top of page
  • Facebook
  • Youtube
  • Instagram

An Alternative Approach to Manifestation — Trust, Courage, and Letting Go

Writer's picture: Jeanne and James BellewJeanne and James Bellew

Pawel Czerwinski, Unsplash
Pawel Czerwinski, Unsplash

Hello!

 

While the world is busy manifesting their dream lives in 2025, I'm over here… not manifesting a thing—and it's working.

 

Let me explain.

 

*Manifestation is everywhere—vision boards, affirmations, and the focus on visualizing a specific outcome and believing it into existence.

 

While it's a powerful idea, I've found it too rigid. It leaves me feeling inadequate, like I'm always striving to 'do it better.'

 

 

If I don't get what I want, am I not manifesting correctly?

If people live their best lives, are they manifesting better than me?

 

 

Over the past four years of freelancing, moving abroad, and coaching, I've discovered that fulfillment doesn't...unpopular opinion... come from manifesting.

 

Instead, it comes from showing up, trusting the process, and saying yes to possibilities.

 

This shift—from manifesting to building courage and letting go—has been transformative.

 

 By letting go of the need to dictate the 'how' or 'when,' I've discovered more freedom, joy, and positive outcomes that align naturally with who I am.

 

This shift—from manifesting to building courage, trusting, and letting go—has been a game-changer.

 

It hasn't always been easy, but it's been transformative.

 

Instead of focusing on manifesting, controlling outcomes, or forcing a vision, I've

 

✨ Moved forward by showing up,

✨ Stayed in good practices,  

✨ Said yes to unexpected opportunities,

✨ Taken meaningful action,

✨ Lived in today only, and

✨ Let go of rigid expectations.

 

Here's the thing: while manifestation culture can be inspiring, it can also create pressure and limit our ability to embrace the unexpected, build courage, live today, and just…let go.

 

Choosing trust and action over control and vision can lead to fulfillment.

 

Three common pitfalls of manifestation—and why I choose an alternative approach.


 

The Pressure to "Get It Right"


  • Manifestation often comes with an unspoken rule: if you're not achieving what you want, you're not doing it right.


This leads to self-blame and unnecessary anxiety. Instead of feeling empowered, you might wonder if your thoughts are 'positive enough' or if you're working hard enough to attract the right energy. That kind of pressure can be paralyzing.

 

 

The Myth of Control


  • Manifestation emphasizes control over outcomes, but life doesn't work that way. The best things in my life—moving to Costa Rica, building a freelance business, and deciding to move to Spain—didn't come from a rigid plan.


They came because "life called," and we trust the process, are open to change, and allow unexpected opportunities to unfold.

 


Ignoring Fear vs. Accepting Fear and Acting Anyway.


  • Manifestation prioritizes positivity and 'thinking good thoughts.' But the truth is that fear and doubt are part of the human experience. Ignoring them doesn't make them go away.


Instead, I've found it more effective to recognize my fears and move forward anyway. Courage doesn't mean eliminating fear; it means acting despite it.


*I've also found that most of the time, my fear is ungrounded in any reality.

 


My suggestions for an alternative approach:

 

 

⭐️ Begin Each Day with a Grounding Mantra

 

I say this every morning when I sit up in bed with a deep breath and throughout the day "as needed."


 "Today is [insert today's date]. It's not yesterday or tomorrow. I can't affect my outcome; I can only affect my practices and how I respond today."

This mantra keeps you focused on the present, letting go of the need to control what's outside your reach.

 

 

⭐️ Separate Reality from Interpretation

 

When faced with challenges, pause and ask: "What's actually happening? What story am I telling myself about it?"


This practice grounds you in the facts, helping you respond thoughtfully rather than reacting to imagined fears or assumptions.

 

*Always pause before you believe what you think.

 

 

⭐️ Say Yes to Possibilities (my favorite)

 

When opportunities arise—especially ones that scare you—pause and ask yourself,

 

"What could I learn? Where could this lead? What new exciting possibility awaits me?"

Saying "yes" to the unknown opens doors to growth, unexpected outcomes, and experiences you may not have envisioned.

 

 

A Final Thought

 

Manifestation is just a practice—and for me, it's a practice that doesn't work.

 

Instead of empowering me, the pressure to "get it right" leaves me feeling unfulfilled, less confident, and troubled.

 

A different set of practices has worked for me: letting go of rigid expectations, being fully present, saying yes to possibilities, and trusting that I have the resilience to handle whatever comes next.

 

These practices have helped me move forward confidently—not in controlling outcomes, but in myself and the possibilities that unfold when I show up.


I use these practices in my coaching, supporting others in their transitions.

 

I wish for you the confidence to show up and trust yourself.


You have what you need to keep moving forward in a life where you feel powerful and have the self-esteem to go after what you want while living peacefully on your journey.

 

Freelancing is a way to use your skills, talents, and passions to provide services to people who need them while earning where and when you want.

 

With love and encouragement,

 

Jeanne 🌺

19 views0 comments

Recent Posts

See All

Comments

Rated 0 out of 5 stars.
No ratings yet

Add a rating
bottom of page