BuddhistCatholicContemplativeEvangelicalGeneral ChristianHinduJewishLatter-day SaintMuslimNew VisionsProgressive Christian
Beliefs
- Buddhist
- Catholic
- Contemplative
- Evangelical
- General Christian
- Hindu
- Jewish
- Latter-day Saint
- More Voices
- Muslim
- New Visions
- Pagan
- Progressive Christian
Topics
- Religion News
- Food and Religion
- Sports and Religion
- Religious Art
- Religious Music and Entertainment
- Religious Events
- History and Religion
- Style and Religion
- Politics and Religion
- Women in Religion
- Recreation Outdoors and Religion
- Business Finance and Religion
- Careers Workplace and Religion
- Education and Religion
- Family Parenting and Religion
- Health Fitness and Religion
- Home and Religion
- Relationships and Religion
- Technology and Religion
- Travel and Religion
Columnists
- Buddhist Columnists
- Business Finance and Religion Columnists
- Careers Workplace and Religion Columnists
- Catholic Columnists
- Contemplative Columnists
- Education and Religion Columnists
- Evangelists Columnists
- Family Parenting and Religion Columnists
- General Christian Columnists
- Health Fitness and Religion Columnists
- Hindu Columnists
- History and Religion Columnists
- Home and Religion Columnists
- Jewish Columnists
- More Voices Columnists
- Latter Day Columnists
- Muslim Columnists
- New Visions Columnists
- Nonreligious Columnists
- Pagan Columnists
- Politics and Religion Columnists
- Progressive Columnists
- Recreation Outdoors and Religion Columnists
- Relationships and Religion Columnists
- Religion News Columnists
- Religious Art Columnists
- Religious Events Columnists
- Religious Music and Entertainment Columnists
- Sports and Religion Columnists
- Style and Religion Columnists
- Technology and Religion Columnists
- Travel and Religion Columnists
- Women in Religion Columnists
Resource Library
- 2026 Calendar
- Library of World Religions
- The 100 Most Holy Places on Earth
- Patheos Answers
- Podcasts
- Videos
- Faith Leaders Database
- Anglican Episcopalian
- Bahai
- Baptist
- Buddhism
- Christianity
- Confucianism
- Eastern Orthodoxy
- Hinduism
- Holiness and Pentecostal
- ISKCON
- Islam
- Judaism
- Lutheran
- Methodist
- The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
- New Age
- Paganism
- Presbytarian and Reformed
- Protestantism
- Religion Behind the Scenes
- Roman Catholic
- Scientology
- Shia Islam
- Sikhism
- Sufism
- Sunni Islam
- Taoism
- Zen
- See all religions
Research Tools
Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In Subscription Support
Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In Subscription Support
- Trending:
- Forgiveness
- |
- Marriage
- |
- Consciousness
- |
- Death Penalty
- |
- Election
- |
- Halloween
- Home
- New Visions
- Health, Fitness and Religion
- You as the Sculptor of Reality
You as the Sculptor of Reality
Last updated on: December 26, 2023 at 3:29 pm by Mark J. Platten
You as the Sculptor of Reality 2023-12-26T15:29:33-07:00 Mark J. Platten
Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

How we manifest our reality / Photo courtesy of Canva
In the vast landscape of human consciousness, there exists a force that shapes our reality—the power of manifestation. This phenomenon operates at the intersection of imagination, thoughts, feeling, unwavering belief, and action. While the concept might sound esoteric, its roots lie in the simple yet profound idea that what we focus on, we bring into our lives.
In 1908, the steel magnet Andrew Carnegie invited a young journalist, Napoleon Hill, to interview the top 500 business leaders in the world and write about what was common between them so the average person could find the recipe for success. This resulted in his international best seller, Think and Grow Rich. A theme that runs throughout the book is that what we think about we create…good or bad.
The Imagination: The Canvas of Creation
At the core of manifestation lies the imagination, a realm where possibilities are infinite. Think of it as the canvas on which the masterpiece of your life is painted. The imagination is not a frivolous playground of fanciful thoughts; it’s the birthplace of your reality. By daring to dream and envision a life beyond your current circumstances, you set in motion the gears of manifestation and actually change the trajectory of your life.
When you engage your imagination, you tap into a wellspring of creativity that goes beyond the boundaries of logic and reason. This may be hard to do in our current world where science reigns and if you can’t measure it, it’s not real. But, it’s here that you can sculpt the life you desire, free from the constraints of past experiences or present limitations. The key is to allow your imagination to roam freely, unrestricted by doubts or skepticism.
Visualization: Transforming Dreams into Reality
Visualization acts as the bridge between imagination and reality. It’s the process of vividly picturing your desires as if they are already happening. The mind, unable to distinguish between what is real and what is imagined, starts aligning your thoughts, actions, and circumstances with the images you consistently hold in your mind.
For effective visualization, it’s crucial to engage all your senses. Feel the emotions associated with your desired outcome, smell the scents, hear the sounds, and taste the success. This multisensory experience imprints your intentions on the subconscious mind, creating a powerful resonance with the energy of your aspirations.
This is not just wishful thinking, it’s backed by performance research, primarily from elite athletes who use imagery to see themselves winning or performing at a particular level before the sports event.
Integrating Feeling: The Energetic Signature of Manifestation
Feeling, or strong emotional involvement in the vision, is critical to the manifestation process. It’s not just about picturing your ideal scenario; it’s about embodying the emotions that come with it. When you infuse your visualizations with genuine emotions, you send out a vibrational frequency that resonates with the universe.
Consider this: if you visualize financial abundance but harbor feelings of lack and scarcity, you create a dissonance that hinders the manifestation process. Align your emotions with your visions, and you create a harmonious energetic signature that draws your desires towards you.
Believing It Is Actually Happening: The Fuel of Manifestation
Belief is the engine that propels manifestation forward. You can visualize and feel your desires, but without a steadfast belief that what you seek is not only possible but inevitable, the manifestation process loses its momentum. Doubt acts as a counterforce, creating resistance that can impede the natural flow of manifestation.
Believing in your ability to manifest is not about wishful thinking; it’s a deep-rooted conviction that stems from the core of your being. Cultivate a sense of unwavering faith, trusting that the universe is conspiring to bring your dreams into fruition. Henry Ford follows suit with his famous quote, “Whether you believe you can do a thing or not, you are right,” which also speaks to the power of our beliefs and what we hold in our minds.
The Dark Side of Manifestation: Attracting the Undesired
Manifestation is a neutral force—it responds to the predominant energy you emit, whether positive or negative. Unfortunately, many of us unknowingly use the same mechanism to manifest what we don’t want. How? By dwelling on the negative aspects of our lives.
If your focus is on your lack of finances, tumultuous relationships, or the seemingly endless stream of negative events broadcasted in the news, you’re inadvertently inviting more of the same into your reality. The mind, unbiased in its creative prowess, brings into existence whatever occupies your thoughts consistently.
Instead of creating from the imagination, we look outside ourselves for evidence of what is happening and we focus on that, often with doubt and worry which I’ve mentioned in previous posts are a disease of the mind because they lead to fear in the conscious mind, anxiety in the body (negative vibration) and we draw to us more of those things.
Shifting Focus: From What You Don’t Want to What You Desire
To break free from the cycle of attracting the undesired, a conscious shift in focus is imperative. Instead of fixating on problems, redirect your attention to solutions. Every obstacle is an opportunity in disguise, and by shifting your perspective, you alter the course of your manifestation journey.
Rather than drowning in the sea of negativity, cultivate an awareness of your thoughts. When a negative thought arises, acknowledge it without judgment, and then consciously choose to shift your focus towards what you desire. This simple yet powerful practice rewires your neural pathways, redirecting the energy of manifestation towards the positive aspects of your life. This was so key to Ralph Waldo Emerson that he was emphatic about the need to “guard the portal of your mind,” to ensure only the thoughts that support your dreams and desires are allowed in.
Action: The Second Manifestation
It has been said that all things are created twice, first in the imagination and second in the physical world. You can have all the imagination, visualization, emotion and correct thoughts, but still not bring forth the second manifestation into physical form, if you don’t take the necessary actions to bring it about. Luckily, these other steps will put you in the correct vibration that allows the proper action to happen more easily, but it is the final step, and your choice.
Conclusion: Becoming the Architect of Your Reality
Manifestation is not a mystical concept reserved for the chosen few; it’s a universal principle accessible to anyone willing to explore the depths of their own consciousness. By harnessing the imagination, visualization, integrating feeling, and unwavering belief, you become the architect of your reality.
Remember, manifestation is a continuous dance between your inner world and the external reality. Whether you manifest abundance or scarcity, joy or despair, is determined by the quality of your thoughts and emotions. Choose to be mindful of the seeds you plant in the garden of your mind, for they will inevitably blossom into the reality you experience.
In the grand tapestry of existence, you are both the artist and the masterpiece. Embrace the power of manifestation and watch as the canvas of your life transforms into a work of art that reflects the beauty of your deepest desires.
Contemplative
Business, Finance and Religion
About Mark J. Platten
Mark J. Platten is the founder of Integral Human Initiative where he helps people find their passion, purpose, and path by integrates brain science, indigenous wisdom, rites/rituals/ceremonies, connection with nature, and current research to help others become the best version of themselves so they can give their gifts to the world. Mark's Amazon bestseller, "The Art of Connecting With Nature," is an anthology exploring how the contributors connect to nature through various rites, rituals, ceremonies, and practices. He is also a contributing author on four other Amazon #1 bestselling books, has presented three times at the Parliament of the Worlds Religions, is ordained in two traditions, and a high priest in a pagan tradition. On the academic/professional side, Mark has an MBA in Organizational Management, served seven years as an Air Force officer, worked internationally for 15 years, and since 2008 has been faculty at Colorado State University where he's received over 30 state and 20 national awards for his programs. You can read more about the author here.
Previous Post

December 21, 2023
Embracing Shadows: Unveiling the True Light Within
Next Post

January 30, 2024 The Fallacy of Being Human
Recent Comments
Browse Our Archives
Select a Category Uncategorized
Select a Month February 2024 January 2024 December 2023 September 2023 August 2023
Follow Us!
TAKE THE
Religious Wisdom Quiz
Which language is the official language of the Roman Catholic Mass worldwide since Vatican II?
Select your answer to see how you score.
Local vernacular French Latin Greek
Books by This Author Books by Beyond the Ordinary
Related posts from Beyond the Ordinary
Self-Help Addiction: Escaping Cycles of Endless Improvement
Embracing Shadows: Unveiling the True Light Within
It's Not What You Eat...But How That Matters
TRENDING AT PATHEOS New Visions
Did Prayer Cure His Cancer? Or Was It...
At 4 AM one morning, Joshua W. Brown’s wife awoke to a...
8 Ways a Near-Death Experience Rewires the Soul
Does Consciousness Survive Physical Death? After 50 Years of Research, Dr. Raymond...
Holy Longing: What Our Restlessness Is Telling Us
“One can find so many pains when the rain is falling.” -John...
What this is NOT about. This blog is definitely not about...
Who said the Israelites were God’s chosen? That’s right, they did. Who...
The Spirit World Is the Real World: God...
A Monk’s Wisdom on Body and Spirit I sit with Brother Martin...
view all New Visions blogs
What Are Your Thoughts?leave a comment
Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In Subscription Support
- About Us
- 2026 Calendar
- Videos
- Podcasts
- Library of World Religions
- Faith In Media Tracker
- Advertise With Us
- Write for Us
- Privacy Policy
- Terms of Service
- Do Not Sell My Data
- Contact Us
- Radiant Digital
- Manage Newsletter Subscriptions
- Unsubscribe From Notifications
- Sitemap
Copyright 2008-2026, Patheos. All rights reserved.
Subscription Support Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In












