Dumbo the elephant could fly, but he thought he could fly because he held a feather.

It was his mouse friend Timothy, that persuades Dumbo to do what he thinks he can’t by using the psychological trick of a “magic feather” boosting Dumbo’s confidence.

At the circus Dumbo had to perform a stunt of jumping from a really high building and on his way down, Dumbo loses the feather and again it is Timothy that tells him that the feather was never magical, and that he is still able to fly. Dumbo is able to pull out of the dive and flies around the circus.

As someone with ADD and OCD, I have given power to many magical feathers in my life. It has taken years of practice, and day by day, and one by one, I have been able to let go of several make believe props that I gave power to, the ones that have held my confidence and courage.

I am not against using a crutch, a symbol or prayer in life, when and if you need the help to get through the day. And without sounding too much like Rob Brezsny, I would suggest, identifying the magic feathers in your life, and then testing them every so often just to see if what was… was and what is… is.