Manifest In-Review: January Edition
Updated: May 10, 2022
The idea for this newsletter came to be on Christmas morning of this past year. I was out on a short run to get my day started, and a word circulated in my mind… manifest. Why this word? I’m not entirely sure; but I do know that even the thought was empowering. It is a word that speaks to the strength of our minds, and the will that we all have within to turn vision into reality.
There is power in the concept of manifestation; and the ability to manifest our realities. It is liberating to know that we are in control. Us and only us; and no one can strip us of this control, unless we allow them the opportunity.
Manifesting our realities lies in these basic principles: a self-governing of our thoughts, actions, beliefs, and emotions.
Four variables that we have complete autonomy over, and through focused intent and consistent practice, can refine our effectiveness towards. My belief is that if more of us applied these understandings to our lives, and worked to manifest our individual concepts of success, there would be less conflict, disdain, and apathy in society. We could move from reasons to possibilities; questions to answers; visualization to realization.
Each month, I will publish a comprehensive review of the previous month’s worth of content. If you have not already done so, I highly encourage you to join the Manifest Newsletter mailing list, where you will receive weekly perspectives, insights, and inspiration to help you in the manifestation of purpose, passion, and fulfillment. In this review, you will find a revisitation to some of the best topics and ideas from the month of January (our first month of existence!), allowing for a reinforcement of ideas that will encourage you to take ownership over your life.
Edition 6 of the Manifest Newsletter will be sent to all subscribers on the same day that this review is being published, Sunday, January 6th. I hope that you will join us in manifesting great things over the next month, and beyond.
Perspectives of the Month:
1. When we manifest, we envision our success, and we see each step of the process before it occurs.
While the path may not be crystal clear, our manifestations establish a self-belief that we will win, no matter the challenges that stand in our way.
The knowledge that we need will be gained in due time, valuable relationships will be established, and we will continue to level-up with each opportunity that we are provided with. If we are to manifest our reality, belief is a must; but action is a prerequisite.
2. To fear something, and to deploy avoidance tactics towards our fears only gives more power to it.
We can’t live our lives in search of the path of least resistance; and we certainly can’t come to villainize the very nature of resistance. When fear, insecurity, and apprehension take up space in our minds, it only adds fuel to the fire.
Let’s embrace resistance with open arms. Search out challenges, welcome hardship, and prove to yourself that you are strong and capable enough to overcome; every single day.
3. The primary differentiator between success and failure is found in our ability to be consistent.
The value that we place on consistency is determined by how we weigh our short and long-term goals. To be effectively consistent, a trait that’s often viewed as hard, strict, and undesirable by many, risks some of the most valuable aspects of our lives in the short-term, a period of time that many of us assign too much importance. Whereas, the repetitive nature of our actions, known as consistency, is an investment in the long-term; a period of time that we easily undervalue, in large part because of our need for instant-gratification in all that we do.
The ability to be consistent then is a discipline. It’s a belief system, built out of a desire for more than can be achieved today. A stake in the claim that the right decisions and proper actions are the means to compound interest; strengthening our footing as we pursue the great possibilities of the unknown.
4. Don't waste time overanalyzing the present. Act to the best of your ability, live by value, and allow fate to run its course.
When we become apprehensive in life, we second-guess decisions, and fall into the belief that the grass is always greener on the other side. To live a life of this fear-driven response is to always be searching, and never living.
There is immense beauty in the unknown; for if we knew our fate, there would be no novelty to the moments of our lives. These words are a reminder that what you think you want, and what you really want don’t always coincide. Accept what you don’t know, and embrace what you do know.
5. Resilience is a choice in the face of adversity.
When we choose resilience, we approach our days holistically. What may present itself as a threat can be reframed as an opportunity to overcome. We then become stronger in the face of adversity, because we understand the ways that it calluses our mind, body, and spirit.
To choose resilience is to take ownership over your energy; understanding that too many battles fought can only result in defeat. It’s important to understand which actions and decisions have the largest impact on our ability to succeed in any given situation. When we succeed, we see it, feel it, and identify with it. Success gives back more energy than it takes, therefore it’s a wise investment to make. Success builds momentum, and momentum is energy.
Let us not fool ourselves, adversity is waiting; but it’s how we welcome its presence that determines whether our problems compound or transform into opportunities.
Insights of the Month:
1. Define success for yourself.
Above all else, we must be clear about what we are striving for. What is the goal to be achieved? How does the achievement of the goal look and feel? Once these important understandings have been established, you can focus your mental and physical energy towards the achievement of your personal success.
2. Take action on your ability to embrace hardship.
Life is best lived with clarity, passion of purpose, and belief in self. Overcoming challenges allows us to introduce passion, purpose, and belief into our lives each and every day.
The challenge that you choose may look different, but be sure that it meets the following criteria, as something that is not only hard, but will also pay dividends for you in other areas of your life.
Face your self-imposed hardship early in the day.
Choose something that is hard, but can be overcome.
Make it actionable and repeatable.
3. Success is not by chance, it is a choice.
Ultimately, it is a product of consistently making the necessary decisions in fulfilling your passion and purpose.
Consistency requires strategy. We can’t simply wish for greater consistency in our actions; and we certainly can’t expect ourselves to make the right decisions with regularity when lacking a strategic approach. In order to be more intentional in our actions, and to put consistency at the forefront of our thinking, we should consider the following:
What action(s) must become consistent in our lives, in order to lead us in a direction of progress towards our goals?
How can we schedule the action(s) into our daily lives, as well as create an environment that allows for focus and intentionality?
First, be clear on what you must be committed to in your life. Understand that the definition of success is an individual construct, and that if you are to make progress in the present, you must have an understanding of what you want to achieve in the future. Be willing to build an understanding of what you want to provide in this life, and write down a mission statement that clarifies your purpose. When we understand our purpose, and pursue it with passion, we reach a level of fulfillment that only furthers our efforts and abilities.
4. Allow your emotions to be felt; and your actions to be seen.
Be scared, and allow it to elevate you. Be insecure, and allow it to center you. Be sad, and allow it to inspire you.
Enjoy the moments, emotions, and opportunities of your days. Value your relationships with others, and your capacity for personal development. Believe that where you are now is exactly where you should be. Allow this belief to comfort you in times of unrest, and assure you in times of worry. Control only what is yours to control, and allow all else to just be.
5. Resilience is yours to own. A commitment to progress over perfection.
No one can be resilient for you, the same way that they don’t get to feel the fulfillment of your hard-earned success.
Be resilient; because no one can do the work, fight the battles, or make the critical decisions for you. Accept your struggles. Scars make us stronger; bruises tell a story; and experience is invaluable.
Inspiration of the Month:
“Beware of what you set your heart upon… for it shall surely be yours”
Ralph Waldo Emerson
“Strength does not come from winning. Your struggles develop your strengths”
Arnold Schwarzenegger
“We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit”
Aristotle
"Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn't do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover"
Mark Twain
“The oak fought the wind and was broken, the willow bent when it must and survived”
Robert Jordan, The Fires of Heaven
Looking Forward to February:
The month of February brings Editions 6-9 of the ‘Manifest’, and a series of messages on the topic of investment. Each week we will discuss the value of investing in different aspects of your life. We will assess what matters most to us, and where we are currently placing the most value.
It’s important that we make a practice of taking a few steps backwards, in order to notice the patterns that we exhibit on a consistent basis. The actions that we take each day ultimately cast individual votes towards the person that we will become in the future; so let’s make sure that we are conscious of the votes that are being cast.
Through this 4-week series on investment, I hope that you are able to consider the importance of how you spend your time, energy, and emotional capacity. While we may have 24-hours in each day, we don’t possess 24 hours worth of energy, so we must be mindful of how our abilities are being used.
If you enjoy my weekly messages, please share on social media, or to a friend who may benefit from the perspectives, insights, and inspiration shared. Also, take your time of manifestation even further by reading and engaging with the reflections that I post each week to the Manifest Forum. Each week’s reflectionary prompts correspond directly with the message shared through my newsletter, and aim to promote further consideration and application of the information that has been provided!
Thank you so much for your support of my website. Knowing that I have a readership who is invested in their personal development, and willing to be a lifelong learner, is what fuels the time and energy put into these messages. My mission is to help you to lead a life of purpose, passion, and fulfillment, and I can’t do that alone. Let’s have an amazing, memorable, and productive February.
Best wishes,
Austin