Latest / In The Driver's Seat / When Manifestation Doesn’t Work: Did You Do Something Wrong?
Transcript
- Lisa French: You've been clear about what you want. You've envisioned it, you've taken action, and it still hasn't happened. At some point you start wondering, am I doing something wrong? Then you catch yourself worrying about it, and now you're worried that your worry is getting in the way. That can cause a lot of pressure. My answer is You didn't necessarily do something wrong. Everything is information. You can take an honest look at how you're living your days, what you're thinking about, and how you're feeling with some compassion for yourself. For me, manifestation has layers. There's the desire itself, and there's how I'm feeling as I move towards it. I can say I believe something is possible. While spending a good part of my day feeling afraid it won't happen, recognizing that gives me somewhere to begin. Welcome to In the Driver's Seat. I'm Lisa French. Today we're talking about what happens when manifestation doesn't seem to be working, how to notice when you've moved away from the feeling you want to cultivate, and how to find your way back without trying to control every step. There was a time when I was dealing with a situation that felt deeply unfair. Someone else's action had put me in a position I never expected to be in, and I was trying to navigate my way through it. I'm going to keep the details private, but there was a lot of uncertainty. I wanted things to be made right and the people I turned to For help weren't giving me much reason to believe that really could happen. One day my phone was ringing and it was a friend whom we served on the same board together. And I almost didn't answer because I was so stressed out. But I remember instantly thinking, if I want something good to come out of this unwanted situation, I have to put good energy out there too. So I answered the call. We talked about the museum, which was what we had in common. Then I ended up telling her what was going on in my life. She gave me a number of someone she thought who could help me. That conversation gave me hope. I followed through, reached out, and I ended up getting the help that I didn't even know was available. The situation still took months to work through. During that time, I envisioned The wrong being righted. I kept unwavering faith everything would work out for the best. I also had an honest look at what I was carrying in my heart while I waited. I was angry. There were people I blamed for how parts of it unfolded. Eventually I made peace in my soul with two friends that I had been upset with. I let go of the anger because Continuing to carry it wasn't going to change what had happened. And I found ways to feel excited and happy while this was still unresolved. There was more to my life than this one situation, even though it had taken up a lot of my attention. In the end, things came together in a way that allowed a better outcome than I had been told to expect. I truly believe the universe helped put those pieces in place and There were people doing their part, conversations happening, and steps that I had to take. I couldn't have planned every part of that. What really sticks with me is that moment with the phone, I was so stressed and I almost ignored someone who ended up connecting me with the exact help that I needed. I noticed where I was emotionally. When it didn't align with what I wanted, I made a different choice and I answered the call without knowing where that conversation would lead. When I talk about alignment, that's the kind of thing that I'm talking about. How am I living while I'm waiting? How am I showing up for the life that's here today? For me, manifestation is a spiritual practice of staying grounded, focusing on what I want. And cultivating love and peace. That's what I'm reaching for when I talk about high vibe energy. I think it helps to get specific about that because raise your vibration can sound like one more thing you're supposed to know how to do. Love and peace give me something I can recognize. I know what it feels like when I get so caught up in being upset that I barely paying attention to anything else. I also know what it feels like when I'm so caught up in being upset that I'm barely paying attention to anything else. Take an online debate. You go into the comments, somebody says something about politics, and you disagree. So you respond. Then they respond. Then somebody else joins in. You put the phone down, but you're still thinking about what you're going to say next. You could be making lunch and mentally you're still in that comment section. The conversation has followed you into the rest of your day. You can have strong opinions. I certainly do. But it's important to notice how you feel after spending your time that way. Did anything useful come from it? Do you want to keep giving it your attention? You get to decide when you've had enough of that conversation. The same thing can happen when you're upset with someone in your life. You tell one person what happened, then you tell someone else. By the third conversation, you're feeling it all over again as if it just happened. Talking through something can help you understand it. and decide what to do. Replaying it can also keep you in the same upsetting loop. Pay attention to which one is happening. And worrying about the future can take up so much space. You want to change, you're excited about possibility, then you start going through everything that could go wrong. And pretty soon that's where most of your attention is. In my spiritual practice, I think of that as resistance. I'm reaching towards a desire while also carrying fear around it. I want to honestly notice that because the feeling I'm cultivating really matters to me. You don't have to inspect every thought you've had since breakfast. Start with what's obvious. What have you been returning to today? What's the conversation you're still having in your head? How do you feel when you spend time there? That gives you something you can work with now, even while the bigger situation is uncertain. There's a point where this can get tricky. You notice you've been worried and immediately start criticizing yourself for it. Well, there I go again. I'm supposed to believe this can happen and I've spent the whole morning doubting it. Now you've added another layer of frustration. Here's where I want you to give yourself some grace. We are human and emotions are important. Everything is information. If you notice you're afraid, get curious about what you're afraid of. Are you worried you'll be disappointed? Are you worried about what someone will think? Have you become so focused on when is it going to happen that now you're having a hard time enjoying anything while you wait? You can acknowledge that. You can say, I want this so much that I've gotten caught up in worrying about it. There's some honesty in that. Now you know where you are. When I say you're not quite there yet, I'm talking about the alignment that you're reaching for. You've noticed a feeling you want to move toward, and you begin from where you are. A difficult day doesn't give you a complete explanation for why an outcome hasn't happened. Other people have choices. There are circumstances you don't control. In my own story, someone else's actions affected me. I could still recognize that and still take responsibility for how I wanted to move forward. Both of those things can be true. Hurt deserves care. Disappointment can take time to move through. You can acknowledge what's happening and choose where you like to place your attention next. Sometimes an honest look of at how you're feeling also points you towards something practical, like maybe a conversation you need to have, or help you need to ask for, a decision you've been putting off. You can respond to that information and give yourself some breathing room at the same time. This is where I come back to the word momentum. My approach is to notice when I'm not emotionally aligned with what I want to manifest. Then Change the momentum of my thoughts. Trying to order yourself to feel peaceful while you're angry can be very frustrating. You're already upset and now you're giving yourself instructions you can't seem to follow. I mean, what is your reaction if someone tells you to calm down? Doesn't work. It also helps to have somewhere to begin, something you can respond to with a feeling that comes naturally. On my morning walks, I say good morning to everything. Not out loud, just in my head. To the birds, to the trees, to the clouds, the moon if I can see it, the flowers, they all get a good morning. With each good morning, I can feel the love in my heart starting to light up. It is genuine love and it makes me feel like the whole day is going to be the best day ever. When I see someone, they Get a friendly good morning too. I'm smiling, I'm feeling lighter. This is one of my methods I use for changing the momentum of my thoughts. I get myself out of a funk. It's simple, which helps when I've gotten caught up in something that feels anything but simple. There's something beautiful right in front of me to love. For those moments, my attention is with the world around me. I'm in the present, enjoying something that's already here. And that matters when you've been waiting for something. It's so easy to spend your day checking on its absence. Has anything changed? Is it getting closer? You start looking at everyday life for evidence of whether things are working out or not. Even a moment of enjoyment can turn into another check. Okay, I feel better. Does that mean it's coming now? You can see how quickly your attention goes right back to the waiting. Let yourself enjoy the moment you're having. There's so much value in feeling the emotion of love, in laughing, in being interested in something that's happening around you. Those experiences belong in your day while the rest of it is unfolding. Your way into that feeling could be different from mine. It could be a song that you love, a few minutes with your dog. Calling a friend that always makes you laugh. What feels good to you is personal and it can be wonderfully ordinary. Think about how specific that is. You probably know which friend that would be. You know the song. You know what your dog does that makes you smile. You have somewhere to begin. Choose something that you already love and give it a little more of your attention. Let yourself enjoy it without checking whether you've shifted enough or wondering what it means for your manifestation. If you feel a little lighter, enjoy that. If you're still upset, you can give yourself more time and care. Some days that will be easier than others. You might feel better and then something reminds you of what you're dealing with. You notice it again. You can reach for a better feeling again. There's no need to turn that into an argument with yourself, beating yourself up about why you couldn't stay happy. The practice is available whenever you remember it. You could come back to it in the middle of an ordinary afternoon. There's another part of this that matters to me. You can be clear about what you want and still leave room for how it comes together. When you've thought about a desire for a long time, it's easy to start planning every step. This person needs to say yes, this needs to happen by this date, this opportunity needs to arrive in this particular way. You can get so specific about the route that you have a hard time considering anything outside of that. A plan can help you take action, but leave some room in it for the information you don't have yet. There may be someone you haven't talked to, an option you haven't considered, or a next step that becomes clear. through doing the one step that's in front of you. Let what feels good be your compass. For me, that means paying attention to what brings me toward love and peace, possibility, and the sense of being aligned with myself. And sometimes following that feeling still takes effort. Reaching out for help can feel vulnerable. Following through takes time. Making peace in your heart can take time too. You can feel some nervousness And still recognize that you want to take the next step. Ask yourself, what feels true and useful from where you are? What's something that you can do that supports the life you want? You don't need to know everything that will happen afterward to get to the one thing. I believe in envisioning what I want. I also believe in the energy I bring to my life. I also want to be available for the people, conversations. And opportunities that show up along the way. That's part of how I practice it. Holding a vision gives me direction. Living my day gives me something to participate in. There are relationships to enjoy, things to learn, and reasons to feel good that exist before the outcome arrives. You can want something deeply and give yourself breathing room along the way. So when manifestation doesn't seem to be working, Did you do something wrong? You didn't necessarily do something wrong. Take an honest look at how you're living your days and what you're thinking about. Notice what you find. Everything is information and you can use that information with compassion for yourself. Here's a place that you can start today. When you catch yourself returning to the worry, choose something you already love and give it a little attention. See how you feel. Let that be enough for that moment. You can keep taking the steps that are yours to take. You can ask for help, and you can leave rooms for the parts you haven't figured out yet. Thank you for spending this time with me. If these conversations help you bring more intention and possibility into your days, please subscribe or follow in the driver's seat so we can keep exploring it together. It truly helps my channel reach others like you. So until next time. Remember, you are always in the driver's seat of your life. And I'll see you in the next episode.