By Amber Self Image Magazine
Beyond the Vision Board
We established in “The Ultimate Manifest Hack” that Living As Doing is the only path to the Blueprint. We know you must embody the discipline of your future self. But knowing this truth is not enough; you often don’t know where or how to start the external action.
The Proximity Principle is this: To embody your future identity (e.g., Magazine Owner/Editor-in-Chief), you must actively curate your external environment—your physical space, your reading list, and, most critically, the people you spend time with.
This is because energy is contagious. You cannot think like an Editor-in-Chief if you are constantly surrounded by people who think like procrastinators.
The Environmental Vetting System
Dedicate a section to your key insight: You must put yourself in positions where you are around people that embody the energy of your goal.
Challenge yourself to look at your current inner circle. Ask: If your five closest friends were your magazine’s editorial board, would your publication succeed? If the answer is no, you need to change your proximity.
Detail actionable steps for Finding the Right Frequencies: Go Where the Energy Is (mixers, workshops), Find a Mentor Proxy (autobiographies of successful publishers), and Encourage Referrals.
Challenge yourself to look at your current inner circle. Ask: If your five closest friends were your magazine’s editorial board, would your publication succeed? If the answer is no, you need to change your proximity.
Your task is to actively place yourself in the field of your future. You must observe and absorb the energy of success. Go where the confident are moving, where the dealmakers are speaking, where the architects of your dream are working. This is research. This is Vetting.
Finding the Right Frequencies
Go Where the Energy Is. Instead of socializing at places aligned with your past self, go to industry mixers, professional workshops, or high-level business seminars.
Find a Mentor Proxy. If you don’t have a physical mentor, consume high-quality content: read autobiographies of successful publishers, listen to podcasts by industry leaders, or take online courses taught by experts. This is aligning your mental environment.
Encourage Referrals. Every time you connect with someone aligned with your goals, end the conversation by asking: “Who else do you know who operates at this level that I should speak with?”
Manifesting Through Modeling (The Psychology of Mirroring)
We learn most effectively through modeling. By simply observing people who already possess the discipline, confidence, and language of success, your brain naturally begins to adopt those traits.
External alignment forces internal growth: When you’re in a room with highly professional people, you are forced to raise your standards for how you dress, speak, and prepare, which rapidly accelerates the “Living As Doing” process.
Action Plan: Curating Your Corner
The 10% Rule. You don’t need to abandon all your old friends, but commit 10% of your free social time specifically to finding and engaging with people who represent your future.
The Physical Space Cleanse. Your physical environment reflects your mental state. Clear clutter, organize your work area, and make your desk look like the desk of a successful magazine owner.
Elevate the Conversation. Practice listening more than talking in these new circles. Learn the questions and concerns of people operating at a higher level—this is research for your future role.
Self Image 