When you are in the process of gathering your tribe, which eventually becomes your natural way of living, thoseamazing juicy moments occur quite frequently. Yesterday I wrote about Louise and her sister. That was later on in the evening. But it was how it began that was also profound.

This was the two Bev’s second annual Loveland holiday party. As we were sitted in a circle Bev read a poem that struck a chord in me and made me say to myself that I wanted a copy. The next day she faxed it to me. So here it is. It’s a reminder to slow down and get your priorities straight.

Take time to Think
It is the source of all power.

Take time to play
It is the source of perpetual youth.

Take time to Read
It is the fountain of wisdom

Take time to Pray
It is the greatest power on earth.

That time to love and be loved
It is a God given gift.

Take time to be Friendly
It is the road to happiness.

Take time to Laugh
It is the music of the soul.

Take time to Give
It is too short a day to be selfish.

Take time to Work
It is the price of success.

Take time to do Charity
It is the key to heaven.

JOURNEY ON

MARK
eJOURNEY ON is a blog dedicated to personal and professional development. Mark Susnow, an executive and life coach inspires others to experience more fulfillment and success in their life. A former trial attorney for 30 years and musician, he integrates what it takes to be successful in the world with the inner wisdom unfolded to him through years of yoga and meditation. His articles reflect this journey in an inspirational way. http://www.inspirepossibility.com

It’s an exciting time….that’s what I keep saying to friends who I come in contact with and they agree. When I say it there’s part of me that hesitates. Yes there’s a lot of uncertainty, but we live in a historic time.

There’s more fear out there than since 911. The financial system is on the verge of collapse. And in some ways it feels as if we are on the verge of a renaissance.

That’s what I’m visualizing…a renaissance for ourselves, and for the world where we work together as one.

Yes it starts with the economy…but that wholeness also has the world working together as one.

I felt good all weekend. Nothing happened in the world of consequence. Yet I felt good inside. I continue to do the inner work.

JOURNEY ON is a blog dedicated to personal and professional development. Mark Susnow, an executive and life coach inspires others to experience more fulfillment and success in their life. A former trial attorney for 30 years and musician, he integrates what it takes to be successful in the world with the inner wisdom unfolded to him through years of yoga and meditation. His articles reflect this journey in an inspirational way. http://www.inspirepossibility.com

The intensity of the last few months has diminished. I can’t say things have returned to normal, because there’s a new excitement in the air.

But in the meantime we go on with our life and face the challenges that we have in everyday living. How do we remain hopeful in an uncertain time? How do we get back to today. Yesterday I wrote about the highlight of the day. Another aspect of this, which i have written about previously, is focusing on what you are grateful for.

So what are you grateful for? What happens when you ask yourself this question? What is first on your list? Why is it first on your list? What’s next? And what’s after that?

For the next few days make it a practice to begin your day focusing on these qualities. You might want to make it a daily practice.

JOURNEY ON

MARK

JOURNEY ON is a blog dedicated to personal and professional development. Mark Susnow, an executive and life coach inspires others to experience more fulfillment and success in their life. A former trial attorney for 30 years and musician, he integrates what it takes to be successful in the world with the inner wisdom unfolded to him through years of yoga and meditation. His articles reflect this journey in an inspirational way. http://www.inspirepossibility.com

You have a dream and then you begin to live it. You have hope and what you believe needs to happen, happens. Now here we are. The monkey is off our back….the anticipation is over. WE are back to now.

That’s where we always are. There is only one “now” at a time. I don’t know anyone who isn’t excited about the future with the election of Obama. But what do we do in the meantime because have to live in a world of today’s.

I don’t mean “have to” like we have no choice. It’s what we choose on a daily basis. We get to choose what we think about and focus on. Here’s a suggestion that I make to all of my coaching clients, whether it’s life coaching or executive or business coaching. It doesn’t matter what it is….It’s the same suggestion to everyone I know. After you take time in the morning for creative silence or meditation ask yourself a question.

This is what I do. I “wonder” what the highlight of my day will be. By definition, there’s always going to be a high point. It could be a brief moment, an insight, a smile or a purring of a cat. When you’re open to it, it will come. Be curious as to what it is. Sometimes I suggest that you keep a journal and after a month reflect back on those daily moments.

Why not start now. Believe again. Believe in what’s possible..in your own life and in the world. Do you see a renaissance coming?

JOURNEY ON

MARK

JOURNEY ON is a blog dedicated to personal and professional development. Mark Susnow, an executive and life coach inspires others to experience more fulfillment and success in their life. A former trial attorney for 30 years and musician, he integrates what it takes to be successful in the world with the inner wisdom unfolded to him through years of yoga and meditation. His articles reflect this journey in an inspirational way. http://www.inspirepossibility.com

I remember when I heard his speech at the Democratic convention in 2004, the Audacity of Hope. At that time with the current administration, things looked bleak. And they got worse, yet as I wrote in Octobers newsletter, A Voice for Optimism, I continued to believe. I didn’t give up hope.

For the week before the election, I thought of nothing else. I even went to see W, Oliver Stones portrayal of our current president. If you wonder how we got into this mess, go see it.

On Monday night, I watched Obama’s last pre-election speech in Virginia. I was so inspired.i couldn’t believe that he could be our next President. I was ready to let go, but contained myself because of the past disappointments in the last two elections. It wasn’t until the networks declared that Obama won Pennsylvania that I allowed myself to let go. I knew it was going to happen.

It was a historic moment. One way to look at it is that we have hope again.

Another way to look at it, is that we always have to have hope. No matter what the circumstances, we can’t give up. That’s what keeps us looking forward.

The dance is how to balance our hope for a better world from lessening our experience of the moment.

As to the inner work, nothing changes. We have to be consistent because there’s no permanent cure. It’s not as if you arrive at a place and stop. It’s all prevention. It’s an ongoing process.

And yes, there is no question that we took a big step forward. But the work continues.

I am hopeful that Obama will a transformational leader. I want to leave you with one thought. Without all of the events of the last eight years we would not have gotten him. The darkness paved the way for the light to enter. And that’s the way our lives are. Without all of the events and the circumstances that have occurred in our lives, we wouldn’t be in the place we are today.

JOURNEY ON

MARK

JOURNEY ON is a blog dedicated to personal and professional development. Mark Susnow, an executive and life coach inspires others to experience more fulfillment and success in their life. A former trial attorney for 30 years and musician, he integrates what it takes to be successful in the world with the inner wisdom unfolded to him through years of yoga and meditation. His articles reflect this journey in an inspirational way. http://www.inspirepossibility.com

When you’re fully immersed in the “river of life,” one thing is certain. The nature of the river is always changing. Sometimes the water is raging and sometimes it’s calm. When you step out in life and get out of your comfort zone the currents get swifter. In fact even if you don’t step out of your comfort zone, the currents will change.

So what’s that mean for you. You can’t control things by staying on the sidelines…so you might as well swim in the swifter currents and deeper waters where life is more exciting.

But you have to learn how to float when the currents are raging. The way you do that is to live from the center. Don’t get caught up in what might happen around the bend. You don’t know since the river is always changing. But no matter what happens you are prepared.

So as to staying calm and living from the center I have found that meditation and yoga keeps me centered. Not to say that i don’t get stressed….but these practices bring me to my center and I am able to minimize my stress and stay focused on the now. Over time that feeling stays with me for most of the day.

For you, think of what practices you can commit to, that will keep you afloat when the river is raging.

JOURNEY ON

MARK

JOURNEY ON is a blog dedicated to personal and professional development. Mark Susnow,JD, is an Executive and Life Coach, who inspires others to believe in themselves. A former successful trial attorney for 30 years and musician, 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 also publishes, Letters on Life, an inspirational ezine. Signup! http://www.inspirepossibility.com

In our life coaching session yesterday, Fred was ambivalent about beginning a new phase in his relationship. He was planning to live with his partner of four years.

Fred loved his partner and believed that the relationship was right for him. Yet he had those old tapes about his past failed relationships. Not only did they not work out but according to Fred he gave away his power. He was concerned that he would again give away his power.

I gave Fred a different perspective. I reminded him that he is a much different person than the person that I met a few years ago. Although he recognized this too, he had a difficult time accepting that he was a much more evolved person. But deep down he knows that he is a totally different person.

How Fred shows up in the world and the impact he makes are also different. He is a much more dynamic and powerful person than the one I met a while back. Hearing the feedback from me helps his accept this new place in his life. In fact with almost everyone that I work with, their perception of how people perceive them, is different than how people actually do perceive them. Most, if not all, do not see themselves as magnificent as others do.

I have also discussed with Fred a different paradigm. All the work that he has done on himself has prepared him for this moment. He is about to enter into an empowering partnership that will get better and better. He won’t give away his power nor will his partner let him give it away.

JOURNEY ON

MARK

JOURNEY ON is a blog dedicated to personal and professional development. Mark Susnow,JD, is an Executive and Life Coach, who inspires others to believe in themselves. A former successful trial attorney for 30 years and musician, 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 also publishes, Letters on Life, an inspirational ezine. Signup! http://www.inspirepossibiity.com

So here it is. It’s the middle of August. I’m back in Marin but only for a few days before heading off to a wedding in Minnesota. What a change of pace.

Back in Marin I notice the growth of the new plants that I planted earlier in the summer. The garden hadn’t been tended to in years. We weeded, prepared the soil, researched which plants would do well in our climate and planted. While away I thought about the garden and wondered how the plants would do. While most of the plants seemed to like their new home, some didn’t make it through the summer. It didn’t seem like there was a pattern. One fern thrives while the other only a few feet away, struggles. Isn’t that the way life is? In some areas of our life we thrive while in others we struggle.

We have natural inclinations…natural strengths. Music has always been one of my natural inclinations while fixing things has been a challenge. And yet on those rare occasions when I do fix something I get excited.

Relationships are like that. I look at the people in my life. There are those who I am connected with that put a smile on my face. And then there are those who are a lot of work.
It’s a matter of how we want to spend our time. I think back to my garden. In one area of the garden there are very few weeds and in another area, I am constantly weeding.

Until I get rid of the weeds, what I can see and appreciate is limited. In our lives, the weeds which are in the form of limiting beliefs, prevent us from seeing what is possible.

Weed your garden. Take the time to get rid of what isn’t working.

JOURNEY ON

MARK

JOURNEY ON is a blog dedicated to personal and professional development. Mark Susnow,JD, is an Executive and Life Coach, who inspires others to believe in themselves. A former successful trial attorney for 30 years and musician, 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 also publishes, Letters on Life, an inspirational ezine. Signup! http://www.inspirepossibility.com

The birthday boy. That’s what I feel like. It was my birthday yesterday and today we’re having a celebration.

Getting together with old friends…food….music…and new friends.

So who do you want to be with on your birthday? What is it about them that makes you want to share this time with them?

Think about this person…what would it be like if you spent more time with them on a regular basis?

From time to time I reassess my relationships. Why am I in a particular relationship? That’s what we need to think about. Who are we spending our time with? How do we feel afterwards? When you feel empowered afterwards is a pretty good indication of whether you’re in a healthy relationship.

I am always open to making new friends and deepening the relationships that have been going on for a while. And also willing to recognize that it’s time to move on.

JOURNEY ON

MARK

JOURNEY ON is a blog dedicated to personal and professional development. Mark Susnow,JD, is an Executive and Life Coach, who inspires others to believe in themselves. A former successful trial attorney for 30 years and musician, 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 also publishes, Letters on Life, an inspirational ezine. Signup! http://www.inspirepossibility.com

What keeps us from being fully present with life is our resistance…resistance in the form of thoughts that our minds dwell on. It’s the resistance that inhibits us from experiencing personal freedom. I’ve had a yoga practice for many years. Quite often what happens in class is a reflection of my whole life.

When I feel like I don’t want to be there, (in class) I feel that way in the rest of my life. No matter what I’m doing, I’m thinking about something else.

This time around and it’s been many years, I have very little resistance. I’m there. There’s nothing else to do. I get more into it. I’m more aware and notice subtle things that I never noticed previously. It feels good. Yet it’s not like there is a dramatic moment…just being in the moment. The mind slows down for a while.

I’ve slowed down. After I leave class, I’m more peaceful and able to live in present time. It takes commitment…it doesn’t happen overnight..but I am focused. This time around it’s been five weeks. I just do it. It’s part of me.

JOURNEY ON

MARK

JOURNEY ON is a blog dedicated to personal and professional development. Mark Susnow,JD, is an Executive and Life Coach, who inspires others to believe in themselves. A former successful trial attorney for 30 years and musician, 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 also publishes, Letters on Life, an inspirational ezine. Signup! http://www.inspirepossibility.com