How to Manifest A Creative Vision

I watched the concentration on her face as she sat at the table, intensely focused on getting it just right.

She looked nervous and then - proud.

She stood back, satisfied with her work.

I stared at her, confused.

“Ok, so... how am I supposed to get that to stay on my head?”

We were both looking down at a couple of pieces of foam that my mom had just cut into a football shape, with ears coming out of either side. She was making me a Halloween costume to resemble my favourite cartoon character.

The white foam was made into the shape of the head and then she stitched the top together with a single thread of black yarn to resemble the hair.

We went to the store and got red overalls, which she cut and tailored to my 9 year old body, and I wore a yellow shirt underneath them. My mom sewed buttons onto either side of the foam, creating a sleeve, and she cut a hole in the front for my face.

I looked at myself in the mirror. “WOW. This really shaped up.” I thought.

It was obvious my mom took joy in her work. Watching her, I could tell she liked drawing on the fabric, cutting it up, planning out how to put it together. I could tell she was happy with the final product too.

I wasn’t just happy with the final product. Looking at myself in the mirror, for me, it hit something deeper. I thought I looked great too, but more than that, I was inspired.

I was impressed with the fact that my mom had just used her creativity to bring into being something that didn’t exist before, something that I couldn’t see. When my mom described the plan to me, I couldn’t see the vision. I trusted her plan, and was really impressed with how it turned out.

It was my first time realizing how a creative vision might seem impossible to someone else who wasn't holding the vision. Maybe no one else would be able to see what you’re describing. They might doubt you or question your ability. I certainly had my doubts about this costume.

But here it was. She did it.

More than that, this was my mom! There was a spark of creative genius in her that impressed me. I was more proud of that cartoon character costume than any of the other costumes I ever wore, because this was a product of inspired imagination. This was pulled together and made with love, creativity and inspiration. No store-bought costume could measure up.

Everyone thinks their mom has superpowers. After that, I knew my mom did for sure.

I learned from my mom about the power to manifest your vision using your creativity.

My mom created that costume with her own hands, from her own vision. And she inspired me to believe in my own ability to manifest my own creative vision as well.

My mom taught me that when somebody doesn’t see your vision, that doesn't mean its not a good idea. In fact, those same people may one day turn around and be grateful that you persisted, even when they didn’t believe in you. My mom taught me that I still have the power to make it happen, even when other people dont have faith. And I’m so grateful that she planted that seed in me.

Eventually, I went on to teach others the same thing. I was never an artist and didn’t take much to costume making. But I am a writer and teacher. I wrote a book about how to create a vision and see it through to its manifestation. A lesson I began to learn on that Halloween day.

In my book I teach that sometimes people may doubt you. Sometimes that doubter may even be in your own mind. But if you persist, and keep taking one step at a time, even when it looks like it will never amount to anything, you may just find your self looking in the mirror, impressed with what you see.

Thank you mom. I love you.