Can we use our minds to manifest what we want?

Hey, curious minds! Welcome to another episode of I Wonder, the show where we explore the amazing questions you’ve been wondering about. Today’s question comes from Ariana, who’s 14 years old. Arianna asked, “Can we use our minds to manifest what we want?” Wow, this is a deep question—and it’s something that people have been asking for centuries! So, let’s dig into it. Can our thoughts actually shape our reality?

Episode Transcript

Hey, curious minds! Welcome to another episode of I Wonder, the show where we explore the amazing questions you’ve been wondering about. Today’s question comes from Arianna, who’s 14 years old. Arianna asked, “Can we really use our minds to manifest what we want?” Wow, this is a deep question—and it’s something that people have been asking for centuries! So, let’s dig into it. Can our thoughts actually shape our reality?

Alright, let’s start with what we mean by manifestation. In simple terms, manifestation is the idea that by focusing on what we want, we can attract it into our lives. It’s like using the power of our minds to make our goals or dreams a reality. But how does that actually work?

One of the most common ideas behind manifestation is the law of attraction. This is the belief that like attracts like, meaning positive thoughts attract positive experiences, and negative thoughts attract negative ones. So, if you constantly think about success, happiness, or even something specific like getting better at a sport, the idea is that those thoughts will help bring those things into your life. It’s kind of like being a magnet for what you focus on.

But here’s the thing: it’s not just about thinking and waiting for things to happen. Manifestation is about putting your mind into the right space, but also taking action. Let’s say you want to get better grades or make the soccer team. Just thinking about it isn’t enough. You also have to put in the work—study hard, practice more, and really focus your energy on what you want. Your thoughts set the direction and prepare your body for whats to come and your actions help you reach the destination.

Now, this idea isn’t just a feel-good philosophy. There’s science to back it up! When you focus on a goal and visualize yourself achieving it, you’re engaging parts of your brain that are connected to motivation and problem-solving. This is called visualization, and athletes and high achievers use it all the time. When you imagine yourself winning a game or giving a great presentation, your brain starts to believe it’s possible—and that helps you work towards making it happen. This concept in neuroscience is called neuroplasticity. This is the brain’s ability to change and reorganize itself based on our thoughts, behaviors, and experiences. When you think positively about a goal and take steps toward it, you’re actually creating new pathways in your brain. The more you practice, or even visualize yourself practicing something the stronger these pathways become.

And there’s more! The brain also has something called the Reticular Activating System (RAS). This is a bundle of nerves at the base of your brain that acts like a filter for the information you take in. Think of it like a spotlight. When you focus on something—like your goals—the RAS makes sure you notice things that can help you achieve them. For example, if you’re focused on becoming better at math, your brain might start picking up on study tips or resources that could help, even if you didn’t notice them before.

Here’s another cool thing: your brain can’t always tell the difference between something that’s vividly imagined and something that’s real. That’s why visualization is so powerful—it helps your mind practice success, which can lead to real-world changes.

But what about the emotional side of things? Our emotions play a huge role in manifestation. When we’re excited or motivated about a goal, our brains release dopamine, which is the chemical that makes us feel good and helps us stay focused. That motivation drives us to take action, and it also helps our brain lock in on what we want.

This means we have to be extra careful about how and what we think. Just like positive thoughts can create positive change, negative thoughts can sometimes do the opposite. If you constantly tell yourself, "I can’t do this" or "It’s too hard," your brain might create neural pathways that reinforce those beliefs, making it more difficult to achieve what you want. That’s why keeping a positive mindset and focusing on solutions can help keep your brain in a state that’s ready for success. In short,a big part of manifesting what you want is training your mind to stay focused on what you want, not what’s standing in your way.

So, to answer Arianna’s question: Yes, in many ways, we can use our minds to manifest what we want! By focusing on our goals, visualizing success, training our brain through neuroplasticity, and taking action, we can help turn our dreams into reality. It’s not magic, but science shows us that our thoughts and actions are powerful tools that can shape the world around us.

That’s it for today’s episode! Thanks again to Arianna for the awesome question. And if you have something you’re wondering about, send it our way, and we might explore it next time on I Wonder.

Until then, stay curious and keep wondering!