During any new patient’s comprehensive annual physical, I usually start by asking them about their goals and desires.

Why? Because without knowing where you’re headed, it’s difficult to develop an effective roadmap for the journey — or even to know when you’ve arrived.

It may sound simple, but knowing what you actually want is one of the most overlooked steps in achieving optimal health. That clarity drives everything that follows.

So, why am I talking about this here on my blog?

Every now and again, I like to recommend books I feel can add value to people’s lives. Not long ago, I came across a book called Into the Magic Shop by Dr. James Doty. It tells the story of how a young boy, growing up in a chaotic home, stumbles into a magic shop and meets a woman who teaches him a formula for getting what he wants in life.

That boy puts the formula to good use, eventually becoming a neurosurgeon, a millionaire, and a leader in medicine. But, for a time, he forgot about a crucial step in the process — one he now believes is the path to true peace and fulfillment in your success.

Let me walk you through the four steps Doty learned in the magic shop. I’ve found them quite helpful, as have the patients I’ve shared them with, for achieving real, lasting change in both life and health.

Magic for Mind and Body: 4 Steps to Success

In reality, Doty’s formula isn’t intended as some magic recipe that accomplishes your every whim. It’s meant to help you sift through your goals and desires to determine which are worthwhile — and to get your head and heart in the best state to pursue those that are.

The steps are as follows:

Step 1: Relax the Body

In order to start any program — whether it’s exercise, diet, or spending quality time with others — it’s important to understand what direction you want to go. The first step in this direction is to relax in a setting that gives you time with yourself.

Start by slowing down. Find a quiet room. Breathe deeply. Let every muscle, every joint, every inch of your body unwind — because if your body is tight and your nervous system is in overdrive, your heart isn’t going to listen. And you need your heart in this conversation.

We often forget that the heart is more than a pump. It’s part of the brain-body loop. Through the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems, your heart is constantly sending messages. When it’s tight, closed, or guarded, nothing meaningful gets through.

Step 2: Tame the Mind

Once the body is relaxed, the next step is to quiet the noise upstairs.

You can do this with rhythmic breathing, or what we call “box breathing.” Inhale for four seconds, hold for four, exhale for four, and hold again. Repeat.

You’re not trying to control your thoughts, just allowing them to float by. Let them go. You’re making space for clarity. For awareness. You’re tuning into something deeper than the chatter.

Step 3: Open the Heart

This is where many people get stuck, but it’s the most important piece.

Think of someone who’s given you unconditional love. Let yourself really feel that. Now flip it: Think of someone you’ve given that love to. Sit with that warmth, that softness.

Now here’s where it gets harder. Think of someone who’s been difficult. Or a situation that’s caused pain. Imagine offering that same love there. This is the work of opening your heart. It may seem impossible due to past wounds or baggage, but without this step, whatever you achieve through this process won’t feel as worthwhile.

This is the crucial piece Doty missed for a time. Now, he shares a beautiful framework for cultivating an open heart using a portion of the alphabet as a mnemonic: CDEFGHIJKL.

• C — Compassion: Recognize the suffering of others so you can truly care about them.
• D — Dignity: See the worth in every person without passing judgment on anything.
• E — Equanimity: Stay steady, even-tempered throughout life’s guaranteed ups and downs.
• F — Forgiveness: Forgive others, but also forgive yourself without holding onto regrets.
• G — Gratitude: Notice the blessings you already have, even small ones. If you’re struggling with a medical issue, cultivate gratitude for the progress you’re making and acknowledge how far you’ve come.
• H — Humility: View others as equals, never considering yourself better than someone else.
• I — Integrity: Know your own values and live by them.
• J — Justice: Seek what’s fair and right, and recognize that profit from injustice never leads to happiness.
• K — Kindness: Put compassion into action.
• L — Love: Offer it freely, without condition, truly caring for others.

If you’re practicing these — even imperfectly — you’re building a heart that’s open to joy, to healing, and to growth.

Step 4: Clarify Your Intent

Finally, visualize exactly what you want. Don’t stop at a vague wish, but imagine a full-color, 3D rendering of you accomplishing your goal as if it’s already real.

Let’s say you want a career change. Sit down and ask yourself:

• Why do I want this?
• What am I willing to give up?
• What will it mean for the people I care about?
• How will it feel when I’ve arrived?

This clarity will either affirm your direction or show you it’s not quite right. But you can’t know without asking these questions from a calm body, a quiet mind, and an open heart.

Is It Really That Simple?

Some people hear this and think it’s unrealistic or too vague. But take a look at truly successful people — not just wealthy or famous, but fulfilled. They tend to have some kind of formula. A method. A roadmap.

Doty’s isn’t the only formula, but it’s one I’ve found to be deeply effective. It gives you the tools to first determine and then pursue what you truly want with clarity and integrity. And that includes your health.

Good health isn’t just about numbers on a lab report. It’s about waking up energized. Loving your life. Feeling connected. Making choices from the heart.

That’s what I want for every patient. And it starts by stepping into your own magic shop.

Whether you’re working toward better health, a career change, deepening relationships, or some other worthy goal, having a roadmap will help you not only reach your destination but also recognize and appreciate it when you arrive.