Royce Christyn - Scripting the Life You Want: Manifest Your Dreams with Just Pen and Paper

I COULD FILL AN ENTIRE BOOK with the names of those whom I have never-ending gratitude to for being a part of the journey that led to this book being brought into this world.

All of my teachers and educators from Marlton, New Jersey, who believed in me and gave me the self-confidence to follow my passions: Ms. Elaine Winder, Mrs. Nicole Snodgrass, Mrs. Carol Smith, Mr. Scott Powell, Ms. Colleen Peelman, Mr. Frank Guerrini, Mr. Scott Sax, Mrs. Marilyn Sobeleski, Ms. Barron, Mrs. Lance, and the many others from Marlton Elementary School, Marlton Middle School, and Cherokee High School who are too numerous to name, I thank you all for encouraging me and helping me unearth my passion for writing and the arts.

Mitch Horowitz for his guidance and help making this book real.

The team at Inner Traditions for your friendship and the fun: Jennie Marx, Manzanita Carpenter-Sanz, Jon Graham, John Hays, Patricia Rydle, Kelly Bowen, Erica B. Robinson, Jeanie Levitan, Megan Rule, and Ehud Sperling.

My first spiritual mentor, Jeffrey Sean Poole, I miss you every single day.

My dad, Frank, for allowing and encouraging me to always walk my own path and supporting me no matter where it led. My father-in-law, Mike Hemus, for being not only the best dad to my Solly, but for being my friend. Im grateful for you both.

Jerry and Esther Hicks and their teachings of Abraham, for guiding me from afar since I was sixteen years old.

My cousins, Mallory, Audra, Pamela, Brittany, Melissa, and Amanda.

Teddi Alvarez and Lori Olsen for being the best hair and nail team, and Walid Azami for being such a phenomenally talented photographer and shooting the campaign for this book.

Oliva Mah, Dorian Newberry, and Karen Crietz for making friendship so fun and easy.

Adriane Schwartz, who will yell at me for saying this, but Im going to anyway: for coming in at the perfect time in my life and showing me that not only can I write but that I also love to write. Your mentorship and guidance built me back up at a time when I needed it most. Youre the best and I love you. If not for you, none of this would have happened. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.

Im going to forget some names, and I apologize, but I also wish to thank: Thea De Sousa, Liz Pryor, Mary Jo Eustace, Sally Kirkland, Leslee and Robin Godshalk, Ashlee Godshalk Ruggles, Tamara Godshalk, Sandi DiMarco, Alan Grayson, Melissa Jo Peltier, John Gray, Jen Kirkman, Tony Serrata, Luli Batista, Tracey Michaels, Steven Hemus-Lance, Tristan and Niko Pappas, Brandon Camacho, Ryan Daly, Mara Santino, Nils Larsen, Stella Alex, Mark Smith, Tasha Smith, Natalie Carson, Brian Carson, Valerie Hartford, Stacey Sanderson, Gary Swartzman, Uncle Bob Swartzman, Michelle and Joel Pardini, the Swartzman Family, the Hemus Family, Bob McFadden, Billy McFadden, Billy McFadden Jr., Nikki McFadden, Ella McFadden, Cathi McFadden, Melissa Whittenweiler, Brit Morgan, Barbara Whitson, Ashlei Sobrero, Pete Sobrero, Kayla Hansen, Amanda Quintor, Lori Osborne, Tiffany Champlin, Jim Lefter, Harv Bishop, Opal Vadhan, and Gabriel.

FOR YEARS IVE BEEN ENCHANTED with a little pamphlet from the 1920s called It Works. You may know it. The author, who identified himself only as R. H. J. (he was a Chicago sales executive named Roy Herbert Jarrett), prescribed the following process for attaining the things you want in life: (1) write down your desires, (2) think of your list constantly, and (3) remain silent, telling no one what youre doing. Then give thanks when your wishes arrive.

I count myself among the generations of readers who found Roys twenty-eight-page pamphlet too good to be true. Except for one nagging fact: it is true. Ive written about Roy, his methods, and why they work (or seem to) for years. Theyve never been matched. Until now.

Royce Christynan actor, writer, director, and lifelong metaphysical seekergave me an exercise one day that was just offbeat enough, and just appealing enough, to try. I never could have imagined how much Royces exercise would come to mean to me. And how quickly its effectiveness would be felt.

It happened this way: Royce and his partner, Solly, were treating me to a day trip to DisneylandI had never visited the Magic Kingdom and was eager to squeeze as much into our few hours as possible. I had to return to LA that evening. It was a hot fall day, and the place was packed, shoulder to shoulder. Yet we whisked through lines, rode a popular ride twice, and covered the park almost to the extent of seeing and doing everything we wanted to. We were back on the road by 5:00 p.m. It was weird, improbable, and altogether true. (Weve got pictures to prove it.)

During this whirlwind trip, Royce described to me a method of scripting out ones day, which he and Solly had been using. In its simplicity, I found it similar to Roy Jarretts approach, but what Royce described was more vivid, timely, and detailed. And, above all, it proved effective. More than effectiveuncanny.

As you will discover in this powerful, concise book, Royces scripting method requires writing out your idealized day first thing in the morning, as if it already occurred. Then at night, just before bed, you write out your day once more, as you actually lived it. Over time the congruency between the two passages will emerge. That has been my experience. It has been jarring, wonderful, productive, and surprising. (As youll see, Royce also provides a more long-term form of scripting in the book.)

Shortly after our Disney trip, Royce sent me two pages from Sollys journal, which reflected on our day: the idealized version was written in the morning (at early dawn), and the forensic version was written that night, following the days events. Let me state this plainly: except for one detail, involving a gift I bought them at the park, the two passages are factually interchangeable. Improbableand real.

I have been criticized for espousing a certain position about New Thought, but I will repeat it here because it comes from the heart, and it will help you understand my enthusiasm for Royces method. In interviews I am open to virtually any question; nothing is off the table. There is one question, however, with which I struggle: What new voices in New Thought excite you? My answer: Almost none. There are far too many metaphysical voicesboth famous and unknownwho offer catechism, vagueness, and retreads of old ideas. I want to storm heaven, not curate a museum.

But Royces method is fresh, exciting, and workable. It is disarminglyalmost inconceivablysimple, and its results are remarkable. To offer just one personal example: I was nearing an article deadline for a large national magazine. I had not begun my piece and didnt know how to do so. I was stymied. The clock was oppressively ticking. I used the scripting exercise, and in a day and a half I wrote a very solid article, which pleased my editors. This just doesnt happen. But there it was.

Ive pondered this in connection with Roy Jarretts work and now with Royces: Why should something so simple work at all? Part of the answer, I believe, is that certain exercises get us selecting ideas and possibilities in our minds in a very concrete way. They break us out of habitual thoughtand also out of inactive daydreamsand they enlist and focus our mental energies in a manner that we too rarely employ. Royces method actually cuts against idle daydreaming or fantasy because of its fixed time frame: when youre thinking only twelve or so hours ahead, you are compelled to function within the framework of your current circumstances and possibilities. You cannot viably write something that is excessively fanciful, placing you on different continents, in different tax brackets, or with an adoring public at your feet. However the methodical nature of his exercise can serve to expand upon and build your potential circumstances. His longer ten-day exercise, which you will experience, helps gradually broaden your boundaries.