Welcome to our first ever guest post! Mara has been working with me on all things Forest Feast since 2019 and I’m excited thats she’s contributing here. She’s helped me a lot with visioning for The Forest Feast and she’s super talented. Around the new year I always like to make some goals and set intentions for the year ahead. I grew up with parents who always talked about the power of your thoughts and intentions so when I recently read one of Gabby Bernstein’s books, it really resonated. Feeling grateful and finding joy are a big part of the process for me.
This is a slight departure from our usual food content but perhaps you’ll find a spark of inspiration in it. Read below and enjoy!
xx
Erin
The month of January will soon be behind us. Most years I make a single resolution at the start of the year, but this year I decided to do something different. On January 1, 2021, I began a manifesting challenge that lasted 21 days. After the challenging year that was 2020, I felt like it was time to put some intentions out there and have some additional support.
I know some people may be skeptical about the idea of manifesting. I’ll admit I have been skeptical in the past myself. I grew up in a family that values hard work and self-determination, which goes against some aspects of manifesting (like letting go of control and trusting the universe). Yet at this point in the pandemic (we have been in lock down almost a year) and after four years of a seriously troubling political climate, I’m also thinking — what do I have to lose? Why not embrace hope and positive vibes for something I really, really want to happen in my life?
So I decided to take the leap and did the challenge with the help of Gabby Bernstein.
“Manifesting is the creative process of aligning with the energy of the universe to co-create an experience that elevates my spirit and the spirit of the world.”
The quote above is how Gabby defines manifesting. It sounds like a lot — aligning my energy with the energy of the universe. I spent 21 days journaling, meditating, saying my desire out loud, and surrendering it to the universe. There were moments of calm and moments that felt really, really uncomfortable (i.e., lots of tears).
But if I take only one thing away from the experience, it is that manifesting is about cultivating joyful energy. It is reveling in the joy. Whether or not my desire comes true this year — or on another timeline — or not at all — I can still try and get back to the present moment, steady myself, and look for the opportunity to feel joy. And to trust that if my desire does not happen precisely the way I envision, the universe has something better in store for me. I just might not know it yet.
What do you think? Do you believe in manifesting?
xo,
Mara