I used to think manifestation was a fascinationg topic – something that sounded good in theory but didn’t have much science behind it.
I’ve been diving deep into how it works, and am using certain processes and techniques myself.
I recently listened to a Mel Robbins podcast with Dr. Jim Doty, who is a Stanford neurosurgeon and neuroscientist. This was really interesting, and focussed on the theme: manifestation isn’t magic—it’s neuroscience.
Your brain is constantly shaping your reality, filtering what you see, and influencing what you believe is possible. What if you could train it to work in your favor? What if, instead of seeing obstacles, you started noticing opportunities?
It’s important to understand the neuroscience of manifestation: shifting your energy, and rewiring your subconscious to align with what you truly want. In this post, I’m sharing the key takeaways and how you can apply them to intentionally create the life you desire.
Key Takeaways
- What manifestation is from a scientific & energetic perspective
- How neural pathways shape your reality (and how to change them)
- The role of brainwaves, visualization, and repetition in manifestation
- 5 neuroscience-backed techniques to reprogram your mind for success
- Why intention + aligned action = real results
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How Your Brain Shapes Your Reality
Dr. Doty explained that our brains process millions of bits of information per second, but we’re only consciously aware of a small fraction of it.
The key to manifestation is training your brain to prioritize what matters to you, so that it actively seeks out experiences, opportunities, and connections that align with your goals.
The Neuroscience of Manifestation
The brain has multiple networks working behind the scenes to filter and reinforce what we focus on:
- The Default Mode Network (DMN) – The part of the brain responsible for the personal narrative you tell yourself. It shapes your identity and beliefs about what is possible.
- The Task Positive Network (TPN) – This activates when something becomes important, sharpening your focus to spot opportunities that match your goals.
- The Executive Control Network – The system that helps you take action based on what you’ve embedded into your subconscious.
These networks are constantly shaping our experience of the world, making manifestation more about focus and action than magic.
The Reticular Activating System (RAS): Your Brain’s Personal Gatekeeper
Although the RAS wasn’t mentioned by Dr Joty in this podcast, it’s important to mention it here. The Reticular Activating System (RAS) is a filtering system in the brainstem that decides what information gets your attention.
Have you ever decided to buy a certain car, and suddenly you see that car everywhere? Or learned a new word and then started hearing it in conversations? That’s the RAS at work, filtering your reality based on what your brain has been trained to focus on.
How This Relates to the Neuroscience of Manifestation
The RAS prioritizes what you tell it is important. If you consciously focus on something—whether it’s success, love, abundance, or creativity—your brain will start noticing people, ideas, and experiences that help reinforce that belief.
And this is where intentions are powerful. An intention will prime the brain to notice whatever it already believes to be true. It works like a searchlight, scanning your environment and filtering in anything that matches the signal you’ve programmed. This is why intentions must be clear, repeated, and emotionally charged—so your brain actively seeks out proof and opportunities that align with them.
How to Activate Your RAS for Manifestation
Get crystal clear on what you want: Writing it down and repeating it reinforces its importance to your brain.
Use affirmations to align your self-concept: If your RAS believes you’re worthy and capable, it will seek proof of that in your external world.
Engage your senses in visualization: The more real it feels, the more your brain will believe it’s achievable.
Take inspired action: The RAS will highlight opportunities, but you have to act on them to turn them into reality.
Shifting from Fear Mode to Heart Mode
One of my biggest takeaways from this podcast was the difference between fear mode and heart mode. Dr. Doty explained that your nervous system constantly shifts between these two states, and the mode you spend the most time in determines your experience of life—and your ability to manifest.
The Two Modes of the Nervous System
- Fear Mode (Sympathetic Nervous System): This is your fight-or-flight response. When you’re in stress, survival, or scarcity mode, your brain focuses on protection—not expansion. This makes it harder to see opportunities.
- Heart Mode (Parasympathetic Nervous System): This is a state of openness, trust, and creativity. In this mode, your brain and body are optimized for growth, connection, and manifestation.
How to Activate Heart Mode
- Breathe deeply: Long exhales signal safety to your nervous system.
- Practice gratitude: Your brain cannot be in fear and gratitude at the same time.
- Rewrite your inner dialogue: Shift negative self-talk into self-compassion and possibility.
How to Train Your Brain to Align with Your Desires
Step 1: Get Honest About What You Truly Want
Dr. Doty explained that many people focus on what they think they should want—money, titles, external validation—only to feel unfulfilled when they get it.
True manifestation starts with clarity on what genuinely feels aligned for you.
I have recently been doing the “Authenticity Challenge” from To Be Magnetic, and this has been super powerful in helping me identify what my Authentic Code is, and what truly lights me up. As just mentioned, this is where true manifestation happens.
Step 2: Embed Your Intention into Your Subconscious
To truly manifest something, you have to train your brain to prioritize it. Here’s how:
- Write it down daily: This tells your RAS that it’s important.
- Speak it aloud: Hearing yourself affirm it strengthens the belief.
- Visualize it happening: Engage all senses to make it feel real.
- Reinforce it consistently: Manifestation is a practice, not a one-time event.
Step 3: Actively Step Into the Reality You’re Creating
The final step? Action. When you say yes to aligned opportunities, your subconscious mind gets the message: this is who we are now.
The Energetics of Manifestation: Why Emotions Matter
Dr. Doty also spoke about how emotions shape our experience of reality. High-frequency emotions like gratitude, love, and excitement activate the brain’s reward system, reinforcing the belief that success is inevitable.
Releasing Attachment to the Outcome
One of the biggest obstacles to manifestation is attachment – holding on too tightly to how things must unfold. Dr. Doty explained that the paradox of manifestation is: The more you trust, the faster things happen.
Let go of control and allow space for things to unfold in ways beyond what you can currently imagine.
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Final Thoughts: The Neuroscience of Manifestation in Action
Listening to this podcast with Dr. Jim Doty solidified how I view manifestation. I already knew that you couldn’t just wish for something and it would appear. It’s about training your brain to align with your highest vision.
When you shift from fear to heart, from control to trust, from doubt to belief, you open yourself to a reality that is already waiting for you to step into it.
You are powerful. The science backs it. Now, it’s time to put it into motion.
