Think Like a Magician

Would you like your world to be a little more magical? How about moving through your day with a sprinkling of faerie dust, bringing a sense of whimsy and joy wherever you go? If yes, than I encourage you to think a bit more like a magician, or at least like this magician. Interestingly, many of the techniques we magicians use on stage can be applied to everyday life. When we “think like a magician,” we start to notice opportunities to create the unexpected and memorable. We can stop being so unconscious and start engaging with the world around us in more meaningful ways.

I love magic, big shock I know. I adore it all-- performance magic and real magic. That’s kind of my thing. All my work lives at the intersection of real magic and performance magic.

Real Magic like the feeling of the sun on my skin. Hearing the ocean. A flower miraculously pushing her way through a crack in the sidewalk. Moments that make us pause, even just for a second, and inspire within me a delicious tingly wonder and a connection to everything.

Performing Magic oh how I love bringing joy and inspiration to audiences. Hearing that “wait…what the…. how did you do that?” Watching people light up in real time. Audiences laughing. Leaning in. A powerful presence of a shared experience of delight and surprise.

To me magic isn’t about tricks. It’s about how we experience moments. Magic is when we step into a place where anything feels possible, and the world opens in a completely different way. This is the magic I am talking about. And the truth is, anyone can access it.

Magician’s techniques to sprinkle a little more magic into your everyday life:

Attention Magicians are often skilled at controlling attention. Where attention goes, experience follows. If you slow down and give something your full attention, such as drinking your coffee, having a conversation, or the light coming through a window, it will change everything. Suddenly something ordinary can become extraordinary.

Noticing Magicians understand the power of noticing. We are often trained to see details other people miss. In your own life, try noticing beyond the mundane. The smell of your coffee or loved one, or a tiny moment of beauty you would have otherwise rushed past. The more you practice noticing the tiniest details, the more your world starts to feel way more alive.

Surprise. A good magic show thrives on surprise. However, you don’t need a stage to create that feeling. Shake up your routines and habits! Take a different route home. Try something no one saw coming. That little “wait… what?” moment? That’s a form of everyday magic, and it changes how people feel, especially you.

Improvement Magicians are constantly asking a version of the same question: How can I make this moment better? You can do the same. In the morning, try asking yourself, “How can I experience more magic today?” or even, “Where might magic show up that I’m not expecting?” That simple shift opens your awareness in a powerful way.

Connection Not all magicians do this, but in my humble opinion magic isn’t just about performing, it is about connection. One of the easiest ways to bring more magic into your life is to ask better questions of yourself and of others. Instead of “How was your day?” try “What surprised you today?” or “What made you smile?” “What unexpected magic did I notice?”

Wonder This is something I know I will never outgrow, and I hope you won’t either! Many adults tend to think they have to filter everything through logic. Letting yourself feel curious, amused, or even a little amazed about even the most ordinary things, doesn’t make you less “adult”, however it will make your experience of life richer.

Presence. In magic, how you do something matters just as much as what you do. The way you hand someone an object or the pause before an OMG moment, it all shapes the experience. In everyday life, that might look like being just a little more intentional. How you greet someone. How you tell a story. How you show up.

Moments Magicians often think about the moment that landed- the OMG moments. You can think about doing that too. Before you go to bed, think of one moment from your day that felt slightly magical. It might be small. A laugh, a kind interaction, a beautiful sky. The more you look for it, the more you’ll find it.

In my world, magic is everything. Whether I’m performing at an event or simply moving through my day, the goal is similar… to create moments that feel a little more alive, a little more meaningful, a little more… magical. We can all choose to slow down and create more magic.

So, my friends, I hope you take some time this spring to think a bit more like a magician and bring extra wonder and delight to your life.