What If You Had a Magic Wand?

Bibbidi-Bobbidi-Boo!

Abracadabra!

Wingardium Leviosa!

I put a spell on you…

Did all of those sayings have you thinking about a magic wand?

GOOD! Because that is exactly what I'm gifting you today.

Well, sort of...

Imagine that tomorrow morning, you wake up, roll over, and discover a magic wand sitting on your nightstand. Not just any magic wand, but one that has the power to change your life. What would you do with it?

Would you quit your job? Move across the country? Buy a bigger house? Take a year off and travel the world?

Maybe...but before you start waving that wand around, there's a catch. There’s always a catch.

This magic wand isn't going to give you an entirely new life. It's going to help you redesign a day in the life you already have.

There are just two rules:

Rule #1: It has to be a regular weekday.

No vacations, holidays, or special occasions. We're talking about an average Thursday. You know, the kind of weekday that makes up most of our lives.

Rule #2: You still have responsibilities.

You can't completely eliminate work, bills, laundry, or every little inconvenience that comes with being a human. The real magic here isn't about escaping reality. It's about imagining a better version of your everyday reality.

Okay, now that you're ready…

Bibbidi-Bobbidi-Boo!

Let's use it.

It's Thursday morning. A Thursday morning that you get to design.

You open your eyes.

What time is it?

Are you rushing to get somewhere, or do you have a little time to yourself?

What's the first thing you do?

Are you moving your body? Reading? Journaling Enjoying a cup of coffee? Spending time with someone you love?

How do you want to feel before your day officially begins?

Now, it's 11 a.m.

You're in the middle of whatever occupies your day.

What are you working on?

Are you creating something? Solving problems? Teaching? Helping someone? Collaborating with others?

Are you working independently or surrounded by people?

What makes you feel productive?

What makes you feel energized?

What makes you feel like you're doing something that matters?

Fast-forward to 3 p.m.

Take a look around.

What does your environment look like?

Who have you interacted with today?

Have you had an opportunity to learn something new?

Have you experienced a moment of genuine connection?

Have you laughed?

Have you had a chance to pause, even for a few minutes?

Ahh, now it's 8 p.m.

Your workday is over.

Who are you spending time with?

What are you doing?

Are you pursuing a hobby? Trying something new? Creating something?

Maybe you're curled up on the couch watching your favorite show without feeling an ounce of guilt. (That counts, too!)

As you get ready for bed, think about how you want to feel.

Proud? Peaceful? Connected? Fulfilled? Energized? Something else?

What would make you put your head on the pillow and think, "That was a really good day"?

Not the best day of your life or a once-in-a-lifetime day.

Just a really, really good Thursday.

You can put down your imaginary wand and come back to reality.

I have one more question for you.

How much of the day you just imagined actually requires magic?

Maybe you imagined:

• Taking a 20-minute walk before work.

• Having lunch with a friend or giving someone a FaceTime call.

• Spending 30 minutes writing, painting, or creating something.

• Attending a yoga class.

• Eating dinner with your family, phone-free.

• Learning something new.

• Reading a few pages of that book that's been sitting on your nightstand.

• Spending a little more time outside.

  
  

Of course, some of the things you imagined might require major changes depending on your current reality. If it’s making a major adjustment to your schedule, seeking more financial freedom, switching up your career, or having a difficult conversation with a loved one, those things are not easy. In fact, sometimes they're so overwhelming that we tell ourselves, "Eh, I'll start tomorrow." And we all know how that goes.

But…some of the other things that you thought about…

They might actually be possible tomorrow with no magic wand required.

That’s what I find so refreshing about this exercises like this one. We often imagine a better life in terms of BIG changes. New jobs, new houses, new cities, new, new, new, new, new. But, our lives are made up of ordinary Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays and there’s a lot of magic that’s hiding in those days if we look for it.

If you've been following along with The Orange Butterfly Effect, you might notice that this exercise sings a familiar tune.

Just like our conversations about what we think we should do versus what we actually want to do, finding evidence of happiness, and discovering the ingredients of a satisfying and fulfilling life, we keep coming back to one realization that I think is super cool: we can choose to live a more satisfying and fulfilling life right now.

Think back to that magical Thursday you just imagined.

What's ONE thing from that day that you could bring into your real life this week?

Guess what? We don't need a wand to start.

Bibbidi-Bobbidi-Boo!

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