Everyday Manifestation—Leadership, Learning, and Journaling
I recently listened to Mel Robbins’ podcast featuring Dr. James Doty—#1 Neurosurgeon: How to Manifest Anything You Want & Unlock the Unlimited Power of Your Mind—and it changed the way I think about manifestation. Dr. Doty is a renowned neurosurgeon and the director of the Center for Compassion and Altruism Research and Education at Stanford University. His work explores how compassion and mindfulness can reshape our lives, both personally and professionally.
Dr. Doty reframes manifestation not as a "woo woo” philosophy but as a series of everyday actions that lead to win-wins—whether it’s offering a warm greeting, engaging in a meaningful conversation, or simply being fully present. For those of us in Learning & Development, we know these actions are practical examples of essential soft skills (AKA power skills) in action. They show how intentional, empathetic interactions and active listening can build stronger teams, drive continuous improvement, and create a more connected workplace.
Every interaction is an opportunity to harness our power and practice the power skills that drive lasting personal and professional growth.
Manifestation is also about writing down your goals, which is exactly what journaling does. In my book—Everybody, Be Cool!—I dive into self-guided journaling as a tool to capture these insights. Journaling helps you articulate what you want, track your progress, and transform abstract ideas into concrete action plans, bridging personal development and effective leadership.
Dr. Doty also champions the idea that we are each a universe. I couldn’t agree with him more—and I write about this in my book as well. This idea isn’t just poetic (although it really is lovely)—it’s a call to tap into the vast potential within every individual. For L&D and HR professionals, that means recognizing our power to design innovative programs and foster cultures where growth is the norm.
For L&D and HR professionals, this means we can harness our inherent power to design innovative programs and create environments where growth is the norm. In many ways, journaling mirrors this process by letting you articulate your ambitions, record your progress, and transform abstract thoughts into concrete action plans.
These insights provide a clear, actionable framework for leaders and L&D professionals. They illustrate how small, intentional acts integrated into our daily routines can transform workplace culture and drive meaningful change. You can watch the full conversation on the podcast here.
Journaling is a powerful tool to set goals and create meaningful change
