Tag Archives: Harry Potter

Harry Potter and the Quest to Be You

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In previous blog posts I’ve professed my love of Harry Potter. More often than not, when I put a book down with a satisfied sigh and desire for the story to continue, it was labeled for children or young adults.

But as an English major, embracing my love of children’s literature felt taboo. I “should” read novels that improve my mind, challenge my humanity, and inspire deep book-club conversations.

While I certainly can analyze prose and burrow around for deeper meaning, I really don’t enjoy it. That’s not what inspired my love of reading as a child. What I loved then—and now—was the flight of imagination, the struggle between good and evil, with good always prevailing, and a foundation in a Universal truth, such as there is nothing more powerful than love.

It took me a long time to embrace this preference as a part of Who I am and to let go of those books that lay neglected on my coffee table either unopened or partially read because they were what I “should” be reading. It took me even longer to stop pretending that I was reading those books and instead share my enthusiasm for the children’s book I was currently in love with.

While embracing my preference for something as inconsequential as reading material may not seem like a big deal, determining what you enjoy and accepting that instead of struggling with what you think you “should” like based on other’s expectations is an important step in being the best possible version of you.

My not acknowledging this part of me led to long bouts where I didn’t read anything at all because I felt so guilty about not liking what I “should” be reading. It inspired a failed try to join a book club that resulted in spoiled friendships. It generated a lot of self-doubt and –criticism, and the fear of other’s judgments kept me from connecting with people who actually do share my passion.

In short, it contributed to my overall feeling of unhappiness and created a lot of negative, catabolic energy that released stress chemicals and other harmful physical processes. It inhibited my ability to achieve optimal wellness and a vibrant life.

Part of being the best possible version of you is letting go of Who you think you should be and embracing Who you really are.

There is a fine line, however, between determining and doing the things that you love, and drawing a boundary around yourself and automatically rejecting new things and experiences. This shuts off personal growth and can also keep you from pursing the ever-changing mark of the best possible version of you.

The perfect balance in the Quest to be You is letting go of what you don’t like, embracing what you do, and looking for new things, people, and experiences that align with you.

Where are you holding on to something that you really don’t enjoy? What is something that for whatever reason you haven’t allowed yourself to enjoy before? How do you feel when you embrace that, and do more of that? What else would be fun to explore?

Together we can do it!

Photo by jannoon028 / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Harry Potter and the Key to Happiness

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While off celebrating my 20th anniversary, I’m sharing a few of my favorite blogs that you might have missed.

My husband, David, and I visiting the Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Studios in October 2010

I’m a huge fan of Harry Potter. There is a scene in the climax of the first book, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, where the three heroes climb through a trap door and land on a plant called Devil’s Snare.

The moment they land, the plant begins to twist around them without their noticing. As soon as she realizes what it is, Hermione admonishes Harry and Ron to, “stop moving.”

“The two boys fought to pull the plant off them, but the more they strained against it, the tighter and faster the plant wound around them.”

 

Much like Devil’s Snare, our thoughts can hold us fast in the very place we don’t want to be as we struggle and complain, try to control life, and push against what we don’t want.

It seems counter-intuitive, but the way forward is to relax and let go of the struggle.To accept where we are and to appreciate what we do have. The more we relax and appreciate, the more we allow Universal Energy (God, Source, All-That-Is, Higher Coach, whatever works for you) to bring us all the things we want and have asked for.

Letting go of the struggle, even for a few moments a day, can make a huge difference in our lives. Some ways to practice this is through meditation, prayer, and exercise that allows you to quiet your mind, such as yoga or even running.

What can you do today to practice letting go of the struggle? Not only will you immediately feel better, but you truly begin creating the life of your dreams.

Together we can do it!

Harry Potter and the Inner Gremlin

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I’ve already confessed in an earlier blog how much I love the Harry Potter series. After seeing the last movie in July, I went back and reread all the books.

What was fun about this go-around was seeing some great analogies for addressing obstacles that come up on our path to creating the life of our dreams.

One of these has to do with our Gremlin—that inner critic that tells you that you’re not good enough, will never amount to anything, and certainly shouldn’t feel good about yourself.

Our inner Gremlin is a lot like a boggart—which Harry and his friends get introduced to during a Defense Against the Dark Arts class being led by Professor Remus Lupin in a scene from Book 3, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban.

“So, the first question we must ask ourselves is, what is a boggart?”

Hermione put up her hand.

“It’s a shape-shifter,” she said. “It can take the shape of whatever it thinks will frighten us most.”

This is very much what the Gremlin does. It often assumes the voice and countenance of the person whose criticism might frighten or hinder us the most. One moment it might sound like your mother, the next like the bully from 7th grade, and the next like your first boss.

“So the boggart sitting in the darkness within has not yet assumed a form. . . But when I let him out, he will immediately become whatever each of us most fears.”

Regardless of whatever form your Gremlin takes in any situation, it’s important to remember that your Gremlin is not any of those people. It is, in fact, a part of you.

It is the fearful part of you, the worrying part of you, the part of you who believes you are less than you truly are. But whatever the Gremlin is telling you—it is not Truth.

Because it is a part of you, you can’t kill it, beat it up, threaten it, or destroy it. Any attempt to do those things will just make it stronger. You must treat it with respect.

But that doesn’t mean you have to respect your Gremlin’s opinion. The best way to handle it is also the best way to handle a boggart.

“The charm that repels a boggart is simple, yet it requires force of mind. You see, the thing that really finishes a boggart is laughter. What you need to do is force it to assume a shape that you find amusing.”

The charm that works that magic is “riddikulus!”

My Gremlin Gabby--very "Riddikulus!"

The “riddikulus” shape that I gave my Gremlin is that of a baby alligator dressed up in baby clothes. I chose an alligator because even as babies they can be a bit frightening and they have sharp teeth that hurt when they bite. But in reality, the bite of a baby alligator isn’t fatal and it really can’t hurt me. Add some baby clothes and it’s even something I can laugh at.

To take that “riddikulus” image even further, I actually found a plush toy that came very close to fitting my mental image and Gabby, as I call it, is currently sitting on my desk.

The funny thing is that toy representation of my Gremlin is so cute that I actually kind of love it. And loving your Gremlin is truly the key to taming it–just like in Harry Potter, love is the ultimate magic.

Today, think about what “riddikulus” shape you can make your Gremlin take. Make it something you can laugh at, and ultimately love. 

Together we can do it!

Let Go of the Struggle

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I’m a huge fan of Harry Potter. There is a scene in the climax of the first book, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, where the three heroes climb through a trap door and land on a plant called Devil’s Snare.

The moment they land, the plant begins to twist around them without their noticing. As soon as she realizes what it is, Hermione admonishes Harry and Ron to, “stop moving.”

“The two boys fought to pull the plant off them, but the more they strained against it, the tighter and faster the plant wound around them.”

Much like Devil’s Snare, our thoughts can hold us fast in the very place we don’t want to be as we struggle and complain, try to control life, and push against what we don’t want.

It seems counter intuitive, but the way forward is to relax and let go of the struggle. To accept where we are and to appreciate what we do have. The more we relax and appreciate, the more we allow Universal energy to bring us all the things we want and have asked for.

Letting go of the struggle, even for a few moments a day, can make a huge difference in our lives. Some ways to practice this is through meditation, prayer, and exercise that allows you to quiet your mind, such as yoga or even running.

The more you practice letting go of the struggle, not only do you feel better right now, but you truly begin creating the life of your dreams.

Together we can do it!