It’s no secret that the law of attraction — which suggests that your thoughts and energies can attract positive or negative experiences into your life — is a popular belief. Whether you’re on TikTok watching a teenager proclaim their miracle “script” caused their crush to finally text them back, or on YouTube, you’ll see a vlogger teaching a method for manifesting the release of a Lorde album, the concept is everywhere.

Does manifesting really work many forms since hitting the mainstream, including writing down your goals, vision boards and affirmations. But does it really work? It turns out, it can, depending on your approach and mindset.

First and foremost, it’s important to be clear about what you want. Write down your deepest desires, and focus all of your energy and attention on those. The more specific you can be, the more powerful your manifestation will be.

Manifesting Your Reality: Separating Fact from Fiction

It’s also helpful to get in a positive mindset by meditating, visualizing or speaking out loud your intentions and dreams. But focusing solely on positive thinking without taking real-life action makes it less likely your desires will come to fruition. That’s why psychologist Gabrielle Oettingen created the WOOP (Wish, Outcome, Obstacle, Plan) technique as a practical alternative to manifesting that encourages people to take action.

Additionally, it’s helpful to acknowledge and be thankful for what shows up in your life that reflects your desired outcomes. For example, if you’re trying to manifest more money, keep a gratitude journal and record every day what happens that brings you closer to your goal. That can be as simple as getting a call from your cable company with an offer to lower your rate, or as complex as finding a side hustle that pays you more money.