If you’ve ever tried to manifest your dreams—whether it’s a new career, a relationship, or simply a more peaceful life—you’ve probably come across the same advice: “Change your mindset,” “Just believe,” or “Raise your vibration.” While well-meaning, this generic guidance leaves many people frustrated, wondering why things aren’t shifting no matter how hard they try. And if that’s you, it’s not your fault.

“Why isn’t my manifestation working?!”

I spent years following the advice of Manifestation Babe, Esther Hicks, Abraham Hicks, and even Tony Robbins, but I kept “failing.” I was dedicated to my growth and healing, adjusting my mindset, and constantly working to manifest, yet I couldn’t figure out what I was doing wrong. I was practicing everything I was taught. It was only when my health began to decline, and my body started shutting down physically, I made a significant discovery that changed the trajectory of my life forever.

The truth is that manifestation is more than just positive thinking and “attracting” what you want through thought. There’s a deeper and overlooked reason why your manifestation efforts may seem to fall flat, and it goes far beyond mindset alone. Trauma, subconscious beliefs, and hidden survival patterns can have a massive impact on whether you’re able to manifest the life you desire. Yet, most advice doesn’t touch these core issues, leaving people like me and you to feel defeated and even blaming ourselves.

In this blog, I’m going to share some trauma-informed manifestation tips, we’ll look beyond the usual “just think positive” talk and uncover the real reasons manifestation may not be working for you. By understanding how trauma, subconscious programming, and survival responses come into play, you’ll learn how to take your power back and approach manifestation in a way that’s authentic, sustainable, and empowering. This isn’t just another “think positive” blog; it’s an invitation to understand manifestation from a deeper, transformative perspective.

Let’s dive into the truth behind why manifestation may not be working and explore how you can finally start creating real, lasting change.

Jump to a section:

• Limiting Beliefs
• Aligning your Energy to Your Desires
• You’re Not Being Specific Enough or Lack of Clarity
• Attachment to the Outcome
• What is Trauma-Informed Manifestation?

Manifestation Challenge #1:
Limiting Beliefs

Common Belief Why Manifestation Isn’t Working: Limiting Beliefs

The Real Reason: Trauma Creates Deep Survival Patterns

My heart ached with a familiar pain as I felt the cold, creeping desperation spread through my body. I sat at my desk, listening intently to my business coach on a Zoom call, a handful of other entrepreneurs filling the screen beside me. The coach’s words rang out confidently, echoing advice I’d heard countless times before.

“You must believe you can do this. Anyone can do this if they work hard enough.”

A wave of frustration and anger bubbled up inside me. “I am a hard worker,” I thought. I had been giving this everything I had, pouring 80 hours a week into building my dream life. But as I looked around at the nodding faces in those little boxes on the screen, I couldn’t shake the feeling that maybe my hard work wasn’t enough. “Maybe there’s something wrong with me. Maybe my mindset just isn’t right. Maybe I am just a failure.” I felt the defeat settle in, heavy and unforgiving.

Despite all the time I spent shifting my mindset, visualizing success, and doing the “inner work” I’d been told was essential, the changes I was so desperate to see remained just out of reach. I’d focused on every strategy and affirmation, but the results just weren’t coming. There, on yet another Zoom call, I found myself wondering if there was something deeper, something holding me back that this advice hadn’t touched.

Beyond Hard Work & Positive Thinking

One of the first things you’ll hear in manifestation circles is that “limiting beliefs” are the culprit behind stalled dreams and unmet goals. While there is truth to this, it’s so overly simplified that it now makes my stomach churn.

So, the advice manifestation gurus is simple: Just identify and replace those negative thoughts with positive affirmations, and your life will transform.

But if you’ve tried this only to feel stuck, you’re not alone—and there’s a deeper reason behind it.

Limiting beliefs aren’t just stray negative thoughts that can be swept away by saying “I am worthy” a hundred times in front of a mirror. For many people, especially those who’ve experienced trauma and chronic stress, these beliefs are rooted deep within the subconscious.

Trauma impacts stores negative or painful beliefs at a cellular level. This means that even if you’re consciously affirming your worth, your subconscious—which operates based on past survival strategies—is not on the same page.

Your brain and body will continue to hold onto the feeling of unworthiness because it’s safer. And because of human evolution, our brain and body prioritize safety to keep us alive.

This protective mechanism can be particularly powerful when the limiting beliefs were formed in childhood or during traumatic experiences. Since this is a time of your life when your brain is developing, it means these negative thoughts were programmed into you at a foundational level.

For example, suppose you grew up in an environment where love and acceptance felt conditional. In that case, your subconscious can interpret any manifestation of worthiness or success as dangerous or “too good to be true.” This creates a barrier that simple affirmations alone can’t always break.

How to Shift Trauma-Based Limiting Beliefs

We must break the narrative that positive thoughts alone will help you shift your beliefs; it’s simply not enough. It’s like trying to swim upstream in raging rapids—you will feel defeated, frustrated, and not make much progress. Rather than forcing positive thoughts, it’s essential to work with these beliefs from a trauma-informed perspective gently.

Here are a few ways to start shifting those deeper limiting beliefs:

• Acknowledge the Source: Take time to identify where these limiting beliefs originated. (I teach you step-by-step how to do this in the Holistic Trauma Reset Program). Acknowledging the source can help remove shame and self-blame and rewire your brain and body to match the belief.
• Practice Self-Compassion: Affirmations are often more effective when they’re grounded in compassion and acceptance but also when they don’t challenge your sub-conscious so deeply that it’s counterproductive.
• Rather than saying “I am worthy” if it doesn’t feel true, try “I am learning to see my worth” or “I am safe even when I feel worthy.” This approach is softer on the nervous system, allowing the subconscious to open up to new possibilities without fear.
• Consider Trauma-Healing Techniques: Trauma-informed therapies like EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing), somatic experiencing, or inner child work can help release limiting beliefs at a deeper level. These methods address trauma within the body, creating lasting shifts in your beliefs and, ultimately, your manifestations.

When we understand limiting beliefs through the lens of trauma and chronic stress, we realize they’re not random blocks to be “fixed” but survival mechanisms that protected us in the past. By honoring this, we can approach our beliefs with compassion, allowing genuine healing and transformation that align with the life we’re ready to create.

Manifestation Challenge #2:
Aligning your Energy to Your Desires

Common Belief Why Manifestation Isn’t Working: Not Matching the Energy of What You Want

The Real Reason: Trauma Keeps Your Body in Survival Mode

A popular piece of advice in manifestation circles is to “match the energy of what you want.” The idea is that if you align your energy with your desires, they will naturally flow into your life. While, yes, this is ultimately true, it’s again surface level and doesn’t get to the root of how to align your energy.

Think of it this way, trauma is energy trapped inside your cells impacting your energetic body. It re-programs your body and mind. So, what happens if you try to raise your vibrations with unresolved trauma? It’s like trying to plant flowers in a bed of toxic sludge.

Trauma becomes embedded within your body and nervous system and leaves your energy (subconciously) in a constant state of “survival mode,” where your body is wired to be on high alert, protecting you from perceived threats.

This makes it hard to embody the relaxed, open energy often recommended for manifesting. (Btw, all of this is tied to your chakras. When living in survival mode, your energy is stuck in your overactivated root chakra).

Even if you’re consciously trying to “raise your vibration,” your body might be operating from a place of fear, anxiety, or hypervigilance. In this state, it’s not possible to match the expansive energy of abundance, love, or success because your system is still primed for survival. (And this is energy of the heart chakra, which can’t be reached if you haven’t cleared the blockages in your root).

Imagine wanting to manifest peace, stability, or joy while your body is biologically wired to anticipate threat. No amount of “thinking positive” will override this physical evolutionary response. Trauma fundamentally impacts your energy, making it harder to naturally attract what you desire, especially if what you’re manifesting feels far removed from your daily reality.

But, here’s the hard truth: you are manifesting every day.

You just aren’t manifesting what you consciously want; you are manifesting what you subconsciously want (usually safety). The things being drawn to you align with your energy; trust me, I know that it’s hard to internalize this truth when your world is falling apart around you. *(Trust me, I’ve been there too).

The other critical piece to mention is that the physical world does take time to shift to your frequency. So if you’ve been focusing on manifesting something drastically different than where you are now, it takes time. Water doesn’t boil in an instant, does it?

How to Shift into the Energy of Manifestation with a Trauma-Informed Approach

Instead of trying to force a higher vibration, here are gentle ways to shift your energy over time, creating an environment where manifestation can flow:

• Start with Nervous System Regulation: Simple practices like deep breathing, grounding exercises, or body scanning can help calm your nervous system. When the body feels safe, it’s easier to embody the energy of what you want without resistance.
• Explore Somatic Practices: Somatic exercises, such as gentle movement or body-based mindfulness, can help release stuck energy stored in your body. These practices work with trauma on a cellular level, allowing your energy to align naturally over time.
• Set Small, Safe Goals: Instead of trying to “raise your vibration” to match big, life-altering desires right away, start with smaller, attainable goals that feel safe and realistic. This gradual shift builds confidence and helps rewire your body, mind, and energy to support manifestation.

Matching the energy of what you want is possible, but it requires an approach that honors your trauma history and works with your body’s natural rhythms. By gently shifting your energy, you create a foundation that’s in genuine alignment with your desires, allowing manifestation to unfold in a way that feels safe, achievable, and sustainable.

Manifestation Challenge #3:
You’re Not Being Specific Enough or Lack of Clarity

Common Belief Why Manifestation Isn’t Working: You’re Not Being Specific Enough or Lack of Clarity

The Real Reason: Trauma Disconnects You from Your True Desires

A common piece of advice in manifestation is to “get specific” about what you want. The idea is that if you clearly define your desires, the universe can more easily deliver. But for many, especially those with a history of trauma, this advice isn’t as simple as it sounds. Trauma can create a disconnection from our authentic selves, making it hard to even know what we truly want, let alone articulate it.

When trauma shapes our lives, it often leads us to focus on survival rather than exploration or self-discovery. This can leave us feeling disconnected from our true desires because trauma can push us toward external validation or fear-based choices. If you’re trying to manifest from this disconnected place, it can feel impossible to “get specific,” as surface desires may not reflect what’s truly fulfilling or aligned.

How to Reconnect with Your Authentic Desires

Instead of trying to force clarity, consider these approaches to reconnect with your true self and uncover your authentic desires:

• Practice Self-Inquiry and Reflection: Journaling or meditating on questions like “What would I want if I felt completely safe?” or “What brings me genuine joy?” can help bring clarity by exploring what resonates on a deep level.
• Work with Visualization Exercises: Visualizing a life that feels safe, fulfilled, and joyful can create a sense of reconnection. Notice what elements feel true and aligned—this can offer insights into what you genuinely desire beyond surface wants.
• Focus on Feelings, Not Just Goals: Rather than attaching to a specific outcome, think about the feelings you want to cultivate, such as peace, love, or freedom. This can allow desires to emerge organically, free from external pressures or trauma-based choices.

Being specific isn’t about forcing clarity; it’s about creating a safe space to rediscover your authentic self. When you connect with what truly matters to you, manifestation becomes more natural, aligned, and fulfilling.

Manifestation Challenge #4:
Attachment to the Outcome

Common Belief Why Manifestation Isn’t Working Attachment to the Outcome

The Real Reason: Trauma Puts You in Survival Mode

Manifestation advice often emphasizes the importance of “letting go” and “surrendering to the universe.” While this sounds simple, it can be incredibly challenging for those who’ve lived in survival mode, especially if manifestation feels tied to something crucial—like safety, stability, or well-being.

Trauma can keep us in a constant state of vigilance, where the brain is wired to cling tightly to outcomes as a means of survival. When we’re trying to manifest something tied to basic needs, letting go can feel like giving up control, which goes against our very instincts.

For those who’ve endured abuse, neglect, or fear, surrendering isn’t just a matter of mindset; it’s an act that can feel unsafe. Evolution has wired us to prioritize survival above all, so if you’re manifesting something that impacts your fundamental security—like financial stability or emotional support—it’s an added level of difficulty to detach from the outcome.

Many manifestation teachers don’t consider the impact of privilege here; starting with a higher baseline of security, like stable relationships or financial comfort, makes it easier to “let go” because survival isn’t on the line.

Privilege plays a large role in the manifestation process, though it’s often ignored. If you’re starting from a place of insecurity, it’s important to recognize that your journey will look different, and that’s okay. Give yourself grace as you navigate the process, acknowledging that letting go might be harder when survival feels threatened. Surrender is a gradual practice, not an overnight shift.

What is Trauma-Informed Manifestation?

A trauma-informed approach to manifestation recognizes that every journey is unique and valid. Manifestation isn’t about forcing positivity and bypassing deep-seated emotions. Instead, it’s about aligning with your true self by addressing the blocks that have developed from past experiences and meeting yourself with patience as you navigate the process.

Rather than just “thinking positive,” trauma-informed manifestation invites you to work gently with your body, subconscious, and emotional needs as you create space for new possibilities.

Manifestation is often taught as a straightforward process: believe it, visualize it, and it will come. But as we’ve explored, for those with a trauma history, the path to manifesting can be more complex, involving survival patterns, changes in your biology, deeply rooted beliefs, and an inner landscape that may require healing before results appear.

Trauma-informed manifestation respects these complexities and honors the journey of creating change from a place of compassion and safety, rather than pressure and self-blame.

Key Principles of Trauma-Informed Manifestation

• Honor Your Starting Point: Recognize that if you’ve lived through experiences of survival, you may be starting from a different baseline than others. Your journey will have its own unique timing and challenges, and that’s part of your strength.
• Work with the Nervous System: Manifestation isn’t just a mental exercise; it involves the body too. Practices that calm the nervous system, like grounding techniques, breathwork, and mindful movement, can help the body feel safer, making it easier to create and hold space for new outcomes.
• Be Patient with Your Inner Work: Trauma-informed manifestation understands that shifting beliefs and patterns doesn’t happen overnight. Give yourself permission to go slowly and allow transformation to occur naturally as you heal and grow.
• Focus on Self-Compassion Over Perfection: Trauma often leaves us feeling like we’re not enough or that we need to “fix” ourselves to be deserving of good things. In reality, your journey is about embracing who you are now and manifesting from a place of self-compassion, where even small shifts in mindset and energy are acknowledged and celebrated.
• Release Self-Blame and Embrace Empowerment: Traditional manifestation advice can sometimes leave us feeling like failures if results don’t come quickly. A trauma-informed approach replaces blame with empowerment, encouraging you to honor your journey, recognize your resilience, and trust that transformation is a gradual, supportive process.

Trauma-informed manifestation isn’t about achieving instant results. It’s about creating a safe, supportive foundation where your true desires can unfold at a pace that respects your history, honors your progress, and empowers you to take control of your own life with grace. When you approach manifestation through this compassionate lens, you’re not just manifesting outcomes—you’re creating a life rooted in authenticity, resilience, and self-acceptance.