What's your magic?

I was recently invited to take part in a beautiful podcast recording on the subject of “Finding magic within”. You can watch the recording here.

The interview was an opportunity to reflect on my own experiences and consider the pathway I had taken to find magic and create a life for myself that was more hopeful and satisfying.

Like many people, I've had times in my life when I’ve felt like I wasn’t living like my true self. I remember having a painful realisation that I was stuck in patterns of being and doing that didn't match up with who I truly was and what mattered to me. I felt like I was going through the motions of life, and everything felt scattered and uncertain.

I began to understand that the hopeful spark I was looking for wasn't something I needed to create from scratch. It was already with me, but needed some help to be uncovered from underneath layers of painful experiences, unhelpful thoughts, difficult emotions, and learned patterns of avoidance.

What does "finding our magic" mean?

When I talk about finding our magic, I'm not talking about something mystical or supernatural. For me, “finding our magic” is about learning about which essential qualities matter to us.

Our magic can be seen in lots of different ways. We can find magic by discovering which actions or ways of being make us feel alive. Other people find their magic when they're able to do meaningful things in their work or their relationships. Sometimes, we can find magic when we're creative, or out in nature, or finding ways to put our core values into action. There are lots of ways to find your magic.

In my coaching practice, beautiful transformations unfold when people understand what gives them a sense of inner magic. Tuning in to this sense can help people learn to appreciate themselves and their lives more deeply, change the way they act, and improve their relationships. It’s good stuff!

Your magic is already with you

You might be reading this and feeling like you don’t know what’s magic in your life. You might know what lights you up, but feel disconnected from it or blocked in some way from accessing it.

If you’re not clear on what your magic is, that’s understandable. It may not have had a chance to show itself yet, or been pushed out of view by life's challenges.

If you want to find ways to connect with what can make your life feel magic, here are some practical ways to find it:

What makes you feel most like yourself?

Notice what makes you feel most alive and energised.

What are the moments in life when you feel engaged, connected and most like yourself? They might be happy times. They might not be.

Ask yourself:

“What was I doing? Where was I? What impact was I having?”

You’ll find some pointers to your personal magic in the answers.

Notice your natural patterns and the recurring themes in your life

What do you gravitate towards when you have the freedom to choose your activities?

What subjects do you read about or watch content about for pleasure?

What improvements do you want to make in the world around you? What problems do you find yourself wanting to solve?

What activities make you lose track of time?

Your magic often reveals itself in these unguarded moments.

Carry out an "energy audit"

Over the next week, notice what activities, people, and situations give you energy versus those that drain you.

Notice what feels meaningful even when it’s difficult and compare it to what feels empty or misaligned.

Check in with “younger you”

Ask yourself:

"What did I love doing as a child before I learnt what I "should" want?"

What dreams did I have before they got edited or pushed away by practicality?"

Sometimes, our core essence and our magic remain consistent even if we've moved away from them. What can you learn from checking in with your childhood self?

How coaching can help

Coaching can help you with this process by supporting you to improve your self-awareness around what you truly care about underneath the roles you perform and the masks you wear.

It can also be a powerful way to identify and work through blocks or layers of fear, limiting beliefs, past experiences and negative self-talk. In coaching, we work to get to know these blocks and internal obstacles and give you tools to work through them. We process experiences and create effective coping strategies so you can connect (or reconnect) with your authentic self.

In coaching we also explore your strengths, talents, perspectives and natural gifts so you can recognise and embrace these gifts rather than focusing only on fixing perceived "problems" or "weaknesses". In taking a strength-based approach, we reveal capabilities and qualities people don’t always realise they possess.

Perhaps most importantly, coaching can help people develop trust in their own inner wisdom and see that their magic was often there all along. We can work together to clear away what's been covering it up and find a way for you to shine.

Ready to make a change?

If you're interested in exploring how coaching might help you get to know your “magic”, I warmly invite you to book a free 30-minute introductory coaching session. You can click here to book an appointment.