Feeling stuck despite your best efforts to manifest your goals? The issue could be subconscious blocks holding you back. These blocks – like limiting beliefs, unresolved emotions, or unclear intentions – can stop you from aligning with your desires. Here’s how to address them in five steps:
- Identify Limiting Beliefs: Use journaling prompts like, “I want [goal], but…” to uncover hidden beliefs. Trace them back to their origin to weaken their hold.
- Release Emotional Blocks: Process unresolved emotions through techniques like inner child healing or mirror work to clear energetic barriers.
- Clarify Your Desires: Be specific about what you want. Use positive, present-tense language to frame your goals clearly.
- Let Go of Resistance: Stop micromanaging outcomes. Trust the process and focus on the feeling behind your desires.
- Take Aligned Action: Match your actions to your goals. Start small and look for synchronicities as signs you’re on the right path.
5 Steps to Clear Manifestation Blocks Infographic
7-Min Energy Reset to Remove Manifestation Blocks & Receive More
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Step 1: Identify Your Limiting Beliefs
Limiting beliefs are those deeply ingrained assumptions that quietly sabotage your goals. These aren’t fleeting negative thoughts – they’re subconscious filters shaped by your brain’s Reticular Activating System (RAS), which only lets in information that aligns with these beliefs. For example, if you hold a belief about financial scarcity, you might unconsciously ignore opportunities for growth or abundance.
Here’s the bright side: once you identify these beliefs, their grip on you weakens significantly. It’s like shining a flashlight in a dark room – what once felt overwhelming becomes far less intimidating when you can see it clearly. Let’s dive into some practical ways to uncover these hidden beliefs.
Using Self-Reflection
One of the quickest ways to bring limiting beliefs to the surface is through journaling. Use fill-in-the-blank prompts to bypass your conscious filters and let your subconscious speak. Try these: "Money is ____", "Love means ____", "I want [your goal], but ____", or "I could never ____". Write down the first thoughts that come to mind – they often reveal what your subconscious truly believes.
Once you’ve identified some initial beliefs, use the 6-Question Decoding Method to dig deeper:
- Why do I believe this?
- When did this belief start?
- Where did it come from?
- Who else holds this belief?
- What specific event reinforced it?
- How does it make me feel?
Tracing a belief back to its roots – often childhood experiences or family influences – can help you detach from it and see it as separate from your current self.
Another way to uncover hidden beliefs is by observing what you avoid. Make a list of tasks or situations you’re resisting, as these often point to fears buried in your subconscious. For example, if you’re avoiding applying for a dream job, it might stem from a belief about not being "good enough" or fear of rejection.
Common Limiting Beliefs
Limiting beliefs tend to fall into familiar patterns. Here are a few examples:
- Worthiness beliefs: "I’m not good enough", "I don’t deserve success", or "I’m unworthy of love".
- Abundance beliefs: "Money is the root of all evil", "Success is for other people", or "I have to struggle to earn money".
- Capability beliefs: "I’m not ready", "I don’t have enough experience", or "I’m too old/young".
Generalizations like "Relationships always fail", "I’m unlucky", or "I’m not good with people" can also act as roadblocks. These beliefs often become self-fulfilling because they shape your expectations – and ultimately, your reality.
Manifesting coach Jenna Black puts it perfectly:
"You don’t get what you want, you get what you think you deserve".
To tackle these beliefs, rate each one on a scale of 1 to 10 based on how strongly you believe it. Then, focus on rewriting your "Top 10" most deeply held limiting beliefs. Remember, these beliefs aren’t facts – they’re assumptions you picked up, often as a child, and they can absolutely be changed.
Step 2: Release Emotional Blocks
Once you’ve identified limiting beliefs, the next step is to let go of the emotional baggage tied to them. Think of it like trying to run a marathon while carrying a heavy backpack – it’s exhausting and slows you down at every step. Unresolved emotions act as energetic barriers, blocking your ability to manifest effectively.
The subconscious mind clings to unresolved trauma and emotional pain, often rooted in childhood experiences. These unresolved wounds can prevent new growth until they’re fully processed and integrated. The numbers are striking: about 70% of people have experienced a traumatic event during childhood, and of those, 88% have faced two or more. Additionally, around 70% of the messages children receive are negative, creating a cycle where the brain becomes accustomed to repeating familiar painful patterns instead of embracing change.
Manifestation coach Kenny Weiss puts it plainly:
"The inability to manifest our dreams or activate the law of attraction is trauma. It’s always trauma".
Clearing these emotional blocks requires practical steps. Instead of avoiding or suppressing your emotions, the goal is to fully experience and release them. This isn’t about forcing yourself to stay positive – it’s about embracing all parts of yourself. As Shamala Tan, author and soul architect, explains:
"Feeling your emotions fully doesn’t lower your vibration – it raises it by making you whole".
Many of these emotional wounds stem from early experiences, making inner child healing a crucial part of the process.
Inner Child Healing
A significant portion of emotional blocks resides in what’s often referred to as the "inner child" within your energy field. These protective mechanisms were created during childhood to shield you from perceived threats. However, they often linger into adulthood, manifesting as fear and self-sabotage, even when the original danger is no longer present. Addressing these early wounds can remove major obstacles to achieving your goals.
To start healing your inner child, trace a limiting belief back to its earliest memory. For instance, if you hold the belief "I’m not worthy of wealth", reflect on when you first felt that way. What age were you? Who was involved? What happened? Once you’ve identified the memory, connect with that younger version of yourself with compassion.
Picture the fearful part of you as a child and ask gently, "What are you afraid might happen if this manifestation came true?" or "What do you need to feel safe?". Then, using your adult perspective, reassure your inner child that the present situation is different, that you’re capable of handling your desires, and that it’s safe to move forward. Another helpful tool is soul lettering – write a heartfelt letter to your younger self, acknowledging the weight of these emotional blocks and expressing your readiness to let them go.
Mirror Work for Self-Acceptance
Mirror work is a simple but powerful practice rooted in the idea that what you receive in life mirrors what you believe you deserve. Manifestation Coach Jenna Black sums it up perfectly:
"You don’t get what you want, you get what you think you deserve".
If you feel unworthy deep down, that belief creates an invisible wall, preventing abundance and manifestations from aligning with your desires. To break through, stand in front of a mirror and repeat affirmations like "I am enough". If this feels uncomfortable, it’s a sign of resistance – your subconscious is pushing back against new beliefs.
Physical sensations like tightness in your chest, a lump in your throat, or tension in your shoulders during mirror work can point to specific emotional blocks. When this happens, pause and ask yourself, "What part of me is saying no to this desire?". Recognizing these signals helps you connect with your inner dialogue, opening the door for emotional release.
Another effective method is the Heart Door Visualization. Picture a door at the center of your heart. Visualize opening it wide, and with each deep exhale, imagine specific emotions – like fear, anger, or shame – flowing out. Keep going until you feel neutral, free from the weight of those emotions.
These techniques help clear the path for your manifestations to take root, replacing old patterns with a sense of empowerment and clarity.
Step 3: Get Clear on Your Desires
To manifest effectively, you need to be laser-focused on what you want. When your intentions are unclear, the signals you send out become muddled, leading to inconsistent outcomes. Vague goals bring vague results.
Creating a Clear Vision
Start by zeroing in on the "what" of your desire, not the "how." Think of your subconscious as a high-powered computer. Once you program it with a clear goal, it begins filtering your surroundings for opportunities that align with that vision – like a mental GPS. Ever notice how, after deciding on a specific car model, you suddenly see it everywhere? That’s selective attention at work, and it’s the same principle that fuels manifestation. A clear vision helps your mind spot resources and opportunities that were invisible before.
The universe thrives on specifics. Instead of saying, "I want more money", define the exact amount, the timeframe, and the purpose behind it. For example, do you want financial freedom, security, or the ability to support loved ones? Precision sets the stage for action.
One way to clarify your goals is through the "Why" Exercise. Write down your desires and keep asking "why" until you uncover the emotional core. For instance, if you want a new job, ask why. Maybe it’s for a higher income. Why do you need more money? Perhaps for financial stability. Why does stability matter? Maybe because you want to feel secure and provide for your family. This process helps strip away surface-level wants and reveals what truly drives you.
It’s also crucial to separate authentic desires from societal expectations or ego-driven goals. Genuine desires bring a sense of peace and excitement, while misaligned ones often feel draining. To uncover what you really want, try journaling with prompts like, "What does my ideal day look like?" or "If money weren’t an issue, how would I spend my time?" Push past the obvious answers by asking yourself "What else?" repeatedly.
When framing your goals, use positive, present-tense language. For example, say, "I am attracting aligned opportunities", instead of, "I hope to get a new job." This subtle shift keeps your mindset focused on abundance rather than lack. Psychotherapist Terri Cole explains:
"We often negate our dreams with limiting language and fear: ‘Well, if I get a new job, then…’ rather than, ‘When I’m in my new job, this is how it will be.’"
Finally, remember that desires come as a "package deal." Achieving your goals may bring challenges, like added responsibilities or unexpected consequences. Resistance to these aspects can block progress. As author Steve Pavlina puts it:
"The difference between a fear and a consequence is acceptance. A fear is an outcome you resist. A consequence is an outcome you accept."
Pavlina shared that by embracing the full reality of his goals and replacing fear with empowering beliefs, he increased his website income tenfold in just one year.
With a clear vision in place, you’re ready to use intuitive tools to refine your desires further.
Using Tarot for Guidance
Once your vision is sharp, tarot can help you uncover deeper layers of your intentions. Think of tarot as a mirror for your subconscious, reflecting hidden desires and offering clarity. Rather than predicting the future, tarot works as a tool for self-discovery, aligning your goals with your higher self.
Brigit Esselmont, founder of Biddy Tarot, describes it beautifully:
"Tarot is the magical key that unlocks this deeper connection with your higher self."
Esselmont used her intuition, along with tools like the Law of Attraction, to grow her business to over $16 million in revenue.
To use tarot for manifestation, ask the cards to reveal what aligns with your "highest good" rather than just fleeting wants. This can help you identify hidden fears, roadblocks, or misaligned goals. For those new to tarot or looking for guidance, Intuitive Answers offers personalized tarot readings that can provide deeper insight into your desires and how they align with your spiritual path.
Approach tarot as a partner in your manifestation journey, not a fortune-telling device. It’s a tool for peeling back layers of external influences and reconnecting with what you genuinely want. By combining tarot with a clear vision, you can align your goals with both your intuition and your true aspirations.
Step 4: Let Go of Resistance and Control
Once you’ve clarified your desires, the next step is to release the resistance that might be holding you back. Trying to over-control every detail can create an anxious energy that blocks progress. Think of it like planting a seed – if you keep digging it up to check on its growth, you disrupt its natural process.
Resistance often sneaks in quietly. You might feel a heaviness in your chest when thinking about your goals or catch yourself micromanaging every detail. This is often your ego’s way of protecting you from the fear of failure or disappointment. As Gabby Bernstein wisely says:
"The moment I embrace my peace within and surrender the outcome is the moment that the Universe can truly get to work."
Letting go doesn’t mean giving up on what you want. It’s about releasing the need for a specific outcome while staying connected to your ultimate desire. For instance, instead of obsessing over gaining exactly 100 clients from Instagram, focus on the feeling of success and fulfillment as an entrepreneur. This shift allows you to welcome detachment and invites a smoother flow in your journey.
Detachment Practices
Detachment is a skill you can develop with consistent practice. Here are a few approaches to help you let go of control:
- Total Package Exercise: Sit quietly and imagine your desire has already come true. Then, think about any side effects that might come with it – like higher taxes from earning more money or changes in your social circle due to a new relationship. By accepting these possibilities as neutral rather than negative, you can clear subconscious fears that may be slowing you down. Steve Pavlina’s experiment highlights how embracing both the rewards and challenges of a goal can turn fears into empowering realities.
- STAMP Box (or God Box): Write down specific worries or outcomes you’re attached to on slips of paper and place them in a box. This symbolic act represents handing over control to a higher power. If anxiety creeps in, techniques like the Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT), which involves tapping on meridian points, can help ease stress quickly.
- Be More General: If a goal feels overwhelming, try focusing on a broader intention. In 2020, Dr. Tiffany Shelton Mariolle faced postpartum depression and business challenges. Instead of fixating on rigid metrics, she shifted her focus to a simple intention: "manifest joy." By the year’s end, she had achieved unexpected milestones, including a book deal and a second pregnancy.
Here’s a quick comparison of what attachment versus detachment looks like:
| Attachment (Forcing) | Detachment (Flowing) |
|---|---|
| Feels tight, urgent, desperate | Feels open, light, peaceful |
| Obsessively asks, "How will it happen?" | Trusts, "It is happening now" |
| Creates resistance and blocks flow | Dissolves resistance and invites ease |
| Focuses on lack | Focuses on abundance |
Trusting the Universe
Beyond these practices, building trust in the universe is key to releasing resistance. When you combine detachment with trust, you create space for inspired action to emerge naturally. Trust doesn’t mean doing nothing – it means acting from a place of ease rather than desperation.
Research shows that clinging too tightly to specific outcomes can create misalignment, while pairing detailed visualization with practical planning can improve success rates by as much as 23%. A helpful tool to build trust is an Evidence Journal. Use it to track even small wins or manifestations, reminding yourself that the process works, even when the path isn’t obvious. Another powerful affirmation is "This or Something Better", which reinforces faith in divine timing: "I trust the universe to bring me this or something better".
Abraham-Hicks offers a valuable perspective:
"The reason you want every single thing that you want, is because you think you will feel really good when you get there. But if you don’t feel really good on your way to there, you can’t get there."
When you catch yourself clinging to an outcome, shift your perspective. Instead of asking, "Why isn’t this working?" try thinking, "Maybe this is working out better than I can see." This small change can dissolve resistance and open the door for unexpected opportunities.
Letting go and trusting the process is an active choice. It aligns your energy with your desires, making it easier for the outcomes you seek to unfold naturally. With this mindset, you’ll be ready to move on to the final step: aligned action.
Step 5: Take Aligned Action
Once you’ve let go of resistance, it’s time to bring your vision to life through aligned action. This means connecting your inner intentions with external opportunities. It’s not about forcing things to happen or wearing yourself out. Instead, it’s about taking steps that feel natural and energizing.
Elizabeth Ellames explains it well:
"Manifestation is not just about thinking and feeling – it’s also about taking action. When your heart and brain are in coherence, your actions flow naturally and intuitively".
Taking action from a place of alignment strengthens your energy field, drawing the right people and opportunities toward you. These intentional steps also signal to your subconscious that you’re ready for growth.
Start small. For instance, if you’re working toward financial stability, check your bank account with curiosity instead of fear. If health is your goal, lay out your workout clothes the night before to make mornings easier. These micro-actions send a clear message: you’re prepared.
A powerful example comes from Steve Pavlina’s "Million Dollar Experiment" in November 2005. By focusing on his mindset and releasing fears – like worrying that wealth would complicate his life – he shifted his energy. By the end of 2006, his website income had grown tenfold compared to the prior year, and he projected a 2007 income of at least $500,000. He credited this success to letting go of resistance and allowing growth to flow naturally through aligned actions.
Aligned actions also provide immediate feedback. If you notice resistance or procrastination, it may point to a lingering subconscious block. Instead of pushing through, take a moment to reflect on what fear might be holding you back. As Mia Fox, founder of SelfMadeLadies, puts it:
"You don’t manifest what you want. You manifest who you believe you are".
By aligning your actions with the identity of someone who already has what you desire, you’ll notice shifts happening more quickly.
Recognizing Synchronicities
Synchronicities are those meaningful coincidences that feel like a "wink" from the universe. These might show up as repeating numbers (like 111 or 444) or recurring themes, signaling that you’re in tune with your intentions. They’re not random – they’re signs that your inner focus is aligning with external possibilities.
Carl Jung described synchronicity as:
"a meaningful coincidence of two or more events where something other than the probability of chance is involved".
Anthony V. Lombardo, a conscious creator, adds:
"The Universe’s way of saying: ‘You’re on the right path, keep going.’ They are the breadcrumbs that lead you to your desired experiences".
When these signs appear, treat them as green lights to take intuitive action.
One way to work with synchronicities is by keeping a nightly journal called "Magic I Witnessed Today." Write down moments of joy, unexpected guidance, or alignment. This practice helps train your brain to notice and attract more of these experiences. You can also ask the universe for a specific sign, like an animal, a song, or a number sequence, to confirm you’re on the right track. As medium Colette Baron-Reid suggests:
"Your sign needs to be like a billboard, so clear that you cannot deny it".
When a synchronicity occurs, turn it into action. For example, if a company name keeps popping up, reach out to someone there. If a book title keeps appearing, read it and apply one idea. Logging these moments – along with dates and your emotional response – can help you identify patterns and next steps. The key is to respond actively, not wait passively. As A Course in Miracles reminds us:
"Those who are certain of the outcome can afford to wait and wait without anxiety".
While timing is important, don’t ignore the nudges.
How the Reticular Activating System Works
Your ability to spot synchronicities is supported by your brain’s Reticular Activating System (RAS). The RAS acts as a filter, deciding which information grabs your attention and which gets ignored. It highlights what aligns with your current beliefs and focus.
When you focus on a goal and take aligned actions, you essentially reprogram your RAS to notice opportunities and resources that were previously invisible. For example, if you see yourself as financially secure, your brain starts noticing investment opportunities or networking events. If health is your focus, you’ll spot gyms or healthier food options more easily.
The RAS works best when you embody the identity of someone who already has what you desire. By adopting even small habits that align with this identity, you train your brain to prioritize the people, ideas, and circumstances that support your vision. The more aligned your actions, the more your RAS works in your favor.
Conclusion
Clearing manifestation blocks takes time. These blocks often come from beliefs and habits that have developed over years, so shifting them isn’t something that happens overnight. The good news? Your brain is built for change. Thanks to neuroplasticity, consistently practicing new thoughts, emotions, and behaviors helps rewire your brain, making these new patterns your default over time.
Looking back at the five steps, each one lays the groundwork for meaningful change. Self-awareness helps uncover the hidden scripts that influence most of your decisions. Emotional release clears the resistance that keeps opportunities at bay. Clarity ensures your intentions and actions are in sync. Trust allows you to let go of the need to control every detail, leaving space for things to unfold in their own time. Finally, aligned action reinforces your shift into a new, empowered version of yourself.
Small changes can make a big difference. For instance, when you catch yourself saying, "I can’t", try adding the word yet – it signals to your subconscious that growth is possible. Decluttering even a single space can demonstrate your readiness for new energy. And when you’re feeling stuck, jotting down five things you’re grateful for can quickly lift your mood and shift your focus.
It’s important to understand that blocks aren’t signs of failure. As Manifest SHE puts it:
"Blocks don’t mean you’re off the path. They are the path. They show you where you’re out of alignment with what you want".
Every time you release resistance, you’re moving closer to alignment and expanding your capacity to receive abundance. By weaving these steps into your daily life, you’re casting votes for the future you’re building. Over time, these practices become second nature, helping you grow into the person you’re meant to be.
FAQs
How can I uncover and address subconscious beliefs that may be holding me back?
Uncovering subconscious beliefs often begins with self-reflection. One practical way to do this is through journaling. Dedicate some time to write openly about your fears, doubts, and recurring thoughts. This free-flow exercise can reveal hidden beliefs that may be holding you back. Once you identify these beliefs, challenge them by asking questions like, "Is this actually true?" or "What evidence do I have that supports or contradicts this belief?"
You can also dig deeper by asking yourself targeted questions such as, "What belief has stopped me from reaching my goals?" or "What assumptions do I make about myself or my abilities?" These questions can help you recognize patterns and uncover limiting beliefs. With this awareness, you can start reframing these thoughts and shifting your mindset to better align with your goals.
What are effective ways to release emotional blocks and improve manifestation?
Releasing emotional blocks plays a key role in aligning with your aspirations and making your manifestation process smoother. Here are a few practical techniques to help you get there:
- Feel and let go of emotions: Instead of pushing emotions aside, take the time to truly feel them. Recognize what you’re experiencing, process those feelings, and then allow yourself to release them.
- Identify fears and recurring patterns: Take a closer look at what you might be avoiding or what fears are holding you back. Facing these consciously can help you break free from unhelpful cycles.
- Practice energy-clearing methods: Activities like chakra balancing, addressing past traumas, or simply creating a more positive environment around you can help clear away emotional or energetic roadblocks.
These approaches can help ease resistance, lift emotional weight, and open up space for your goals to flow into your life more naturally.
How can I make sure my goals align with my true self?
To make sure your goals truly reflect who you are, start by connecting with your inner self – away from outside influences, past experiences, or self-doubt. This means taking a step back to reflect on what genuinely excites and fulfills you on a deeper level.
Ask yourself thoughtful questions like: What makes me happy? or What values are most important to me? As you explore these answers, you’ll gain clarity about what feels meaningful and aligned with your true self. Let your intuition guide you, and focus on goals that match your core values rather than what others expect or temporary desires. When your goals come from this place, they’ll feel more satisfying and worthwhile.
