One small thing - Why having a good imagination and magic wand thinking works.
The newsletter for busy people
Hello there,
I hope you are all well and (if you are in the UK) enjoying the Bank Holiday Weekend.
I have been in a bit of a creative work lull after delivering on a big project. I'm pleased that it went well and I am now in a regrouping phase, garnering my energy to take the next step. Slowing down is not my natural state, but avoiding burnout is very high up on my list of priorities. So in my "be kind to yourself week," I have been thinking about the answer to these questions:
"If you had a magic wand, what spell would you cast? What would your ideal life look like?"
I have always been a day dreamer and love disappearing into a world of my own imagination. I suspect it's why I love reading as much as I do and writing a book is somewhere on my bucket list.
I love a bit of magic wand thinking. It is great for unlocking bits of you that are stuck in the safe, familiar way of being. The parts that accept things as they are and don't dare to think of bigger things.
What if you could do anything that your imagination can conjure?
My imagination has me boldly striding into situations that ordinarily would fill me with fear. I become the version of myself that I want to be, see, and hear. The person who does all the things that she knows will lead to success. The person who knows exactly what to say in the moment, not 30 minutes later. The person who dusts herself off and keeps going. It is never an easy place to be but the barriers to success feel easier to scale when you have a great plan. I always have several great plans in my imaginary world.
It's a pretty amazing place to be.
BUT, and there is always a but isn't there? Reality is not like the perfect world that your imagination generates. Life gets in the way and there is always something waiting to distract and derail the best laid plans. Just like the sudden appearance of the world's largest wasp as I try to type these words. I'm not allergic to wasps but I do not like being stung. That buzzing is so distracting!
Maybe the buzzing in life is just as important as the bits that do go to plan. Distractions and roadblocks are often the best teachers. They force you to look up, check your surroundings, and come up with a new solution. When things are not working, there is no point trying to solve the same problem in the same way because you have already shown that it doesn't work. You can however use your magic wand thinking to create a set of circumstances that will help to improve the odds of finding a better solution. New strategy, different outcome.
That might be the smallest thing from having a conversation with a trusted friend to doing something bigger and stepping outside your comfort zone. You will find yourself one step closer to the place you have imagined.
I am still learning about the power of a work lull. I berate myself for not being in a state of doing and producing all the time. It is something that I learnt to do a long time ago and it is hard to let go of that mindset. The thing is that it's during those lulls when my best magic wand thinking happens. I just need to remember to write down all the ideas before I forget them!
Something else to read...
"The daring interview: Ashton Applewhite on aging against the machine, being hopelessly direct, and dancing to EDM on a hot summer night."
Karen Walrond
Prefer audio? Then check this out...
"The curious history of your home: Wallpaper"
Ruth Goodman
Coaching Prompt
"If you had a magic wand, what spell would you cast?
In your perfect world what do you really want to see, hear and feel?
What are you doing?
What is the first step that you can take to get there?
3 songs long
I chose 3 songs for the playlist because it lasts for 10 minutes (ish). That 10 minutes is the perfect length of time for you to either listen, relax, do an exercise snack, walk round the block, or do anything you fancy to music (go wild with your imagination). You can listen to my playlist or make one of your own.
That's it for this week. If you would like to explore how to take your next steps please ​check out my website​ to find out more about working with me. I have one place left for one to one coaching starting in May, and ​I would love to chat with you​ to see how I can help you to make a start on your next fabulous adventure.
Best wishes,
Lucinda x