👀 Your manifestations will be tested (and that's a good thing)
I hope you're having a nice start into the holiday season and actually taking some time to enjoy it (special at my fellow mamas who are magic creators for their littles). My hack today is to escape my toy-scattered house and work from a cute little coffee shop that has beautiful holiday decor, yummy cappuccinos (& cookies) and Christmas music on repeat
Today, I want to talk to you about your manifestations and why they will be tested.
As I've shared before, I've been making my way through Lacy Phillips's book How to Manifest — and it's been so transformative. Holy Moly!
One theme I'm currently sitting with is this: once you declare what you want to manifest, the universe (or whatever word fits for you) will begin testing you.
Tests can show up in many forms — as triggers, distractions, or shiny opportunities that tempt you to settle for something familiar, smaller, and safer.
And wow… has that been true for me lately.
After I cast my one big manifestation for 2026 — something deeply aligned with my authentic evolution — the tests came flooding in:
→ Triggers poking right into inner child wounds.
→ Distractions offering easy excuses for why “now isn't the right time.”
→ Even opportunities I would've jumped at just a few months ago.
What I'm learning is to recognize these tests for what they are.
They're not punishments — they're the universe:
Checking in to see if what I say I want is truly what I want.
Measuring whether my level of self-worth can hold what I'm calling in.
Offering me opportunities to strengthen boundaries, heal patterns, and stay focused.
In short: TESTS ARE GIFTS (even though they're uncomfortable as hell sometimes)!
But how do we tell the difference between a test and a sign?
→ Is it a test — to see if you're ready for what you've asked for?
→ Or a sign — that this isn't the right path for you?
I find this differentiation to be so tricky myself and the only real way to know is –surprise!– to tune inward
Here's what I've come to believe:
A TEST doesn't kill your desire. It might feel triggering or discouraging in the moment, but once you rest, sleep on it, breathe, and revisit it, the desire still feels alive — potent, authentic, and true to you.
A SIGN, on the other hand, is when you keep trying to force something that just won't flow. When you tune in honestly, you realize your motivation is external — ego-driven, rooted in proving or validating yourself, or getting someone else to do something, rather than genuine fulfillment.
We all have both ego desires and authentic desires.
BUT only the authentic ones create authentic-to-you fulfillment.
Ego desires can absolutely manifest — but they rarely satisfy the soul. In fact, they can often leave you feeling lonelier than before.
So, for today's Self Quest ask yourself:
Am I crystal clear on what I authentically want to manifest?
Am I being tested through triggers, distractions, or tempting detours?
What growth is this moment asking of me so I can rise above the tests?
With love this holiday season and always ❤️
xo,
Caroline
