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"Whatever the mind can conceive, it can achieve". "You can
do almost anything you put your mind to". My experience is that magic is
quite stimulating for the mind. It raises many questions, and brings up a great
deal of wonder.
The most often spoken comments among both children and
adults when they see magic is, "How did you do that?" and "Do
that again!". A sense of wonder and "give me another chance to figure that out! "... Both having to do
with
the mind. This is why it’s so important to reiterate that I don’t use magic
as a means to fool people. It has never been about that for me; instead,
it is more important to
bring in the wonder and excitement, as in a mystery. A reminder about the
possibilities open to us when we apply ourselves and open our minds to our
imaginations. Inventions, art, science,
math and language; all are examples of creative imaginations at work.
In a very real sense, what we play-pretend as children provides
a foundation for being able to improvise at everything from
building relationships with friends, to driving a car, to flying
a plane and the list goes on and on! The act of play-pretend
engages the imagination of the individual at the deepest level.
Experiments in brain development and psychology have discovered
that the brain doesn't really know the difference between what
we imagine, and real events.
In the course of discussing
Imagination, we often refer to
the subject of "brainstorming" and the importance of having a free
flow of ideas and recommendations/suggestions without stopping to examine
whether they are worthwhile or not. In using magic as an example, we look at a
seemingly "impossible" scenario, and then figure out a way to actualize
and make it become a reality. This is definitely an area that magic is a
most useful tool in demonstrating how the
imagination can be applied to creativity and accomplishment. I use the phrase
"turning ideas into reality" and illustrate with several magical
effects to give a strong visual representation of this process.
I have also found that within the course
of the program, all the topics covered interrelate and counter
balance each other. In the next "chapter", we discuss
Goal Setting,
and of course, it’s hard to do so without using one’s Imagination!
Ultimately, the subjects of motivation and
self-esteem are greatly influenced by our ability to use and cultivate our
imagination. How we see ourselves (from within the quiet
places of our own
inner mind) has an incredible impact on our ability to do well in school, the workplace, and in how we
communicate, as well as in our relationships with friends and family.
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