Unlocking your Desires: How to Manifest your Future Potential in the Present Moment

Have you ever experienced that feeling of exhilaration and excitement when you first set out to achieve a new goal?

You tell yourself that this time, things will be different. You’ll be different. You'll get up earlier, you’ll work harder, you’ll stay consistent. You’ll do everything necessary to reach your desired outcome. You believe in yourself, and you know you can do this!

And then, inevitably - the drop.

The initial excitement starts to wear off, and you can’t help noticing just how much space there is between your present self and the goal you’re working towards. You notice the distance, and you anticipate the work ahead of you. You start to feel a pull, an almost physical feeling of something hooking you around the middle and starting to slowly, firmly drag you backward. Further away from your future and back to the safety and familiarity of what you’ve always known and who you’ve always been.

A frustrating experience, yes? I hope it gives you some peace to know that, as disheartening as this internal struggle can be, you are not alone in it. This is an experience that no one escapes - because of our human psychology. And while this experience results from a complex integration of many factors, I’d like to focus on just one today: confirmation bias.

Confirmation bias is our brain's natural tendency to fixate on information that aligns with our existing beliefs and ignore information that challenges them.

Confirmation bias significantly influences how we perceive ourselves, the world, and the people in it. But, you may be wondering - Erica, how does confirmation bias relate to goal achievement? The answer lies in understanding that our actions are a direct reflection of the type of person we believe ourselves to be.

I don’t mean the person we believe ourselves to be at the conscious level, where our ego stories live and influence how we wish to be perceived by others. I mean who our subconscious mind believes we are. Understanding this is important for the following reason: your behaviors mirror the type of person your subconscious believes you are.

If you’ve ever heard yourself utter the phrase, “I’m not ___ ” or “I don’t do ___ ” … pay attention.

I’m not a morning person. I don’t do hiking. I’m not good with money. I don’t do public speaking. I’m not brave enough. I don’t do serious relationships. I’m not attractive. I don’t do hobbies.

These seemingly fleeting thoughts are actually your subconscious beliefs about who you are at a deep, fundamental level. These determine what you give yourself permission to access in life. So if your subconscious mind doesn't view you as the type of person who has access to the life you desire - manifesting that reality becomes an uphill battle against an unyielding current: yourself. No matter how hard you try, you end up right back where you started - exhausted, frustrated, and confused about why it didn’t work out.

Let's consider an example of what this looks like in real life.

Imagine you have a grand ambition. Let’s say you deeply desire to become a successful influencer who makes millions of dollars each year. On a conscious level, you declare your desire for this life and this reality. But much, much deeper down, at a level beneath your conscious awareness - your subconscious mind doesn't believe you are the kind of person who has permission to access this type of reality.

This conflict of conscious aspirations vs subconscious beliefs is the barrier that prevents you from experiencing substantial and sustainable long-term change.

Fortunately, there is a gentler, more effective, more compassionate method for transformation. Rather than overwhelming your subconscious mind with sudden and drastic changes to your lifestyle and behaviors, you can instead focus on creating evidence in your present reality that proves you are the type of person who has access to the reality you desire.

I imagine at this point you’re now thinking, ok Erica - but how the hell do I do that??

Don’t worry. I’ve provided you with step-by-step instructions below 😉

—

Step 1: Clarify your Goal

Begin by articulating your goal clearly and precisely. Reflect on the impact it will have on your life, and how you imagine you will feel once you've achieved it. Take a moment to visualize and feel into this future. Imagine what it would feel like for you if you were already experiencing your desired outcome, right now, in this very moment. Take some time to savor this feeling.

Step 2: Understand your Why

Dig deep and process why this goal in particular feels essential for you. What emotions and feelings does it evoke in you? How does it align with your values and aspirations? Does it serve your Highest Good and Truest Self? Connecting with the deeper meaning behind your goal will provide a stable foundation for the journey ahead.

Step 3: Immerse Yourself in Inspiration

Identify an individual or individuals who are already living the experience you desire. These can be real-life acquaintances, celebrities, fictional characters from books or TV shows - doesn’t matter who! The key is to establish an emotional connection with the experiences you seek. Once you’ve identified your person, take time to study them and immerse yourself in their world. Observe their mindset, values, and daily behaviors. How do they move through the world? How do people respond to them? What do they care about? What about their lifestyle communicates their priorities? Pay attention to which aspects resonate with you and feel in alignment with your true self. Allow yourself to imagine what it would be like to already be embodying these aspects - what would you feel like? What would your life feel like?

Step 4: Bridge the Gap

As you lean into the energetic state of your dream reality, you'll begin to "feel" what it's like to be someone who is already living this reality. This process creates a powerful bridge to connect your conscious and subconscious minds. Your body and subconscious mind do not track time, and are unable to differentiate between past, present and future. All they know is what they’re feeling in the moment. So by you creating an energetic state in yourself that matches the future reality you desire - your subconscious will believe that future reality is already happening right now.

Step 5: Trust the Process

With time and persistence, you'll notice shifts start to occur in your thoughts and behaviors. Your actions will start aligning more closely with the person you aspire to become and the life you aspire to experience. As this gradual shift is occurring, your subconscious mind is rewriting its script about who you are and the type of reality you’re allowed to access. And one day, you’ll look up and realize - you’re exactly where you’ve always wanted to be.

—

As you embark on this transformative journey, trust in the process and allow it to unfold gradually and at a pace that feels natural - not based on how quickly you feel you “should” be progressing. This journey is not about forcing radical changes all at once. It's a process of self-discovery, patience, and self-compassion. Embrace each step, celebrate your progress, and learn from your setbacks. The distance between your present and future reality will gradually shrink as you travel the path that will lead you into alignment with your Highest, Truest self - and the life you’ve always been meant for.