Kris Ferraro - Manifesting: The Practical, Simple Guide to Creating the Life You Want

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For trailblazing misfits, modern mystics, miracle midwives,

bold-and-shy dreamers, and out-of-the-box believers everywhere

This is for you

I had arrived in Denver with a broken heart. Some months before, a seemingly chance encounter had brought me into a full-on soul-to-soul connection with a kindred spirit. That sense of suddenly being at home in anothers presence. Of having known each other before. It had surprised and delighted me. In an instant, I saw many potential possibilities for a future us. Its something us manifestors are known for. We believe truly anything is possible and often visualize what we want. But in the time since, it became increasingly clear that this yummy possibility would not come to fruition after all. Bereft, I had woken from my fog and realized I wasnt going to get what I wanted here. Not with this guy anyway. Just in time for a scheduled cross-country conference, I carried my heavyhearted disappointment onto the plane, along with my overloaded suitcase.

You belong in the life of your dreams. And you dont belong anywhere else.

Tama Kieves

It might seem like an odd or bold choice to start a book on manifestation by fully admitting a recent failure. A time I was way off. Featuring none other than the one that got away. Youd be absolutely right to think that. And this wouldnt be the first time the words odd or bold would be used to describe me and my choices.

I mean, after all, shouldnt I be a glowing example of the perfect life? Every dream realized, every wish fulfilled, with nothing left to do but sit on a beach, drinking mai tais and counting my money while Mr. Right massages my feet?

Well, dear readers / future manifestors / dream weavers, I have a much, much more interesting journey to share.

In the twenty-three years since I started actively creating what I wanted, my life has changed so dramatically, I can hardly recognize myself. I am happier, healthier, more prosperous, and more creative, and I love myself more than I ever knew was possible. And along the way, Ive also encountered every possible pitfall, wrong turn, and pure delusion that can greet you on this journey. The ego snafus. The things I created I wish I hadnt. The old stories and beliefs that got in the way. And Im going to share it all, along with steps for recognizing and healing these missteps. We all have them. The creative process is fraught with what can feel like failures. But whats fascinating is the mistakes end up being an essential part of uncovering your best life.

Because the last thing the world needs is a self-help book that ultimately makes people feel bad about themselves. Not happening. Not on my watch!

So back in Denver, Id finished off the second day of the conference and had an hour free before I met a group for dinner. My hotel room had a comfy round love seat with an ottoman and velour pillows. I curled up there with a blanket and my laptop, my eyes taking turns between a Netflix stand-up comedy special and the gentle snow blowing past the window. It had been an unusually warm winter in my home state of New Jersey, and I had been craving just this, snow.

I glanced at my phone to check the time: 4:30 p.m. Thirty minutes until dinner.

It seemed like such a mundane act. Checking the time. Something I can do five hundred times a day. Wasnt exactly what one would expect for entrance into a supernatural experience. There were no drums beating, no chanting, no scent of incense in the air. No deities descended into the room, trumpets blaring, sharing profound news. But thats exactly what it ended up being.

In my mind, I was transported back in time to ten years before. I was sitting in my office where I was a counselor in a social service agency. At that point, I had been there for thirteen years, which was already five years too long. What had once been a dream job had turned into a nightmare. I had grown and evolved past what was conceivable in this setting. My approach to being in service to others had shifted, and I felt stifled, frustrated, and bored. There was no room for me to bring to the job what I was most passionate about. Outside of the office, I was learning everything I could on manifestation, energy, and healing. Reading books, meditating, praying, visualizing, tapping, balancing. All that ended at my office door.

In the meantime, the job description, CEO, funding, and the company itself had changed, none for the better. But within that ever-widening gap between who I was becoming and where I remained was that darn security with all its plain-Jane seduction. Paid vacation and holidays. Good benefits. And a guaranteed source of income, every two weeks, right on time. How could I possibly leave? I looked up at the clock: 4:30 p.m. Thirty more minutes. Thirty interminable minutes. Every day had become in some ways the same day, and my adventurous spirit was dying. I was either counting down the minutes to freedom or the days until a holiday or a vacation. I spent each lunch hour numbing out to what I affectionately called online travel porn, watching other people visit exotic countries, hike through jungles, share gourmet meals with new friends, essentially living the kind of life I wanted to live. And here I was, staring at the clock, waiting for 5:00 p.m. and the temporary freedom on the other side of it.

Then in an instant, I snapped back into the present day. My mind, heart, and body became flooded with gratitude and love. Here I was, 4:30 on a Tuesday, curled up in a beautiful room, in a lively city I had never been to and always wanted to visit, laughing and savoring the sweetness of it all. Here I was, in a hotel filled with loving, kind, fellow manifestors, spending my day listening to heart-opening live music and inspirational talks, my travel paid for. On an ordinary Tuesday! Can you believe it? Here I was, counting down the minutes to join sweet friends for a farm-to-table dinner, where we would share deep appreciation for one another in a way that brought tears to my eyes. One would mention a particularly valuable quality he felt I brought to our teams efforts, and I was awakened by it. Here, I learned something new about myself. Here I was, in a career I cherished, helping others in the ways I know truly work and sharing the good news of that to anyone who would listen. Speaking, traveling, teaching, and sharing healing on stages, on podcasts, and in interviews. Here I was, living the life I had always wanted to live. This was it. I was and am here.

If I had a selfie stick and captured this, I have to tell you, the scene would not have appeared Instagram-worthy. No beach, no Mr. Right, no size 6, and honestly, the lighting in that room was just terrible. There wasnt even a fan to give me that sexy blowing-hair look. And remember, there were no mystical lights or signs. But I was exactly where I had always wanted to be. No time clock to punch. No waiting for the interminable minutes to tick by, rescuing me from my miserable reality. No numbing out to images of others lives.