Whether you’ve been on your manifestation journey for a minute or 2 seconds, if you have spent any time in the manifestation world at all, you’re familiar with the term “self-concept.” It’s the core of manifestation and something we’re taught we need to understand to do anything related to manifesting.
The thing with self-concept is that we’re given so many different definitions of it. What I’ve noticed in the manifestation community is that many people say self-concept is how you view yourself. We hear this and decide, “Ok, I’m going to work on my self-concept. I’m going to start repeating affirmations about how I view myself, and I’ll just get my desire.” And while that is part of it, there’s so much more to self-concept.
Self-concept is not just looking in a mirror and repeating affirmations back to yourself.
Can that be part of it? Absolutely. You should view yourself in a high state, and you should affirm positive things about yourself, because that is what your core beliefs are
But instead of just saying these things, you have to be doing things that align with the version of yourself that you’re affirming you are.
I can say that I am an incredible, beautiful, smart person who gets everything I want and truly believe that, but would that person be sleeping in until 2 in the afternoon? Would that person be eating junk food nonstop?
Spoiler alert, no.
Self-concept is not just about how you view yourself. It’s about how you show up for yourself.
I am currently on a weight loss journey and have had to make a lot of lifestyle changes. Previously, I lived off of Dr. Pepper, could never turn down a sweet treat, grabbed a sugary iced coffee from Dunkin’ every single day, and hated exercise. I would walk around just feeling like crap and spend most of my weekends sleeping.
Over the past few months, I’ve really tried to make lifestyle changes. I cut out soda, started taking daily walks, and found things that genuinely made me feel good about myself.
That’s when it all started to click. I was actually working on my self-concept.
Everything I was trying to manifest slowly began to appear in smaller increments. It made me realize that not only was I worthy of my manifestations, but I am so much more than my desires.
It wasn’t just about getting my manifestations; it was about realizing that I am becoming the version of myself that I truly want to be. As a bonus, I just happened to have my desires on top of that.
Are there days when it gets a little harder? Absolutely. Are there days when I watch the clock go from 9:30 to 10:00 a.m. and really want to stay in bed? Or days when I’m on my walk and could easily take the shorter route instead of doing my usual mile? Yes, and of course, sometimes I fall off track. But for the most part, I try to push through and make the harder decision. Not because it’s what I should do, but because it’s what the best version of myself would do.
I’m not saying push yourself to the point of exhaustion or make yourself miserable. But don’t be afraid to step a little outside of your comfort zone with this.
Whatever your manifestation or desire is, it’s pushing you toward becoming the best version of yourself. So remember, you’re not doing the work for the desire. You’re doing it for you.
Featured image via Hannah Skelly on Unsplash
