How To Set An Intention For Manifestation
Last Updated on July 5, 2025
Curious about how to set an intention for manifestation?
Before you can manifest, you must first decide on what you want to manifest.
Sounds basic, right? But you’d be surprised at how many people I’ve spoken to who’ve skipped this basic step.
More money. Love. Success.
They think that’s enough for manifestation. But those words alone are simply not. After all, what does “more” actually mean to you?
Let’s get your journey to manifestation success off on the right foot! Today, we’re diving into the world of setting intentions for manifestation so you can get started the right way.
What Is An Intention?
An intention is a clear, focused desire or goal about what you want to have or achieve. In manifestation, it’s the seed you plant from which your desired reality can grow.
A map is meaningless without a few simple directions: where you are now and where you want to go. And it’s the same thing with manifestation! How can you begin the journey without a destination?
Why It’s Important To Set A Manifestation Intention
If you don’t know what you want, how on earth can the Universe give it to you? Setting an intention is the very basis of manifestation. Yes, you can very much vibe through life without intentions, but intentions are your superpower, as a Conscious Creator.
A clear intention has a few other benefits for your manifestation practice:
First, it tells the Universe exactly what you want. You can have anything but you can’t have everything! So let’s focus your desires to one concrete goal or wish.
Second, it lets you know when you get there. If you don’t have a goal in mind, you can just swim out in any direction and never land at where you want to be. When you have a goal, you have a concrete way to measure your distance and to give yourself gratitude for having achieved them.
How to Set A Powerful Intention For Manifestation
1. Decide On How You Want To Feel
No matter what you’re manifesting. there’s something bigger that you’re really after: a feeling. Before you set any goal, get clear about what you really want.
This can help you clarify your goal even more or perhaps inspire you to go bigger. For example, if it’s self-confidence that you’re going after, maybe you want to start with a bigger goal that will truly inspire you.
2. Get Specific About What You Want
Okay, now go! What do you want to manifest?
The key here is to be specific. For example, instead of “I want to be rich” go for “I want to create $2000 extra dollars every month.”
It’s also important to use positive language. Focus on what you want rather than what you don’t want. For example, don’t say: “I don’t want to be poor.”
3. Visualize It
Spend a few moments in deep connection with your heart space, imagining your intention as if it had already come true. Try to “see” it (feel it, touch it, taste it, etc.) as much as possible. This is an important first manifestation step because we must create it in our mind’s eye before it can become real.
4. Write It Down (How To Write An Intention For Manifestation)
Technically, you don’t need to write down your intentions. If you have a clear idea of them and you’re unblocked enough, they will come through in reality. However, writing things down is a wonderful way to remind ourselves of what we really want and when we set those intentions!
For example, maybe you set an intention you thought would take six months to materialize. But instead, it comes true in a month. When you have a written intention (in a journal or on the Notes app on your phone) you can go back to check how long your manifestation took.
5. Let It Go
The art of surrender in manifestation is a whole topic on its own! Many of us get find this the most difficult part while waiting for your manifestation.
To help you through, here are a few things to keep in mind:
- Hold the intention loosely. Yes, you can continue to desire it but don’t get obsessed with it. You are still you (and worthy) no matter what.
- Continue to do your inner healing work around this topic as that’s the quickest way to create the path to what you want.
- Don’t keep setting the same intention over and over again. That just shows that you don’t really believe in the process. After you set it once, “forget” it as much as you can.
- Don’t attach all your worth to this one thing. Many times, the stories we create around our intention backfire by making it even more difficult to manifest. For example, if you think you can’t be happy until you find a romantic partner, you’re putting a lot of pressure on your romantic endeavors–and possibly even scaring some of them away.
Ready for more? Check out our signature Intention Setting Workshop to find out how to set powerful manifestation intentions!
Bonus Tips for Setting Effective Manifestation Intentions
Choose your intention carefully.
Yes, you can make a long manifestation list. But don’t make it hard on yourself! Try to focus most of your energy on one or two intentions at a time.
Review your goals regularly.
You are subject to change and so are your intentions! But there’s no point chasing things that no longer align. Check in with your intentions regularly to ensure they still resonate. (And don’t be afraid to set new ones!)
Be patient.
Manifestation takes time. The Universe is all about divine timing. So try to relax and trust the journey, while still doing your part.
Cultivate gratitude
Don’t hyper-focus on what you don’t have yet. Remember to express gratitude for what you already have and how much you’ve already manifested.
Manifestation Intentions | Final Thoughts
Remember, manifestation is a journey, not a destination. But you are in the drivers seat! Decide on what you want and commit to it. That’s the most important step of all. After that, just remember to let go and enjoy the process of creating your desired reality.
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