Writing down what you want to manifest is very effective to turn your desire into reality but do you know what it takes to craft one that really works? It is not simply noting down whatever comes to your mind; it is creating a clear manifesting list after thorough thinking and listening to your intuition and higher power.
I have created multiple manifestation lists and these are all the things I have manifested, including:
- Soulmate
- Appearance (style, body, facial feature change–I know this is crazy but it happened!)
- Close friendships
- New job role
- Travels
In this article, I will explain how to craft your manifesting list step-by-step with examples. You will also receive FREE templates to get started right away!
What is a Manifesting List?
Manifesting is a list filled with the qualities of your manifestation. For example, if you have a dream career in fashion design that you want to manifest, you should jot down important details about your goal. These details should cover the 5W1H – which stands for Who, What, When, Where, Why, and How. Here’s how you can apply it:
- Who: I am a fashion school graduate in New York.
- What: I get my first full-time job in fashion design.
- When: I get my job within the next year.
- Where: My full-time job is at Christian Dior Couture in Paris.
- Why: I get the job because my talents and working attitude are sought after.
- How: I win a fashion design competition and ace my internship interview. I secure the internship that turns into a full-time job.
With these significant details covered, you should be able to visualize your manifesting list and write them down with better clarity.
How can a Manifesting List Help You?
- Gain intention clarity: They help you to get clear on what you want, place your intentions out into the universe, and ask for some very specific things that would otherwise be more difficult to achieve through practices like visualization alone.
- Goal setting and planning: With clarity about your intention, you can break it down into actionable tasks and acts in alignment with your intention.
- Accountability and motivation: A manifesting list motivates you and holds you accountable for your goals. It serves as a reminder of what you are working towards and keeps you focused on achieving your dreams.
- Law of Attraction: A manifesting list aligns with the principles of the Law of Attraction. When you believe that you can manifest your dream and focus on it, you are more likely to attract it into your life.
- Power it up with a vision board: When you know how to translate your desires into words properly, you can visualize your goals and dreams, making them seem more tangible and attainable. Visualizing your desires is a powerful way to manifest them into reality. With a tool like a vision board, it anchor you to your goal, producing ome astounding results.
How specific should your manifesting list be?
One big question that people always have when creating their manifesting lists is: how specific should your list be? Being too rigid about the list will destroy the fun of receiving pleasant surprises from the Universe that might be even better than our imagination. A too vague list is not effective enough for the law of attraction to work, as the intention you place out into the universe will be too weak.
Other than doing the old way through trial and error, leveraging the Human Design chart to guide you is another more straightforward approach.
For those who have not heard of Human Design, it is a chart derived from a person’s specific birth data—date, time, and place. Like astrology, I Ching, and Bazi, Human Design provides insights into an individual’s personality, natural talents, and potential life path, including whether you are a general or specific manifestor.
Get your chart here for free and you will notice there are four arrows on your Human Design chart. All four arrows and their direction have meaning behind them, read this if you want to learn more.
For manifestation, we are only going to look at your chart’s bottom right Variable arrow representing perspective. It tells you how you see the world, and whether you are a specific or general manifestor.
Here’s my chart for demonstration purposes. Notice that the bottom-right arrow is pointing to the left? This means I am designed to be specific when calling something new into my life. Having a structured action plan is my jam. By pinpointing exactly what I’m looking for, I help the universe bring me what I am looking for.
If your bottom-right arrow points to the right, you are designed to approach manifestation with a more general idea of what you want and let the universe fill in the rest. This means that you can focus more on qualities that aren’t quite so tangible, like your feelings, and give a range of quality. However, you should still be specific about your dealbreakers if you have any.
However, be it a specific or general manifesting list, you should always leave room for The Universe to show you something even better. For specific manifestors, this is tricky as you feel the most comfortable when you can delve into details.
While creating a manifesting list, whether specific or general, it’s crucial to allow The Universe room to offer something even better. For specific manifestors, who thrive on detail, this can pose a challenge.
The key is to focus on the essence rather than the form. Many people make this mistake, especially when it comes to manifesting their other half. Instead of focusing on the absolute details–black hair colour and 6ft height, you should say, “I am physically attracted to this person.” This approach captures the essence of your desire while leaving space for the universe to work its magic through unexpected outcomes.
How to Write A Manifesting List
Now that you have a rough idea of what a manifesting list looks like and what benefits it brings to your manifestation, let’s get started on how to write one that works!
1. Visualize and feel your desire
Before you begin this process, it’s important to relax so that you can better hear your intuition’s voice.
To do this, you can:
- Find a quiet place.
- Get into a comfortable position.
- Light some candles.
- Play some relaxing music.
- Surround yourself with your favourite crystals for manifesting.
- Do some breathing exercises to ground yourself.
As mentioned previously, your manifesting list should have 5W1H – which stands for Who, What, When, Where, Why, and How. Consider the following questions to help you collect the 5W1H:
- What: What do you want to manifest? If it is tangible, describe how you can feel it through your five senses.
- When: When will you get what you want?
- Where: Where is your intention coming true?
- Why: Why do you want to manifest the desire? This is important as it shouldn’t be illegal and harmful to others. It should align with your calling and envisioning your life in the long run.
- How: How can you realise your intention? Your manifestation should be reasonable and actionable. Calling a manifestation of winning the lottery shouldn’t be on your list as there’s nothing you can do to improve your chance of success.
2. Challenge your beliefs
Once you have the first draft of your manifesting list ready, the first thing you should ask yourself is, “Is this the best I can do?”
Through manifesting, you attract what you believe you’re worth, regardless of its truth. Thus, if you’re consumed by fears and possess low self-esteem, you don’t dare to dream big. You become a bird that has not been outside a cage, not knowing how big the world is.
If you realize that you struggle with combating fears and limiting beliefs, try out this 6-step fear and limiting beliefs debunking guide to strengthen your faith in yourself.
3. Refine and get your final list
Now, it’s time to refine the list so that it is only packed with significant qualities that can help The Universe understand what you want.
Keep it within one page
I advise you not to go beyond one page and not list down more than 15 bullet points. I don’t want you to be overwhelmed and hopeless. The more qualities you list, the more unnecessary things you include.
It is difficult for The Universe to know what is important to you as all quality is deemed of equal priority. With SO MANY REQUIREMENTS to be met, it will delay the time for your manifestation to come true.
Feel free to use the templates provided below, which adhere to this principle of simplicity and focus.
Use only present or past tense
“You have to dress for the job you want, not the job you have, and you have to start doing the work you want to be doing.”
–Austin Kleon
Like attracts like, in order to get what we want, we should act like we have already own it. So, write on the manifesting list as if you have achieved it using the present or past tense.
Be Open
Let your manifestations flow from a place of openness, allowing the universe to deliver what truly aligns with your highest good.
For example:
Instead of limiting yourself to manifest a beach trip to Malibu, consider wording it as “A beach trip (or the essence of) Malibu.”
I choose this wording intentionally because while I may desire a beach trip to Malibu, I remain receptive to the universe guiding me to a different destination that holds the same essence of a Malibu beach experience (a beautiful coastline, surfer’s paradise, and vibrant atmosphere) that may ultimately suit me better.
By framing your manifestations in this expansive manner, you give the universe ample opportunities to manifest your desires unexpectedly and delightfully. 🌟
4. Declare your commitment
Make promises
Manifesting your desires isn’t just about writing them down and waiting for miracles to happen; you must take action.
When I was manifesting my soulmate, I didn’t just create a list of qualities I wanted in him; I also promised myself that I would embody those qualities. I committed to living each day with the traits I desired in a partner–intelligent, loving, supportive, healthy, good-looking, and so on. By focusing on personal growth, I became more attractive and content with the person I had become. As a result, I found myself in a happy relationship with someone who checked all the boxes,
Date it
You always want to put a date on your list when you successfully manifest what you want.
The date should be reasonable yet optimistic. If numbers pop up in your mind or around you, that could be a sign.
Most importantly, you need to BELIEVE the date.
Manifesting List Example
Here are some examples of things to manifest and the lists for your inspiration.
Soulmate Manifestation List
- I am physically attracted to him.
- I enjoy trying new food and activities with him.
- He takes care of my emotional and physical needs.
- He is a protector.
- He is a curious learner and intelligent.
- He is kind and friendly.
- My family and friends like him.
Dream Home Manifestation List
- A 3-room apartment in Kuala Lumpur city center.
- I can enjoy sunset views from my apartment’s balcony.
- The apartment gym is well-equipped for my training needs.
- I can play tennis at my apartment’s tennis court for free.
- Public transport is accessible within 500m.
- There’re restaurants, groceries, and convenience stores nearby.
- The mortgage costs no more than 20% of my salary.
Career Success Manifestation List
- I work in a multinational tech company with a managerial title.
- I earn at least $20k per month.
- I am trusted to make impactful decisions at work.
- My work positively impacts the company and its customers.
- The company sponsors leadership and skills training.
- Management and my boss genuinely appreciate my contributions.
- My subordinates look up to me for guidance.
- I can mentor and support my direct reports in advancing their careers.
- I can work from home at least two days a week.
- I can wear smart casual to work.
Manifesting List Template
I prepared three manifesting list templates in A4 size. Feel free to access the high quality version through Canva template.
What to do after Writing Manifesting List
Now that you have your manifesting list ready, let’s get the magic started for real.
Be grateful and get detached
When the list is done, say thank you to the universe as if you have received the gift. Practicing gratitude shifts our focus away from scarcity towards abundance. This shift in perspective can elevate our emotional state and raise our energetic vibration to a higher frequency similar to love, abundance, and joy. Like attracts like. As our energy level improves, we can attract more opportunities and speed up our manifestation process.
Lastly, you need to let go of your manifesting list.
You might think you need constant reminders of your goal, so you reread your list or rewrite it daily. But that actually puts you in a needy and attached energy. When you are in the “lack” energy, you cannot call for what you want as your frequency doesn’t match your vision.
Instead, I focus on planning and taking tangible actions to materialize my goal. Only when I feel demotivated or distracted will I reread the list and use my vision board to remind myself and be grateful for how far I have come.
Plan and act in alignment
“Good intentions might sound nice, but it’s positive actions that matter.”
— Tim Fargo
Manifestation is akin to embarking on a voyage; your manifesting list serves as your map. However, like any successful journey, it requires physical training, careful route planning, and essential preparations.
The clarity of your manifesting goals and your commitment to them will steer your planning and action. I utilize two main tools to plan, monitor and enhance my progress:
- Quarterly review and planning. To be honest, achieving goals doesn’t happen overnight. I have tried weekly and monthly planning but those were too rigid and often. Then, I found quarterly review and planning to be effective. I have an archive detailing my approach since I started in 2023. Check it out to get the free template and perhaps find some inspiration.
- Digital planning. For my day-to-day life, I use digital planners on my iPad. I plan my day in the morning and reflect on it at night by noting the highlights and lessons learned. I also have a mediation journal that keeps track of the intuitive messages I receive during my meditation sessions.
Power it up
For those eager to manifest, try the following methods to boost your manifestation power.
- Vision Board: Create a vision board that captures the essence of your manifestation. Then spend a few minutes a day gazing at your board to increase your vibrational energy when you feel the joy of achieving it.
- Meditation: Close your eyes and visualize your manifestation. You can also have conversations with the higher self or The Universe. Pay attention to the intuitive messages as they are intended to help you with your manifesting journey.
- Scripting: Imagine how it feels when your manifestation comes true. Write down your feelings and experiences about your desires in great detail.
Manifesting List Dos and Don’ts
If you want your manifesting list to work, adhere to the following dos and don’ts from the moment you begin crafting it until you manifest what you have written down.
Dos:
- Ground yourself before starting. Getting too excited or depressed might cloud your mind.
- Use present and past tense.
- Phrase your intentions in a positive and affirming way.
- Have faith in the process and believe that your desires are already coming to you.
- Take inspired action towards your goals.
- Be open to surprises, and allow The Universe to provide what’s best for you.
Don’ts:
- Don’t rush to finish the manifesting list in one day. Take time to finalise it.
- Don’t go beyond one page.
- Don’t get pressured to manifest things that people tell you to.
- Don’t get obsessed about the list. Refrain yourself from re-reading it every day or week.
- Don’t force the outcome to be 100% what you want; instead, trust in the universe’s timing and guidance.
Be Clear about Your Intention and Embrace Beautiful Surprises
The essence of writing a manifesting list is to help you crystalize your intention and put your intention out there for The Universe to help you. The manifesting list becomes your inner compass to guide you to your goal.
While living your life in alignment, keep an open eye to opportunities beyond your imagination. Trust that The Universe knows what is best for you and believe in divine timing.
When you finally receive that beautiful and unexpected gift, accept it with gratitude!
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