Ever been told to rein in your goals? To be a little more realistic with your dreams? Ever thought those things to yourself?

Manifesting and The Law of Attraction has become much more mainstream over the years and there are now a multitude of ways to call in your desires and create a life that you truly love. I've personally used Life Scripting and vision boards for many years and can pinpoint the homes, the jobs, the cross-continental move, and the relationship that I attribute to my manifestation practices.

Some of these things happened so quickly (especially my move to the country) that it only makes sense to me that they were directly correlated with manifesting.

But if it were that easy all of the time, there'd be no source of struggle (and I reluctantly agree that the only way to grow is through struggle - annoying, I know).

And what if you're trying to manifest something that's not meant for you? What if you're pouring all this energy into something, but you're actually just fooling yourself?

Recently, I went through an experience where I was patiently waiting for an outcome to eventuate. I told myself that certain factors were influencing the situation - that things would shift at the end of the year and everything would work out beautifully. Except... it didn't.

Not gonna lie, I was heartbroken.

And it wobbled my trust: in myself, in the Universe, in manifesting.

It made me question everything I was still holding hope for.

It planted a seed of doubt that started to quietly strangle some of my dreams. What if I'm just fooling myself, like I did in that situation? I had told myself I was being patient then, but it actually wasn't meant for me. How do I know that this new dream isn't the same?

How do you know when to trust your desires... and when you’re actually being delusional? Is this faith - or is it blind optimism?

Am I waiting for divine timing... or am I waiting for something that isn't coming?

And, I hate to say it, but sometimes when you're in it, you can't see clearly. You can't tell if it's the process of manifesting... or if it's time to let go. The only thing to offer that clarity is time.

But there are breadcrumbs. Tiny glimmers. Little nuggets of gold or confirmation (even if they are rare or fleeting). Whispers from the Universe, and from within. When something is aligned, even if it’s not here yet, it often leaves little signs in its wake.

The right people pop up. You feel more like yourself when you think about it. You get nudges in unexpected places, soft affirmations in passing conversations, or a quiet sense of peace - even if the reality hasn’t caught up yet. There's a deep 'knowing' just that won't go away.

But when something isn’t aligned, those signs tend to dry up. Things feel forced. Heavy. You find yourself chasing rather than receiving. You start to lose energy, clarity, and yourself.

In those times, I will often catch myself asking the Universe "if this isn't meant for me, please take it away". Because deep down... I already know.

So, what's the background noise behind the fear, the hope, or the weeds of doubt?

And even if you know something to be true - and all the signs are pointing to yes - there are times when it still doesn't work out. And there is no explanation, other than rejection is protection. It's redirection. And it really, really sucks.

The biggest challenge in these moments is to hold on to your trust - in the Universe, in your path, and in yourself. Don't let the seeds of doubt become weeds that choke your inner knowing. Because there is still so much for you to discover. And only your intuition - and those quiet, magical breadcrumbs - will lead you there.