Article written by Sammar Masood, LLB (Hons) graduate from City, University of London.
We’ve all heard the term ‘manifesting’, whether it be on our socials, in our conversations, or on television. But what exactly is manifesting, is it a genuine technique, and how can it be tailored to help law students through their academic and professional journeys?
The lowdown
For those who thought manifesting was a term coined by the latest trend to sweep TikTok, think again. While the concept may have only recently come into the public light, it is a technique stretching back to the 19th century. Manifestation is a self-help and development exercise practised by centring your thoughts on one of your dream goals. This can be done through visualising or meditating with the mental picture of you in your dream job, school, life or whatever your goal may be. All in all, you are thinking your dreams into existence.
Some may say, wait – isn’t that just a fancy term for daydreaming? Well, with daydreaming, like in the movies when a daydreamer is snapped out of their bliss by someone clicking their fingers, once you snap out of it – that’s it. You sheepishly accept that your thoughts were a daydream and nothing else. When it comes to manifestation, the whole point is not to snap out of it. The idea is to align your emotions, thinking, and actions positively and appropriately to enable your dreams to come true. While it all may sound too flowery for some, maybe putting manifestation into context for law students, may change minds.
For law students
The first step for a law student wishing to manifest their goals is to know what those goals are. It may sound obvious but knowing exactly what you want from your degree, career, or personal life is easier said than done. Broad goals like extreme wealth or status are likely not appropriate for manifestation. So, grab a journal or piece of paper and, depending on what stage of your journey you are at and where your most desired goals lie, divide the page into headings such as degree, career, or personal life. Then, list what you want from each of these things. While no one can tell you what you want, if you’re struggling to pinpoint goals here are some suggestions. Perhaps it’s a first-class degree, a training contract at your dream firm, a pupillage, or even just some work experience that will strengthen your CV. No goal is too small and, of course, writing them down ensures you stay focused.
Next, instead of leaving those goals on a piece of paper written like ‘I want…’ or ‘I hope to…’, change them to ‘I will do/achieve/get…’. Stop thinking of them as maybes but as definitelies. Afterwards, start making those little changes that you think will help you get closer to that moment where your goals come true. Maybe you can talk to a professor, do that extra reading you’ve been putting off, or spend half an hour researching your dream firm. If bumps in the road appear, such as a rejection or lower-than-expected exam result, maintain your positive mindset and learn from your experience. List what you did well and build on that.
Along the way, you may experience more barriers. These could be in the form of imposter syndrome or feeling that the tasks ahead of you are too large. There is no shame in feeling this way. Everyone at some point has felt like the world is against them when it comes to achieving what they want. A true test of your character will be your ability to break down these barriers and maintain the mindset that you are good enough to ensure your dreams come true.
Surprisingly, manifesting with your friends can improve your mindset. If you feel like your goals are skewed or not going where you want them to, discuss them with your friends. There’s a pretty high chance that today’s 20-somethings have heard of manifestation, so perhaps instead of trying to explain manifestation to your parents for an hour, try picking your friends’ brains for some clarity and direction.
Overall, manifesting is a great mindset to adapt if you’re feeling a bit low or simply want a refreshed mind at a hectic time in your life. Manifesting has helped many individuals streamline their path to achieving their goals. But its fairy-tale feel may not be for everyone. Either way – try it out and see how it goes, maybe your next achievement will truly be manifested.
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