Manifesting things is one of my superpowers. I didn’t recognize this until I was well into my 30’s but looking back I have a very definite pattern. In my teens I had a file filled with pictures I had ripped from magazines. I had my wedding dress (think Glinda the good witch) I had the bridesmaid fabric and a plan that each of my beautiful attendants would design her own gown out of the fabric I had chosen. I picked my plates (formal and everyday), my flatware, my paint colors, the car I wanted and even the specific house I would live in.

If you notice, this list is pretty detailed. By the time I was twenty-three I was married. I had worn that dress with those beautiful  bridesmaids all wearing dresses they had designed from the flaming red fabric I had given them, I had the car, the vacations and the entire lifestyle right down to the exact house I wanted. Master manifestor right?

Unfortunately, my vision lacked specificity about who I was marrying and what our relationship would be like.

I had targeted a lot of “whats” without the “whys”. I got everything on my list. I hadn’t learned yet to paint a full, clear picture.

A few years later, I was divorced and happier than I had ever imagined despite having an autistic daughter who was prone to violent tantrums and slept rarely. I was teaching her how to group like things together. One group might include animals, another foods or vehicles or colors. This was one of the million milestones my daughter would need to pass to learn communication. Because of her autism she couldn’t easily communicate what she understood so we didn’t know what was getting through and what wasn’t.

One of the techniques we used to keep her motivated was really celebrating anytime that she showed us that she understood that a group of things belonged together. (I mean really celebrating like we had won the lottery.) One night she got frustrated and threw the telephone and the table into our pool. My husband Paul said “sh*t”. My daughter responded by listing all the swear words that she knew together in a group “Sh*t, damn, piss, Jesus Christ, f*ck “. Instead of responding to what she was saying like they were a group of bad words I thought “she understands groups” and we celebrated her success with a high five and a happy dance.

I got exactly what I asked for; proof she understood that certain things were alike. What I needed to learn was to ask for what I really wanted.

Whether what you want is a life partner, to travel to exotic places or a new career, you had better use your imagination really well and paint a clear picture.

As someone who knows how easy it can be to manifest, the warning label that might accompany your vision board might read “Be careful what you want, you just might get it!”

Here’s what I do now to ensure I have painted a clear enough picture.

1)     What does the want look like?

2)     How do you feel when you do or have what it is you want?

3)     Who will be there with you and how do they fit with your want?

4)     When does this happen?

Using tools like Visions Boards, a journal or Pinterest can help you paint the clearest possible vision of your want.

Just remember sometimes what we think we want, is not what we are really going for.
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I wished my daughter could talk for many years. What I really wanted was for her to communicate. The difference may seem subtle but when it means having a child who understands or a child who parrots, you start to see that this slight discernment actually makes a huge difference.

Have you manifested something great? I’d love to hear about how and what! And if you liked my story I hope you’ll share it. The universe is filled with abundance, and the more people who learn to tap into that, the happier we will all be.

Tamara Lechner is a Happiness Expert and Chopra Certified Instructor whose mission is to be so happy that those around her cannot help but to step into her light. Happiness is one of the only resources that isn’t depleted when shared. To see more of her writing or to book her as a speaker please visit her site or follow her on FB, Twitter, and IG. 

Image courtesy of Ben Waardenburg.