Manifestation: The Science Behind Why it Actually Works

Manifestation. Manifesting. The Law of Attraction. Perhaps these words strike you with an involuntary eye roll or a flashback to a bohemian TikTokker you saw recently with a “message that was meant to find you, with no hashtags.” Maybe they make you think of tarot cards, colorful scarves, crystals, candles, and spells. Ooh. Or, perhaps they register to you as the new, hot topic that science is finally proving. Hopefully, by the end of this piece, you will find that magic and science have overlapped just enough to make you wonder if manifestation actually works.

What is Manifestation?

The word manifestation has its origins in religion and spirituality. One definition is “the demonstration of a particular emotion or feeling, or something theoretical made real.” This definition provokes an air of mystery. How can you make something theoretical into something real? That’s just what those who practice manifestation aim to answer and accomplish. For a more historical understanding of manifestation, we can travel back to Greece.

You likely know the Greeks for their god-and goddess-centered mythology, such as that of Zeus, Aphrodite, Apollo, etc. They were also one of the cultures that spearheaded the spiritual belief in manifestation. The ancient Greek word for manifestation was epiphanea (or our modern-day “epiphany,”) which refers to a striking moment of clarity or realization. In today’s understanding, we differentiate an epiphany from manifestation, which has much to do with the Law of Attraction.

The Law of Attraction

The Law of Attraction is a pseudoscientific spiritual belief that emerged in the 19th century. Looking back, it seems to involve various religions and regions. It contains elements of hermeticism and references from the Bible, Hinduism, and New England Transcendentalism. Kind of a spiritual “catch-all,” the concept of manifestation and The Law of Attraction piqued the interest of several individuals throughout history.

Spiritualists of the Time

One such individual was Andrew Jackson Davis. David became known as an American Spiritualist as he leveraged his interest in all things spiritual and built a career. He opened a medical clinic where he engaged in controversial practices like hypnotism and communing with spirits. Davis claimed these practices could make people “happier, wiser, and better.” That all sounds pretty appealing, right?

Among his unusual practices, Davis also gave lectures and authored several books. One of his most well-known is “The Great Harmonia.” Unfortunately, critics came from all corners, and his work was often poorly received and disrespected. One such critic, after reading “The Great Harmonia,” wrote:

“A crazier coot never took flight in the clouds of unutterable nonsense and filled his crop with the vapor and fog that reels up from the great slough of human credulity than this same Andrew Jackson Davis; but we dare say he has believers.”

I haven’t been referred to as a crazy coot for my writing yet, but there’s still time. Also, that person sure wrote a lengthy/wordy sentence for being a “writing critic.” I’m just saying. Anyway, Davis pressed on with his work despite the haters. Despite the controversy, his research became a foundation of the later-evolving theories on manifestation and The Law of Attraction.

In years to come, other individuals built upon Davis’s work and took it further year after year. Eventually, in 2006, a film emerged that brought the concept to the mainstream. “The Secret” is a documentary that presented a new idea to those who had yet to experience manifestation-based spirituality. In short, it suggests that a Universal law governs all people, things, and lives. The selling point is that this law holds the key to unlocking a life of peace, abundance, and joy.

What does the Law of Attraction Mean?

The Law of Attraction states that the universe can only give you what you put into the universe. This ties into the idea of where attention goes, energy flows. So, to attract positive experiences, you must focus on extending positive energy and actions. If you engage in negative behaviors, self-talk, or complaining, you will receive more negative energy.

What Does the Science Say?

Now, this is where I get particularly excited. As a spiritual girly who is also a critical thinker and science nerd, I love it when the spiritual and the scientific converge! To begin, here is a small lesson on your brain’s anatomy.

Manifestation and Your Brain

The human brain contains what is known as the Reticular Activating System (RAS). The RAS is located at the top of your spine and extends about two inches upward into your brain. Scientists have found that the RAS is responsible for human consciousness. They have also found that this part of the brain filters the large quantity of sensory information your body takes through touch, smell, taste, etc. Additionally, the RAS controls the sleep and wakefulness sessions in the body and is connected to the tubes that deliver happy hormones. It’s safe to say the RAS is pretty darn important.

Researchers have found that the RAS is what allows humans to experience consciousness. Consciousness is one of the first things related to manifestation that scientists could prove with science. Much of this was done with quantum physics and mechanics. If you are familiar with quantum physics, you’ve probably heard of Schrodinger’s Cat. Let me summarize the concept if you haven’t heard of the nerdy feline. Essentially, Schrodinger’s Cat theory is that two quantum particles (or two realities/forms of one’s existence) can exist simultaneously until one is observed. Think of two identical cats in identical boxes with Saw-like death mechanisms attached (does anyone “want to play a game?”). The theory maintains that both cats are simultaneously alive and dead until one cat or the other is consciously observed. Once consciously observed, it becomes the waking reality, pushing the alternative out of existence. While a bit morbid, this theory has interesting implications for manifestation.

Schrodinger’s Cat and Your Possible Realities

Imagine that you have multiple potential realities and outcomes for your life, if you will. Now, imagine those options are all equally possible, based on which one you envision, imagine, and pursue. Following Shrodinger’s theory, once you direct your energy and attention to one potential outcome, that becomes your reality, while the others cease to exist. This is a small portion of the scientific theory that supports manifestation. Suppose you have different possibilities (two different jobs or financial situations) and focus on and meditate on one over the other. In that case, the theory of manifestation, as supported by quantum theory, suggests that your focus will become your reality. Where attention goes, energy flows.

Neuroscience and Manifestation

Dr. James Doty is a neuroscientist, Stanford professor, and author who has dedicated substantial time to researching, writing about, and talking about the science behind manifesting and why it may, in fact, work. His research plays less on quantum physics and more on the well-supported scientific concept of neuroplasticity. Neuroplasticity is a phenomenal feature that your brain is capable of. In short, it refers to the brain’s ability to change neural pathways based on the person’s thought processes, practices, and habits. Neuroplasticity is well-documented throughout the scientific community and is a powerful tool you can use immediately. Doty ties neuroplasticity to effective manifestation in his book, “Mind Magic.” In this book, regarding neuroplasticity, he says:

“This superpower (neuroplasticity), molded by experience, repetition, and intention, enables the brain to form new circuits, and to prune away old ones which no longer serve us.”

In an interview with Mel Robbins, Doty explained that the scientific process of manifesting is surprisingly simple and scientifically supported.

Scientific Steps to Manifesting

To put a manifestation into practice by honing in on your brain’s ever-malleable capabilities, you first must think of what it is you want to manifest. Do you desire a better job, a healthier relationship, or an exciting new vacation? Let’s use the job as an example.

Step 1: Summarize your manifestation/goal

To summarize the job goal, you might coin the phrase: “I am so thankful for my new, lucrative job that gives me amazing work/life balance.” The key here is to be as specific as possible while not specifying the “how.” Let the universe do its thing in its wise way. So, summarize your goal, then write it down.

Step 2: Write it down

Write your phrase down with pen and paper. Typing won’t have the same impact because typing (interestingly enough) does not access the same parts of the brain as physically writing with a utensil and paper. Studies have shown that students who type notes on a laptop instead of physically handwriting them perform more poorly on tests and comprehensive exams than those who write with pen and paper.

By writing your intention down, you are doing something tactile. Tactile activity fires off neurons and sparks communication between the parts of your brain responsible for processing sensory and motor information, as well as memory and retention. Like humans in social situations, the brain is strongest when making meaningful connections.

Step 3: Read it silently

Reading your intention silently allows the brain to “hear” the words, which activates the auditory cortex. The auditory cortex is the same area of the brain that jumps into motion when you speak aloud. This neurological function is also what scientists believe forms the “inner voice,” which is a very important feature of manifestation.

Step 4: Read it out loud

Next, you should read your intention out loud. This activates lots of happy brain communication, which increases your chances of building the neural pathways you want for your goal to come to fruition. Specifically, reading out loud activates the visual cortex (processing the text), the auditory cortex (hearing the words you speak), and the motor cortex (controlling the muscles used to say the words physically). By coaxing all of these parts of your brain into motion, you also improve memory and retention of the phrase, which is handy when bringing a certain outcome into your reality.

Step 5: Visualize, visualize, visualize

Visualization may be the most important (and fun) part of the manifestation process. This can be done through meditating or simply engaging in structured daydreaming. When you begin work on visualizing your intention and goal, you must think of it as if it is already reality. Remember Schrodinger’s Cat? You must direct your energy to the current and possibly reality, waiting for your attention. Instead of saying “I wish for” or “I want,” you will focus on your present-tense phrase. From our example, you would focus on “I am so thankful for my new, lucrative job that gives me amazing work/life balance.” Then, you would take it to the next step and imagine how you would feel as if it has already been given to you.

Let’s say you sat down to meditate on a Tuesday evening. Maybe you are in your home, in bed, or on a yoga mat. You probably already ate dinner and have a bedtime routine you will start on later. Consider that if this new job were already in your reality (if you got the job offer earlier that day or week), your present situation would likely remain the same. You would still have eaten dinner, you would still have a bedtime routine to attend to, etc. Use this frame of thinking to shift your mindset into “it is already done. I already have what I desire and am so excited to enjoy it.”

Feel the Good Feelings.

Allow yourself to feel the sensation of relief, joy, and accomplishment. Let excitement wash over you, and let your body react to the happy emotions as you visualize them. Sit in the positive feelings of knowing you “already have” what you seek. Then, repeat this practice. Repetition will allow the visualization to become embedded into your subconscious. From there, you have successfully created new cognitive networks that align with your desired outcome. Now that you know how to visualize your ideal outcome, it is helpful to understand how it works.

Why Visualization Works

Remember that the foundation of neuroplasticity is your brain’s ability to form new, healthier neural connections. This means that you can physically change your brain by manually overriding and correcting the neural connections related to bad habits, negative thinking, etc. You can replace the unhelpful thoughts with helpful thoughts, and your brain (after repetition) will adapt to make that way of thinking your new norm.

Visualizing your intention/goal allows your brain to form neural pathways in response to that reality.

Scientifically, visualization activates the motor cortex, which is responsible for planning and taking action. Visualization also activates the parietal and occipital lobes, which allow awareness of one’s surroundings through spatial processing and visual input. Also, by just thinking of (or visualizing) something, you stimulate your nervous system. Dr. Joe Dispenza gives a compelling testament to the power of visualization in his book “Breaking the Habit of Being Yourself.” He references a study where participants were split into three groups. Group one was instructed to contract and relax one finger for a structured and timed number of training sessions. Group two visualized the contraction of their finger but did not physically move the finger – they just mentally rehearsed the motion. Finally, group three (the control group) did not exercise mentally or physically.

The Results

What happened next is truly amazing. Of the three participant groups, group one (the group that physically used their finger) showed a 30-percent increase in strength compared to the individuals in the control group. That’s to be expected. The physical activity resulted in increased strength. What was astonishing is that group two (who only mentally rehearsed, with no actual physical movement) also demonstrated an increase in strength, by an impressive 22 percent increase! This means that simply by visualizing the exercise, muscle strength was physically changed.

The same study was replicated with participants who visualized or physically activated their bicep muscles. The results were the same. The participants without physical activity demonstrated increased strength from their visualizations alone. What compelling evidence of the power of visualization! The body can change without an actual physical experience. Visualization alone can physically change your body -perhaps it can also change your life.

Last Stop: Manifestation Station

Now that you know more about the science behind manifesting, why it works, and how to use it, you can go forth and quite literally make your dreams your reality. By combining the spiritual with the scientific, it seems that it is, in fact, possible to alter your reality and bring your wildest goals and aspirations to life. Is it magic? Maybe. Is it scientifically supported? Yes. Is it worth a try to get the life of your dreams? You decide. Whatever your goals, I would argue that you owe it to yourself to allow them to exist, especially when you can bring them to fruition with the power of manifestation.