Do you believe in manifesting? Manifesting is the practice of creating something tangible with your thoughts. If we think about something enough, it will become our reality. I've read several books, worked with yoga instructors, and done my fair share of manifesting practices. I have not been able to manifest tons of money or fancy possessions - although, I suppose if one thing can be manifested, anything can be manifested... 

Is it helpful to be able to imagine a new car and then have it appear in your driveway? Is that the point of manifesting? I don't think so. I think the idea that our thoughts become our reality goes far beyond forcing objects to appear or people to bend to our will.

The way I like to apply my thoughts to my reality is that anything I think, anything I believe in my conscious or subconcious mind, is going to be what I see. The thought that holds focus in my mind and heart will also hold focus in the outside world. 

So what does this mean? Your thoughts DO create your reality. If you think a situation is dire, the parts that are tragic is what will hold your attention. If you think a person is bad, the parts of that person that support your belief are what you will see. 

People are all good, bad, right, wrong, and everything in between. Life is all of everything - all the light, all the shadows, all the dangers, and all the wonder. Everything exists always. So when we are manifesting thoughts, we aren't actually forcing something new into existence (like a car); we are seeing and focusing on something that already exists - and we are choosing that to be our experience. 

Your desire already exists - in reality or in energy. Love, validation, healing, insight, power, strength, comfort, beauty, vitality, peace. Each of these qualities are yours if you choose to see and cultivate them. This is the power of manifesting. Hold your desire. Look for it everywhere. And it will be.

When we shift our thoughts and perspective, the whole world changes. Problems and pain don't disappear. But through problems and pain you see hope and healing. Through challenge you see strength of the human spirit. Through loss you see the gift of life. Through it all, you hold gratitude for the entire experience, because our minds are powerful. And they create our reality.