As we walk through life, it is easy to drift off towards everything and anything that calls for our attention. It can be challenging to keep our energy where it is most needed. We can easily get distracted and sidetracked in life. Writing a personal life manifesto is like anchoring your visions and values. You are forced to take inventory, to open your heart, to dream big and to evaluate what your goals are.
For me, this opened the door to my healing on all levels. The day I realized I was in charge of my future, though my intentions and values, my whole perception of life changed.
How do you see your life? What do you believe in, and what will you spend this lifetime accomplishing or being? Your personal manifesto will bring you back to your own reality and purpose. It is an amazing tool for any conscious living human. It is your living declaration of truth, and it will change as you grow and evolve.
The power of writing and intent is beyond intellectual comprehension. Words are powerful, they are energy. Although you will find words in books that will ring true for you, from other people’s manifestos, nothing is as powerful as writing your own. You true words, from your soul and wisdom. It can be short, long, specific or more in general. You can write about the topic that you are most enthusiastic about, or compose a full life manifesto. You can start, and add to it later. It functions both as a call to action and a statement of principles.
Look at your written manifesto as:
- Your compass and directional guide.
- Your general frame for your life and how you live it.
- Your reminder to keep striving and achieving your goals.
- Your source of motivation.
- Your inspiration to always do better.
- A reminder of your priorities.
- A reminder to live your purpose more fully.
- Your go-to- reading when things get rough.
- Your foundation for building your life
- A new start on your new bullshit free true life.
“A written statement to publicly declare your intentions, motives, or beliefs.”- From the Latin manifestum
Write your own life manifesto:
This is a practice that will change your entire life. The process in itself is revealing, freeing and has a great learning curve. I recommend you write it on your computer. That way you can edit it and add to it as your life unfolds. It is work in progress, and a wonderful way to keep yourself on track. That being said; if you are willing to take the time of writing it with pen and paper, nothing is more powerful. The mind is even more receptive to the words when they are strengthened by the signals from the physical writing. I am a strong believer in pen and paper, however, sometimes it is not the most practical. You choose.
Read it as often as you like. Some read it every day, some look at it every week or every month. There is no right or wrong. It is your document, and only you can decide what you want it to consist of, how long it should be, or how many topics it should include. Some like to make sure everything is included, in detail, and some simply want some easy to read sentences that represent their future life and values. The most important step is to actually write one. To get started.
First, write a short introduction: What is your intent for the manifesto? What do you want it to help you accomplish? Keep it simple and clean. The intent is the most important, not the fancy words. Use words that give meaning to you. Find a quiet place, breathe deeply, and tap into your own space. Write when you are in a good and hopeful place. Use positive words and phrases. This will be an uplifting document, made for you to further grow and manifest your dreams and values. It declares your vision. It lets you tap into your dreams. Once you have written down the intent, you can always go back and take a second and a third look later. Poor it from your heart, and try to bypass the brain. What is it really that you want this declaration of how you will live your life to read back at you? This is private if you wish it to be, and no-one but you have to read it. Be direct and authentic.
You can write your personal manifesto in many different ways. Short or long, simple or more complex. It can define all areas of your life, or only a few. It can focus on goals, or more general live-by guidelines. You might want it to be written in the form of short single sentences, or more like a story.
Here are some suggestions:
Keeping it simple manifesto: You can start off with three basic components: Wisdom, goals, and beliefs. You can make it as simple as that. Write a header for each of the three topics, and let the pen do the rest. Write down what wisdom is to you, what you know to be true, what your beliefs are, then write down what your goals are and so forth. Keep it on point. Limit each topic to one page. For example, I know how valuable I am. My life is beautiful. Nature is perfect.
Defining the areas of your life manifesto: You can make a list of the areas of your life that you want to address. It can be your love life, your relationships, your work life, your financial goals, and your health. For example, you can write about how you would like your health to grow and manifest. What do you want it to look like, and what do you want to be able to do physically? Each area gets its own section, where you can put in writing everything that rings true to you about the topic. This is all about what you want to leave behind. What you want to look back at when this life comes to an end. Your core beliefs, but also your victories and successes. You might include areas as:
- How will you deal with failures and mistakes?
- How will you interact with others?
- How you will treat your body
- How you will deal with risks and opportunities
- How you will spend your money
- How you will serve
- How you will spend your free time
- How you will approach life in general
- What are your business goals?
- What does your living space look like?
- Where do you want to travel?
The specific goal setting manifesto: Write out exactly what it is that you want to do. Be specific. Start with your overall plan, and break it down to specifics. What is your desired outcome? How much money do you want to make, or who do you want to meet? Where do you want to travel, or what other dream do you long to accomplish? It can be related to any aspect of your life, as long as you know exactly what you want.
- What are you willing to do to get it? Write down exactly what you are willing to do and sacrifice. You might have to put other projects on hold. You might have to live on a low and fixed income for a while, and you might have to live in a less desirable environment for a period. Put it in writing, the specifics.
- Map out every step you’ve got to take to get there. Be specific. What do you need to do? Follow them and be persistent. Write down your route towards your success.
- Give it a timeline. Make deadlines and guidelines. Keep yourself accountable. Look forward and trace your steps. Vision it already done, achieved. Schedule everything. Plan one, three or ten years ahead. Whatever looks right for reaching your specific goals.
The values and personal power manifesto: Write down the answer to some simple yet profound questions. Do some deep soul searching and write a general declaration of your core beliefs, wisdom, and understanding. Use the answers to each of these or similar questions as an outline for your written statements.
- What am I willing to die for?
- What do I believe in?
- What do I need to change in my life?
- How do I define myself?
- What do I value the most in my life?
- How do I want to live my life?
- What excites me?
- What is my true purpose?
- What do I stand for?
- What makes me truly happy?
“Just trust yourself, then you will know how to live.” – Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
General guidelines:
Use a language that is firm and positive. Make it uplifting. Bring out your positive notes, and dig deep for those inspiring words. While reading them, they should not only uplift and give you a boost. They should fire up the whole universe. Be direct and to the point. You do not want to be reading your declaration, wondering what exactly it is that you mean. Too many fancy words will only clutter the message.
Use affirmative and strong language. Be precise and speak in a tone of solution and success. Never use the negatives. For example: “I will never be sick again.” Instead always affirm what you want to see happen: “I will stay healthy and strong.” Kick it up a notch and say” I am healthy.” Be firm in your statements.
Don’t make it longer than you need to. Remember, you are going to keep reading it. Start simple and add on as needed. I have both added and subtracted from my manifesto. It is a tool that will give you more and more as you give it more, by reading and rewriting.
Write in the present tense. When you write about the future, it will stay in the future. All there really is is the now, and so writing in the present tense is the most powerful. It is confirming that it is already done. As you write, also envision it with your inner eye. See it as done. It has a very powerful energy.
Take your time. Don’t rush it. Let your personal manifesto be an honoring of your life. By writing it you are acknowledging its significance, and that it is worth spending some quality time on. If you choose to find your pen and paper, it will automatically take more time. On the computer, we are more prone to multitask. Make sure you don’t. The creation of it in itself is very powerful. Imagine you are writing a letter to the Creator, declaring your life purpose and willingness to better yourself and to be more aware and mindful.
Let it all come forth. Let the innermost beliefs and motives surface on each of the topics that you choose. We are after the core values. That which makes it all true for you. This is an opportunity for you to do some deep digging within. All the cards on the table, please. You might be surprised at what you mean and feel on a certain subject. What you see as your future, and how you relate to friends and family.
The amazing values of a personal manifesto:
Your manifesto should be something you will find strength and support in reading. For optimal value, go back and read it every single day. It will remind you of why you are doing what you are doing.
Keep it positive. Once you have written your own, you can find strength and support in reading it over and over again. Reading it every single day will give you direction and keep you focused on your goals and your purpose. Life is a flowing journey, and every single day we need to remind ourselves of our values. To be able to deal consciously with the outside world, we need to stand our ground on the inside, within our own space. Balance on the inside can conquer any upheaval on the outside.
Writing your manifesto, and reading it every day will change your life. A bold statement, I know. How could it not? Once you tap into your truth with the purpose of intentions, you are change. It will help you remember why you are here, and why you are doing what you are doing. Keeping you sane when things go a little crazy, and whispering in your ear when people feed you their insecurities and fear. The manifesto is a representative of your standard, your pure intentions. As there is no right or wrong, how you write is up to you. I am certain you will want to change it along the way. As you evolve and secure your grounds, you will see even more clearly what your values and powers are. Your life will show you more to want to manifest, and more to be appreciative of.
“To hell with circumstances; I create opportunities.” – Bruce Lee
