write down how you’ll feel when you achieve the goal in great detail.  This helps keep the exercise from becoming boring or rote.

For example, rather than writing I am now a highly successful dancer, you can try the following: I am now a highly successful dancer.  What a joy to be doing what I love!  It feels so blissful to be surrounded by creative people.  I feel welcome and fulfilled by being a part of something so amazing.

The more you focus on the feeling, the easier it is to get excited about your goal and to associate the goal with positive emotions.  Spend a few minutes writing about how you’ll feel and be sure to include specific details about the scene.  You can do this periodically or on a regular basis if it excites you.

3. Repetition, repetition, repetition

One of the easiest ways to manifest by writing is to pick a goal and write it down as if it were happening in the present.  Repeat the sentence 15-20 times and do the exercise daily.

If you want to get a little more creative, try this tip from Creative Visualization: Use the Power of Your Imagination to Create What You Want in Your Life by Shakti Gawain.  In the book, the author recommends writing your goal by using your name in the first, second, and third person.  Here’s an example: I, Claire, am a successful singer.  Claire, you are a successful singer.  Claire is a successful singer.  Repeat this writing exercise regularly to wire it in.

The 369 Method is a structured way to incorporate affirmations into your day. The 369 Method involves writing your affirmations down 3 times in the morning, 6 times in the afternoon, and 9 times before bed. I created a free 369 Method template you can download to make it easier!

4. Use a structured journal

Goal setting journals are a great way to structure the process of writing down goals.  There are many to choose from online; just find one that suits you. Some of them help you narrow down ten goals that you want to achieve in the next ten years and have you write them down every day.  Some include a short gratitude list to get you in the right frame of mind and space to write down one goal that you’re focusing on today.  Structured journals are an effective way to become more intentional about your life. Use my free 369 Method Journal template to get started!

5. Put it away

This tip is pretty easy, but don’t be fooled; it can be surprisingly effective.  You simply write your goals down as affirmations in a special notebook.  Then you put the notebook away in a sacred place or a clean drawer.  The next step is crucial: you don’t open the journal for a few months.  This helps you release your attachment to the outcome and it makes manifesting fun.  You might be surprised by how many things in your journal actually come true after a few months or a year.  Just make sure to fill the journal with enough short-term and long-term goals that you can see some progress.

Writing your goals down is an easy way to stay motivated and intentional.  If you can master the habit of writing them down, you’ll prime your brain to be goal-oriented and equip yourself with the motivation to inch your way to success.  Better yet, get the benefit of supportive accountability and share the goals you’ve written down with a close and trustworthy friend via email or text.

I’d love to hear from you: Do you write your goals down?  Do you have any tips for keeping the practice interesting?

Ask Dr. Kress
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I’ve found that putting my aspirations into words helps me connect with them on a deeper level, making them more tangible and attainable. Your suggestion to focus on the feeling associated with achieving the goal adds an emotional depth to the process, making it more exciting and meaningful.

I’m so glad you found it helpful! Thank you for your thoughtful comment!

Just a question. Can you manifest a person back into your life? Ex? Old friend? And how many days do you have to keep writing this down? And also can you manifest multiple things during the time period? <3

Hi Abbigail. Thanks for your questions. When the goal of manifesting is a specific person, it can be frustrating because we don’t have control over other people’s choices. It might be easier to focus on more general goals for relationships. As for manifesting multiple things, it can be helpful to keep the list short enough so that we don’t get overwhelmed or lose focus. We can write the affirmations down for as long as it feels good to do so. Some like to write daily and others might prefer to write it down once and let it go. It depends on what you enjoy. Good luck!

Hi Anna,
I have been struggling with some goals like losing weight and I can’t wait to use the tips you mentioned in your article. However I have a question. Should I write my goal in a notebook and put it away? For example: I’m losing weight so as to dress in anything I want. I have lost weight, what a good feeling to be able to dress as I wish. I feel great and confident.
Then I use the 369 rule to write them daily for example. I have lost weight, Elizabeth you have lost weight, Elizabeth has lost weight?

Hi Elizabeth. You can choose to use a notebook and put it away or do the 369 method daily or a combination of both. It really depends on what makes you feel good. As for the actual affirmations, just make sure that they are positive statements that don’t contain any negative words. For example, rather than writing about losing weight, it might be more effective to write about already being your ideal weight, size, or fitness level. Here are a few examples: It’s easy for me to be a size _____. It feels good to be able to dress as I wish. I feel confident. I weigh ___. You, Elizabeth, weigh ___. Elizabeth weighs ___. There are also many other variations such as: I love to eat healthy foods. I exercise daily. Being healthy and fit is easy for me.
I hope that clarifies things a bit. You can really get creative with affirmations as long as they are strong, positive, feeling-rich statements that indicate that something is already so.

Hi:) This article was really helpful! I have decided to do the ‘write my goals and put them away for months and I would like to ask a question. When I write the goals, should be writing them as if I have already achieved them or as if I want them to happen like if I want a cat, should I write “I want a cat” or “I have a cat and I don’t feel lonely anymore, she’s like my best friend!” Please help me out! Thank u:)

Great question. When people write an affirmation in order to manifest something, they usually write it as if it already happened and keep it positive. For example, the affirmation might be something like: My cat is like my best friend. I feel so fulfilled!

Hope that helps!

My question is for how many days you have to keep writing down your goals and when exactly do we have to put it away?

It really depends. Some people like to write their goals down once and put them away and others prefer to write them down daily for a while. There is no right answer. See what feels best for you. Hope that helps!

If I write my goals , then write them like I’ve got them …is this how I manifest ? …..oh this is very interesting….Thank you Michelle xxx

Hi Michelle. Yes, writing our goals down as if we’ve already achieved them is a manifestation practice. Many people find that it works for the reasons I mentioned in the article. I think that it can be a helpful practice as long as it’s fun and we see some positive results. It can be good to start with small goals so that we feel successful. I hope you enjoy the practice! Wishing you the best!

I am a coach myself and teach those techniques too. You have nailed the written manifestation in your article. The examples you shared are very appealing. I shared the link to your article with some of my friends and clients. They liked it so much.
Thank you and all the best.
Adam

Thanks, Adam! I’m glad you found the article useful and thank you for sharing it!

I use a daily journal and Pinterest in the morning to keep things. It’s a great way to start my day.

Writing my goals down helped me get my current job and I’m using it to get my dream job. It keeps me focused. I’m going to give your other tips a try and see what happens.

Thanks for your comment John. It’s great that you’ve had success with writing your goals down. Good luck with the new tips!

I write my goals down once a week in a notebook and then I visualize it coming true. Visualizing makes it fun and it really works although sometimes it takes longer than I want it to.

Hi Anita. Visualizing can definitely be fun! Thanks for sharing your tips for keeping the practice interesting!