Of course we have all said, “I’ll believe it when I see it” (and probably while rolling our eyes or with an undertone of sarcasm). Well, riddle me this: what if it’s the other way around: “I’ll see it when I believe it’” It turns out, thinking about things this way has a religious origin, as in having faith in a higher power. As someone proudly Jewish, I’ve always been taught to question and challenge. While I’m not entirely sold on the idea that God has a specific plan for all of us, I do believe in the power of believing in yourself. For me, this concept is less about divine intervention and more about trusting your own ability to manifest your goals. My husband is Hindu, and I was curious to see what his religion has to say about “seeing is believing”. I decided to explore its teachings alongside Judaism to see if they resonated more with my personal beliefs about the power of self-belief and creating my own path. Here’s what I discovered:

First things first: manifestation according to Judaism

In Judaism, manifestation isn’t about just wishing for things and waiting for the universe to deliver, like a spiritual Amazon Prime. Instead, it’s all about aligning with God’s plan and trusting in divine timing—because let’s face it, the universe moves on its own schedule, and it’s not always as fast as we’d like. While we believe in God’s will, there’s also a strong belief in free will—your choices matter, and they influence your path. This is where tikkun olam comes in, the idea of “repairing the world” through our actions, which means we’re all actively participating in manifesting a better future—no pressure, right? Prayer also plays a central role in Jewish manifestation, serving as a channel to express gratitude, set intentions, and ask for blessings. It’s not just about asking for what we want, but also about fostering a mindset of appreciation. Finally, Judaism highlights the importance of community in manifestation—believing that through collective prayer, support, and shared faith, we can achieve greater things together than alone. In this way, manifestation is not only an individual journey, but one that thrives in unity and support from those around us..

Manifestation according to Hinduism

In Hinduism, manifestation isn’t just about wishful thinking or chanting “I deserve a vacation” into the universe (though, honestly, we could all use a little more of that). It’s rooted in karma, the law of cause and effect, which says that if you do good things and put out positive energy, you’ll eventually get some good stuff back. So, yeah, being a decent human being helps with manifesting your dream life. Then there’s dharma, which is all about aligning with your true purpose and duty—basically, if you’re doing what you’re meant to do, you’ll be living your best, most fulfilling life. Think of it as manifesting by following the instructions in your personal user manual. Prayer, meditation, and deep belief also help clear the clutter and focus your intentions, like tuning your inner radio to the frequency of your desires. And believe it or not, Hinduism and modern-day manifestation teachings share a lot in common with the law of attraction. It’s just that in Hinduism, you have to do the spiritual equivalent of squats—karma and dharma—to get the universe to deliver. So manifest wisely, and maybe throw in a little good karma while you’re at it.

My take

Perhaps not surprisingly, Hinduism and Judaism have a lot in common when it comes to manifestation. Both agree that belief is the magic ingredient—whether it’s trusting divine help or aligning with your higher self. Prayer, rituals, and meditation? Absolutely essential in both religions to sync up with higher spiritual vibes. And don’t forget ethics—manifesting good things requires living right. Finally, both traditions stress self-improvement, self-reflection, and the ongoing quest for enlightenment as key to making things happen. In short, manifestation isn’t just about getting stuff—it’s about growing into your best self while trusting the universe (or God) has your back.

With this deeper understanding, I realize my personal beliefs aren’t too far off from what both religions teach. In fact, I’d like to introduce some of these practices to my diverse AF family, even if my kids are too young to fully grasp them now. Life’s busy and chaotic, so I’m not expecting a total transformation overnight—but I’m setting the intention to weave in small moments of mindfulness. Maybe I can introduce meditation practices as a calming bedtime ritual, even if it’s just a few minutes of quiet breathing together. Positive affirmations will be easy to incorporate—perhaps turning them into fun, catchy phrases we can say together during morning routines or car rides. The foundation I’m building now may not be fully realized for a few years, but I’m hopeful that these little steps will plant seeds for them to grow into mindful, positive, and self-reflective individuals—ideally before they start rolling their eyes at me!

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My hope is that this blog may be helpful, or dare I say inspirational to someone out there. Share your own tips to manifest your goals and how you bring your family along for the ride!