Adding Magic To Your Life This March

Adding Magic To Your Life This March. Hello everyone, I hope you are well. In today’s post, I will be sharing a guest post from transformational change expert Sid Madge, founder of Meee, looking at how to create some magic in your life this March. Although there are many magic moments during winter, it can feel like a re-awakening when we get to March. The days are getting longer again, and the weather is improving (hopefully), so it is the perfect time to add some magic to your month.

Often the joy and magic are in the tiny moments in life (not the big, grand ones), and all it takes is a slight shift of perspective to see and appreciate them. Sid is a great believer in instant change, little ‘micro-moments’ of learning or adaptation that allow us to actively take charge of our situation and emotions at the moment, reset and bring more of our best to help ourselves and others.

Adding Magic To Your Life This March

March means the days are getting noticeably longer again, and the weather is improving (hopefully). In the early Roman calendar, March (or Martius) was the first month of the calendar year because March brought the first day of spring with the vernal equinox. The start of new beginnings and the renewed sense of magic that these new beginnings bring.

My daughter recently turned two, and for the following two weeks, my other lovelies and I sang Happy Birthday to her. I was amazed at just how much joy that little song brought us all. She wasn’t bothered about the presents or even the cake; it was a simple little song, her laugh and giggle with her siblings. Around 20.8 million people celebrate their birthdays each day. This also got the team and me thinking about all the special occasions and celebrations around the world. Moments that we should celebrate with as much joy as my daughter brings to her birthday.

Often the joy and magic are in the tiny moments, and all it takes is a slight shift of perspective to see and appreciate them. I’m a great believer in instant change, little ‘micro-moments’ of learning or adaptation that allow us to actively take charge of our situation and emotions at the moment, reset and bring more of our best to help ourselves and others. Each micro-moment intervention is designed to be actionable in a minute, and I’ve written three books on these micro-moments for life, work and family.

What occasions in March could be an excellent excuse for more joy and magic?

March the 8th: International Women’s Day

One of the most incredible women in my life is my mum. Her tenacity and fight throughout her life have been remarkable. Even with children of my own, I’m still guided by her. International Women’s Day is a great way to stop and appreciate the incredible women in our lives. And commemorate women’s cultural, political, and socioeconomic achievements and all the magic they create. There are so many great women past and present, but there are two (apart from my mum) who I’ve been particularly in awe of.

Betty Sassoon

The first is Betty Sassoon, Vidal Sassoon’s mother. Sassoon spent about seven years in an orphanage as his mum couldn’t make ends meet, but she was determined to get her son back, which she did. One day Betty had a strong suspicion that he would be a famous hairdresser. She was so convinced that it was confirmed that she found a hairdressing school run by a well-known stylist, Adolph Cohen. Together with her son, they visited the salon to learn about the school. But Cohen told them it was a two-year programme and would cost much more money than Betty could afford, so they disappointed the salon. Sassoon recalls, “My mother looked so bleak. I thought she might faint.”

But a few minutes later, Mr Cohen called them back in. He had been struck by the fact that Vidal had opened the door for his mother and didn’t let his disappointment show. Cohen then told him, “You seem to have excellent manners, young man. Start Monday and forget the cost.” His mother began to cry with joy. Of course, Vidal Sassoon became a famous stylist, creating the bob hairstyle and perfecting the art of blow-drying because his mum was determined to help him fulfil his destiny and good manners. That one small act of kindness created the magic that created a business empire and a lasting legacy.

Marie Curie

The second woman that stands out for me is Marie Curie. Curie is recognized for her ground-breaking Nobel Prize-winning discoveries and for helping to break gender barriers during her lifetime. Curie was the first person in the world, male or female, to win two Nobel Prizes. Her family won four! And she managed it all without a fancy lab. During WW1, Marie Curie developed mobile radiology units which were used at the front hospitals in Furnes, Hoogstade, Adinkerke, De Panne, Beveren and Roesbrugge. Training 150 women to operate the “Little Curie” is estimated that the total number of wounded soldiers receiving X-ray exams during the war exceeded one million.

Marie Curie was an extraordinary person who worked tirelessly as a scientist and a humanitarian. She never let her gender stop her, even while working in a male-dominated world. Instead, she mobilized a small army of women to reduce human suffering and win World War I.

Take a moment to think of all the amazing women in your life that bring magic to your world. Please make a point to give them a big hug (virtual is also good) the next time you see them. A little more appreciation for all the people we are grateful for is a beautiful way to spread more magic.

March the 20th: UN International Day of Happiness

Although happiness can mean different things to different people, one element is familiar. And that’s the messages sent by a genuine smile. This is possibly the only genuinely international recognizable and understandable symbol of happiness globally. In a study conducted in the UK, British researchers found that one smile can provide the same level of brain stimulation as up to 2,000 chocolate bars; they also found that smiling can be as stimulating as receiving up to £16,000 in cash.

Psychologists have also found that even if we have to force a smile, the very act of turning our lips upward can trick our brain into releasing certain feel-good hormones, including dopamine and serotonin. As a result, our stress levels lower, our immune system gets a little boost, and our overall mood improves. Researchers have even discovered that a smile can lower our heart rate when feeling anxious.

It’s also worth remembering that happiness is not a permanent state. Often, it’s fleeting as we go about our daily activities, but when we pay attention to the little moments that make us happy and revel in them, we can draw out our sense of wellbeing. Is your morning coffee just excellent, or did you enjoy chatting to a friend? Often, it’s the simplest of things like singing Happy Birthday to a two-year-old that sprinkles our lives with magic. We don’t need the grand gestures or the fantastic holiday – we need to pay attention to some of the little things that bring us joy and wallow in them for a little longer.

Take a moment to smile at someone. Just notice the world around you and smile. Like a smile, smiling is contagious.

March the 26th: Make Up Your Own Holiday Day.

I’m particularly excited about this one! Make Up Your Own Holiday Day was created to encourage people to do more of what they love. Now there is a tonne of interesting, intriguing and imaginative holidays already out there, like World Stationery Day (April the 22nd), National Spaghetti Day (January the 4th), National Hugging Day (January the 21st) and National Zipper Day (April the 29th). What’s fascinating is the imagination and creativity to name, create and participate in such great activities.

Take a moment to consider what your ‘make up your own holiday’ will be. Maybe they eat whatever you want the day, visit the ocean day, snuggle with your dog, or binge-watch your favourite TV show day. I will put an entry in my calendar to celebrate ‘Being Alive’ as my self-appointed holiday.

My life is certainly no walk in the park, and the last few years have been a real challenge, but we are all in the same boat, and if we can remind ourselves of all the beautiful things in our lives, too, it’s easier to stay upbeat and spread the magic.

For me, the 26th will be celebrating the ups, the downs, the bumps, the bruises, the celebrations, the commiserations and everything in between. Life is what you make it, but it’s also 100% yours.

Whatever March brings to you, enjoy the little wins, go searching for them if you have to and spread the magic around.

I hope you enjoyed that.

Talk soon.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Sid Madge is a transformation and change specialist and founder of Meee. Meee draws on the best creativity and thinking from the worlds of branding, psychology, neuroscience, education and sociology to help people embrace change and achieve extraordinary lives.

From pupils to CEOs, Meee has helped thousands find their magic to transform themselves, their communities and their organizations. From leaders of PLCs and SMEs to parents, teachers, students, carers, the unemployed and prison inmates, Meee helps people excel.

Sid Madge is also the author of the ‘Meee in Minute’ series of books which each offer 60 ways to change your life, work-, or family life in 60 seconds.

Web: www.meee.global

Web: www.meeebooks.com

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