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
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SCOTT GROSSBERG thinkingmagically.com 