It’s been over six years since I first read The Secret. My faith in manifestation has gone up and down during that time—some wishes came true, while others didn’t. But over the years, I’ve realized the issue wasn’t with manifestation itself. It was more about what I’d learned and how I was applying it.
The latest trend in manifestation is what people are calling “lucky girl syndrome.” Whether you call it that, manifestation, positive thinking, the law of attraction, or mind over matter, the core idea stays the same: our thoughts are incredibly powerful and can shape our dream lives. This belief isn’t new—it goes back to Hindu and Buddhist teachings, with one of the earliest popular accounts being Napoleon Hill’s Think and Grow Rich.
Celebrities like Oprah Winfrey, Lady Gaga, Ariana Grande, Jennifer Lopez, and Will Smith have all talked about their manifestation journeys. Even Alia Bhatt’s marriage to Ranbir Kapoor had people saying she “manifested” her dream partner. But does manifestation really work? Some critics argue it downplays the importance of hard work. Still, for those of us who believe, it’s about more than just wishing things into existence. To dive deeper, we spoke with Roxie Nafousi, author of Manifest, ahead of her next book launch, to learn what it really means to manifest and where people might be going wrong.
Before starting her manifestation journey, Nafousi admits she was in a tough place—struggling with addiction and feeling lost. Fast forward a few years, and she’s now a bestselling author, a top life coach, and working on her third book. What sets her approach apart is her focus on action, self-love, and healing as essential parts of manifestation—not just the belief in attracting your dreams.
In her books, she outlines eight steps to manifestation, with self-love as the third step, which she explores deeply. Her second book also answers questions from readers of the first, offering insights into common mistakes we make while manifesting and how to improve.
When we spoke to Nafousi, she shared one major mistake people tend to make at each step of the process—and yes, you can thank us later for this insider scoop!
Be Clear in Your Vision
“I think one of the biggest challenges people face with this step is figuring out what they truly want for themselves. Our vision boards often get filled with dreams that reflect what our families, partners, teachers, or society expect from us. We can become so wrapped up in meeting others’ expectations that we lose sight of what’s authentic to us. When those things don’t manifest, it’s disappointing—but the real question is, did you genuinely want those things, or were they what others wanted for you?
I encourage people to be completely honest with themselves during this step. Manifestation isn’t about greed or chasing material things—it’s about becoming the best version of yourself. That’s why I ask people to focus on who they want to become, how they want to feel about themselves, what their ideal daily routine would look like, and what they want their relationships to be like. It’s about aligning with what truly matters to you.”
Remove Fear and Doubt
“Inner work and committing to your own healing journey is something that takes time. A lot of people try to skip over this part because they don’t understand why they need to revisit their past or past trauma. But I’ve learned that we all go through some kind of trauma, even if it’s on different levels. And unless we work to heal, we can’t fully unlock the life we’re meant to live. Our current view of the world is shaped by what we’ve been through. To move forward, you need to reprogram your subconscious beliefs and rewrite your past to truly see how worthy you are.
I know it’s tough, and a lot of people give up because they feel so unworthy, thinking they’ll never change the way they feel about themselves.
I spent 28 years struggling with severe self-loathing. My childhood and teenage years were dark and messy, and I truly believe that if I can change, anyone can.”
Align Your Behaviour
“People often forget that manifestation requires real effort. You can’t just sit back and expect things to happen. You need to take risks, step out of your comfort zone, and push yourself to do things that might feel uncomfortable. There’s no shortcut. You have to put in the work and show up, even when it’s tough. Manifestation is about being brave and taking action, whatever that may look like for you.”
Overcome Tests from the Universe
“At this point, many people start to doubt themselves and settle. They think it’s not going to happen for them, so they just give up and go with the flow. But what you really need to do is recognize if you’re settling and remind yourself that you deserve more.
This step is also about realizing that life has its ups and downs. Even once you learn to manifest, challenges will still come your way. The key is to see those challenges as opportunities for growth, not as reasons to give up. Don’t let hard times shake your confidence. After every low point, there’s always a chance to rise again and find the abundance waiting for you.”
Embracing gratitude without caveats
“We’re all focused on what we want next, but we often forget to appreciate what we already have. A common question is, ‘If I’m grateful for what I have, won’t that stop me from wanting more?’ But here’s the thing – this is the sweet spot of manifestation: knowing what you want while also being thankful for what you have right now. You can definitely do both.
Manifestation isn’t just about attracting more things; it’s also about making the life you have now feel better. Gratitude is a key part of this process. The more you appreciate the abundance in your life, the more you’ll attract.”
Turn Envy into Inspiration
“Social media often makes it easy to feel triggered by envy, and a lot of people struggle to be genuinely happy for others. This usually comes from a fear that there isn’t enough to go around, which can create a negative vibe. I want to encourage people to celebrate each other, be happy for one another, and support each other – because that comes from a mindset of abundance.”
Also Read: What Tools and Techniques Worked Best for Others Success?
Trust in the Universe
“This step is all about surrender and patience, but people often struggle with patience. They want everything to happen quickly, and that sense of urgency brings a desperate, low-energy vibe that keeps things blocked. The key here is saying, ‘I don’t know when, but I trust it will happen.’ It’s about trusting divine timing, letting go, and allowing things to unfold. That’s when the magic happens.
It helps you live freely. You can’t force what you want into place. You have to trust and not cling to it. A lot of people find it hard to let go and trust that things will fall into place at the right time.
The conversation went on a bit longer, and there were more questions from her books I wanted to ask, but it felt like the answers were already there – I just wasn’t paying close enough attention. So, while you work on the seven steps and fine-tune the mistakes, I recommend picking up the book and reading it again. You might just be one book away from your dream life.”