Wishful thinking not working for you?

Can I share a secret with you?

I hold a really unpopular opinion, particularly as someone who works as a professional coach and is passionate about transformation.

I don’t believe in manifestation.

At least, the version of manifestation where individuals are encouraged to use their thoughts and feelings to bring their dreams to life. You don’t need to look far on social media or the internet to find some version of the message ‘if you wish for good things, they will come to you’, or ‘envision your heart’s desire and you shall receive it.’

In my experience, this approach to creating change in our lives is not only misleading but can also be damaging. What happens to those who wish really hard for something and it doesn’t happen - did they simply not wish hard enough? Or worse, what about those who find themselves in devastating circumstances and believe that it’s their fault because their ability to change their life rests on their thoughts and feelings? The old adage springs to mind when I consider manifestation and its hollow promises - “If it sounds too good to be true… it probably is!” But what if, instead, there was another way?

I encourage all of my clients to dream big and look towards a future that is different from their current reality, but the work we do together doesn’t begin and end there. It’s what comes next that is truly powerful. The good news is that there are practices and habits that offer each of us an opportunity to make real and sustainable changes in our lives. They are not particularly sexy, and they are definitely not new. They are tried and true strategies and mindsets that result in transformation.

Today I want to offer you an alternative to wishful thinking, that won’t leave you disappointed or disillusioned about your ability to have some agency in your life. The work I do with my clients focuses on changing behaviours and self-beliefs. We spend time together dreaming and goal setting, and then construct achievable and actionable steps to create the change they desire. You could call my approach to transformation my Anti-Manifestation Manifesto and it’s really simple…

Intention + Commitment + Hard Work = Transformation

If this sounds like something you would like to explore further contact me at kelly@kellycoopercoaching.com. Together we can dream big, create a plan and take action to bring about your desired outcomes. No wishful thinking required!