Journey On is a blog dedicated to personal growth and personal development. As we continue to expand and evolve what is possible in our lives also expands. Everyday there are thousands of thoughts that come through our mind....some positive and some negative.....We have a choice as to which ones we think about. This blog is an ongoing expression of what's on my mind and the choices I make.
Wednesday, March 24, 2004
TRY SOMETHING NEW: Once a month on Monday nites I get together with a group of men and we reflect on our lifes and life in general. This Mon nite we changed the routine. We had a drumming circle...I was able to get out of my head..to feel... to let go. It reminded me of the freedom that music and rhythm has to get you into the moment.
Whenever I play music I feel that freedom to express myself nonverbally... The challenge is to trust your intuition as much as your analytical mind....Most people don't do this in Western culture...they're trying to figure it out in their head...but in some cultures intuitions are trusted and seen as more real than conclusions based on analytical thinking. We can learn a great deal from incorporating this way into our own life.
What are five things you can do in the next week to honor this feeling. Let me make a suggestion? Spend some time in nature....start the day with 15-20 minutes of quiet time ...visualize what your highlite of the day is going to be.....do something creative.....spend some time with uplifting people.....You can add to the list. If you have time in the Leadership Development section on my site there is an article entitled...Start your Day on Your Terms that talks about the importance of starting the day with intention.
Journey On
Mark
posted @ 1:44 PM
Sunday, March 21, 2004
WHAT IS A LIE? Every once in a while there is a movie that you see and it's got you thinking and talking about it. Last night I had the privilege of watching one of those rare films,a German film, Good By Lenin. Right around the time of the collapse of the Berlin Wall, the idealistic mother of a small family has a heart attack and is in a coma for 8 months. When she wakes up things are different... The Berlin Wall is down and East Germany is westernized.
When she comes home her family concerned that any excitement will be detrimental to her health, turns back the clock and pretends as if things are the way they were prior to the tearing down of the wall. Her son enrolls several people in this fabrication which had me cracking up.
But the moral question that it left me with is when is it ok to lie? And when do you say enough already? I loved the film but for a while got caught up in their drama and their fabrication. Here are a few things to think about. In the name of family love... Do you ever lie? How do you justify it? How do you get out of it? See the film if you get a chance.
Journey On
Mark
posted @ 2:24 PM
Friday, March 19, 2004
BUREAUCRAT DAY: It was one of those days....I needed to get a copy of my birth certificate....so I made the trek to the city...got there early and had to wait in line ....not too long. I asked the guy in front of me if I could look at his paper ane he said no. That hasn't happened for a long time. And then he continued to almost secretly read it....
I got it within a half hour and now I needed to go to DMV to get a new license plate. Again I didn't have to wait too long....by 9:45 I was done and time to reward myself. Breakfast at the Half Day,my favorite place.....Now I'm home .. checked my email....and catching up on my writing. Later on I plan to take a bike ride up on the mountain. No coaching today....taking a break. I'm into this writing thing.....
I'm listening to a compilation of Instrumental Inspirations and I can feel a rhythm to my thinking and my typing. I can feel my body moving to the chord changes and the rhythm. The melodies have a way of taking over my spirit. Yea! As I allow the music to envelop me I have access to a whole new range of sensations and feelings. That's what music does at times is help us tune into forgotten aspects of our being. This CD is all new and so far I like all of it. That's about it for now.
Journey On
Mark
posted @ 11:35 AM
Thursday, March 18, 2004
STILLNESS :I feel inspired by all the beauty surrounding me....but the challenge is to balance the beauty and the grace with the rest of my life which includes making a living....raising a family.....and the day to day responsibilities of being a concerned human being.
At times this challenge seems daunting. As far as I can remember there has always been something to be concerned about and to worry about if I focus on it. The antidote is to develop the ability to be in the moment . I have said numerous times that there's a direct correlation with how you start your day and the quality of your life. See my article Start Your Day on YOur Terms. When we start our day with focus and take time for silence we develop our ability to become silent during the day and to experience a stillness which is the experience of the now.
In the morning as we start to develop our experience of the now our whole day will be positively effected. Tomorrow take some time for you and your experience of silence. The world and all its concerns and problems can wait for you be be a more focused and present you.....these problems have existed long before you became aware of them and will be there in some form long afterwards.but at least for this time in the morning you can be free of these concerns.
Journey On
Mark
posted @ 1:14 PM
Sunday, March 14, 2004
HULA EMBODIED: So much of our life is controlled by appointment books and calendars. There are very few people I know who do not have a few watches. How many watches or clocks do you own?
Last night I went to a Hula Concert and left with an expanded sense of what Hula is. I used to think that hula was just an exotic dance, but realize that it is an embodiment and essence of a culture that is totally in touch with the environment that it is part of including the ocean, the flowers, the fish and even the patterns in the weather including the ocean breeze. Hula embodies all of nature in its everchanging environment and the dance reflects this life energy.
But it's much more than a dance and the chants that you hear are also an embodiment of this energy. I experienced a rhythm and soulfulness that was hypnotic along with a deep feeling of love and beauty. When I left my heart was open and I longed for that aloha spirit. When we slow down and take time to enjoy nature, our soul is nourished and our spirit rejuvenated. When the weather changes embrace the change and notice what is different for you. See the beauty in the changes. Notice the blossoms and the buds become fruit. Enjoy and embody nature and her changes.
Journey On
Mark
posted @ 4:17 PM
Friday, March 12, 2004
SAVOR THE MOMENT: I remember last spring and the summer. It was hot....and sometimes uncomfortable. I couldn't wait for winter. And winter came with all its storms and it was cold....real cold at times. I was ready for it to start getting warmer. And all of a sudden it got real hot....record temperatures for this time of year.
Now I'm wondering if the rains are over for the year and with it the coldness. I'm waking up earlier and the days are getting longer...the unpredictably with the weather patterns makes things a little more interesting. Not knowing feels kind of good.
Being in the moment with what is happening right now feels good. The key is being in the moment...not thinking about the past or worrying about the future. But what can we do to be more present? Our quest is to figure that out. How can we creat more stillness in our being? Start thinking about that. There are those moments that you savor....Savor the moment.
Journey On
Mark
posted @ 5:09 PM
Tuesday, March 09, 2004
ABOUT SUPPORT:I've been talking about love lately. My very first poem was about love and relationships. I didn't know if it was any good because it was my first one. I was afraid to share it with anyone. One day I showed it to a friend and she showed it to her 16 year old daughter who was half my age and she totaly related to it. But I still hadn't receive strokes from an adult.
After a while I started sharing it when I met someone who was confused about their relationship and my confidence started to build. Now I have shared it at many poetry readings and with hundreds of different people throughout the years. I also used it as an inspiration for February's Letters on Life, Come from Love, publication.
I have received much positive feedback throughout the years for this poem and many people have wanted a copy... and just think if my friend's daughter didn't give me such positive feedback I might not have shared it with anybody and just stored it away...might have even thrown it away. So we never know when we have a positive influence on someone and in what ways we can be supported.
Journey On
Mark
posted @ 4:05 PM
Saturday, March 06, 2004
MORE ABOUT LOVE:You meet someone ....you can't get them out of your mind....you want to be with them... And then sometime later..perhaps a month or 3 months or a year you don't feel the same way. Was it love or infatuation or something else you might want to call it. Is there a period of time that must go by before you call it love?
There is no doubt it was a real moving experience. Did you tell them you loved them? If so, why, and if not, why not. I've often wondered when do you tell someone you love them. What if you are feeling extremely happy and loving and are able to see the light in another human being? Is that love? Do you say I love you?
In yoga when you connect with the deepest part of another being you say "namaste." I love you is not part of my everyday vocabularly and whenever I say it I almost have to think about saying it... and I have a family... yet I say it. Aren't the words I love you, magic words...and those magic words can make life more magical. Those words have a power unlike other words in your vocabulary.
I also find that saying I love to be in nature is very natural. It might be that there is a particular hobby you love to do. For the next week or so notice how many times you say or write the word love. Do you sign a letter.. Love... Notice what you're thinking and feeling when you do say or write it.
Journey On
Mark
posted @ 5:42 PM
Wednesday, March 03, 2004
WHAT IS LOVE: The other night I spent the evening with three close friends. We agreed beforehand that the topic of our evening would be love. Love has been written about more often than most subjects and certainly is a hot topic of conversation. The next series of blogs were inspired by that evening and will be an exploration of how love shows up in our loves.
What are the different types of love, where is it in our lives? So here it goes. The love you have for your partner is certainly different than the type of love you have for your children. I was thinking about how the love I have for my children stretches me.....If I want to stay connected to them, I have to change and since they change so rapidly I change much quicker than I would have without them. I am definitely more flexible.
They stretch my limits more than any other relationship I have been involved in. I have learned about unconditional love. There is no divorce...I can't think about leaving the relationship. Your love for your children makes you so vulnerable at times you can't stand it and yet I wouldn't trade it for anything.
As I said this is going to be a series and more will be written next time. My newsletter Letters on Life will be going out within the next 24 hours. Be sure to look for it.
Journey On
Mark
posted @ 11:31 AM
How you can benefit from Coaching.
If you’re reading this letter it’s because you have an interest or curiosity about the phenomenon called coaching. Coaching is sweeping the nation, but why, what's it all about, and how does it work? A Coach is a well trained and experienced professional who helps you produce extraordinary results in your life. Coaches accelerate progress by providing focus and awareness. They help you see where you are now and what you are willing to do to get where you want to be in the future, recognizing that results are a matter of your intentions, choices and actions. The bottom line is a great Coach will help you get what you want, often more quickly than doing it alone.
Why Is Coaching important? So many of us are so busy living from our clocks and calendars, we often forget what matters to us or have little time to even think about it. Too often we are uncomfortable about saying what we want because we don’t believe that it is possible. Sometimes we have just given up. A masterful coach inspires you to believe in yourself so that you are willing to declare what it is that you really want.
A Coach "listens" intently, asks clarifying questions, challenges your assumptions, helps you dream big and makes sure you do the important things you say you will do in order to have the important things you say you want. It is a partnership based on intention, agreement, integrity and relationship. The bottom line is, we can't do it alone. Some of us think we can, but with a Coach you will be challenged, stretched and empowered and you will increase your chances of being successful and be celebrated for it.
In the process you discover your source of inner power, so that whatever you do in life you do with more confidence and ease.
"Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn't do than by the ones you did. Throw off the bow lines, sail away from the safe harbor, Catch the Trade Winds in your sails."
- Mark Twain
Believe in yourself. Live your dream
Explore and discover what is possible.
Mark Susnow, formerly a trial attorney for 30 years, is a coach, musician, speaker, and group facilitator. He’s inspired hundreds of people to believe in themselves and to achieve their goals and dreams. mark@inspirepossibility.com 415.453.5016
NEW - E-Books by Mark Susnow
Stepping Stones to
Greater Personal Freedom
Reclaim Your Life:
Live In Balance
Executive Leadership Development Program: 10 Insights to Developing
the Leader Within
About Coaching Give yourself the gift of coaching and make an investment in your future. learn more...
Subscribe to this Weblog
FREE Self Assessment Test Who's in charge of your life? How much of your life is controlled by self-defeating and self -limiting beliefs and habits?
"When I came to see you a little over a year ago, I had a general sense that my life was unfulfilled, but I didn't know why or what to do to change it. You helped me to see that my life was out of balance. We identified my priorities, and you gave me tools to create the life I wanted. But I couldn't have made the necessary changes without your ongoing guidance and support.With your help, I was able to purchase a home closer to my daughter's school, make huge steps toward fulfilling career goals, and find a more healthy and satisfying relationship." Linda S. Naleway, Senior Paralegal
"Everyone needs help from time to time.We just get too caught up in the daily dramas of our personal affairs to see the forest through the tress. Even the most successful and brilliant minds in the universe become wise by recognizing the need for outside, caring support. Your background as a lawyer and spiritual seeker allow you the unique balance of being tough , practical, and down to earth, while at the same time gentle and loving." Art Brownstein, M.D.
Author: Healing Back Pain Naturally
(Harbor Press 1999)
"After playing six years in the National Football League I was fortunate enough to make a great transition into the business world.I became caught up in the rat race and didn't even know it. I would like to take this opportunity to thank you for working with me during the last three months. The first word that comes to mind is "AWESOME". The journey of life is easier traveled with a Map & Directions. Thanks for helping me find my way." Natu Tuatagaloa, Senior Vice President, IDEX Corp.
"I began working with Mark at a stormy point for me personally and professionally. Mark helped me learn to look at my life very differently, to rediscover myself, and get passion back in my life. His positive energy, insight and direct coaching style make him a wonderful mentor for those serious about personal growth." Jay Nathanson, Managing Partner, Target Marketing
"Having you as my personal coach has helped me to focus my energy on myself and reach within to find the stillness, the calmness of my inner self. I have also learned the importance of being grateful for other joys in my life: my musical talents, great friends, my law practice, natural creativity and passion for living." Rick Baskin, Attorney-At-Law
"Mark has taught me to start each day by wondering what the most fascinating/exciting thing might be during the day. Through that lens, I have looked at every experience from a different perspective . Most recently he supported me through a major life change-by encouraging me to enjoy the process. What a concept! His insights and intuitions have supported me in living my life more in alignment with who I am.Thanks Mark and Iâm looking forward to more." Judith Hodgens, Former Mayor and Council member, Town of San Anselmo
"Mark Susnow knows how to bring out superior performance in his clients. He is masterful. By working with Mark, you will consistently surpass your own expectations of yourself. You will also discover that life can be a lot more pleasurable. I have personally benefited enormously from Mark's coaching and I recommend him to you without reservation." Raz Ingrasci, President of the Hoffman Institute
"As someone who had done lots of personal growth work with individuals like Deepak Chopra and Tony Robbins, I was a bit reserved about whether working with Mark would add anything to my life. Now, nearly one year after first meeting Mark, I can say with 100% conviction that my work with Mark has been hands-down the most powerful personal growth work that I have done. Through Mark's ongoing support, guidance and wisdom, I picked up my family and left my law firm to pursue a job that I've dreamt about my entire life. And now, quite literally, I am living a dream come true and I simply would not be where I am today without Mark's coaching." Don McLaughlin, Attorney-at-Law
"The most profound change I have noticed from working with you has been in my communication. For the first time, I am able to be more myself, open, honest and real with everyone-my life partner, my friends, with those I manage, and those who manage me. They, too, have noticed and applauded this transformation." David Phipps, Director of Engineering
"Denial…that is the best word I can think of to describe my life before I met Mark and started on a new journey. It’s not that I was unhappy or unsuccessful before, it’s just that I didn’t indulge myself by maximizing life’s opportunities. The difference in my life over the last fifteen months is like the contrast of a mountain climber who now gazes up to see where he can still go instead of looking down to see how far he could drop. After Mark helped me have the courage to get past my fear of falling, he awakened me to the concept that above the mountain summit exists an endless series of peaks. The power to enjoy your life to the fullest truly lies within yourself, and it’s clear that helping people find their stride is Mark’s Mount Everest. Journey on Mark!" Mitch Emoff President, Fulfillment Center, Shumsky and Co
