🌟 Introduction
This post is inspired by the powerful teachings of Kathleen Cameron, founder of the Manifested Podcast and a transformational coach who has generated over $45 million in revenue in just five years. In her journey, she shares how belief, manifestation, and the concept of climbing “the ladder of belief” shaped her path from setting her first $1M goal to creating extraordinary success.
What follows is a breakdown of her message, along with an actionable coaching lesson you can apply right now to move closer to your own big, bold dreams.
In her own words
When I first stepped into business, I didn’t start with a billion-dollar vision. I didn’t even start with $45 million in mind (even though that’s what I’ve gone on to create in just five years). My very first goal? A simple, audacious, terrifying $1 million. That was my first base camp.
See, just like climbing a mountain, you don’t leap from the ground straight to the peak. You climb base by base, step by step, expanding your belief each time you reach a new level. Because here’s the truth: Belief always precedes manifestation.
If your mind cannot believe in the possibility of your dream, it resists it. And resistance only creates more of what you don’t want.
Why Big Dreams Feel Impossible
So often we sit in our current reality — the 3D world we can see with our eyes — and look at our dreams from the ground up. From this place, those dreams feel too big, too scary, too outlandish. And so, the mind dismisses them. Not for me. Not possible.
But the 3D reality you see right now is nothing more than a reflection of your past thoughts. It’s old news.
Your true reality — the one you’re stepping into — already exists in imagination, waiting for you to vibrationally align with it.
This is why manifestation requires us to shift perspective:
👉 Stop thinking of the dream from your current limitations.
👉 Start thinking from the dream as if it’s already yours.
When you think from the dream, you bypass resistance and begin calling it into your physical reality.
The Ladder of Belief
Think of belief as a ladder. To manifest your next level, you don’t leap to the top rung immediately. You climb, one rung at a time.
Here’s how it works:
Need – “I need more money. I need to change my life.”
This stage is valid, but it keeps you in lack. Needing something reinforces the energy of not having it.
Want – “I’d love to have more. I’d love to create wealth.”
This is a creative place because it comes with gratitude and possibility. But wanting alone still implies you don’t have it yet.
Belief – “I believe it’s possible. I see signs of it. I trust it’s on its way.”
Here, you begin to align your thoughts and actions with your dream. The universe starts reflecting back evidence.
Knowing – “I am it. I already am abundant. I already am successful.”
This is the game-changer. Once you know, without doubt, you become the living embodiment of the dream. And reality has no choice but to match your certainty.
When you climb this ladder, each rung strengthens your alignment and moves you closer to observing your dream in the physical world.
How to Dream Big Without Overwhelming Your Mind
Here’s the secret: Don’t set goals your mind cannot relate to.
When I started, “billionaire” felt impossible. My mind rejected it. But “millionaire”? That I could lean into. I didn’t know how, but I believed it was within the realm of possibility. So, I chose the dream that stretched me but didn’t break my belief system. That’s why today I encourage you to create incremental base camps for your dreams. Each base camp builds confidence, belief, and momentum — until one day, the dream that once felt impossible now feels easy.
The Ladder of Belief Exercise
Here’s how you can bring this into practice (perfect for journaling or coaching sessions):
- Identify your big dream.
Write it down, even if it scares you.
- Check your belief level.
On a scale of 1–10, how much do you truly believe this dream is possible for you right now?
- Climb your ladder.
If you’re stuck in need, shift to want: List what you already appreciate and what more you’d love.
If you’re in want, shift to belief: Write down evidence that it’s possible (stories of others, opportunities, signs).
If you’re in belief, step into knowing: Journal from the perspective of already being the person who has it. Who are you? How do you act? How do you feel?
- Anchor the state.
Each day, embody the next rung of the ladder. Speak it. Visualize it. Take aligned action from it.
Final Reminder
Your dream is not too big. It only feels that way if your mind hasn’t climbed the belief ladder yet.
So, climb.
Step by step.
Base camp by base camp.
Because when you fuse with the belief that “I already am,” the universe has no choice but to mirror it back. And that’s when the impossible becomes inevitable.
✨ Coaching Prompt:
Ask yourself right now — Which rung of the belief ladder am I on with my biggest dream? And what’s the very next rung I can step into today?
Salima
Just me thinking out loud over here