Maybe you’ve heard someone talk about manifesting and thought, “Yeah right, that’s just wishful thinking.” But what if I told you it’s not magic — it’s actually how your brain is wired?
As a life coach and mama of two girls, I spend a lot of time helping women navigate the beautiful chaos of life with more confidence, clarity, and connection. And one of my favorite tools to help with that is manifesting — not in a woo-woo, genie-in-a-bottle kind of way, but in a science-backed, brain-trained kind of way.
Today I’m breaking down the neuroscience behind manifesting, why it works, and how you can start using it to build your best life ever.
What Is a Vision Board (And Why It Works)?
Let’s start simple: what exactly is a vision board?
You’ve probably heard it called a dream board, a goal board, or even a life map. At its core, it’s a collection of images, words, and affirmations that represent the life you want to create — whether that’s six months from now or ten years down the road.
But here’s the key: a vision board is not just about cutting out pretty pictures. It’s about clarity. It’s about saying: This is what I’m working toward. This is the life I’m intentionally building.
When you see your goals visually every single day, your brain takes note. You start to act — both consciously and subconsciously — in alignment with that vision.
Step One: Start Dreaming Without Limits
Before you pick up the scissors or open Canva, pause and ask yourself:
What does my best life actually look like?
This is where so many people get stuck. We worry about the how — how to get from point A to point Z — and we shut down the dream before it even begins. So for now, let go of the “how.” Focus on the what and the why.
Give yourself permission to dream without limits. Imagine the broad strokes:
- Who do you want to be?
- How do you want to feel?
- What do you want your days to look like?
No budgets. No timelines. No second-guessing. Just pure possibility.
Step Two: Break It Down Into Life Pillars
Thinking about every single area of your life can feel overwhelming. So instead, break it into what I call life pillars:
- Health & Fitness
- Career & Purpose
- Finances
- Relationships
- Personal Growth
- Lifestyle & Adventure
You don’t need to fill every category. But looking at your life in buckets helps you zoom out and see the whole picture.
Maybe in health & fitness, you focus on strength, energy, and body confidence. In career & purpose, you might think about the work you do or the impact you want to make. Finances could be about stability or building wealth. Lifestyle & adventure could include travel, fun, or new experiences.
Breaking it down this way makes dreaming big a whole lot more doable.
Step Three: Connect With the Feelings
This is the most important part, so don’t skip it.
Your goals need to be tied to feelings. Why? Because the feelings are what connect you to your why. And when you’re anchored to your why, you’re far less likely to give up when things get tough.
Think about it: it’s never just about the beach house. It’s about the calm, freedom, and peace you imagine waking up to every morning. Running a five-minute mile isn’t about the stopwatch — it’s about feeling strong, capable, and unstoppable.
Feelings are emotional anchors that your brain clings to. They make your goals magnetic.
Step Four: Get Specific
Our brains are very literal. Vague statements don’t cut it. Saying, “I want to be healthier,” won’t get you far because it doesn’t mean anything concrete.
Spell it out:
- I go to the gym four times a week.
- I fuel my body with foods that give me energy.
- I can back squat 200 pounds with confidence.
That kind of clarity helps your brain filter and recognize opportunities that line up with your vision.
The Science Behind Manifesting
So why does manifesting work? Let’s break it down into brain science.
The Reticular Activating System (RAS)
The RAS is your brain’s filter. It decides what information gets through to your conscious mind. When you focus on something consistently — like your goals — the RAS highlights opportunities connected to it.
It’s like when you decide you want a blue Tesla. Suddenly, you see them everywhere. They were always there — but now your brain is tuned in.
Manifesting uses that same system. Keep your goals front and center, and your brain will start spotting the pathways to get there.
Neuroplasticity
Your brain loves the path of least resistance — the well-worn thoughts you’ve repeated for years. But it also has the power to rewire itself.
If you’ve always believed, “I can’t back squat more than 150 pounds,” that’s your brain’s default route. But when you consistently feed it a new belief — “I can back squat 200 pounds” — your brain starts carving a new path. Over time, that new belief becomes the default.
That’s neuroplasticity at work: your brain literally updating its map.
Mirror Neurons
Mirror neurons fire both when you do something and when you imagine doing it. That’s why athletes visualize. When you close your eyes and imagine the ground under your feet, the sound of the crowd, the finish line in sight — your brain thinks, We’ve done this before. This is possible.
Visualization tricks your brain into building a memory of success before you’ve even lived it.
Dopamine
Dopamine is your brain’s reward system — the “feel good” neurotransmitter. And here’s the magic: your brain doesn’t only release dopamine when you actually win. It also fires when you vividly imagine a win.
That little dopamine hit makes you more energized, motivated, and likely to follow through. It’s like a natural anti-procrastination tool.
And it’s not just about the gym. Imagine logging into your bank account and seeing your savings hit that number you’ve been chasing. Your brain feels the relief, pride, and freedom — and rewards you as if it’s already real. The more you imagine it, the more motivated you become to take the daily actions that make it happen.
Stress + The Prefrontal Cortex
Visualization also calms your amygdala (the fear center of the brain) and strengthens your prefrontal cortex (the logic and planning center).
That means instead of spiraling in stress mode — fight, flight, or freeze — you start living in focus and possibility mode. You train your brain to look for solutions instead of problems.
Manifesting: Training Your Brain to Make It Real
So here’s the bottom line: manifesting isn’t magic. It’s science plus consistency.
When you get clear, when you attach feelings, when you visualize daily — you tell your brain, ‘This matters.’ And when your brain believes, your actions follow. Over time, your reality begins to shift.
Your 7-Day Manifesting Challenge
Here’s my challenge to you:
- Pick just one goal this week.
- Write it down and be specific.
- Attach a feeling to it.
- Spend two minutes every morning visualizing it as if it’s already yours. See it. Feel it. Speak it out loud.
Do this every day for seven days and watch what shifts — in your focus, your energy, and your daily choices.
Because y’all, your best life ever isn’t built by accident. It’s built by vision. And your future self will thank you for the work you start today.
✨ Thanks for reading! I’d love to see what you’re manifesting. Tag me on Instagram @the_balanced_mama with a picture of your vision board or share your 7-day challenge wins.
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