From a young age, we’re taught the importance of setting goals, but rarely are we shown how to align them with our deepest desires and highest potential. Enter Sia-Lanu Estrella, a sought-after manifestation expert and author of The Rainbow Tablets: Abundance and Sacred Co-Creation. With years of experience guiding people to manifest from a place of alignment and empowerment, Sia-Lanu knows what it takes to turn dreams into reality. Here, she shares her transformative approach to goal-setting that doesn’t just inspire action—it helps you co-create with the universe to manifest your highest possibilities.

As we embark on our careers, we are taught the ‘realistic’ timeframes for our path and told how competitive it is. These limiting beliefs can become embedded. And they can affect your goal setting without you even knowing it.

When I was 24 years old, I was asked in a job interview where I wanted to be in five years. I said I wanted to be an Account Director in a top advertising agency. The interviewer laughed. “I’m one of the best in the business and it took me seven years. You need to rethink your goals,” he said.

Guess what? I did it in one and a half years. How did I manifest my goal so quickly? By ignoring ‘the rules’.

An Account Manager role at the top agency opened up. You needed five years’ experience in television and radio. I had only worked in print and online. My heart dropped. But the next day I had an epiphany. If I didn’t apply, I definitely wouldn’t get the job. If I did apply, I ‘probably’ wouldn’t get the job, but that left space for something else. They hired me and 14 months later, I was promoted to Account Director.

So, when you’re setting goals, leave out timeframes. And be honest with yourself. Are you making the goal smaller because you feel it’s more ‘realistic’? Or are you moving beyond the limitations and going big? Because ‘the rules’ only apply to you if you buy into them.

Focus on the experience

Traditional goal setting is all about the outcome. But attachment and expectation actually limit the possibilities. Instead, focus on the experience and feeling of that goal.

For example, if you want to rent a nice apartment or buy a home, don’t get too specific. The temptation can be to attach your goal to a certain area, a particular price range and a list of criteria.

Instead, focus on what you want to feel. What is the experience of living in your new home? Maybe you want to be in an area where you can meet people, be active, connect with nature, or feel inspired. Perhaps the move is about making space for a partner or children.

When you focus on a set outcome, it narrows the playing field. But when you connect to the feeling and experience you desire, it aligns the energy so you can tap into the highest possibilities. And the outcome will often be more incredible than you could have imagined.

Follow the breadcrumbs

Setting a goal can be like choosing a destination. So, the mind wants to know the map. This can leave people stuck while they wait to understand the ‘steps’ they need to take.

Creating your most abundant and joyful life doesn’t work like that. Because you live into your highest expression. It’s an unfolding. The ‘magic’ and opportunities can’t be planned. They come from being present. They come from taking baby steps and leaps of faith.

So, as you set goals and move towards them, listen to the impulses of your heart. Even if it doesn’t make logical sense. Your intuition is more powerful than you realise. This could result in a ‘chance’ meeting that changes your life. Or it might land you at the perfect opportunity through a seemingly miraculous sequence of events. The more you follow the breadcrumbs and trust the unfolding, the greater the momentum becomes. 

Give yourself permission to evolve

One of the biggest pitfalls of traditional goal setting is getting trapped in ‘the plan’. We are told to choose our career paths as teenagers. This propels us onto long-term plans that could include university, entry-level roles, promotions and so forth.

Most of us know at least one person who is really miserable in their life. Often, they realised at some point that they wanted something different. Perhaps they felt they were too far along and had invested too much time and money to change course. Yet, what is the cost of not being true to yourself? What is the cost on your health, happiness and mental wellbeing?

As you grow, sometimes what you want in life changes. Not only is that ok, it’s actually really healthy. And it brings a richer and more fulfilling experience. So, connect with your goals and let them light up your soul. But also give yourself permission to evolve.

Get curious about life

The final thing to consider is, why do we even set out to manifest? It’s so we can live our highest expression of life. The best way to set goals that light you up and really manifest, is to continue to grow within yourself. When we get too focused on the externals, we can lose touch with ourselves. So, keep cultivating your self-development. Approach life with curiosity. That way you’ll never get stuck in a box, and the possibilities will become more and more grand.

You can find out more in The Rainbow Tablets: Abundance and sacred co-creation, available now on Amazon.