Manifesting for skeptics: My honest journey to self-improvement in 2024
"Regardless of the terminology—manifesting, self-improvement, personal growth—most of us are striving for something more. We’re trying to figure out how to navigate this messy, beautiful, often brutal life."
The weight of January 1st settled on me like a shroud. But at the start of 2023, something felt different. It wasn’t the usual post-holiday slump. It was a deeper, more urgent knowing that I needed a change. I’d heard whispers of manifesting, but frankly, I’d always found it a little…suspect. All those affirmations and vision boards felt performative and disconnected from the messy reality of my life. But my malaise was a powerful motivator. So I thought, what the hell? What did I have to lose? And I made a plan. A plan to manifest something better.
If you’re rolling your eyes right now, if the word “manifesting” conjures images of crystals and airy pronouncements, I understand. I was right there with you. It sounds, to many, like a load of woo-woo nonsense. Or, at best, wishful thinking disguised as a spiritual practice. But, regardless of the terminology—manifesting, self-improvement, personal growth—most of us are striving for something more. We’re trying to figure out how to navigate this messy, beautiful, often brutal life. Whether your preferred path is therapy, affirmations, neuroscience, or something else entirely, if it helps you move closer to the person you want to be, who am I—or anyone else—to judge? For me, manifesting doesn’t mean magically conjuring material possessions out of thin air. It’s about aligning my thoughts, beliefs, and actions with my deepest desires, creating a fertile ground for possibility.
My own journey toward wellness and abundance is a long and winding one. For a long time, the “how” remained elusive. But 2024 became a year of relentless research, a deep dive into what works, what doesn’t, and, crucially, what actively makes things worse. An ADHD diagnosis I received in November explains a great deal—like why sitting still for meditation was always a challenge, even though I knew I felt better when I did it. I experimented with countless development techniques, devoured books, and, yes, it was often difficult. Change rarely comes easy.
I don’t want to let all that hard-won knowledge gather dust on a shelf. I want to share it with you. I want to offer a curated collection of the best books, self-development strategies, neuroscience insights, and therapeutic approaches I’ve encountered. This work is built on the shoulders of giants—from the wisdom of the Dalai Lama to the insights of contemporary practitioners. Over the coming weeks and months, I’ll share the books, practices, and insights that have been most transformative for me.
We deserve better. Let’s create it.
