This month, I’ve been reading "The Source" by Dr. Tara Swart. In recent years, concepts like "manifestation" and the "Law of Attraction" have gained popularity, often dismissed as "woo-woo." However, "The Source" offers a grounded explanation of how manifestation can have real, tangible effects.
One of the central ideas of the "Law of Attraction" is that our thoughts are magnetic, carrying a certain frequency that interacts with the universe to create an effect. While intriguing, this concept has faced significant criticism from scientists, as these claims about vibrations and frequencies lack grounding in empirical evidence. For many, embracing this philosophy requires a leap of faith, suggesting that simply having good thoughts can attract our desires. However, this belief often leads to a passive mindset—assuming we can sit back, think positively, and magically create the life of our dreams, which, of course, isn’t realistic.
In contrast, The Source reframes manifestation simply as "making it happen" through meaningful action, rather than relying solely on intention. It's about aligning our actions with our intentions and expanding what we believe is possible. When we set an intention, visualize it, and emotionally connect with what we desire and believe is achievable, we make our goals more tangible to the brain. Dr. Swart explains that this process influences two key physiological mechanisms in the brain: selective attention and value tagging.
We are constantly bombarded with millions of bits of information every second, most of which we process through our eyes and ears. To prevent overload, the brain filters out unnecessary data, allowing us to focus on what’s most important at any given moment. This filtering process, known as selective attention, helps us focus on a small number of sensory inputs while blocking out distractions. Understanding that we filter out vast amounts of information is key to manifestation—because you can’t manifest what you don’t consciously notice.
Value tagging is the process by which the brain assigns importance to the information it encounters. This unconscious process happens before any action is taken and shapes our responses. The brain tags information based on its relevance to us, particularly in terms of survival and social safety. Strongly emotional experiences can distort this system, causing us to prioritize information that we believe will keep us safe—even if it doesn’t help us thrive in our current life.
Both selective attention and value tagging are often biased, typically leaning toward avoiding discomfort, shame, or criticism, rather than seeking success or fulfillment. These biases also shape what we believe is possible or impossible for us to achieve. By consciously directing our focus to what we want in life—and expanding our belief in what’s possible—we can shift our awareness and unlock new opportunities.
Instead of limiting ourselves or focusing on what we want to avoid, this heightened awareness helps us recognize opportunities that align with our goals, rather than letting them remain hidden behind the brain’s default survival mode.
"Whether you think you can or think you can't, you're right" - Henry Ford ✨. "
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