In defense of Magical Thinking
Do we underestimate this skill and its impact on wellbeing and resilience?
Friends,
Recently, while reading a memoir called Grief is for People, I remembered the late Joan Didion’s memoirs on the same topic. Grieving the loss of her husband John Dunne, Didion confesses in writing to finding some small comfort in the passing of Julia Child around the same time. Because, she notes, now John and Julia can share a meal in heaven. Intention setting, a frequent theme of this newsletter, may be another variation on magical thinking, too.
According to Wikipedia, Magical Thinking is the belief that “unrelated events are connected despite the absence of any causal link between them, particularly as a result of supernatural effects.” I’m choosing to make space for this concept lately, as we can encounter challenge from the mind (fear, comparison, rumination, worry…) — so why not give equal weight to ways that thoughts can create room for magic, wonder, hope, and awe? I love how Didion conjured a heavenly conversation that provided her with solace during her time on earth; I’m not sure I know a better or more tangible example of good sense and resilience.
QUESTIONS FOR REFLECTION: What variation of Magical Thinking are you drawn to or do you shy away from? Is there a version of it that you want to invite more of in your life? Has Magical Thinking served you thus far and if so, how?
xo
I believe there's a plan for my life and that all the individual events within it are 'working together for the good'. I also believe in 'signs' that offer guidance and encouragement, though I have to guard against seeing them when they're not there because I want a particular message too badly. Better to wait and let them announce themselves clearly, on their own terms.