Prati Kalani-Kaufman is an expert in small business marketing and human energy dynamics. She is the founder of SmallBiz Marketing, dedicated to making marketing stress-free for small business owners, and co-owns a kennel with her husband. As the host of the Small Business Marketing podcast, Prati helps entrepreneurs grow their brands authentically.
Manifestation isn’t about luck or magic; it’s about alignment. It’s the act of shaping your thoughts, energy, and actions in a way that attracts what you desire. But here’s the truth: if you’re stuck in certain mental patterns, no amount of vision boarding, affirmations, or journaling will bring your dreams to life.
Everything I’ve ever manifested, career success, financial breakthroughs, and personal growth, hasn’t happened overnight. It’s been a process, sometimes spanning decades. And the biggest lesson I’ve learned? Your mind can be your biggest asset or your biggest roadblock.
If your list of “why it won’t happen” is bigger than “why it will,” the universe will lean towards that. And ultimately, so will your life.
So, what’s really holding you back from achieving your dreams?
6 mental blocks holding you back and how to overcome them
1. Avoiding responsibility for your actions
If you’re constantly blaming external factors like your upbringing, circumstances, or bad luck, then you’re giving away your power. It’s easy to say, “I can’t succeed because of my past,” or “The economy is bad, so there’s no point in trying.” But manifestation requires ownership.
You can’t attract success while holding onto a victim mindset.
How to shift your mindset: Instead of asking, “Why is this happening to me?” start asking, “What can I learn from this?” The moment you take responsibility for your actions and choices, you take back control of your reality.
2. Letting doubt overpower belief
Doubt is normal. But when it’s stronger than your belief, it stops you from taking action. If, deep down, you don’t think you’re capable or worthy of your desires, you’ll find ways to self-sabotage.
Think about it: have you ever set a goal but, in the back of your mind, thought, “This probably won’t work anyway”? That energy affects your actions and, in turn, your results.
How to break through: Strengthen your belief with evidence. Look back at times when you achieved something you once thought was impossible. Even small wins count. Every time you prove to yourself that you can, your confidence grows.
3. Thinking more than you’re doing
Manifestation isn’t just about visualization; it’s about action. You can’t just think your way into success; you have to move.
Many people get stuck in overanalysis, waiting for the perfect moment, the perfect plan, or the perfect conditions. But that moment never comes, and they stay in a cycle of inaction.
Solution: Take imperfect action. You don’t need to have everything figured out before you start. Just move. The path becomes clearer as you go.
4. Drowning in negativity
Your mindset shapes your reality. If you’re always expecting the worst, that’s what you’ll experience.
Negativity isn’t just about complaining; it’s about the stories you tell yourself daily. If your inner dialogue is full of “I’ll never make it” or “Nothing ever works out for me,” then your actions will reflect that belief.
How to fix it: Reframe negativity. Instead of “I can’t do this,” try “I haven’t figured it out yet, but I’m learning.” Your words and thoughts matter more than you realize.
5. Fear of commitment
Big dreams require a big commitment. But most times many people say they want success, love, or financial freedom, but they aren’t truly committed to doing what it takes to get there.
Why? Because commitment means stepping outside your comfort zone. And that can be terrifying.
What to do: Get clear on what you truly want. Then, commit with both feet in. Half-hearted efforts bring half-hearted results.
6. Resisting change
Growth is uncomfortable. Manifestation requires you to evolve, but if you’re clinging to old habits, limiting beliefs, or outdated versions of yourself, you’re blocking your own progress.
Change feels scary because it’s unfamiliar. But staying the same? That guarantees the same results.
Embrace change: See discomfort as a sign of transformation. Lean into it instead of running from it.
Final thoughts: The universe reflects your belief in manifestation
Learn to see manifestation as a process not a shortcut, the journey becomes easy when you love the process. But most importantly, it requires unwavering belief. If you constantly question whether things will work out, you’re creating resistance. But when you deeply believe that success, happiness, or abundance is already yours, the universe aligns to reflect that.
You don’t need to wish for things to happen. You need to understand your thoughts because they dictate your behavior and, ultimately, your actions.
If you focus on all the reasons something won’t happen, that’s exactly what will manifest. But if you shift your focus to all the reasons, it will start attracting the opportunities, people, and resources needed to bring your vision to life.
Try all this shift and see how quickly you manifest your goals.
Follow me on Instagram, LinkedIn for more content on human energy and marketing or listen to my podcast series on strategic marketing in full alignment with your highest potential so you can experience real freedom in your life and business.
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Prati Kaufman, Entrepreneur, Marketing and Human Energy Expert
Prati is a leading Global Marketing and Human Energy Expert with 20+ years of marketing experience and a lifetime of tuning into her inner wisdom.
She combines her marketing experience with one-of-a-kind human energy assessment to help small business owners get in front of the right audience with laser-focused, integrated marketing.
