Before the Vision Board: Why Self-Concept Comes First in Manifestation

There are so many people literally everywhere talking about manifestation - it’s on my social feed, it’s in the news, it’s at the bookstore, it’s the conversations at yoga/the coffee shop/the school pick up. It’s clearly having a moment. 

I find that when people first discover manifestation, one of the first things people will do is rush off to create a vision board. 

Often these are pictures of dream houses, first-class flights, beautiful relationships… all taped lovingly to a wall, on your phone lock screen, your laptop or in a journal. 

It is wonderful to have visual reminders, to see these things and to use it as fun exercise, but to really go deep, to really powerfully manifest it can’t stop with a vision board. 

Enter self-concept.

What is it? I write more about that here if it isn’t aligned, no amount of visualizing will override what you believe to be true about yourself.

Self-concept in manifestation is absolutely everything. It’s the inner blueprint that tells the universe what you’re available for, this is not just what you want, but what you expect.

If you deeply believe you’re not worthy, no luxury car photo saved on your phone will shift that. If you subconsciously feel abandoned, no #relationshipgoal photo album can fix it.

This is why learning how to manifest with alignment means starting inside. First, you have to build your internal truth:

"I am safe to receive."
"I am worthy of abundance."
"I am supported in all areas of my life."

Then, and only then will  you magnetize what you desire.

The truth is, self-concept vs vision board isn’t an either/or, and really they are both powerful tools. But self-concept must come first, or your manifestation efforts will fall short. Your vision board becomes fuel for an identity that already feels secure, abundant, and ready…but if you don’t embody that belief, they will just be pictures. 

If you love vision boarding, I’m absolutely not saying to give that up. Pinterest is one of my favorite ways to visually anchor my manifestations and goals, and for many seeing it helps them to feel it more.

If you are an avid pinner, why not start a new board for self-concept - start building out the version of you that already has what you desire. 

I’ll see you over on Pinterest soon.