Manifestation When You're Broke, Tired, and Still Trying: A Personal Rethink

I want to talk about something that's been sitting with me lately. You know that whole manifestation culture — the affirmations, the vision boards, the "just feel it and it will come" mentality? I'm not here to knock it completely. I've made vision boards. I've said the mantras. I've whispered dreams into the universe. I want to believe that what we put out comes back to us.
But I've also been broke. I've also been exhausted. I've worked through illness, held it together through pain, gone to work when I didn't feel like I had anything left in me. And I've had moments where I just couldn't "raise my vibration" because I was trying to raise myself out of bed.
And that's where I start to wonder — who is manifestation really for?
Because there's this unspoken rule in manifestation culture: don't have negative thoughts. Don't focus on what's wrong. Don't say "I'm tired" or "I'm scared" because that's what you'll attract. Only say "I am abundant," "I am successful," "I am healthy," even when you feel anything but.
And I'm calling it: that's not just unrealistic — it's unfair.

Let's Get Real: Life Isn't Always a Vibe

Here's the thing — if you're living paycheck to paycheck, if you're dealing with chronic stress or illness, if your basic needs aren't met, telling someone to feel wealthy or embody abundance isn't inspiring. It's tone-deaf.
This is where Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs comes in — and why I think we need to bring it back into the conversation.
Maslow laid it out clearly: we have basic human needs that must be met before we can even begin to self-actualize — things like food, shelter, rest, safety. If I'm worried about how I'm going to pay rent, I'm not thinking about aligning my energy with the frequency of abundance. I'm thinking about how to survive.
How do I pretend to feel like I'm thriving when my bank account says otherwise?
How do I manifest health when I can't afford to take a day off?
The truth is, for many people — especially those holding families together, working multiple jobs, dealing with invisible illnesses, or carrying emotional trauma — manifestation can start to feel like another thing you're failing at.

Manifestation Is a Privilege (There, I Said It)

It's easy to feel "high vibe" when your life gives you the space to feel good. When you've had a good night's sleep, when your bills are paid, when you have access to therapy, rest, fresh air, and time. But what about the rest of us — the ones doing our best under pressure, the ones moving through the world with resilience but not much cushion?
Here's what I'm learning: you don't have to be glowing with positivity to deserve good things.
Your hard days don't block your blessings. Your struggle doesn't mean you're spiritually broken. You're not failing at life because you're tired. You're just human.

So What Do I Believe Now?

I still believe in dreaming. I still believe in possibility and growth. But I don't believe that we can manifest our way out of reality. I don't believe that being "high vibe" 24/7 is the key to success.
Instead, I believe in showing up as you are — even when it's messy.
I believe in the power of small steps, even when you don't feel inspired.
I believe in manifesting with your feet on the ground — with equal parts vision and honesty.
And maybe that's the twist: what if manifestation isn't about ignoring the hard stuff, but about moving through it with grace, grit, and the quiet belief that you still get to want more — even when you have less?
So no, I won't silence my fears just to stay "aligned." I won't fake a smile just to stay "magnetic." I'll speak my truth, rest when I can, hustle when I must, and trust that doing the best I can — in this body, in this life — is enough.
And honestly, that feels like real magic to me.