I wasn't even trying to manifest money. I was just practicing gratitude when something unexpected happened that changed my understanding of how manifestation actually works.

The Setup: A Simple Gratitude Practice

It was November 2024, and honestly, I was struggling. My freelance writing business was barely covering my expenses, and I had just received another rejection for a project I really wanted. I was feeling pretty defeated.

That's when my friend Maya suggested I try a gratitude practice. Not for manifestation – just to help me feel better. "Write down three things you're grateful for every morning," she said. "Even tiny things count."

"The moment you change your perception is the moment you rewrite the chemistry of your body."

– Dr. Joe Dispenza

What I Did (Without Realizing It)

So I started simple. Every morning with my coffee, I'd write:

  • I'm grateful for this warm coffee
  • I'm grateful my laptop is working
  • I'm grateful for my comfortable bed

After about a week, something shifted. I noticed I was feeling genuinely thankful for these small things. The coffee really did taste better when I paid attention. My laptop, which usually frustrated me, suddenly seemed like this amazing tool that connected me to the world.

The Unexpected Expansion

Here's where it gets interesting. Without thinking about it, my gratitude started expanding:

🧠 The Neuroscience Behind It

When we practice gratitude, we literally rewire our brains. The reticular activating system (RAS) – the part of our brain that filters information – starts noticing more things to be grateful for. It's like switching the lens through which we see reality.

By week three, I was writing things like:

  • I'm grateful for the writing skills I've developed
  • I'm grateful for clients who value my work
  • I'm grateful for opportunities that are coming my way

Notice something? I went from being grateful for what I had to being grateful for what I was becoming and what was coming. This wasn't intentional – it just happened naturally.

The $10K "Coincidence"

In week four, three things happened within 48 hours:

  1. A past client reached out with a rush project worth $3,500
  2. A company I'd pitched months ago suddenly approved a $4,200 content strategy proposal
  3. Someone recommended me for a $2,800 ghostwriting gig

Total: $10,500 in confirmed work. In two days.

Was this manifestation? Coincidence? At the time, I honestly didn't know. But looking back, I can see exactly what happened.

What I Learned About How Manifestation Actually Works

1. Gratitude Shifted My Energy (And My Actions)

When I stopped focusing on lack and started appreciating what I had, I naturally became more confident in my pitches. I stopped writing emails from a place of desperation and started writing them from a place of value.

2. My RAS Started Working for Me

Instead of noticing every rejection and obstacle, I started noticing opportunities. That company that approved my proposal? They'd actually sent three subtle signals they were interested – signals I would have missed in my previous mindset.

3. I Became a Different Version of Myself

The person who woke up grateful for her skills and opportunities acted differently than the person who woke up worried about money. Same person, different energy, different results.

💡 The Key Insight

Manifestation isn't about getting the universe to give you things. It's about becoming the version of yourself who naturally attracts those things through aligned thoughts, feelings, and actions.

The Simple Practice That Started It All

Here's the exact gratitude practice I used (and still use):

🌟 The Manifestation-Friendly Gratitude Practice

Every morning, write down:

  1. One thing you're grateful for that you have (present reality)
  2. One thing you're grateful for about yourself (identity/skills)
  3. One thing you're grateful for that's coming (future-focused, but feel it as real)

The key: Feel genuine appreciation for each one. Don't just write words – connect with the feeling.

Why This Works When Other Techniques Don't

Most manifestation advice focuses on wanting what you don't have. This practice focuses on appreciating what you do have and who you're becoming. The difference is huge:

  • Wanting creates lack energy → You attract more wanting
  • Appreciating creates abundance energy → You attract more to appreciate

Three Months Later

That $10K month wasn't a one-time thing. By consistently practicing this form of gratitude, I:

  • Doubled my average monthly income
  • Started attracting higher-quality clients
  • Felt genuinely abundant instead of constantly worried
  • Became someone who expected good things to happen

⚠️ Important Reality Check

This isn't magic. I still had to do the work – write the proposals, deliver quality content, follow up with clients. But I was doing all of that from a completely different energy, which made all the difference.

Your Turn: The 30-Day Challenge

If you're skeptical (like I was), try this for 30 days:

  1. Use the 3-part gratitude practice every morning
  2. Focus on feeling the appreciation, not just writing words
  3. Notice what starts shifting in your thoughts, energy, and actions
  4. Don't force anything – just observe

The beautiful thing about gratitude is that it makes your life better whether or not you believe in manifestation. But if you're open to it, you might be surprised by what starts showing up.

What are you grateful for right now? Start there, and see where it takes you.