Does Manifesting Really Work?

Last night I slept with one rock and three crystals under my pillow.

No, I don’t just have random things swimming around in my sheets. I actually placed a little satin bag filled with stones under my pillow on purpose.

Every part of this was intentional. I hand-picked my crystals for reasons; carnelian for career motivation and drive, chalcedony for calm and peace, and fluorite for protection and stress reduction.

I feel like it’s pretty clear why I chose this combo. I’m five months out of graduating college and I’m still unemployed. I don’t have a source of income. I’m struggling to balance the need to stay safe and protect others with the desire to live out my 20’s.

Applying to job listings doesn’t work. I spend hours perfecting unique cover letters for each company and send my application into the void.

No job means no way to save for a future apartment or future trips. No apartment or trips means no path advancing into my future as a young adult.

Does anyone else feel like they’re regressing? If I didn’t know better I’d think I’m still in high school hanging out with my home friends because I don’t have to go to work.

So what the hell am I supposed to do? Continue to self-inflict stress by scrolling through LinkedIn for hours and praying that someone gets back to me?

Some people might turn to religion, but I never really paid attention at Shabbat services. Either way, there’s an innate desire in all of us to put our faith in something bigger and unknown.

When the world is turned upside down and everything is uncertain, we need something else to believe in.

So I’m leaving it up to the stars.

Somewhere among the 50+ jobs I’ve applied for, I lost my purpose. I turned into a resume robot, pressing submit over and over again until my brain turned to mush.

I stopped setting intentions.

I’m not going to sit here and tell you that if you manifest your wants and wishes and send that energy into the universe you’ll get everything you’ve ever dreamed of and more. I don’t think it works like that.

I do think there’s something to be said for using thought to will things to happen as a starting point.

Crazy is thinking you can wish for something and get it without lifting a finger.

Reality is using that wish to get you going.

I’m not sleeping with a career stone under my pillow because I think it’s going to magically find me a job. I’m setting it there to remind myself to stay ambitious and keep applying. It forces me to make a conscious decision to stay on my game.

I don’t think that a stress stone under my head will absorb all my anxiety and fear surrounding my future. I do believe it’s important to set intentions to have a balanced mind.

Long story short, I don’t believe in passive manifestation. I’m not going to get anywhere by lighting a candle and reciting incantations about managerial positions. What those actions will do, though, is pin these thoughts and ambitions and desires to the forefront of my mind.

Placing my crystals under my pillow before I went to bed last night made me think about setting up a networking call when I woke up today.

Some day down the line, I’ll forget to put my little satin bag under my pillow. Maybe when I rediscover them months later, I’ll have a job and some extra cash in my pocket. Then I’ll know what really granted my wishes.

Until then, I need something greater to believe in.