Magic came naturally to us as kids because of something called magical thinking—a normal developmental stage that all children go through. If you are a parent, you know exactly what I am talking about. Children believe in Santa, the Easter Bunny, the Tooth Fairy, make-believe friends, and the ability of a special stuffy or blanket to keep them safe.
They are scared of monsters under their bed and can take any object and turn it into a toy, using their imagination to create a whole world only they can see. Their imagination is active and vivid, making them immensely creative.
Kids are filled with wonder and curiosity, they are open and receptive, and they don’t let “reality” stand in the way of creating a world that feels amazing!
As we age, we start to lose this innate ability. Along with it, we become less creative and lose that sense of “anything is possible.” However, it wouldn’t exactly be practical to believe in Santa and imaginary friends forever.
Are we doomed to a life without magic? The answer is a resounding NO! Magic is available to you every day if you know how to access it. The answer lies in the #1 most powerful spiritual practice I have ever learned. I will share what it is below, but first, let’s define what magic feels like and its benefits to our mental and physical health.
What Does Magic Feel Like for Adults?
When we experience something that feels magical, we are feeling the emotion of awe. Awe is a state of wonder and curiosity. We feel connected to something bigger than ourselves and sense the interconnectedness of all beings. Our ego recedes, and our self-importance shrinks.
When we are in awe, our worries, fears, regrets, and resentments drop away. Our thoughts slow, and our perception of time changes. The world seems to stand still. Our bodies feel open, spacious, and light. We feel mentally and spiritually receptive. We often experience strokes of genius during one of these experiences because we have entered into the right side of our brain where creativity resides, and we temporarily let go of what is “realistic” for us. Does any of this sound familiar?
This is the state of magic—when we feel like anything is possible and that everything will be OK. What is happening in these moments?
When we are in awe, we are able to perceive the container that we swim in all the time but often aren’t aware of—the container of the Divine, Pure Consciousness, or God, a container of pure love.
As an adult, we have likely experienced spontaneous moments like these. Great examples are the birth of a child, seeing a beautiful sunset, or watching a soul-stirring musical performance. In those moments, time seemed to slow down, and everything felt lighter, brighter and more possible. That’s magic.
But how can we experience moments like these every day? How can we cultivate magic in our lives and not have to wait for something “magical” to happen?
Why Awe Matters
Awe has been extensively studied, and the results are clear. Awe not only feels good, but it’s good for you. These benefits last beyond just the time period you spend in awe. Little moments of awe carry forward into your day and week, making life just feel better!
Awe decrease stress levels. The research is so clear on this fact that doctors have started to prescribe time spent in nature (a primary source of awe) as a treatment for anxiety and stress management.
Awe makes us more compassionate by decreasing the activity of the default mode network (DMN—a system of connected brain areas). The DMN is self-focused (think ego) and allows us to time travel between past, present, and future. Although these are necessary tasks, overactivation leads to anxiety, depression, and rumination. It also makes us feel less connected to others and lonely. Awe decreases the activity of this network, making us feel smaller, more connected, more compassionate, and more generous.
Awe makes us happier. Studies show that people who experience awe 2-3 times a week are happier and feel their lives are more purposeful and fulfilling.
Awe sparks creativity. We live in a society where left-brain skills are revered. This is the part of the brain that allows us to have logic, reason, think analytically, and compute numbers. By contrast, the right side of the brain is where creativity, intuition, awareness, and imagination live. We often underutilize this side of the brain, making the neural pathways weaker. In reality, we use both sides of our brain all the time. The difference is which part of the brain is dominating in any given moment. Ideally, we want both sides of the brain working optimally and strongly connected. Moments of awe are an opportunity to exercise the right brain and create stronger neural pathways.
The Roadway to Magic
Here it is, my friends. The number one spiritual practice I have ever learned. It is insanely simple and yet often really hard and requires constant redirection—but that’s why they call it a practice! Magic lies in our ability to become deeply present in the moment. So engrossed in the moment that we lose access to our past and forget there is something called a future. We engage in the present moment with curiosity and wonder, we drop expectations, judgments, and labels. We strive to just be—not to be someone or achieve something, but to just be an open, receptive container to exactly what is in the moment. In this way, the ordinary becomes extraordinary.
This is a skill that you can cultivate. You can use the practices below to experience more moments of awe in your life.
How To Find Magic Every Day
Here’s the secret: magic is found in the present moment. When you fully immerse yourself in the here and now – letting go of the past and future – you open yourself to wonder. The ordinary can suddenly feel extraordinary.
Here are some simple ways to bring more magic into your life:
- Take a slow mindful walk in nature . Leave your phone at home and be intentional about looking around you. Take in the sights, sounds, smells and sensations. Intentionally direct your attention to one thing at a time. Don’t be afraid to stop and really look at something that catches your eye. A plant or flower, an insect, a tree, the sky, animals and the way that light streams through the clouds are all great ways to access awe. Stay with that thing watching it with curiosity. You don’t need to label it, guess what’s happening with it or create a story around it. Just observe and be.
- Listen to a great piece of music. Take a break during your day and sit down and deeply listen to music that inspires you. Don’t do anything else during this time. I recommend closing your eyes and going internal. Just listen. Again, avoid labeling, predicting, judging or questioning. Just receive and access gratitude.
- Savor art that stirs your soul. Spend time really looking. Get curious about what you are seeing. Depending on the type of medium you are looking at, take in things life brush strokes, textures, colors, angles, facial features and overall feelings the piece evokes.
- Engage in your favorite form of play. If you aren’t sure what that is, listen to my mini-sode on play below to find out. Play puts us into a state of flow and receptivity making it easier to access awe. When you are playing, you may find awe arises spontaneously.
- Ponder the miracles of everyday life. Have you ever really thought about what it takes to get healthy food onto your plate? The hard work of others, the gifts of mother nature, the creativity of a system that hums along without much though on our part. What about our pluming system, electrical grid, modern medicine or city development? The human body! Pondering the amazing gifts we benefit from every day that were given to us by inspiring people. Where would we be now without people like Martin Luther King Jr, Ghandi and Mother Teresea? Or the talent and creativity of individuals who make our lives better through the creative arts like music, movies, stage plays, art and exceptional food. There are countless miracles we experience every day without giving them a second thought. When we stop to really think about them, awe arises.
- Notice the small things. Whether it be the kindness in an interaction between two people, the beauty of your child’s eyes, the physical details of your partner that you have long ago taken for granted, the sounds of your pet snoring beside you, the way the light enters your windows and illuminates a room in your home or the way a certain sense perception can take you back to a previous magical moment.
As we head into the holiday week, I hope you will take time to notice the magic around you. It’s there, waiting for you, in the big and small moments.
And as you do this work- whether you’re reading my newsletters, listening to the podcast, reflecting on your own growth or working with me directly- know that I am in awe of you. You’re showing up for yourself, your loved ones and the world.
I am so grateful to share this journey with you.
Wishing you a holiday season full of magic, wonder and joy.
Sending You Love, Blessings & So Much Gratitude Reader,
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