Whenever I get on my mountain bike and approach a hill I look up. In my mind I have a whole story about how steep the hill is and whether I can make it to the top. I’ve been on the trail many times, so I remind myself to focus on what’s immediately in front of me which is the next step. That’s the way all of our life is. Life’s complexities can be broken down into smaller segments. Whenever you have a big project to complete, break it down into smaller pieces.

When I was a trial lawyer and was getting ready for a trial, it would seem overwhelming at times, until I changed my thinking. I looked at the trial at a series of segments that had their own schedule. Each piece seemed manageable. Rather than being overwhelmed, I was able to focus on what had to get done.

All you can do is take the step that is in front of you. Life has an order to it much like building a house. First you have to work on the big picture, the plans, before you can start building. You have to get the right person who shares your vision. Before you can put the house up, you need to complete the foundation. Again you have to find the right workers who share your same vision and sensibilities.

Whatever it is you are thinking about doing, whether in your personal or professional life, take one step at a time. That’s all you can do. And that next step is always immediately in front of you. All you have to do is keep your eyes open and trust. Trust because sometimes you aren’t able to see much more than that next step. Trust to know that you are on the right path even when you come across a few detours. And there will always be a few in the form of the doubts and insecurities.

Enjoy the journey

Mark

Mark Susnow, is an executive & life coach and speaker who inspires others to believe in themselves. He is passionate about life being an exciting journey of discovery. His enthusiastic and inspiring keynotes on change, leadership and connection thoroughly convey this message to his audiences. A former trial attorney for 30 years, he integrates what it takes to be successful in the world with the inner wisdom unfolded to him through years of yoga and meditation. He is the author of Dancing on the River…Navigating Life’s Changes.

You look into the mirror and what do you see. Do you like what you see? Then you smile and you like what you see better. Then you sit down to meditate or take time for reflection before starting your day. You’re somewhat calmer. So that’s what I’ve done so far this morning. And now I’m sitting down at my computer, listening to some peaceful music as I’m writing.The world I see today will be a reflection of this inner calmness. And I know it will be easier to have that smile as I approach the world.

Now let’s take another scenario. You wake up in a hurry, somewhat tired, and pour down that coffee to get you going as you rush out of the house. You’re in a hurry all day long.

The way you experience your day all day long is going to be affected. You won’t take time to be fully present. Sure you’ll most likely get things done, but your life will become one big “to do” list. You’ll become a bottom line person. You won’t let people in and you’ll find yourself making snap judgments about them. And it goes on.

If you don’t take time to really be with yourself and to get to know who you are, you’ll never get to really know other people. If you don’t know get to know your weaknesses and insecurities and to accept them, you won’t be able to accept them in other people. Instead you’ll be judging them all day long. It’s a great strategy to avoid looking at yourself.

When we look at ourselves we also see that inside of us is much love and joy waiting to be expressed. If we don’t take the time to get to know what puts a smile on our face, we won’t be able to see that smile in other people.

If we don’t ask ourselves what’s possible in our life, we won’t be able to see what’s possible with other people. If we aren’t able to see the beauty in our life, it will be difficult to see it in other people. The world that we see is a reflection of our inner state.

So yes if you want to improve the world which I know you are committed to doing, then start with yourself. You’re heard the expression, change the world one person at a time. Well start with yourself. You are that first person.

JOURNEY ON

MARK

Mark Susnow, is an executive & life coach and speaker who inspires others to believe in themselves. He is passionate about life being an exciting journey of discovery. His enthusiastic and inspiring keynotes on change, leadership and connection thoroughly convey this message to his audiences. A former trial attorney for 30 years, he integrates what it takes to be successful in the world with the inner wisdom unfolded to him through years of yoga and meditation. He is the author of Dancing on the River…Navigating Life’s Changes.

If only we can have the perspective of hindsight? Some of you may already know this about me, but my goal in college was to become a dentist. Yes, I know that’s hard to believe. My father and uncle were both dentists and it was ordained that I would follow in their footsteps. All through college I took courses with one objective in mind——get into dental school. Well, I did get in and actually went for a year and a half before flunking out. Wow was I disappointed and my confidence was at an all time low. What I had worked for my entire life up to that point wasn’t going to happen. My entire college education seemed like a waste. Now I had no direction. That was my reality. In many ways I felt like a failure. But there was a part of me that felt liberated. I could begin “my life.”

It was also the beginning of the path that I am on now. I had always wanted to be a trial lawyer and then went to law school and embarked upon a long law career that was quite fulfilling for many years. And when I no longer felt a purpose for the work I was doing, I was motivated to ask myself, What’s Next.

And so it is that I have been on this journey for the last eleven years. It’s been quite a ride.
What seemed initially like a disappointment, flunking out of dental school, actually was a turning point in my life. It was a new beginning. I felt liberated to embark upon my life’s journey, not someone else’s.

The next time you feel disappointed, wonder about the opportunity you are being presented with. Look around. What do you see? When one door closes, walk through the one that’s open.

JOURNEY ON

MARK

Mark Susnow, is an executive & life coach and speaker who inspires others to believe in themselves. He is passionate about life being an exciting journey of discovery. His enthusiastic and inspiring keynotes on change, leadership and connection thoroughly convey this message to his audiences. A former trial attorney for 30 years, he integrates what it takes to be successful in the world with the inner wisdom unfolded to him through years of yoga and meditation. He is the author of Dancing on the River…Navigating Life’s Changes.

You’re in the mood for a movie. You want to be entertained, but what emotions do you want to feel. Do you want to be inspired, to laugh, or to be on the edge of your seat watching a thriller. That’s the question we ask ourselves everyday, yet we don’t have to go anywhere to watch the movie. It’s our life. Some movies are more powerful than others.

The fear movie perhaps is the most powerful. We’ll do almost anything to avoid feeling it——yet you have to admit that it has an aliveness. But when we live in that emotion, it’s difficult to really experience love and other positive emotions.

To avoid feeling that fear, we avoid taking on activities that we perceive as potentially painful. Our mind knows how to play tricks on us and we lose sight of what we really want. So we hide out and play small which prevents us from reaching out and expanding our sense of who we are and what’s possible. Our smile and the light inside of us dims. Our choices seem limited.

We feel alone and lose sight of the big picture.

I’m not saying to live in a vacuum and to ignore these emotions. You may have good reasons for some of your negative feelings, but you don’t have to dwell on them. Just noticing them, as if they were the wind breezing through your life, is all you need to do.

Come back to that vision for your life. Focus on what puts a smile on your face and gets you beaming from ear to ear? Imagine it in your mind and choose to become it right now even in the midst of the imperfections in your life. Choose to see the good in your life. It’s up to you. You get to choose the movie for your life.

Be the beacon of light. Be the light for others to see. Light the way.

JOURNEY ON

MARK

Mark Susnow, is an executive & life coach and speaker who inspires others to believe in themselves. He is passionate about life being an exciting journey of discovery. His enthusiastic and inspiring keynotes on change, leadership and connection thoroughly convey this message to his audiences. A former trial attorney for 30 years, he integrates what it takes to be successful in the world with the inner wisdom unfolded to him through years of yoga and meditation. He is the author of Dancing on the River…Navigating Life’s Changes.