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A Magical Adventure

A couple of years ago, I was working with an author and motivational speaker who set a goal to earn $200,000 a year. When I asked her what she wanted the money for, she replied that it would be used to fund what she called “interesting experiences.” That got me thinking.

Over the course of my practice, I’ve noticed that people who are skilled at defining their goals often fail to allow space for the unpredicted, which frequently develops into what I refer to as a magical experience.

As some of you are aware, I have developed a system to help my coaching clients create powerful and compelling goals. One step instructs the goal-setter to hand-write his/her goals (using the present tense) on cards. To get the ball rolling on the “magical experiences,” I followed the same procedure. On one of my own goal cards I wrote, I am now ready, willing, and able to enjoy the pleasure of having magical adventures.

As is often the case, it didn’t take long for things to start happening.

Two short weeks after writing out the goal, I flew to San Jose, California, to attend the International Coaches Federation conference. I arrived at the Hotel De Anza at 2:45 pm, a full 15 minutes before the posted check-in time.

The handsome young man at the front desk informed me that, due to my early arrival, my reserved room wasn’t yet ready. A room that allowed smoking was offered as an alternative. When I stated that I would prefer to wait until the reserved non-smoking room was available, the desk clerk scanned his computer for other options. Suddenly he asked, “Do you like Paul McCartney?” I replied that I did. He then asked if I would like to go to Sir Paul’s concert that night.

I was confused. Was the desk clerk trying to sell me a ticket to the concert or asking me out on a date? I opted to do the only thing possible at that moment: I stalled. “I didn’t even know that Paul McCartney was in town!” I exclaimed in a desperate attempt to appear witty while trying to determine the reason behind the sudden change of topic.

Sensing my confusion, the desk clerk explained that Paul McCartney was a guest of the hotel and was in need of an additional room that evening. Then the penny dropped, the mental light bulb when on. The reason for the question about my musical taste became clear. If I gave my room to Mr. McCartney, the desk clerk would send me to the Fairmont Hotel for the night. Transportation would be provided via a town car. In the morning, I would return to the Hotel De Anza for the duration of my stay in San Jose. In addition, Mr. McCartney would thank me with a complimentary ticket to his show that evening.

Well, what could a girl say?

I did go to the Fairmont, and at the appropriate time I was taken to the HP Stadium in San Jose for the concert.

The desk clerk had instructed me to give my name at the stadium’s “will call” window and to mention that I was on Paul McCartney’s guest list. I felt a little embarrassed but did as I was told, and almost instantly was handed an envelope. Inside were two tickets to the concert. Bonanza! (Unfortunately I didn’t know anybody in San Jose with whom to share my good fortune.)

Imagine my delight when I discovered my tickets were for seats six and seven in the third row. The third row! I was so close to the former Beatle I could see the two Live Strong bracelets on his arm, and when he turned his back to the audience while reaching for a different guitar at the start of the next song, I could see his hair was starting to thin at the back.

Soon I was groovin’ to “Hey Jude” and “Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds.”

During the performance of a newer tune called “English Tea,” my mind started to drift a little, and I thought about the magical adventure I was having and mused about what other people might do to enjoy similarly special moments.

In a serendipitously synchronistic moment, at the end of “English Tea,” Sir Paul talked about the creative process that resulted in that song. He said that when he was writing the lyrics, the term “para adventure” seemed to fit well into the verse. When the composition was complete, he checked the meaning of the term in the hope that it fit the meaning of the song as well as the rhythm. That’s when he discovered “para” meant a “by-chance adventure.” “Isn’t that magical?” he asked the concert audience.

For me, it was indeed a magical adventure!

As a coach, I recommend:
Open yourself up to unexpected adventures by declaring your intention in writing. Find a quiet moment, get centered within yourself, and write a declaration that you are now willing to experience magical, unanticipated adventures. Use your own words, but keep it simple and positive.

Leave your declaration somewhere that you’ll see it and reread it over the next week or two, and consider sharing it with a close friend or relative. These extra steps reinforce the intention and deepen your willingness.

The only thing left to do is watch for the magic to appear! It may be dramatic or subtle, but when it shows up, remember to acknowledge yourself. it was your willingness that allowed it to show up.

Have fun with this! Life can be far more magical than our logical brains can imagine.

Posted by Amazing Editor in A Page of Insight.