Seven years ago, I was homeless, pregnant, and hopeless. At the top of 2012, I was gearing up to graduate from college, and at the end, I was figuring out where I was going to live and how I was going to take care of a baby. It was scary, to say the least.

Between extreme morning sickness and vertigo, I was unable to work the first few months of my pregnancy. Staying with family became a less than ideal situation, but there was no other choice. This wasn't supposed to be my life. I had envisioned late nights in the office and living out of a suitcase, as I traveled the country for work. Left with only my thoughts, I took the time to accept my reality and put the focus on what I could control. The first step was managing my emotions. I knew the women I wanted to be, but I wasn't sure of how to become her. So, I started with a vision board. I needed to visualize my happiness and take control of my life.

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With paper and glue I bought from the dollar store, and old magazines left around the house, I created a collage of all my hopes, dreams, and wishes. In one corner, there were photos and words that represented home with a comfortable bed where I felt safe, in the bottom-right, it showcased health and fitness. The most important components of this board were family, seeing myself as a loving mother who could provide for her child and the strong fierce woman that was placed in the middle to empower me.

Every night, I would look at my visions and pray to God that my circumstances would change. I knew that I had to believe in the possibility of change, so I clung to it with every fiber in my body.

Journaling allowed me to let go of angst but what really moved the needle were affirmations. An affirmation is positive statements that can help you to challenge and overcome self-sabotaging and negative thoughts. While the vision board was broad, affirmations allowed me to be specific and focus on my intended goals. With these newfound tools, I was able to make space for change. I was less anxious, gaining confidence, and more vocal about my needs. I resisted the part of me that focused on lack because I knew I wouldn't cultivate abundance.

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Every time I thought of an idea that seemed too big to obtain on my own, I wrote it down, signed and dated. It became clear that I needed the universe to convene my requests. In this case, it was getting a car, finding permanent housing, and going back to school for my master's. After aligning my goals with my actions, this part of my journey was called trusting the process. Within two years, I had manifested everything on my list. I was gainfully employed, in a loving relationship after leaving a toxic one, and happily raising my child in our new apartment. I graduated from my master's shortly thereafter.

When thoughts materialize in the real world, this is manifestation. It is the act of intentionally creating what you want.

Could this be an act of luck? Maybe, that's a plausible thought. But, I believe my thoughts and actions were aligned and I was very clear on what I wanted. Although I didn't have a solid plan of action, I knew the work was being done to receive blessings. I remember my first night's sleep on my bed, the feeling was indescribable, as I stared at the ceilings smiling from ear-to-ear. I had manifested my home and this bed and it was mine all mine.

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