– Nicole Krauss (The History of Love)

Lately, most of my very successful and massively creative friends have admitted to a problem. They all have a compulsion and they don’t know how it happened. It turns out that they have developed a pattern of behavior that quite simply can be called nothing less than the extravagant possession of information, techniques, and wisdom. No . . . that’s not quite right. If we’re going to examine this condition precisely, then we must use precise descriptions. My friends don’t obsessively collect information, techniques, and wisdom. They obsessively collect the containers for such things. In other words, these warriors of commerce buy, gather, and download books and magazines and save emails and websites . . . BUT THEY DON’T READ OR USE THEM! There is almost some strange sense of other-worldly thought transference they believe will take place by simply having a book or magazine or email or website near at hand.

On the other end of the spectrum are the devil-may-care personalities – those friends who believe themselves to be the victims of information overload. Their mechanism of defense to their information burdens has become a trash-it-all mindset. You know the type . . . these are the ones who have relegated themselves to moving through life with just the knowledge and information they have already accumulated. They have closed down. They are not open to anything new and different. They are happy to stay right where they are in life.

In helping you to fashion a magical life strategy that continues to move you forward towards realization of your dreams, I urge you to consider the following: both of these types of people are reacting to fear. And, in running from this fear, both the pack-rat and trash-it-all individuals want the same thing – control. In other words, for the pack-rat mentality, amassing a collection of books and magazines and information (even if unread and unused) provides the comfort of being able to say, “I will have just what I need at hand when the time comes,” in an otherwise stress-laden world. And the trash-it-all type, in blindly discarding books, magazines, and information (that have yet to be read or used) obtains comfort by eliminating what they believe to be part of the unwanted deluge of information they receive on a daily basis.

My own research and experience indicate that both types are really just continually filling (the pack-rat) or trying to keep from overflowing (the trash-it-all) emotional holes created from insecurity, anxiety, and a sense of danger. There is a secret two-step short-cut, of course, to finding a middle ground so that you can easily stay open to new information and wisdom while also drawing boundaries over how much information and wisdom you can take on at any given moment.

FINDING A MIDDLE GROUND

STEP ONE. Take a real look at what either being a pack-rat or trash-it-all type is doing to you. What is truly motivating you? Is this mindset really serving you well or is it just a senseless reaction to the world around you? When you examine the authentic reasons for your mindset, an awakening immediately takes place and a new clear-headed vision is available to you.

STEP TWO. Start being discerning. Eliminate the prior strategy that no longer serves you. In its place, examine new bits of information and wisdom on a case-by-case basis. Instead of going through life with an irrational habit and always asking “what if I need this?” (the pack-rat) or always saying “I will never need this?” (the trash-it-all), become more realistic. You may, in fact, judge something to be useful for you in the future. And, you may evaluate something not to be too effective for you in the foreseeable future. The decision you make is not what’s important in changing your routine. The significant change comes when you realize you can bring a critical eye to each decision and be comfortable in doing so.

It is easy to now see that you are no longer a slave to either a pack-rat or trash-it-all mentality. Instead, you are now free to harvest information, experience, understanding, and wisdom on a case-by-case basis and delight in that state of affairs.

If you enjoyed this, I’d be grateful if you click below to share this with others. That’s right, go ahead and help spread this information by emailing it to a friend, or sharing it on Twitter, Facebook, or Google+. Thank you!

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© 2013 by Scott Grossberg. All Rights Reserved. thinkingmagically.com

Everyone has one or more characteristics that distinguish them from someone else. When those characteristics conspire to make someone so distinct that other people stand up and take notice, it is said that person has an aura about them. Some would call it an energy force. Others would say that it is a mystique or vibration about a person that makes them seem important!

A person with a strong mystique is usually described by others with terms like:

Imaginative
Fascinating
Unusual
Energetic
Incredible
Powerful
Passionate
Magnetic
Mysterious
Interesting
Special

When you get to those times when you feel that your inner glow has diminished, here are some tips and tricks to put into play to get your sense of heightened value back:

1.  Pay Attention to Your Body Language. More often than not, a subtle shift in the way you use your body is all that is needed to get your aura back! Get a picture in your mind’s eye of what someone who exudes any of the traits listed above looks like and compare that imaginary image with how you are really asserting (or not asserting) yourself. Once you reassert your positive and confident body language, you will see that you will, once again, be able to get people to focus on you anytime you so desire.

2.  Get Out There and Mingle. Commit yourself to not only being accessible but as someone who truly enjoys the company of and conversation with others. When you are in a funk that takes away the glow of your aura, forcing yourself to get out there and enjoy yourself can be ambitious. And . . . it is the perfect correction that must be made in order to put a shine on yourself, yet again.

3.  Take Calculated Risks and Be Determined. You tend to lose your glow in direct proportion to how much you have lost your direction in life. When you get a sense that you have lost your way, that is the exact moment when you should sit down and write out new and demanding goals. In the business world, James Collins and Jerry Porras have called this creating a Big Hairy Audacious Goal. While Collins and Porras used this concept to empower companies to create and determine ambitious goals, the technique works equally well for individuals. In other words, to use the Collins and Porras principle, you want to create a vision of yourself or outline of your goals/dreams/aspirations that is “clear and compelling, serves as unifying focal point of effort, and acts as a clear catalyst” for your path forward. Your vision should also have a definitive finish point so that you know when your goal has been achieved.

4.  Take No Prisoners. So you’re feeling a little lackluster and your aura seems muted. Get over it. You must be persistent in your personal obligation to be successful. This responsibility brings with it the essential component of never settling for anything. You understand that life is a series of choices and consequences from those choices. And you understand that making choices is one of the greatest gifts you can be given. It certainly beats the alternative of constantly being the victim of other people’s decisions. In your case, one of the quickest ways to get your glow back is to never settle for anything other than the best for yourself.

5. Focus. Focus. Focus. Your aura – your mystique – thrives on the concentration of attention – yours and others. If you have lost your glow, check to see if you haven’t simply become distracted and inattentive. Nothing diminishes an inner glow like neglect of oneself. And the fact remains that if you don’t care enough to be focused on what you do, why should anyone else? The fix for this situation is an easy one – direct both your attention and your intention to wanting, having, and being MORE!

6.  Be Deliberately Mystifying. When people are attracted to you or notice you for an unknown reason (in other words, they really can’t put their fingers on what it is, they just know they want to be around you), you have mystique. Part of that mystique is fueled by being somewhat aloof (even though you are getting out there and mingling). Don’t be too transparent. Rather, only share that part of you that is essential and leave the drama at home.

In the end, whichever of the listed tools you choose to put into play, getting your glow back is all about getting out there and participating in life. It is all about attracting and delighting other people. It is all about others seeing, feeling, and finding the value in you that you know you have. So . . . make certain you spend that aura well.

If you enjoyed this, I’d be grateful if you click below to share this with others. That’s right, go ahead and help spread this information by emailing it to a friend, or sharing it on Twitter, Facebook, or Google+. Thank you!

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© 2013 by Scott Grossberg. All Rights Reserved. thinkingmagically.com

                                                                                    - William Hague

Good mojo is the magic that lives in you . . . that superpower we all have that lets us take a chokehold over our destinies and which is irresistible when listened to. Good mojo is the stuff of dreams made real through essential action. In some regards, your good mojo is the most authentic part of you because it is what makes you feel vital and compel you to achieve. When your good mojo is operating properly, you have a sense – deep down in your spirit – that you are bulletproof; that you are different, special, and exempt from low spirits and unhappiness. Having one’s good mojo well in hand, then, is not simply a transitory perception, it is a pervasive way of thinking that has dramatic and mighty consequences. Most importantly, your personal good mojo is forceful in direct proportion to your expectations about how the world works.

Still . . . everyone has their down days or what has been called bad mojo. Whether physiological or psychological (or a little of both) in origin, even those who embrace positive thinking and passionate living as a daily habit experience stress, self-doubt, and concern. The difference is that consistently successful people and those who have created sustainable abundance know that bad mojo is simply here today and gone tomorrow unless they give in to its power and let it seize their outlook. Winners know how to transmute their bad mojo into good mojo and you’re about to learn that secret!

When I work with people on personal and executive coaching, I routinely find that, for someone’s good mojo to be at the forefront and act as strong and potent magic, there has to be a balance of four primary ingredients: wealth, love, health, and possibilities. To create and maintain this balance of parts – and to regain or jumpstart your good mojo – give the following steps a confident whirl:

GETTING YOUR GOOD MOJO WORKING

STEP ONE.  Confront Your Bad Mojo. The last thing you want to let happen is for your bad mojo – your bad mood – to twist and turn out into something even more negative and ill-serving. One of the fundamental stress workarounds suggested by coaches is to catch yourself and your negative thinking/circumstances and face it head-on. This confrontation with your bad mojo helps prevent you from moving into a victim mentality. One of the fastest ways to do this is to keep asking yourself: Is the story my bad mojo is telling me (about work, about love, about health, and about life) real?

Then, consider the following – Excuses or results. Pick one! A result-oriented mindset banishes bad mojo faster than anything else!

Finally, use an magic spell to neutralize your bad mojo – INSTANTLY. Here’s one to consider and it comes from Jim Henson’s movie, Labryinth: My will is as strong as yours, and my kingdom is as great. You have no power over me. Simply hold your bad mojo in mind and say these words to it.

STEP TWO.  Let The Bad Mojo Burn Itself Out. If confronting your bad mojo does not intuitively feel like it will serve you well, then the next step is to stop struggling. Simply acknowledge that you are in a bad mood or stuck or things don’t appear to be going your way. Just accept the apparent realness of your situation. Then, repeat the following magic spell to yourself: This, too, shall pass! One you recognize and embrace your bad mojo, it has a tradition of suddenly becoming unusable by that part of you that invited it in in the first place and quietly goes away.

STEP THREE. Get Your Good Mojo Moving. Life is about moving forward! Whether you confront your bad mojo or let it burn itself out, start doing little things that help inspire you. I have written before about using this powerful spell: Everything happens for a reason and it serves me! You might also want to create your own personal manifesto along the lines of Lululemon’s famous offering (http://www.lululemon.com/about/manifesto) and as I wrote about in an earlier article (http://scottgrossberg.wordpress.com/2011/04/10/thinking-magically%E2%84%A2-life-theme-mandala/). Additionally, find an inspiring and soul-stirring theme song and play it LOUD! And remember to move and exercise to get your blood (and your good mojo) moving.

No one need lose their good mojo forever. These three steps provide you with fast and easy ways to get your good mojo back so that you can make your dreams come true with more power and success than ever!

If you enjoyed this, I’d be grateful if you click below to share this with others. That’s right, go ahead and help spread this information by emailing it to a friend, or sharing it on Twitter, Facebook, or Google+. Thank you!

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© 2013 by Scott Grossberg. All Rights Reserved. thinkingmagically.com

One of the magical techniques I develop with people is the ability to look at or talk with someone and create instant understanding and a feeling of sustained kinship. This is done with an internal scripting that you repeat to yourself as you interact with someone and it is as simple as saying “I Love You!” to the other person. It doesn’t matter if you’ve never met this person before or they used to be an enemy. It doesn’t matter if you are doing this remotely by phone or via web broadcast. Remember: this is an internal scripting – not something you say aloud. This inner dialogue, when used earnestly, manifests itself in your eyes, body language, and your voice. You can’t help but vibrate at a level that mandates trust and agreement.

Today, I want you to take this intrinsic “I Love You” technique to an even higher level of accomplishment and capability! Believe it or not, I want you to become an angel with protective and adopting wings! This ancient magic is so easy to carryout that you will find yourself wondering why everyone doesn’t do this . . .

SETTING YOUR ANGEL FREE

STEP ONE. Find a nice relaxing place to sit or lie; a location where you won’t be disturbed for a few moments. Make it a place where you are free to breathe easy and relish the inner peace that comes with knowing that, for these few moments, you don’t need to take care of anyone but yourself, no one needs you to do anything for a moment, and every breath just brings you more tranquility than the moment before.

STEP TWO. Only as quickly as you are ready to experience impressive power and benevolence, allow your eyes to close. Take one or two deep cleansing breaths as you center your attention on your heart. That’s right. Just go deeper and deeper inside yourself and relax.

STEP THREE. Now, bring your attention away from your heart and around to your back. Imagine feeling two wings starting to grow; small at first and then maturing out and back. And now imagine that your two wings have developed into their full height and width – the leading edges (the top of your wings) reach just above your head and the outer edge (the tip that is furthest from you) nearly touches the ground. Now, start to notice some things . . . What color are your wings? How do they feel when they move? Do you notice that your wings are as responsive and flexible as your other extremities? How do they make you feel? How do you make them feel?

STEP FOUR. Bow your head slowly into your chest. As you do so, fold your wings around your body so that you are wrapped completely in them. Notice the instant serenity and shelter that you feel – both physically and emotionally. Take a moment to truly experience this state of mind.

STEP FIVE. Now, unfold your wings and bring your head up proudly. Imagine your lordly wings extending fully out behind you. Stretch them out to their full extent and notice the power that pulses through them! Take a moment and truly experience this, as well.

STEP SIX. When you are ready, shrink and contract your wings back inside yourself knowing that you can expand them whenever you desire.

You are now equipped with a very mighty and compelling tool – your personal angel wings! Here’s how you are going to use them to increase your rapport with people:

STEP SEVEN. The next time you are with someone, imagine flexing your wings and then wrapping the other person fully in them. You want to hug them protectively and tightly! You can hold them as long as you deem appropriate. Let your intuition (and your wings) be your guide.

STEP EIGHT. Now, slowly unwrap the other person from your wings’ hold; keeping your wings ready to embrace them again, as needed.

I want to underscore that this technique is for use with so-called enemies as well as friends. In fact, use this with competitors and perceived challenging people and watch some if not all of the tension dissipate.

This technique has many more applications. I encourage you to explore your new found dimension and learn how to make this ancient magic part of your everyday arsenal.

If you enjoyed this, I’d be grateful if you click below to share this with others. That’s right, go ahead and help spread this information by emailing it to a friend, or sharing it on Twitter, Facebook, or Google+. Thank you!

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© 2013 by Scott Grossberg. All Rights Reserved. thinkingmagically.com

                                                                                                                                      – Jacques Yves Cousteau

If you enjoyed this, I’d be grateful if you click below to share this with others. That’s right, go ahead and help spread this information by emailing it to a friend, or sharing it on Twitter, Facebook, or Google+. Thank you!

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© 2013 by Scott Grossberg. All Rights Reserved. thinkingmagically.com

                                                             – Jean Racine

What if I told you that there is a way to constantly conjure the circumstances for your success? Would that be useful for you? Would you be daring enough to actually give the technique a try?

Before I share this magical secret with you, here’s a little background on what we will be exploring together. You have heard me mention my Ancient Magic | Modern Tools™ system before. The notion is rather straightforward. It is based on the unshakeable conviction that everyone can use established magical techniques to supercharge and transform your practical activities in order to achieve very real, consistent and sustainable results in today’s world! An alchemical blend of your strong intention, steadfast beliefs, and  impressive deeds, Ancient Magic | Modern Tools™ is as powerful as it is and so results-oriented simply because it applies your existing faith – your confidence in some one or some thing – to create and build real outcomes. Today, I want to open the door a little more on this orphic construct by exploring one of its core principles:

Thinking magically without effective action is doomed to failure.

Let’s stop deceiving ourselves right here and right now! Either the things you do in life are working for you or they aren’t. And, whether your actions are hard-hitting or powerless, there are usually evolved from habitual practices (actions) that could use some careful review and fine-tuning. If you want to end experiencing failed outcomes and start seeing prosperous results, you MUST develop systematic steps to success.

To put it another way, all successful people invariably know that faith, alone, is not enough to nourish them and provide the prosperity they desire. Wishing, alone, is not enough. You must exert useful action in furtherance of your goals in order to repeatedly achieve anything! It is not enough to simply accept magic as true or think grand thoughts or even fall to your knees in prayer; you must act as if magic was a tangible fact of life. This means looking for rationale correlations and systematic explanations between your intention, your deeds, and the results that follow and then focus in on what works and what doesn’t. You must take every opportunity to eliminate false beliefs and unfounded ideas from your life. Keep what works. Do away with what doesn’t.

George Bernard Shaw wrote: People are always blaming their circumstances for what they are. I don’t believe in circumstances. The people who get on in this world are the people who get up and look for the circumstances they want, and, if they can’t find them, make them.  Today you are being given a mighty technique for discovering the circumstances you want!

MAGICALLY CREATING CIRCUMSTANCES

STEP 1. Write down one goal that you want to achieve and which, when obtained, will serve you well. In writing out your destination, bring all your imagination and senses into play. Be creative. Be desirous. Be exhaustive. You’ll know when you’ve written enough because you will be passionate and energized by the dream you have before you.

STEP 2. Take a moment and notice how you feel! How will it be for you when everything you have written on that paper is achieved?

STEP 3. Now, imagine that achieving the goal you have written down MUST happen; that you have no choice!

STEP 4. Start writing for 10 solid minutes all the actions you can take to make your goal a reality. You must write for 10 minutes without stopping. And when you think you can’t write any more . . . write some more. Some of your best ideas and action plans will come after you hit the proverbial block wall.

STEP 5.  Look back over the list. Identify the top 2-3 action items that you think will be the most useful in making your dream come true.

STEP 6. Write out an action plan for yourself based on the 2-3 items identified in Step 5. This is the time to really elaborate and set forth specific deeds you must do.

STEP 7.  Execute your action plan. Every day. In every way. Taking action is the real key to success!

Once you go through this exercise, you will have a powerful tool that can be used for any goal and at any time. I think you will be quite surprised to find how inventive and resourceful you truly are! 

If you enjoyed this, I’d be grateful if you click below to share this with others. That’s right, go ahead and help spread this information by emailing it to a friend, or sharing it on Twitter, Facebook, or Google+. Thank you!

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© 2013 by Scott Grossberg. All Rights Reserved. thinkingmagically.com

                                                                                                      – Patrick Swayze

Last week I wrote about an active imagination technique that guided you through the creation of powerful protectors for the 12 life themes we all share:

1.  Travel/Adventure
2.  Health
3.  Personal Growth/Education
4.  Love/Relationship with Others
5.  Creativity/Self-Expression
6.  Faith/Religion
7.  Work/Career
8.  Lifestyle/Possessions
9.  Money
10.  World Situation/Environment
11.  Paranormal Abilities
12.  Philosophy of Life

Today, I want to take this method to the next incredible level by showing you how to take your invisible champions and put them to work in a dynamic way so as to make your dreams come true. This will require you to consciously enter into a dreamworld and interact with your guardians.

You will recall that your 12 guardians require that you recognize, receive, and embrace them in order for them to be of service for you. This involves you creating a mental construct whereby you actually interact with your fanciful guardians (Note: I don’t want you to be delusional, but I do want you to be able to channel the real force inside you). This procedure is necessary so that you can easily bypass the critical part of your consciousness and start connecting with your subconscious in order to get powerful answers and direction.

PUTTING YOUR 12 GUARDIANS TO WORK

STEP 1. Give each of your 12 guardians a name or title – something that you can use to distinguish each of them from the other. Each of these guardians is a separate entity for your subconscious to interact with. For this next step in the process, you will still be primarily observing what happens while your imagination creates images that connect you with your personal needs, wants, goals, desires, and – as Carl Jung maintained – the collective unconscious.

STEP 2. Choose one of the 12 guardians. Close your eyes and visualize this guardian standing in front of their door (this is similar to what you did in last week’s exercise). Now approach the guardian, this time with a specific intent in mind. For example, if you are moving towards your Money Guardian, perhaps you have obtaining abundance in mind. Or, alternatively, you might have increasing my financial condition as your intention.

STEP 3.  Speak directly to your chosen guardian BY NAME or BY TITLE. The use of your guardian’s true name (the one you have created) gives you a greater access to them. Now, observe what happens next.

STEP 4. Explain to your guardian what you would like them to help you achieve. So, using our earlier example, you might say, I wish to increase  my financial condition and I would like you to help me do that. (Note: YOU ARE NOT MAKING A DEMAND.) Pay close attention to the reaction from your guardian to your wish. Are you asked to do something? Are you given anything? Are you asked to eat or drink anything? Does your guardian touch you in any way? Is anything said back to you? ALL OF THESE ARE IMPORTANT! YOU MUST FOLLOW YOUR GUARDIAN’S COUNSEL AND DIRECTION IN EVERY DETAIL.

STEP 5. Inquire of your guardian whether they have understood your wish and whether they will fulfill the request. Wait until you are given a sign of confirmation and agreement. If you are not given such a sign, ask what needs to happen or be said or be done for this confirmation to occur.

STEP 6. Now show your gratitude to your guardian in advance of their help! Without your stated appreciation, your guardian will not do as you ask.

STEP 7. Now say goodbye to your guardian. Again, pay attention to what happens during this farewell as there is often a message of protection, peace, or attainment that is given to you before you depart.

STEP 8. Open your eyes and let your guardian do their work in their own time and in their own way! Upon going to sleep each night, again upon waking, and periodically through the day you might feel the impulse to check in with your chosen guardian. Go ahead and do so, but not to badger or keep an eye on them. Your brief visit will simply be to reinforce and reward the bond you have now made with them. Trust that they are doing what they need to do for you every moment of the day and night. You are merely acknowledging them at this step.

STEP 9. Repeat with each of your other 11 guardians on an as-needed basis. At the very least, perform Step 1 and give each of your guardians a name or title.

The more you practice these steps, the better your imagination becomes in allowing you to interact with your 12 guardians. And, once you get to know your 12 guardians extremely well and on a personal level, they will do all that they can to award, increase, and integrate your desires into your reality.

Now . . . go out and let your fantasies appear . . .

If you enjoyed this, I’d be grateful if you click below to share this with others. That’s right, go ahead and help spread this information by emailing it to a friend, or sharing it on Twitter, Facebook, or Google+. Thank you!

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© 2013 by Scott Grossberg. All Rights Reserved. thinkingmagically.com

                                                                         – Heraclitus

What if there was an active imagination technique that would take all the important areas of your life and get them moving in the direction of your dreams . . .  is that something you would want to know more about?

Shakti Gawain, in her spectacular book, Creative Visualization, explored 7 life themes around which you might want to set goals. I increased her deep perceptions to create 12 all-embracing life themes – motifs that also serve as a solid framework for my invisible circle of confidantes:

1.  Travel/Adventure
2.  Health
3.  Personal Growth/Education
4.  Love/Relationship with Others
5.  Creativity/Self-Expression
6.  Faith/Religion
7.  Work/Career
8.  Lifestyle/Possessions
9.  Money
10.  World Situation/Environment
11.  Paranormal Abilities
12.  Philosophy of Life

There is another way to extend these 12 themes to magically design a successful life; namely, imagining that there is an invisible, sacred guardian overseeing each and every one of these life topics; 12 protectors who  serve as your very own champions! If it’s more comfortable for you, you can replace the sacred guardian label with personal guide or even infinite energy descriptors.

Using the technique that follows, you will be connecting with your own creativity and fantasizing images, people, and things. The key to the process is to daydream. In other words, you want to let your mental pictures reveal themselves to you rather than you consciously creating the pictures.

Take the time to get to know your 12 guardians intimately and they will, without exaggeration, serve you from here on out!

FINDING YOUR 12 GUARDIANS

STEP 1. Choose one of the 12 life themes from the list above. As an example, let’s choose Money. Whether you are sitting comfortably or lying down, close your eyes and imagine a door . . . a door that, when opened, leads to all the wealth and riches you desire. As you approach the door to open it, a guardian for the Money door – and that door, alone – appears to you. Now watch and remember all that happens. Notice how your guardian is dressed. Pay attention to what they say and what they do. Who or what are they? Are you given something? Are you shown anything? How do you behave? Do you express gratitude? And what is the door they are guarding like? Take as much time in this magical reverie as needed and only come back to the here and now when you are satisfied that you and this guardian have befriended one another and that your guardian has assured you that they will be of service to you forevermore.

STEP 2. Get a journal and write down your experiences with the guardian you just encountered. Put down as much detail as you can remember and make certain to express the emotions you felt (and perhaps still feel). Once you complete this step, this fanciful guardian will be there to serve and sustain you in ways we will discover a little later.

STEP 3.  You’ve reunited with one of your 12 guardians, you have 11 to go. You don’t have to meet them all in one sitting. In fact, take some time between each imaginary journey so that you can ponder the great gifts and visions you are being given. When you are ready, go back and meet the remaining guardians. Make certain that you write down your flashes of insight and discoveries!

EXTRA CREDIT: Draw pictures of the 12 guardians and doors you have encountered.
The 12 guardians you have recognized, received, and embraced are there to be of service for you. They thrive on answering your beck and call. They know they are responsible for watching over each of your life theme areas and providing you with just what you need to thrive in each of those areas. Whether you desire to think of these guardians as the source of inspiration, a type of guardian angel, or just a means of providing yourself with a good old fashioned pep talk, you now have an army of heroes who can be called upon at any time and anywhere that is needed.

Next week, we will take this technique to the next level as we learn to put the magic of your 12 guardians to work . . .

If you enjoyed this, I’d be grateful if you click below to share this with others. That’s right, go ahead and help spread this information by emailing it to a friend, or sharing it on Twitter, Facebook, or Google+. Thank you!

And make sure to sign up for my blog mailing list so you get all future postings delivered directly to your inbox.

© 2013 by Scott Grossberg. All Rights Reserved. thinkingmagically.com

                                                    – Erin Morgenstern

I just bought a magical device for my home . . . a set of LED lightbulbs that allow me to program the look/color of a room. Rather than simple (and boring) white light, these bulbs work in conjunction with an iPhone app to let me create any mood with the color of my own choosing at any time. How do I know what color scheme to choose for a room? Well, it all starts with a simple yet powerful question: “How do I want to feel?” Once I know how I want to feel, I can choose the color that will conjure that emotion. Do you already sense where this is going . . . ?

Color psychology is captivating. Some studies have shown that color is so powerful that the effectiveness of pills is even impacted by the color of the pills; the color having an irrefutable influence on a patient’s anticipation, hopefulness, and outlook. Carl Jung, in fact, spent a great deal of time studying and applying color symbolism to his work (some of this coming from his contemplation of alchemical texts and their discussion of transmutation, advancement, and transition).  Simply, you can choose colors to excite both sides of your brain, make you more relaxed, and provoke happiness.

So how do you start changing your mood?

STEP 1. Answer the question: How do I want to feel?

STEP 2. Select a color that represents how you want to feel. For example, if you want to use the color associations that I discuss in my book, The Vitruvian Square, you would choose from the following:

RED – Beginning; Renewing
ORANGE – Connecting; Reconnecting
YELLOW – Creating; Re-Creating
GREEN – Building; Rebuilding
BLUE – Changing; Replacing
INDIGO – Uniting; Reuniting
VIOLET – Defeating; Retaking
BLACK – Moving; Removing
WHITE – Completing; Refinishing

Here are some additional associations/meanings which are often linked with colors to help you with Step 2:

RED = One of the primary colors, it is energizing and passionate. Red will increase your vital signs. It will also attract others to you.

ORANGE = This color is obtained by mixing red with yellow. This is the color to choose if you don’t want the intensity of red. This color allows you to look distinguished without the “in your face” punch of pure red.

YELLOW = One of the primary colors, it is the color of the sun. It creates rapport and happy thoughts (if not overused).

GREEN = This color is obtained by mixing blue and yellow. It is thought to be a color of healing and stress relief.

BLUE = One of the primary colors, this is the color of composure and tranquility.

INDIGO = This is the color of mysticism, mystery, and wisdom. It falls between blue and violet.

VIOLET = This is a mixture of blue and red and usually represents royalty and aristocracy. It can also represent bravery, courage, and wealth.

BLACK = Black can represent accomplishment, power, and style. Black creates a feeling of profoundness.

WHITE = The “clean” color. This is the color of innocence, honor, pureness, and morality.

Another way to determine what colors match with particular moods for you, use the technique of my friend, Enrique Enriquez; namely, ask yourself: What in life (in nature) is _________________ [fill in a color]? and find those examples. Then ask yourself how those scenes in nature make you feel.

STEP 3. Imagine yourself surrounded by a ball of the color your wish to use. If it helps, you can imagine a colored spotlight of the color you wish to use shining down from above. Then, imagine yourself stepping into that spotlight of preferred color.

STEP 4. Make a conscious choice to start wearing the color that represents the mood you want to feel. This can be an undergarment, a piece of jewelry, and even a color swatch from a paint store that you keep in your pocket.

There can be no doubt that your mental, emotional, and physical condition are affected by the colors around you. It’s time to start choosing which color best represents you and your goals.

If you enjoyed this, I’d be grateful if you click below to share this with others. That’s right, go ahead and help spread this information by emailing it to a friend, or sharing it on Twitter, Facebook, or Google+. Thank you!

And make sure to sign up for my blog mailing list so you get all future postings delivered directly to your inbox.

© 2013 by Scott Grossberg. All Rights Reserved. thinkingmagically.com

Today I’m offering you an arts and crafts project; a personal creation gizmo that you can carry with you at all times and which will serve as an immediate shot in the arm at just the right moment. Intrigued?

Read on . . .

SUPPLIES AND TOOLS NEEDED:

•    Blank business cards (you can get a variety of these from your local print shop or office supply store)
•    Pen or other writing/painting instrument (alternatively, you can print from your computer on the card stock)
•    Your positive thinking

PROJECT EXPLANATION:

If you scan a newspaper, watch television news, listen to the radio, partake in social media exchanges, or get RSS feeds, you are exposed to bad news, dire predictions, tense and angry conversations, and negative agendas on a daily basis. And . . . if you interact at all with other people, you will inevitably run into the whiners and cry-babies of the world. How do you stop all this negativity from embedding itself into your way of thinking?

There is one easy and powerful strategy for staying positive: create a series of fundamental Rules of Thumb For Right Living (personal operating principles) that you can look at thoughtfully. These are written reminders of how you want to behave. What you write down will be your generalizations of those ways of being that you accept as true for you! They are the reasoning behind what you do. In other words, your operating constructs about how to behave will direct the choices that you make!

Your set of written reminders might contain:

1.  A description of a profound assumption

2.  A code of conduct, courtesy, or knightliness

3.  An ideal for good behavior

4.  A mantra, motto, or slogan that creates or represents transformation for you

Here are some examples collected from a variety of sources to get you going on your own:

Trust your instincts

Follow your bliss

Make play a priority

Nice matters

Question everything

Believe the impossible

What would you do if you knew you could not fail?

Challenge yourself everyday

Excellence is a habit

Think before you speak

Inspire others

Live in the moment

Always give more than you promise

All you need is love

The best is yet to come

And my own Thinking Magically favorite, of course:

Stop Wishing. Start Having!

The key to making these as effective and potent as possible is phrasing them in the positive! Remember, these are intended to be an anti-negativity inoculation.

PROJECT INSTRUCTIONS:

STEP 1. Take a separate piece of paper and write out as many fundamental operating principles as you can. Don’t worry if it’s not exhaustive. You can always add more later (or take some away for that matter).

STEP 2. Take your blank business cards and write out your Rules of Thumb For Right Living (one per card). Be as imaginative and artistic as you want. Add drawings or photos or other types of artwork if you so desire. If you want some inspiration, check out one of my favorite places: http://www.duirwaigh.com (click on the Portfolio link). Of take a look here at the Creative Whack Pack: http://www.creativewhack.com.

STEP 3. Assemble all of your written Rules of Thumb For Right Living into a transformational and motivational deck of cards. You can put a rubber band around them or put them in a business card case or wrap them in a piece of cloth . . . anything that makes them handy to access.

STEP 4. Use the deck every day to reinforce your principles, arouse your intuition, and keep sane! There are no rules for how you review your card(s). Perhaps one day you use it as a divination deck. Another day you might spread all the cards out and read yourself a story. Still another day you might pull just one card in response to a particularly challenging situation. Enjoy the journey!

EXTRA CREDIT:

Carry some blank business cards with you. When you encounter someone who might need a pick-me-up, use the inspiration of the moment and write out a fundamental operating principle giveaway! Hand them the card and brighten their day. You can even turn this practice into a random act of kindness, leaving your mysterious, handwritten cards about (do not litter) for others to find!

If you enjoyed this, I’d be grateful if you click below to share this with others. That’s right, go ahead and help spread this information by emailing it to a friend, or sharing it on Twitter, Facebook, or Google+. Thank you!

And make sure to sign up for my blog mailing list so you get all future postings delivered directly to your inbox.

© 2013 by Scott Grossberg. All Rights Reserved. thinkingmagically.com