Thinking Magically™ | A Gift For You – New Shadow Thoughts Release

“I will soothe you and heal you,
I will bring you roses.
I too have been covered with thorns.”
– Jalaluddin Rumi

Are you ready for some Magic? Let’s find out.

I’m so excited. My new digital collection of Shadow Thoughts is here. And it’s filled with daily enchantments designed to keep you powerful, positive, and profoundly motivated.

You have three ways to save, post, like, and live them:

DOWNLOAD THE PDF: CLICK HERE to access the download as a PDF.

DOWNLOAD INDIVIDUAL IMAGES: CLICK HERE to access the Shadow Thoughts images individually so that you can download and use them as wallpaper and SHARE THEM ON SOCIAL MEDIA!

DOWNLOAD ZIP FILE OF ALL IMAGES: CLICK HERE to access all the Shadow Thoughts images in one compressed file.

I’m certain you’re going to find this new release fascinating and that you’ll get a lot of inspiration from this download. Plus, I’m more than happy for you to share it with those special loved ones and friends you know will benefit from a little more Magic in their lives.

There are no strings attached. I’m gifting this to you because you’ve been part of the adventure.

Here’s to your continued success and happiness. – Scott Here’s to your continued success and happiness. – Scott

If you enjoyed this article, make sure to sign up for my blog mailing list so you get all future postings delivered directly to your inbox.

© 2016 by Scott Grossberg. All Rights Reserved. thinkingmagically.com

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Thinking Magically™ | Giving Yourself Permission To Be Successful And Happy

“When you give yourself permission to communicate what matters to you in every situation
you will have peace despite rejection or disapproval.
Putting a voice to your soul helps you to
let go of the negative energy of fear and regret.”
– Shannon L. Alder

I spend a lot of time, as an attorney, working with businesses developing participation and permission slips for events, field trips, and other activities. These “slips” not only show a person’s voluntary intent to actively take part in “something,” they also authorize, allow, and even sanction certain activities that will take place.

So how does this have anything to do with your success and happiness?
I repeatedly explain to people that they need to participate in their own success and happiness. Too many of us live our lives through absence, hunch, and delay. We postpone what we want while we make certain that other people’s dreams prescribe what we do, how we do it, and even how we feel about it.

Why do we do that?

A lot of it has to do with how we “feel.” Right when we start to really envision how our success and happiness could be if we could have anything we want and before we actually start out on the road to that dream life, we might feel fear. We might feel frustration. We might feel anger. We might feel heartbreak. We might feel [go ahead and fill in whatever you’d like here that, in the past, you’ve felt, thought about, and experienced that wasn’t empowering or useful to you].

Then, before we start off on that road to adventure (or as we just step forward in that direction), we push off the negativity, push down the dark and twisty feelings, push the angst away, and hope that by locking it all in some imaginary closet and giving Time enough time to work its Magic, all the negative feelings or thinkings or experiences will eventually go . . . POOF!

Unfortunately, we both know that the bad feelings, thoughts, and experiences don’t fade away. Oh, we can pretend we’re not giving them much thought. We do whatever we can to be busy so we’re distracted away from those uncomfortable feelings, thoughts, and experiences. We might even become workaholics, alcoholics, drug addicts, etc. to escape it all.

Enough.

There’s a better way.

Today, you get some freedom. Today, you get some relief. Today, you get to lead your own life and you get to give yourself permission to actually go through the process of participating in your own glorious adventure.

It starts with you going to my FREE RESOURCE page here >>> http://www.thinkingmagically.com/free-resources

Once you’re on that page, you’ll see an image that looks like this:

Click on that image [“A Most Magical Permission Slip”]. That will take you to the full-page image you will need; an image that has three permission slips on it. Download the full-page image (in other words, save it to your computer). Then, using your favorite photo editor, illustration program, or perhaps even an image preview app, print out the image of the three permission slips onto an 8 ½ x 11 inch pice of paper. Don’t be concerned if you only have a black and white printer. Although the image was created in color, you can work through my strategy with a greyscale version of the image.

Now that you’ve downloaded, saved, and printed the image, take a look at this training video >>>

Take the time to think back on all those dreams you’ve had but never acted upon because you were too afraid or too anxious or too angry or too disempowered. Wouldn’t you like all that to be part of the past and not an indication of how you’ll act now and in the future? One of the best ways I know to change your negative response rituals (the ones that are keeping you from being happy and successful, not the ones that are built-in to keep you safe and sane) is to give yourself permission to feel all the “bad” stuff in the first place. Being happy implies that you know what it’s like not to be happy. Being successful implies that you know what it’s like not to be successful. I’ve found that, for me, I have to know both sides—not embrace one and disown the other.

I’m inviting you to start using the Most Magical Permission Slips EVERY SINGLE DAY. Dare to feel fully and be alive and in the moment. Stop stockpiling your dirty little secrets, your “that’s not very nice” thoughts, your feelings of inadequacy, and your sense of unfairness. When you create that type of backlog and reserve of negativity, all you do is invite your subconscious (and eventually your conscious self) to reflect on that fear, worry, and doubt over and over and over again.

So . . . you now have permission. To be successful. To be happy!

Here’s to your ecstatic life!

One More Thing . . . would you like to start getting more results, more happiness, and more success? Take a look at my new coaching options by going here >>> http://www.thinkingmagically.com/coaching

Remember, you can also continue this conversation by subscribing to my blog at http://thinkingmagically.com or you joining me on any of the major social media sites to take this discussion to an even deeper level.

© 2016 by Scott Grossberg. All Rights Reserved. thinkingmagically.com

Thinking Magically™ | 3 Wellsprings of Inspiration for Magicians

“It’s hard to beat a person who never gives up.”
– Babe Ruth

When I decided to lose weight—a lot of weight—I determined that I wanted to use a trainer to help me get back in shape. I wanted to lose 75 pounds. I wanted to do it smartly, quickly, and in a way that could be maintained.

How do you choose someone to keep you motivated?

How do you choose someone to keep you inspired?

How do you choose someone who has the best chance of getting you to your desired goal?

I have a simple rule.

I invite you to adopt it.

It goes like this:

If you’re not doing what I want to be doing,
I’m not interested in your
comments, input, or advice.

For the purpose of losing weight and getting in shape, I chose a couple of different trainers who:

Looked like I wanted to look

and

worked out like I wanted to work out.

Choosing is simple.

Finding—so you can make that choice—is somewhat more complicated.

When it comes to honing my Magic and getting help from others, then, my rule goes like this:

If you’re not living a life of Magic,
I’m not interested in your
comments, input, or advice.

What rules are you loving and living and lasting by?

I’m willing to bet that most of us are letting our mentors and our trainers and our coaches appear by chance (no, really, it’s chance because you’re aren’t participating in the success of find them in the first place) and then chosen by hunch (no, really, you’re making choices based on incomplete information, feelings, and notions rather than solid information). I think you all know that there are far too many supposed experts who, when you dig below the surface, aren’t what they seem to be.

There’s a better way.

And that’s to simply find those people who are actually and already doing what you want to be doing.

Do some homework.

Then connect with them.

By the way, one of the best ways to connect with people is by figuring out what you have to offer them to make them feel better (it’s what we all want, after all). That’s a far different approach and intent to making friends and partnering with someone than coming at it with a scheme to get all you can, suck them dry of their life’s work, and move on to the next shiny thing.

Now . . . back to our regularly scheduled article . . .

While you’re in the process of designing and creating your coveted coaching relationship, you might want to consider using the following three sources to provide you with wizardly inspiration, keep you enchantedly motivated, and light a fire under your magical ass (remember, Knowledge is not Magic. Doing is Magic).

These three very practical and immediately useable resources are not meant to be exhaustive (naturally). They are not meant to be exclusive (nothing is). They are meant to give you some of the same resource material that I rely on so you, too, can continue forward with your choice to live a life filled with Magic!

Lost your motivation or direction? Get some one-stop rocket fuel right here.

Many of you know the name, Guy Kawasaki. Many of you don’t know that he is responsible for a wonderful article aggregator called Alltop. From Alltop’s own description of its Purpose: “The purpose of Alltop is to help you answer the question, ‘What’s happening?’ in ‘all the topics’ that interest you. . . . We do this by collecting the headlines of the latest stories from the best sites and blogs that cover a topic.’”

Check out >>> http://inspiration.alltop.com/

There you will find items from zenhabits, Gretchen Rubin, Daily Inspiration, and even me!

How to brand your Magic so others find you unforgettable.

I’ve written and spoken about this before. Without an audience, your Magic has no place to express itself. You need an audience. And you need to take control over that audience, manage your message, and stay relevant. Lots of people tell you to brand yourself, develop your elevator speech, learn to pitch, market wisely through social media, and on and on. Very few of them, however, provide you with any practical methods for developing your content in the first place.

One of my favorite resources is called copyblogger | Content Marketing Mastery. You can find them at >>> http://www.copyblogger.com/

There are certainly paid services and products you can obtain through copyblogger. I think you’ll find the free content more than enough to get you started and keep you going. Copyblogger founder, Brian Clark, is one of those guys who’s doing what he teaches – not just talking hypothetically or philosophically.

Creating a magical tribe is simple. It’s not always easy. But it is simple.

I’ve never been to the World Domination Summit.

I’ve never met Chris Guillebeau.

But I love the concept of the summit. And I love Chris’ approach to life.

In creating your magical life, you don’t have to physically meet each of your mentors or coaches or trainers. You can learn from them through books, online material, and second-hand information.

Take a look at what Chris has been able to accomplish since 2011 >>> https://worlddominationsummit.com/story

You can deconstruct what Chris (and others like him) have done to create their following, their revolution, and their change in the world.

Now, how can you take these three wellsprings of inspiration and use them in your own world? I’d love to hear and read how these magical tools are wielded by you to create the life of your dreams.

One More Thing . . . would you like to start getting more results, more happiness, and more success? Take a look at my new coaching options by going here >>> http://www.thinkingmagically.com/coaching

Remember, you can also continue this conversation by subscribing to my blog at http://thinkingmagically.com or you joining me on any of the major social media sites to take this discussion to an even deeper level.

© 2016 by Scott Grossberg. All Rights Reserved. thinkingmagically.com

Thinking Magically™ | The Best from 2015

I’m selfish, impatient and a little insecure.
I make mistakes, I am out of control and at times hard to handle.
But if you can’t handle me at my worst,
then you sure as hell don’t deserve me at my best.

– Marilyn Monroe

Well, we’re well into the start of 2016. This is a perfect time to revisit my Top 10 favorite posts of 2015 so that you have them all in one place. So, here we go (and, as I’ve said in prior year’s reviews, this is kind of like picking which of your children is your favorite):

1.  From January 11 – A Birthday Present — The 5 Most Important Lessons You Could Learn in 2015

This was published on my birthday a year ago. I posed some questions. The questions were designed to help you focus on your quality of life and those things that make you happier and more successful. The answers you provide to these questions help to fuel your energy and emotional sustenance. Take a look.

https://scottgrossberg.wordpress.com/2015/01/11/thinking-magically-a-birthday-present-the-5-most-important-lessons-you-could-learn-in-2015/

2.  From January 25 – Do You Make Good Magic? Follow These 2 Steps and You Will.

I know what I’m talking about when we discuss Magic. I know, for example, that it’s easy to use and apply. In this post, I go right to the heart of creating and using and understanding GOOD MAGIC. It all comes down to respect, by the way.

https://scottgrossberg.wordpress.com/2015/01/25/thinking-magically-do-you-make-good-magic-follow-these-2-steps-and-you-will/

3.  From February 8 – Treat Your Magic Like a Lover

This article is all about one of my favorite concepts—treating your Magic like a lover. Many people I run into think that “doing magic” is an ultimate outcome — a result that you hurry to achieve. Nothing could be further from the truth. Magic, like being with a lover, is a journey, a process, an activity. Read this and get back in touch with what matters.

https://scottgrossberg.wordpress.com/2015/02/08/thinking-magically-treat-your-magic-like-a-lover/

4.  From March 22 – Finally Making Yourself Great

There’s something truly unique about consistently successful magicians. In this article, I walk you through the steps for writing a love letter to yourself. Why? Because it’s one of the best ways for you to recognize, acknowledge, and develop a HEALTHY SELF-LOVE of yourself. Be prepared. This is about creating a really romantic — perhaps even erotic — letter to yourself explaining why you are such a fantastic addition to the Universe.

https://scottgrossberg.wordpress.com/2015/03/22/thinking-magically-finally-making-yourself-great/

5.  From April 12 – The Decision to be a Magician

“The Most Magical Secret” was written for those who choose to live a life of Magic. This article isn’t just about that choice, itself, but about the 7 Steps to a Magical Life. If you want to be a systematically successful magician, you need to make the decision to be consistently extraordinary — not in the sense of imposing yourself on others but in the sense of transforming the world around you. The elements for that consistency can be found here.

https://scottgrossberg.wordpress.com/2015/04/12/thinking-magically-the-decision-to-be-a-magician/

6.  From May 10 – The 11 Traits of Believable Magic

Here are some things to think about . . . Do you have what it takes to be a wonder-worker? Would you like to trust in your magic, again? Can you wield an enchantment strong enough to make your dreams come true? Will you place enough faith both in yourself and in something greater than yourself to carry you to the end? Are you enough? Is your magic enough? In this article, I’ve set out the 11 traits I believe can turn you into a consistently successful and believable Magician.

https://scottgrossberg.wordpress.com/2015/05/10/thinking-magically-the-11-traits-of-believable-magic/

7.  From May 17 – 6 Ways to Have a Wonderfully Magical Mindset

I specialize in restoring mindsets, adjusting attitudes, and polishing outlooks. In this article, I help you to understand that Magic is a matter of priorities and a determination of what’s important in your life and what is not. So, would you like to create a wonderfully magical mindset of your own? You’ll find 6 suggestions here.

https://scottgrossberg.wordpress.com/2015/05/17/thinking-magically-6-ways-to-have-a-wonderfully-magical-mindset/

8.  From June 21 –When Magicians Feel “Unmagical” This is What They Do!

We all experience motivation challenges from time to time. Everybody has felt “empty” at one point or another in their life. Many of us have been “lost” more than a few times. I wrote this article for those times when you get to the point where you are feeling “unmagical.” Here you’ll find some simple steps to get your joy, impulse, and drive going again.

https://scottgrossberg.wordpress.com/2015/06/21/thinking-magically-when-magicians-feel-unmagical-this-is-what-they-do/

9. From July 12 – The Most Effective Way to Change Your Life (3 Minutes at a Time)

If you know anything about me at all, you’ll know I’m a big proponent of using music to create a magical lifestyle. This article is an update of my Ancient Magic, Modern Tools™ approach to creating playlists that fill you with power, passion, and positivity.

https://scottgrossberg.wordpress.com/2015/07/12/thinking-magically-the-most-effective-way-to-change-your-life-3-minutes-at-a-time/

10. From August 23 – The Toiling Person’s Guide to Taking On Magic

William James and I were born on the same day (January 11). He wrote: “Success or failure depends more upon attitude than upon capacity successful men act as though they have accomplished or are enjoying something. Soon it becomes a reality. Act, look, feel successful, conduct yourself accordingly, and you will be amazed at the positive results.” So . . . this is my “Act as if” article for you to devour.

https://scottgrossberg.wordpress.com/2015/08/23/thinking-magically-the-toiling-persons-guide-to-taking-on-magic/

11. From September 12 – If You’re Not Worried About The High Concept Fueling Your Magic . . . You Should Be

Hollywood-types like to talk about, push, and buy high concept movies and television. You might never have heard the term “high concept” before. But it’s one that every Magician needs to know because it helps you to be more effective. This article will show you how to bring a “high concept” to your Magic.

https://scottgrossberg.wordpress.com/2015/09/20/thinking-magically-if-youre-not-worried-about-the-high-concept-fueling-your-magic-you-should-be/

12. From October 11 – Crawling Inside Your Audience’s Head

I realized a profound truth a long time ago. You always have an audience. You want them to feel something. You want them to think something. You want them to do something. Here are some solid suggestions for managing what’s going on inside an audience’s head. Without an audience, a Magician can’t enchant or delight or transport someone to another place and time. It’s time to crawl inside their head.

https://scottgrossberg.wordpress.com/2015/10/11/thinking-magically-crawling-inside-your-audiences-head/

13. From November 15 – 7 Things I Would Like Every New Magician To Know

Whatever your reason for choosing a life of Magic, there are 7 things I would like you to take to heart. This may the the ONE article you need to read.

https://scottgrossberg.wordpress.com/2015/11/15/thinking-magically-7-things-i-would-like-every-new-magician-to-know/

14. From December 20 – What Are You Really Afraid Of?

Fear. It’s a strong motivator. It’s a strong show stopper. It can control our decisions, actions, and emotions. But . . . what are you really afraid of? Once you read this article and come to know what truly drives you, you will be all the better Magician. Take a look.

https://scottgrossberg.wordpress.com/2015/12/20/thinking-magically-what-are-you-really-afraid-of/

One More Thing . . . would you like to learn more about living the life of a Magician? If so, then consider reading The Most Magical Secret – 4 Weeks to an Ecstatic Life. You can order my new book right now through Amazon  >>> http://www.amazon.com/dp/0692420010

Remember, you can also continue this conversation by subscribing to my blog at http://thinkingmagically.com or you joining me on any of the major social media sites to take this discussion to an even deeper level.

© 2016 by Scott Grossberg. All Rights Reserved. thinkingmagically.com

Thinking Magically™ | Do Not Start 2016 Until You Read This (Part 2)

Never look back unless you are planning to go that way.
– Henry David Thoreau

Last month (at the end of 2015) I gave you the first 6 of my 12 monthly tips for living a magical life.

RELATED ARTICLE: Do Not Start 2016 Until You Read This (Part 1)

Here are the remaining 6 months worth of ideas to move you forward, keep you motivated, and help you to live the life of your dreams.

June

Re-read The Most Magical Secret – 4 Weeks to an Ecstatic Life. You’re half-way through 2016 and you’ve probably taken a few things for granted. There are also some ideas you’ve had floating around in your head that you haven’t actually acted upon or implemented. Go back and use the concepts in the book to reenergize yourself, spark new adventures, and rediscover your magical self. It was Lewis Carrol who wrote: “Who in the world am I? Ah, that’s the great puzzle.” The Most Magical Secret was specifically written to aid you in solving that great puzzle. It’s not enough, though, to simply read what I wrote. You must apply the concepts out in the world. So . . . enjoy discovering an old friend.

July

Put on those eternal rose-colored glasses. That’s right. Stop with the resentment and discontent already. Magic needs to be shared. Stephen Hawking correctly noted: “People won’t have time for you if you are always angry or complaining.” If you alienate everyone, then your Magic is diminished, ineffective, and starts to fade away. This month make an extra effort to pay careful attention to both your internal scripting and your external statements. Instead of complaining about things, be specific in reframing the words you use to experience and express things that happen people you meet, ideas you have, and the ways you feel. Actually take the time to script how you can start describing this month’s events and encounters and emotions only in the most positive of ways.

August

Get out of the house early and often. Make plans with friends. Go on a nature walk, run, ride a bike, swim. Take a loved one and go on a spontaneous picnic or put down a blanket and watch the stars. Organize a house painting party. Go to a hospital or care facility or other location and give your time helping others. Caroline Kennedy, in referring to her mother, Jacqueline Kennedy, said: “I think my mother… made it clear that you have to live life by your own terms and you have to not worry about what other people think and you have to have the courage to do the unexpected.” You can’t live your own life if you don’t actually go out into the world. It’s okay. Whatever you have waiting for you inside the safety and sameness of your home will still be there when you get back.

September

Create a new look for yourself. Why? Well Virginia Woolf hit the nail on the head when she wrote: “Vain trifles as they seem, clothes have, they say, more important offices than to merely keep us warm. They change our view of the world and the world’s view of us.” This month take the time to look through some fashion magazines, find some new looks that are intriguing, daring, and even outrageous and then copy the look. Watch what happens to the world around you when you change your appearance. Then, pay close attention to how you change, too! Developing a sense of style, by the way, is not just about choosing a wardrobe, it’s about choosing an attitude. During these 30 days, your job is to find new ways to express yourself.

October

Spread the Magic! That’s right. Get out there and let others know that you believe the world is full of wonder and charm and enchantment. Let others know that your Magic is not a pursuit, it is your way of life. Let others know that you don’t just dream of a magical world, you provoke it. Confirm for others that they can actually put in the effort and transform the world around them with incredibly wonderful results. Be a beacon for others and show them that apathy, uncertainty, negativity, and fear can be destroyed. J.M. Barrie, in his marvelous book, Peter Pan, wrote; “The moment you doubt whether you can fly, you cease for ever to be able to do it.” Far too many people doubt that they can ever fly above the life they’re currently living. Spread your Magic and show them a new reality.

November

Say “No” more often. Warren Buffet said: “The difference between successful people and very successful people is that very successful people say ‘no’ to almost everything.” Think about that for a moment. Most of us want to be seen as nice. We don’t like confrontation. We don’t like saying “no” to anyone’s reasonable requests. Now look back over your decisions to say “yes” in the past and ask yourself if you would have been better served by having said “no.” Your ability to say “no” is dependent on you having worked through the prior month’s action items so that you know what your world view is, what you stand for, what you stand against, and so you know what you need to do for you and your family to have the quality of life you define. So, this month’s it’s time to divorce yourself from saying “yes” most of the time. It’s time for you to become comfortable with saying “no”—not to be malicious—but to further your Magic.

December

Design a new eating strategy. Most people have horrible eating habits. Most people believe that healthful eating is onerous, terrible tasting, and impractical for their lifestyle. There are easy ways, however, to determine whether your current style of eating the food you consume is working for you rather than against you . . . just ask yourself: How do I feel most of the time? Ask yourself: Am I overweight? Ask yourself: Am I starting to have health concerns that arise from the way I eat? Forget your internal health desires for a moment. There are a ton (pun intended) of external promptings you can pay attention to that will let you know if you need to start eating healthier. I know. You’re stubborn. You don’t want to change. Well, you’re a Magician and you’re used to change. I’d like you to be around for the following year and we can both help you do that by you devoting yourself to a month of healthier eating (that’s right—over the holidays).

You’ve now been gifted with 12 months of incredible and achievable and simple action items. Take each concept a month at a time. You don’t have to do them all at one time.

Find the ones that make the biggest difference for you and further your Magic and then adopt them into your lifestyle.

Here’s to your Magic!

One More Thing . . . would you like to learn more about living the life of a Magician? If so, then consider reading The Most Magical Secret – 4 Weeks to an Ecstatic Life. You can order my new book right now through Amazon  >>> http://www.amazon.com/dp/0692420010

Remember, you can also continue this conversation by subscribing to my blog at http://thinkingmagically.com or you joining me on any of the major social media sites to take this discussion to an even deeper level.

© 2016 by Scott Grossberg. All Rights Reserved. thinkingmagically.com

Thinking Magically™ | Do Not Start 2016 Until You Read This (Part 1)

Being busy does not always mean real work.
The object of all work is production or accomplishment and
to either of these ends there must be
forethought, system, planning, intelligence,
and honest purpose, as well as perspiration.
Seeming to do is not doing.
– Thomas A. Edison

Here we are at the end of 2015. Before you move into 2016, I want you to have 6 of my 12 monthly tips that will help you have a new year of Magic! Enjoy!

January

Write down your goal as soon as possible. The sooner you create an outline for the rest of the year, the sooner you will start achieving the happiness and success you envision. To get you started, here are 12 categories to use in organizing your vision of the future:
1.  Travel/Adventure
2.  Health/Energy
3.  Personal Development/Education
4.  Love/Relationships
5.  Creativity/Self-Expression
6.  Spirituality/Religion
7.  Work/Career
8.  Lifestyle/Possessions
9.  Money/Stuff
10.  World Situation/Environment
11.  Intuition/Sixth Sense
12.  Philosophy of Life/Worldview

George Bernard Shaw said: “Imagination is the beginning of creation. You imagine what you desire, you will what you imagine and at last you create what you will.” Here’s your chance to create any future you desire.

February

Write down your 10 closest friends. Now look at the list. Jim Rohn said: “You are the average of the five people you spend the most time with.” I’ll give you 10 to play with. Not only are you the average of those 10 people, I’ll bet there’s one of them who is the least successful and least happy of the others. Chances are that you (and likely all the others on your list) are making concessions, excuses, and being held back by this one person. The fact remains that if you want to change your life, you need to start changing the people you are around. That does not always mean you need to leave them behind. It does mean that you need to start teaching people how to treat you. Now is the time to make a commitment to either find more empowering and supportive people to be around or help your current list of friends to move with you to a higher level of attainment.

March

Start an exercise ritual. I did not say “think about” an exercise ritual. I said “start” one. Having a magnificent vision of the future will do you little good if you’re either not around to enjoy it or you’re too sick to relish what you create. President John F. Kennedy said: “Physical fitness is not only one of the most important keys to a healthy body, it is the basis of dynamic and creative intellectual activity.” Consider all the fun and exciting and adventuresome ways you can get yourself into shape and stay fit. At the very least, go back over my book where I explain my personal Walking Meditation routine. The sooner you start your fitness habit, the sooner you will begin to feel better. And the sooner you start to feel better, the sooner you will be able to focus on the success and happiness you deserve.

April

Design a better way to spend your time. How much time do you spend in front of the television? How much time do you spend on social media? How much time do you spend in the car? Charles Darwin said: “A man who dares to waste one hour of life has not discovered the value of life.” Take the “time” to figure out how you’re wasting heartbeats on certain activities and certain people. Then vow to change that pattern. Perhaps, if you spend a lot of time in the car or commuting, you can put articles or books or other material on your phone or digital player and listen while driving or being driven. Perhaps you can dedicate yourself to turning your attention and activity to those events that empower you, fill you with happiness, or bring love into your life. Perhaps you can start giving your time and energy and attention to others (and then watch the Magic that really happens).

May

Reevaluate your financial strategy. Having a strategic approach to money involves sitting down and working out a plan of action. Far too many people let hunches and whims and fear drive their financial status. What does retirement look like for you from a money standpoint? You’re already running out of time to save the money you need to retire safely. Of course, this means you have to take the time to determine what your overall financial and retirement aims are. Most people don’t know. There are all types of financial calculators available online to help you plan. Your bank or other financial institution likely has a financial planner who can assist you. Revising your financial strategy might also mean that you’re going to have to adjust your monthly spending. It was Benjamin Franklin who so astutely noted: “Beware of little expenses. A small leak will sink a great ship.” Go ahead. Tighten your belt a little. It could pay off dividends (literally) in the future.

June

Go for it! Take this entire month and actually give everything that’s worth your time, your attention, your energy, and your money your ALL! Obsess over the details. Live each second like it’s the most important thing of all. Start treating your life like every moment is the defining moment that everyone will remember about you. It was Ralph Waldo Emerson who wrote: “Write it on your heart that every day is the best day in the year.” What can you do so that every day this month is the best day of the year? This all begins, of course, with you figuring out what you love to do and bringing that desire and passion and lust to everything you’re doing and everyone you want to be with.

Well there you have it! Magical suggestions for the first half of 2016. Next week, I will give you the remaining 6 months to consider. Until then, have an enchanting start to the New Year!

One More Thing . . . would you like to learn more about living the life of a Magician? If so, then consider reading The Most Magical Secret – 4 Weeks to an Ecstatic Life. You can order my new book right now through Amazon  >>> http://www.amazon.com/dp/0692420010

Remember, you can also continue this conversation by subscribing to my blog at http://thinkingmagically.com or you joining me on any of the major social media sites to take this discussion to an even deeper level.

© 2015 by Scott Grossberg. All Rights Reserved. thinkingmagically.com

Thinking Magically™ | How I Discovered Instant Fearlessness (and What You Can Learn From It)

There are two basic motivating forces: fear and love.
When we are afraid, we pull back from life.
When we are in love, we open to all that life has to offer with passion, excitement, and acceptance.
We need to learn to love ourselves first, in all our glory and our imperfections.
If we cannot love ourselves, we cannot fully open to our ability to love others or our potential to create.
Evolution and all hopes for a better world rest in
the fearlessness and open-hearted vision of people who embrace life.
– John Lennon

As we start this new year, we all automatically do two things — we bring with us the favor of our dreams and the baggage of our fears from last year. And here’s the interesting thing: you can’t have one of those without the other. For in your dreams, your fears are born and carried. In your wanting, you have already recognized what is lacking and deficient and must be avoided. And in your fears, you can identify and thus desire the ambition that is needed or the desire that must be followed to soothe you.

Here’s the interesting thing — if you will understand and admit to and accept and digest your fears rather than run from them, they carry the keys to set you free.

Unfortunately, most of us let fear dictate how our decisions are made, the relationships we have with people, the concessions we make, and the aspirations we follow. That type of baggage has more handling charges than you can imagine.

Here’s a novel thought for you for 2015 — let your decisions, relationships, lines in the sand, and ambition be driven by your desires. Start asking — for everything and everyone you encounter: Does this trigger happiness? Does this trigger magic? Does this trigger abundance?

To put it another way, I’m not asking you to be without fear. I’m not even sure that’s possible.

I’m asking you to be fear-LESS.

================================
Your fear carries the keys to your freedom
================================

During the course of my career as a litigator, I have had to face down some pretty powerful, egotistical, and larger-than-life human predators. And despite the threats, the bravado and swollen heads, my clients have called me unflappable. Does that mean I haven’t been afraid?

You bet I have. And I’ve learned from those timid times.

My clients often face the potential loss of millions and life-changing decisions made by others and they have had their fates turned over to the hands of a broken legal system and the pillagers who’ve learned to play the system. And if my clients lose — I lose because I handle their cases as if I was the client.

Oh yeah . . . I hate to lose!

Because I am such a eager competitor and very aggressive . . . I used to be afraid of losing. Until I learned something —

You can’t make fear go away. Because fear means you want something. And we all want things all the time. If you tell me you don’t want anything, all I have to do is ask you what you’re afraid of. When you tell me that fear, I can instantly tell you what you want (even if you don’t know it yourself).

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You always have fear so long as you want something
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But you don’t have fear when you KNOW something.

There’s the mighty distinction for you to take into 2015.

When you focus on what you KNOW, there is no fear.

Think on that.

What are the things you truly know? Notice now that there is no fear attached to what is fixed in your heart and soul.

But what about facing the things you don’t know?

=========================
How to have instant fearlessness
=========================

Here are the 6 Steps to being bold, unintimidated and intrepid for the rest of your life:

1. Be mindful when you feel fear and just what it means. Fear is an emotion. And it comes and it goes on the tide of your physiology and chemical makeup. When it pops up, it usually means you want something. That’s the question to ask: WHAT DO I WANT?

2.  Stay emotionally stable — ‘cuz Shit Always Happens. Nothing is permanent. Change is inevitable. It is one thing to have something and someone. It is quite another to hold it or them. When you “have,” that’s when you know. There is no fear. When you attempt to “hold,” that’s when you want and fear is born. Just keep telling yourself: This too shall pass. It always does. And it always will.

3.  Follow your passions with an “abundance” mindset. Let’s face it — it’s challenging to be fearless when you see scarcity around you and you feel inadequate. It’s time to reconstruct your life so that it’s all about having the bounty and richness you know you were born to have. Follow your passions — not just because they bring you an emotional high — but with the determination that those passions will be lucrative.

4.   Fear doesn’t happen. But you do. Fear is a state of mind. Fear isn’t a tangible object or event or person. If you want to be a massive success, you must take massive (and informed) risks. So you’re scared. Get over it! General George S. Patton once said: “The time to take counsel of your fears is before you make an important battle decision. That’s the time to listen to every fear you can imagine! When you have collected all the facts and fears and made your decision, turn off all your fears and go ahead!”

5.  Prepare. Prepare. Prepare. Some fear arises when you say to yourself, “I’m not ready.” Or “I’m not good enough.” Trusting in your own abilities and having confidence in who and what you are comes from experience. And experience is collected over time. Every consistently successful magician knows that powerful magic happens when you prepare, train, and practice ALL THE TIME. Success is not only a habit, it is something for which you prepare. Here’s a challenge for you: Start planning for your future abundance right now.

6.  Better your world and you will better yourself. Gratitude and giving are important elements to the alchemy of fearlessness. There’s a charming side-effect of sharing and being generous and being bigger than life, itself — you come to KNOW that there’s something bigger than just you out there. And with that knowledge and understanding, the fear takes a second seat to what’s truly important. And fear is never truly important (unless it shows up to keep you out of a physical danger).

A real magician will never let the fear of anything overpower their obligation to be successful and their natural and sacred essence. You were born to be a success. How dare you to allow fear to ruin all that?

Want to take this conversation further? I’d love to hear your thoughts and feelings and action items after reading this. And, 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+.

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

© 2015 by Scott Grossberg. All Rights Reserved. thinkingmagically.com

Thinking Magically™ | Magical Intentions for Dealing with the Ordinary

You have to learn the rules of the game.
And then you have to play better than anyone else.
– Albert Einstein

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You don’t learn to live in the world by being a magician
============================================

You learn to live in the world by being in the world.

Your magic — your personal power — might sustain you. Your magic — your confidence — might bolster you. Your magic — your wizardly prowess — might guide and even protect you.

But, in the end, we all need to live together.

“Now wait . . .” you must be saying. “Scott, you’ve told us to be rebels, nonconformists, and habitually restless. Now you’re telling us all to just get along. What’s up with that?”

Oh, relax. Take a breath.

I didn’t tell you to all just “get along.”

I said we all need to “live together.”

Also, magic really isn’t very interesting if you’re only entertaining yourself. That’s actually called something else . . . and although they both start with “m,” don’t ever confuse one for the other.

Part of being a consistently successful magician involves meeting, managing, and manifesting the expectations of those around you. That can only happen when you pledge to take responsibility for everything you say and everything you do.

I want you to be rebels because I know, in doing so, you will be morally responsible for the effects of your choices and actions. I want you to be nonconformists because I know you will not tolerate convention and prescripts that are offensive. And I want you to be habitually restless because, as a magician, you already know that nothing is permanent and everything changes.

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Some magical intentions for dealing with the ordinary
===========================================

Doing and being all this, however, can be made a little simpler by having some strong, foundational magical intentions already in place. Here are some to consider as you make your way into and through the world —

The world deserves to be left in a better place than when you found it. And the people in it deserve your best intentions and attention and kindness.

Everyone has an opinion. But those opinions are not rules. Only you get to choose the rules that apply to you.

Start realizing that “no” is just a suggestion. And everything is negotiable.

When someone asks you how you’re doing,  tell them “Spectacular!” Then watch their reaction. As an added bonus, feel free to tell everyone, “I do magic,” and then watch what happens.

If you want people to believe in you and your magic, start by actually living like a magician. Authenticity matters. No one likes a fake.

Keep the mumbo-jumbo and magical gibberish to a minimum. Otherwise, it’s kind of like trying to teach a pig to dance. You’ll only waste your time and annoy the pig.

Learn to speak to yourself better. Only then will you learn to speak to others better. And, above all else, say and do.

When people find out about your magic, they will ask you to share it with them, do it for them, use it to get something for them, and cast it to create change for them. This is a perfectly natural response from those who are moving from the material to the magical, themselves.

Despite the fears of many and the wishes of a few, it’s not possible to over-use your magic. Use it early. Use if often. But . . . you don’t always have to be so in-their-face about it.

You will make mistakes. Get over it.

The people around you will make mistakes. Get over it.

There are always more effective and efficient ways to get things done. Keep tweaking your personal system for success.

You are here and now for a reason. The people around you are here and now for reason. That’s not a coincidence.

Always, always, always mind your manners. Say, “please” and “thank you” and “you’re welcome”  with abundant joy.

Honor your fans, followers, and friends. Remember . . . they have a choice, too.

Not everyone likes to be surprised or entertained or have wonder forced upon them. If what you want to do isn’t going to advance someone, it might be a good thing to reevaluate what you plan to do.

You get what you pay for. They get what they pay for. Value yourself accordingly.

Design your illusions and effects and manifestations for them. Not for you. Your illusions don’t work on you.

Stop being a doormat and being afraid of what others will think of your magic. Be bold.

A good magician is a good observer. A good magician is a good listener. A good magician is a good fixer. Observe. Then listen. Then fix.

There are times when you will need to walk behind someone with a broom. Don’t expect, however, that there’s someone sweeping up behind you. Clean up your own crap.

You don’t need to do everything to get everything you want. It’s okay to ask for help.

You don’t have a monopoly on anything. Nothing’s new. Others will replicate your success at one time or another. Therefore, your biggest assets are your relationships with others.

Do epic magic or go home.

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We end as we began
================

You learn to live in the world by being in the world.

And you learn to be in the world by putting into place systems of success which will allow you to rely on their rules and their processes and their blueprints for success. Take some or all of the “rules” from above and start putting your own system to work for you.

And make certain you let us know of the successes that flow from this powerful magic.

If you enjoyed any of these articles, 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.

© 2014 by Scott Grossberg. All Rights Reserved. thinkingmagically.com

Thinking Magically™ | The Top 15 TED Talks For Magicians

As you navigate through the rest of your life, be open to collaboration. Other people and other people’s ideas are often better than your own. Find a group of people who challenge and inspire you, spend a lot of time with them, and it will change your life.
– Amy Poehler

“Ideas worth spreading.” That’s the tag line for TED – a now-ubiquitous, coveted spotlight, and overly-imitated conference that, since 1984, has offered the world 18-minute “short, powerful talks.” At TED you get to hear from the likes of Dan Pink, Steve Jobs, Sir Ken Robinson, J.J. Abrams, Seth Godin, and Al Gore. Famous people cramming their big lives into a small amount of time. And there are the not-so-famous people expanding their reach will such clarity and passion that you want to know them better.

If you haven’t done so already, you can discover TED Talks here:

http://www.ted.com/

Everyone has their favorite TED Talk(s). The interesting thing is that that choice says more about you than you might otherwise be willing to admit. Because I’m devoted to providing you with resources to turn you into the success you desire for yourself, I thought it might be fun to find what I consider to be the Top 15 TED Talks For Magicians.

You’ll have heard of some of the people I list. But there are those who will be new to you. The idea behind this list is to get you motivated, keep you inspired, provide you with figments of someone else’s imagination that you can capture for your own use, and suggest that there are better, more efficient, and more effective ways for you to reach your success than you might have daydreamed on your own.

So here’s my personally cultivated list of those videos that I know will teach you a little something about the magic that’s needed to be the success you’ve always wanted:

THE TOP 15 TED TALKS FOR MAGICIANS
(in no particular order, at all,
so you’re forced to explore and enjoy)

Derek Sivers – How to Start a Movement

Founder and former president of CD Baby, Derek Sivers (a musician and circus clown) shares with you an amazing video on how to start a movement and what has to happen for it to succeed.

Sir Richard Branson – Life at 30,000 Feet

The founder and CEO of the Virgin Group talks to you about his life running his companies, competing, sustaining your dreams, and what motivates him.

Brene Brown – The Power of Vulnerability, Courage, Authenticity, and Shame

Scholar, author, and speaker, Brene Brown, and author of “Daring Greatly: How the Courage to be Vulnerable Transforms the Way We Live, Love, Parent, and Lead, More” shares her insights on being vulnerable and how to be transparent in order to be powerful.

Simon Sinek – How Great Leaders Inspire Action

The author of “Start With Why” and “Leaders Eat Last” gives you his model for inspirational leadership and shows you the importance of constantly asking and answering one question: “Why?”

Tony Robbins – Why We Do What We Do

Arguably the world’s top motivational coach, Tony Robbins talks to you about motivation, passion, and the reasons behind what you do what you do.

Martin Hagger – Sport Psychology – Inside the Mind of Champion Athletes

Professor of Psychology at Curtin University, Martin Hagger, explains what being a champion – meeting success and dealing with failure – means from an internal programming perspective.

Benjamin Zander – The Transformative Power of Classical Music

The author of “The Art of Possibility: Transforming Professional and Personal Life” and the conductor of The Boston Philharmonic Orchestra will show you how to be a leader, how to manifest greatness, and how to bring a “shine” to someone else’s eyes.

Dan Pink – The Puzzle of Motivation

Bestselling author, Dan Pink, talks to you about management, engagement, self-direction, and providing employees with autonomy.

J.J. Abrams – The Mystery Box

Massively successful producer, writer, actor, and director, J.J. Abrams, talks about how “mystery” inspires and motivates him. You will want your own “Mystery Box” when he’s done with you.

Elizabeth Gilbert – Success, Failure and The Drive to Keep Creating

The author of “Eat, Prey, Love” becomes transparent and talks to you about moving forward after you obtain success and surviving past and through other people’s expectations.

Seth Godin – How to Get Your Ideas to Spread

Marketing guru, Seth Godin, talks about the importance of spreading the idea of success – not just inventing something successful.

Gary Vaynerchuk – Building Personal Brand Within the Social Media Landscape

Entrepreneur, Gary Vaynerchuk, spoke at the Web 2.0 Expo and passionately talks to you about your users, fans, customers, and doing what you want to do for the rest of your life . . . and monetizing it. Hustle, folks!

Chris Hadfield – What I Learned From Going Blind in Space

What’s the scariest or most dangerous thing you’ve ever done? Col. Chris Hadfield tells you about his career as an astronaut and what he learned about the power of being prepared and dealing with danger, fear, and stress.

Kevin Roberts – The Power of Love

The CEO of Saatchi and Saatchi and author of “Lovemarks” shows you how the power of love drives marketing. You will learn a new role for your business.

Steve Jobs – Stanford Commencement Address – How to Live Before You Die

Not a formal TED Talk, but part of the TED library of offerings. The title speaks for itself.

BONUS VIDEO – The Crazy Ones (actually narrated by Steve Jobs)

If you don’t watch any other video . . . watch this one.

Enjoy!

If you enjoyed any of these articles, 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.

© 2014 by Scott Grossberg. All Rights Reserved. thinkingmagically.com