Which One Is Better For You?

Manifesting vs Goal Setting: Definitions

When it comes to achieving our dreams, we often hear two terms thrown around: manifesting and goal setting. But what sets them apart? 

Before we can answer that, we need to be on the same page about what these two terms mean. 

According to the Cambridge Dictionary:

Goal Setting means deciding what you want to achieve or what you want someone else to achieve in a certain time frame.

Manifesting means making something happen by imagining it and consciously thinking that it will happen.

Okay, now, when that’s out of the way, we can dive into their differences.

Manifesting vs Goal Setting: What’s the Difference? 

Manifesting differs from traditional goal setting in several ways.

These are the 5 key differences:

Goal Setting

With goal setting, you are achieving your goals with your actions. It’s based on the idea that you can achieve what you want by breaking it down into manageable steps and following them consistently. It is like plotting a course with a GPS.

The main objective is to take action that helps you achieve your goal. You know exactly what steps to take to achieve success.

Goal setting is logical, focused on outcomes, and involves a clear set of predictable steps to reach your destination. 

You are defining and measuring the results that you want to achieve and tracking your performance and feedback.

There are many benefits of having a system to measure and track your goals. This is an essential element of my approach to manifesting.

Goal-Setting Example:

Let’s say you want to buy a house. In that case, your goal-setting statement should include the following parameters: 

• Size: How big should your home be?
• Location: Specify the area or neighborhood where you want to buy the home.
• Budget: Define your budget range for the purchase.
• Timeframe: What is the exact date by which you will own it?
• Action Steps: Include steps like saving a certain amount each month, getting pre-approved for a mortgage, or working with a real estate agent.

For example:
“I plan to buy a 3000 sq ft home in [desired neighborhood], within a budget of [x amount], by the end of next year, and will save [y amount] every month towards the down payment.”

You know where you’re headed and how you’ll get there, step by step. 

Manifesting

Manifesting is based on the premise that your thoughts have the power to influence reality. It is more like setting a compass direction and allowing the wind to guide your sails.

The main objective is the embodiment of the state of being of the person who already has your desire.

Here’s what I mean by embodiment:

To create wealth in your life, you have to get familiar with what wealth feels like in your mind and body. You have to become comfortable with it. The same goes for love, health, and everything else – it has to become your new normal. 

This is often called living in the end.

With manifesting, you’re getting clear on what you want and aligning your mindset and energy to attract it towards you. It’s not about the physical.

There is no forcing or controlling the external world but rather aligning yourself with the natural flow of the universe.

You’re tapping into the power of your subconscious, focusing not just on the destination but on the journey and your state of being. It’s about emotional and vibrational alignment.

Manifestation techniques like visualization, affirmations, scripting, and similar methods can help you achieve that.

You are not attaching yourself to a specific result. You’re embodying the state of being that you want to experience.

This holistic approach makes manifesting a powerful tool, especially when traditional goal-setting methods fall short.

Manifesting Goal Example:

Typically, manifesting focuses more on the feeling and the end state than the specific details.

Let’s stick with the example of buying a home:

In your goal statement, you need to include more about how owning this home will make you feel or the qualities of your ideal home.

Basically, you need to describe an event that implies that your house is already yours or on its way to you. For instance:

• “I am attracting a spacious and comfortable home that feels perfect for my family and me.”

• “I have a beautiful home that provides a sense of peace and happiness to my family.”

A manifesting goal often includes past or present tense language and emotional words to align your subconscious with the desired outcome.

Manifesting vs Goal Setting: Comparison Table

Why Goal Setting Doesn’t Always Work

Goal setting may not work for several reasons. For instance, it may lead you to believe that your desires are possible only if certain external benchmarks are achieved. It can also foster a mindset of scarcity, drawing attention to what is absent from your life rather than what you already have.  

Why Manifestation Doesn’t Always Work

The most common reasons why manifestation doesn’t work are lack of clarity or lack of belief in the desired outcome. Successful manifestation requires crystal clarity and persistent focus. Having subconscious blocks or conflicting desires can also prevent your manifestation.

The Science Behind Manifesting and Goal Setting

Did you know that your brain has built-in mechanisms for achieving goals and manifesting desires? 

The principles of directed thoughts, unrelenting desire, belief power, and persistent action are not just spiritual concepts but are backed by neuroscience and psychology.

Prefrontal Cortex

Goal setting activates the prefrontal cortex (PFC). It is the part of the brain responsible for planning, decision-making, and problem-solving.

The PFC helps you set goals, prioritize tasks, monitor progress, and adjust your strategy. By setting SMART goals and writing them down, you are engaging your PFC to focus on your desired outcome and find the best way to achieve it.

Setting goals does more than just give us direction; it also activates our brain’s reward system. Achieving even small goals triggers a release of dopamine, endorphins, and oxytocin, providing a neurochemical boost that stimulates us to achieve more.

The manifestation process works in the brain by activating the reticular activating system (RAS). 

The reticular activating system (RAS) is a network of neurons that filters the information that reaches your conscious awareness. The RAS acts like a magnet, drawing your attention to what is relevant and important to you and filtering out what is not.

This is why being clear about what you want is so crucial – the more specific your goal, the more effectively your RAS can guide you towards it.

By setting clear intentions and visualizing them with emotion and detail, you are programming your RAS to look for opportunities and resources that match your desired outcome.

Why Does Goal Setting Matter? 

Setting clear and specific goals plays a crucial role in achieving your goals. According to a study in Psychological Bulletin, people are more likely to persist and stay motivated if their goal is specific and challenging.

In this context, challenging goals are those goals that stretch our capabilities. 

This research indicates that setting specific and challenging goals leads to higher performance in 90% of studies. In contrast, other types of goals, such as easy goals, “do your best” goals, or having no goals at all, are much less effective.