This week I’ve been writing about the lock-picking legend Harry Houdini.

Today I’m wrapping up with a couple of my favourite Houdini “mini stories”.

First up:

Before he was earning money as magician, Houdini took whatever job he could to make ends meet.  One time, he saw a clothes shop with a sign outside, advertising for an assistant.  A queue of people were waiting to enquire about the job.  Houdini strode to the front of the line and removed the sign.  The line dispersed and Houdini was hired.

Another:

(from when he’d found his magical footing)

Houdini and his entourage were catching a train to a high profile gig.  The train was about to leave, but Houdini’s props hadn’t been loaded.  Houdini marched to the front of the train, wandered onto the tracks and gripped them so tightly that three station staff couldn’t pull him off.  The train couldn't leave and the trunks with Houdini’s equipment got loaded before the train set off.

One more:

During a performance, an audience member challenged Houdini to a double-lock handcuff escape. Houdini suggested the cuffs be locked behind his back, rather than in front.  And for the first time, Houdini tried to escape while standing in full view of the audience, instead of behind a curtain.  It took Houdini 60 seconds to break free and he later wrote in his diary:

“1^st time I took off cuffs with curtain open…was the hit of the act”.

Now, you’re not going to find many self-help books which recommend wangling your way to a job or gripping onto a set of train tracks.

So why have I plucked these three vignettes from the Houdini archives?

Well, it strikes me that Houdini had an uncanny knack of knowing exactly what the moment called for.

And not just knowing what it called for, but doing what it called for too.

I can think of times in my own life when I “knew”, deep down, the right thing to do or the right way to turn.  Even if I couldn't explain it, I could feel it.

Truth is, I don't always pay attention to these feelings.

But whenever I do, things seem to turn out pretty well. 

(seemed to turn out pretty well for the wily wizard too)

So nowadays, it’s something I try to watch out for more.  I try to get out of my head and listen to what my inner wisdom is telling me.

The best way I know to do this?

To stop dismissing these feelings.

I think they're always there.  All we need to do is let them come through.

And on the topic of connecting with your inner knowing...

If you'd like to explore further, 1-on-1 support available here:

https://calendly.com/followingfulfilment

Have a great weekend.

- Tom