When I started “The Manifestation Collective” for fellow woo-enthusiasts like me, it was incredible to help so many people take their first steps into exploring the Law of Attraction, energy, and shifting to a more positive, open mindset.
But honestly, it also reminded me of all the things I did wrong when I first started my spiritual journey (yep, it does sound a bit cliché, doesn’t it?). Back then, I made a lot of mistakes that didn’t quite align with the life I was trying to create or the mindset I wanted to embrace.
That’s why today, I want to share the *7 manifestation mistakes* I made when I first discovered the Law of Attraction—things like not being patient enough and forgetting to give back to the universe.
Oh, and if you haven’t already checked out my blog post, *Manifestation for Beginners,* I recommend starting there. Take in those five key points, and then come back to see where I went wrong so you can save yourself some precious time and energy while working with the universe.
Let’s dive into the first mistake I made…
I concentrated too much on the how
When it comes to manifestation, one of the key things to remember is that the “how” is none of our business. We set our intentions with the universe, but what happens next isn’t in our control. Sure, we can take inspired action and keep an eye out for signs and clues, but don’t get hung up on the “how.”
For example, if you’re manifesting money, it’s not about worrying about how it will come. You might get an unexpected tax rebate, like I did recently—receiving a cheque from the Halifax bank for £88.93 because I didn’t have PPI. Or you might find money on the street. The “how” isn’t your concern. Just trust that it’s happening and focus on staying energetically aligned with the universe. This helps you recognize manifestations that might come in unexpected ways you didn’t anticipate.
I didn’t take inspired action
When I first started with manifestation, one of the biggest mistakes I made was not understanding what inspired action truly meant. It’s about setting your goals and then taking steps that feel completely aligned with what you’ve asked the universe for.
For example, if I was trying to manifest a new client, inspired action would mean paying attention to brands that catch my eye—ones that align with what I offer—and reaching out to introduce myself. By doing this, the universe can meet me halfway by opening up an opportunity with a client who fits what I’m looking for.
It’s not about pitching to everyone just because you’re eager for quick results. Those actions don’t align with the bigger picture. When I first started, I used to sit back and wait for things to just happen. That was a fail. Now, I know that taking inspired action is crucial for making my manifestations a reality.
I underestimated the power negative people had on me
When I first discovered manifestation, I really worked hard to shift my mindset to a more positive one. I’ve never been a massively pessimistic person, but I used to let small things throughout my day get to me. I had to put in the effort to change my language habits—words like “skint” and “crap day” were pretty common in my routine.
One of the biggest changes I had to make was being mindful about who I let into my space, whether that was physically or online. I made a big effort to unfollow people on social media who were constantly negative, always complaining for the sake of it, and dragging down the positive vibe I was trying to build. I muted a lot of people on Instagram and spent less time around those in my life who felt draining. I know we all go through tough times, and I’ll always be there for friends when they need it, but I made a conscious decision to protect my own mindset around people who seemed to find the negative in everything.
I wasn’t thankful for the small things
I’ve always been grateful for the good things in my life, but when I first started writing my gratitude list, it would look something like this:
“I’m grateful for running water,” “I’m grateful for a roof over my head,” or “I’m grateful for waking up today.”
Of course, these are all amazing things to be thankful for. Absolutely. Some people would do anything for just those three things. But what about the smaller, everyday things? What about the person who lets you into traffic when you’re in a rush? Or someone sending you a message to say they loved your latest blog post?
By writing a gratitude list with 10 things I’m thankful for from that same day, it’s helped me see just how amazing life is. Now, it’s the small moments that stand out just as much as the bigger parts of life.
I was desperate
The biggest obstacle to successful manifestation is the feeling of lack and desperation. When I first started manifesting, I would automatically set goals and wish for things I needed fairly quickly. I mean, why not? It felt like I had access to a magic genie, right? But that’s not quite how it works.
When you’re stressed and put a timescale on something, it throws off your energy. The universe doesn’t align with those frantic vibrations, leading to an increased feeling of scarcity and lack. This can cause your manifestations to fizzle out. It’s a vicious cycle. Now, my advice is to take the pressure off by removing time limits and having a back-up plan for whatever you’re manifesting. This helps keep your vibrations high and reduces stress.
If you need money quickly to pay the bills, it’s usually harder to manifest unless you have a really strong mindset, fully trusting in the universe. I’d suggest having a back-up plan so your living situation isn’t entirely dependent on the universe coming through. As soon as you make a plan to see you through, the universe will start to provide. Trust me.
I was being too literal
One of the manifestation mistakes I quickly learned to fix was understanding the signs the universe sends your way. In the beginning, I was being way too literal. For example, if I wanted to see a pink flamingo, I thought I should wait until I saw an actual pink flamingo. But then I spotted a pink flamingo on a kid’s jumper. Could it really be that easy? Did the universe just send me a sign right away? I thought I’d wait to see something else. A paint swatch called “flamingo”? No, that can’t be right. I should hold off a bit longer.
But the sign was right there in front of me! Don’t waste time like I did, waiting for more and more validation that the universe is looking out for you. The first time you notice your sign, it’s time to jump right into a life-changing manifestation.
Also Read: How long Should I Spend on Visualization Each Day?
I didn’t put in the work on a regular basis
One of the final manifestation mistakes I made when I first started (and honestly, it’s something I still deal with now and again) was not putting in the work consistently. By that, I mean I let my routines slip—no journaling, no visualizing, not even paying attention to the signs I might see.
But here’s the thing: having periods like this is completely normal. After taking a rest or pulling yourself out of a funk, you’ll be back to manifesting good things in no time.
Someone once described manifestation like going to the gym for the mind. You have to push yourself to stick to the routines, but once you’re done, you feel amazing. That’s why I’m making time tonight to do some EFT tapping to boost my money vibrations and attract £1000 for my trip to LA in October.
Do any of these manifestation mistakes feel familiar to you too? If so, they’re all very easy to fix— the first step is just recognizing that you’re doing them.