Skip to main content

Trending Now: What everyone's reading.

So… Is Your Higher Self the Same as Source?

  Not exactly. Think of it like this: Source is the origin —pure consciousness, God/Goddess/Divine Light, whatever you want to call it. It’s the everything-and-nothing energy from which all things come. Your Higher Self is your personal bridge to Source. It’s your soul in its purest form , untainted by fear, ego, or human distortion. Your Higher Self is you , just on the zoomed-out level —the version of you that remembers the full story, all lifetimes, all lessons, all missions. So: Source is the sun. Your Higher Self is the sunbeam that still holds its essence but is uniquely you . Is Your Higher Self Your Soul? Pretty much— but here's the nuance: Your soul is eternal. It’s the part of you that has lived countless lives. Your Higher Self is like the fully awakened version of your soul —the one not currently squeezed into a human body trying to pay bills and avoid family drama. When you're in human form, you're kind of like the tip of the i...

Effortless Manifestation: What Happens When You Stop Trying So Hard



I’m writing this blog because something clicked recently, and I want to share it with you. After studying, practicing, and digging deep into spirituality, healing, and manifestation, I found myself hitting a wall. A wall called effort.

Through the teachings of people like Dr. Leslie Phillips, Dr. Joe Vitale, and even some of what I’ve questioned from Dr. Joe Dispenza, I realized this:

The more effort I put into trying to be more spiritual, more intuitive, more abundant, the more I was actually blocking the very flow I was trying to invite.

Let that sink in.


🌧️ What Does “Effortlessness” Look Like When You Still Desire Transformation?

It doesn’t mean sitting around doing nothing. It means tuning your energy to receive instead of constantly striving to control.

When you’re trying too hard to get something—money, success, clarity—your vibration usually shifts into lack, fear, or frustration.

You’re subconsciously saying:

  • “I don’t have it.”

  • “I need to make this happen.”

  • “I’m afraid it won’t come.”

But the energy of manifestation comes from:

  • “I trust.”

  • “I’ve planted the seed.”

  • “I’m open to receiving.”


🌱 Think of It Like Gardening (Which I Live Every Day)

You plant a seed. You don’t pull it out every day to check if it’s growing. You don’t panic if you don’t see sprouts immediately. You water it. Give it sun. Let it be.

That’s trust. That’s alignment. That’s effortless manifestation.


💭 So What Happens When a Practice Feels Like Effort?

Sometimes we overdo spiritual practices thinking they’ll save us. We chase meditation, journaling, energy clearing, or manifestation techniques like a to-do list. But when they become forced—when they become a chore or a struggle—they lose their sacredness.

I experienced this firsthand with some of Dr. Joe Dispenza’s meditations. As much as I respect his work, the 40+ minute guided experiences of "feeling my body in space" felt like effort. Instead of enlightenment, I felt frustration. Instead of transformation, I felt resistance.

I began to realize: just because a practice works for someone else doesn’t mean it’s right for me.

And just because I want something to work doesn’t mean I have to force myself to do it every day.


✨ When Resistance Shows Up, Listen

Dr. Leslie Phillips teaches that being in effort blocks your heart chakra. The more you strive and push, the more disconnected you become from the very center of your being.

And here’s the truth:

What begins as a ritual can turn into a rut the moment it loses presence and purpose.

So if your meditation, your journaling, your visualizations, your affirmations—whatever practice you’re using—begin to feel like obligation or punishment... it's time to pause.

Your practices should lift you, not drain you. They should expand you, not trap you.


🚜 The "How" Is Not Your Job

You don’t need to know how the miracle happens. You just need to show up for your part:

  • Desire

  • Intention

  • Alignment

  • Openness

The Universe handles the rest.

Just like a caterpillar doesn’t plan how to grow wings, you don’t have to overthink how transformation unfolds. You trust. You cocoon. You emerge.


💫 Want Less Pressure and More Flow in Your Practice?

If you’re finding that your current spiritual routine feels heavy, overwhelming, or disconnected from your real life—you’re not alone. And you’re not doing it wrong.

You just need a more aligned approach.

At Artful Living Coaching, I help people reconnect to practices that feel nourishing, sacred, and sustainable. No guilt. No dogma. Just tools that work for you.

Let me help you:

  • Explore different types of meditation and ritual work that suit your time, energy, and lifestyle

  • Reclaim your heart chakra flow by removing the burden of effort

  • Build a soulful, flexible, and intentional practice that meets you where you are

If you’re tired of being told you have to meditate in a way that makes you want to scream, it’s time to try something that actually fits your nervous system and soul.

Reach out to me at Artful Living Coaching
We’ll create a living practice—one that supports you, centers your heart, and keeps your feet on the ground (not lost in space).


Because your growth shouldn't feel like pressure. It should feel like coming home.

Comments

Popular Posts

Mastering Meditation: Embrace Distractions and Deepen Your Practice

​ Meditation often conjures images of serene stillness and unwavering focus. Yet, for many, the reality includes a flurry of thoughts, fleeting moments of clarity, and the challenge of maintaining concentration. If you've ever felt disheartened by a wandering mind during meditation, know that you're not alone—and that these experiences are a natural part of the journey. ​ 1. Acknowledge and Return—Without Judgment Distractions are not failures; they're opportunities to strengthen your focus. When a thought arises and pulls you away from your meditation, gently acknowledge it—perhaps thinking, "There's a thought"—and then return your attention to your chosen focal point, such as your breath or a visualization. This act of returning is like exercising a muscle; each redirection enhances your mental resilience. ​ 2. Anchor Yourself to Sensations Engaging your senses can ground your practice: ​ Body Sensations: If you're visualizing a ball of ligh...

The Scorpio Snake: A Match Made in the Heavens (or the Underworld?)

  2025 is the Year of the Snake in the Chinese zodiac.  It's going to be an interesting year! Here's a glimpse of what we can generally expect, keeping in mind that Chinese astrology is a complex system with many layers: General Themes of the Year of the Snake: Transformation and Change: Snakes are known for shedding their skin, symbolizing renewal and transformation. This year may bring significant changes and transitions in various aspects of life. Intuition and Wisdom: Snakes are considered wise and intuitive. This year may be a time for trusting your gut feelings and making decisions based on inner wisdom. Mystery and Intrigue: Snakes have an air of mystery about them. This year may be full of surprises, hidden agendas, and unexpected twists. Adaptability and Resourcefulness: Snakes are adaptable and resourceful creatures. This year may require flexibility and the ability to think on your feet to navigate challenges. Focus on Inner Self: Snakes often prefer intro...

Why Your Coach’s Character Matters Just as Much as Their Skills

Why Your Coach’s Character Matters Just as Much as Their Skills I recently had an eye-opening experience with someone I had followed and admired for her grit and tenacity. Like me, she took a leap, leaving the career she trained for to turn her passion into a business. As a marketing coach, she built her brand during COVID, mastering skills I hadn’t focused on because I was healing from a stroke. Now that I’m back, I’ve been exploring what’s new in the field, and I was excited to see her “no fluff” approach to success. In our profession, it’s common for coaches to talk about mindset and resilience. To “walk the walk” and “talk the talk” are mantras we’re all familiar with, and as both a life and transformational coach, these principles are everything to me. For my clients, unshakable tenacity is part of what I bring to the table every day, and I admired that she seemed to embody this too—or so I thought. She scheduled a training right after the recent election, which I thought showed t...

Walking the Edge: My Journey as an Empath Learning to Protect, Heal, and Shine

For as long as I can remember, I’ve sensed things others couldn’t. Energies, presences, whispers from another realm—all mixed into the fabric of my everyday life. It wasn’t until much later that I understood why: I’m an empath. Being an empath means I absorb emotions and energies around me, sometimes to the point where it feels overwhelming. Negative energies, draining people—what I call “energy vampires” or “soul snatchers”—can knock me off balance if I’m not careful. For a long time, this sensitivity felt like a curse. But now, I see it as a gift—a calling. Encounters Beyond the Veil Throughout my life, I’ve had moments that defy logic. One night driving past a cemetery, I saw a pink orb-like form linger around my car. It felt playful and curious, not frightening—a gentle energy reaching out across the veil. But it wasn’t one of my guardian angels. I’ve felt their presence in other ways, and this orb was something else—something that just passed through, maybe just drawn to my l...