Journey On » motivation

What’s Important to You

Mark Susnow — Sat, 24 Dec 2011 02:35:31 +0000

We have many thoughts and ideas, but not all of them are acted upon. These thoughts are endless. Brain researchers estimate that we have over 60,000 thoughts in a day. Very few of these thoughts become reality.

But some of these thoughts do get acted upon and become our reality. As we know from doing this work together what we focus on expands. If we focus on the negative then we will attract more of the negative to us. If we worry we will always find things to worry about.

Of course we don’t want that. We have to have a clear sense of what are values and priorities are. We keep going in the direction of making these priorities are reality. Of course along the way there will be many pitfalls and obstacles. But because we have intention and determination, we keep going.

Your life today is a reflection of the choices you have made in the past. That includes your thoughts, your actions and your commitments. If you wonder what’s important to you, look around at your life; where do you live, who are your friends and what are you doing with your life.

To get to where you are now, something deep inside you kept you going. I am sure that you had many reasons to quit along the way, but you kept going. You knew what you wanted. As the year is winding down, it’s a great time to think about all of the blessings in your life. It’s a great reminder of what your values are.

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. Give yourself the gift of coaching and make an investment in your future.

This Amazing Adventure called “You”

Mark Susnow — Fri, 05 Nov 2010 22:41:00 +0000

Wherever you are in life’s evolutionary cycle, you’ll eventually come to the same realization. The outward journey of seeking success and what you might call “happiness” is only temporarily fulfilling. Finding joy and meaning is an inner journey.

On this journey, you’ll discover a new state of being. You’ll know what it means to be Dancing on the River, which is a reflection of a life decision that you make to be happy and to enjoy life in this moment. You’ll discover that your enjoyment and appreciation of life is not dependent on what might happen in the future. It might take a while to come to this realization, but once you do, you’ll have the potential to awaken to a rich inner life that is more fulfilling than you can imagine. I say potential because it doesn’t happen overnight.

It is my hope that by integrating the following six insights and practices into your life this new consciousness will become your natural way of being.

1.How you start your day sets the tone for the day. If you start the day in a hurry it will be extremely difficult to slow down. Most of us rush out of the house in the morning trying to make an appointment or deadline. Underneath the concern that we won’t be able to get it all done is an underlying anxiety that won’t go away. You sometimes wish you had a magic wand that could make things better. Although there is no magic wand, there is a morning practice that can minimize much of that anxiety. After you wake up and before you do anything else, take 10-15 minutes for reflection. Perhaps you already have a meditation practice. If you don’t, just sit still in a quiet place and pay attention to your breath. I have also found that journaling is a great way to center yourself before you rush out into the day.

After meditation begin to focus on what you are grateful for. Perhaps there are only a few things that you can think of in the beginning, but once you make this a daily practice, you realize how blessed you are. By focusing on what you are grateful for, your focus shifts to what’s right in your life, rather than on what’s wrong. It’s an amazing practice, which has the power to transform your life.

2. Develop the practice of Curiosity. I didn’t realize how powerful of a concept this could be until I integrated it into my life. In fact if I write another book it will probably will be about the power of curiosity. Here’s what I suggest to get you going. In the morning, after expressing gratitude, reflect upon your day wondering about what the highlight of your day might be. By being curious as to what that is, you’ll create a positive expectation as the day progresses. No matter what is happening in your life, rather than worrying about the outcome, be curious as to how it is all going to unfold. By being curious, you’re also open to those pleasant surprises—those moments of grace that uplift your spirit. Remember that this is a practice and like most things, the more you practice the better you get at it.

3. Learn how to recognize and know your VOJ. The VOJ is that voice of judgment that drives you nuts. You know it. We all do. You would give anything to silence it even if just for a few minutes. The sooner that you can recognize your VOJ, which in coaching we call your gremlin, the sooner you can become free of its hypnotic spell that can last a lifetime if you don’t do anything about it. But the doing is a different type of doing. It’s just noticing. I have found that giving this voice a name has been effective in breaking the spell that it has over me. I call my VOJ, Ralph. This is a lifelong challenge so don’t be discouraged if you don’t notice anything immediately. The journey is never-ending.

4. Self-Acceptance is the next practice. Let’s be honest with ourselves. There are certain things we can’t change. We can’t change who are parents are. We can’t change our country of origin. We can’t change all of the injustices in the world, although we might try. But we do have the potential to change how we think about ourselves and how we think about the circumstances of our lives. Even though we are our own worst critics at times, our work is to accept those things that we don’t like about ourselves—that dark side often referred to as our “shadow.” You know what I’m talking about so I won’t go into detail. Once you accept those things about yourself that you don’t like or are embarrassed by, you feel lighter and freer. And isn’t that what it’s all about–becoming lighter.

5. Introduce positive self-talk into the conversation. Now that you are more familiar with those voices and patterns that have been running your life, it’s time to listen to a new voice that needs to be nurtured and cultivated. It’s a voice if honored and cultivated can change how you think about yourself. I call this voice your VIP. It’s the voice of Inspiration and Praise that we don’t listen to, or hear enough. That voice has become my inner champion. When I think that I shouldn’t have felt the way I did about something that happened, or that I shouldn’t have acted in a certain way, my VIP sends me a few words of encouragement by saying to me, “You’re doing great. You handled that well.” It takes conscious effort and resolve to cultivate your VIP. As you learn to trust and listen to it, how you feel about your life will begin to shift.

6. Make time for the jollies. So here we are again with another new phrase. No I haven’t lost my mind. All of us have faced challenges that at times seem overwhelming. Even in the midst of these challenges, there are many things that can give us joy. They might be little things that we have forgotten about. Don’t overlook them.

The Jollies is taking the time to do what gives you joy. So when I say make time for the jollies–I mean make time for what gives you joy, even if you still have loose ends in your life and your “to do” list is full. It took me a while to come the realization that there will always be “loose ends” and uncertainty. If you always wait for the perfect time to begin something new, you will never begin. The only perfect time is now.

So there you have it. As my good friend Lois said to me, “The journey might be challenging, but the scenery can be spectacular.” There’s only one thing left to do. Enjoy the journey.

JOURNEY ON

MARK

Mark Susnow, is an executive and life coach, who inspires others to believe in themselves. 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.

Using Curiosity in Every Day Life

Mark Susnow — Mon, 18 Oct 2010 23:01:37 +0000

I looked forward to Saturday with great anticipation. It would be the first book signing for my new book Dancing on the River:Navigating Life’s Changes. The usual doubts were there. Who would come? How many books would be purchased? Would I look good? In other words, would I feel good about the event? And to put it another way….am I good enough?

That’s the fundamental question at some level that we ask ourselves over and over again. Are we good enough? That lingering doubt affects almost everything that we do. It prevents us from moving forward in our lives-it gets in the way of our reaching out; of getting out of our comfort zones and trying something new. That fear keeps us boxed in.

I’ve been there on many occasions, but I’ve also learned how to live with that doubt so that I experience my life as one of adventure and excitement than one of fear and struggle. The key to making this shift is subtle and simple. Use empowering questions to change your focus. This is what I mean. Instead of worrying about who would be there and how it would go, I wondered what the high point of the event would be. I wondered with whom I would have the best connection. I wondered who would surprise me by being there.

It worked to perfection. The event went great. And yes there were some magical moments, none of which could have been anticipated. Be creative in the questions you ask yourself. They can become your best ally.

JOURNEY ON

MARK

Flexible body….flexible mind

Mark Susnow — Fri, 03 Apr 2009 20:38:39 +0000

I just got back from my chiropractor’s office. For a long time he had been telling me that his role was to help me maintain my spinal health…that because of my age there was a stiffness that I would have to live with and as long as I wasn’t in pain there was nothing to worry about.

I have also been doing yoga for many years. Yoga has given me hope that as I age rather than becoming stiffer and less able to engage in activities, I would become more flexible and be more active no matter how old I was. And I do notice a difference. I’m more flexible than I have ever been and with each year I become more flexible.

So I have to admit that the chiropractors past prognosis was disappointing.

However today he said that he has been noticing that my spine is more flexible than its ever been and that he should have recognized what was possible with a commitment to a regular yoga practice. He said that my progress was an inspiration to him and that I have been actually reversing the aging process.

It reinforces my commitment to a regular practice. Self care is a path not a solution. It’s an evolutionary process. It’s never too late to begin the journey. Today is the first day of the rest of your life.

Smile and don’t forget to laugh a little bit more than yesterday.

JOURNEY ON

MARK

Throughout his life, Mark has always made a practice of taking a leap of faith whenever he heard the call for something more. His life has been an unfolding journey of discovery. 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. Whether coaching one-on-one, speaking to groups, or leading a retreat, he shares his message that regardless of our life’s circumstances, we can find more joy and meaning in our life. He is a sought after speaker and coauthor along with Zig Ziglar and Brian Tracy and other experts in the book 101 Great Ways to Improve your Life. Mark’s new book, Dancing on the River…Finding Joy and Meaning in the Midst of Change. 415.453.5016 http://www.inspirepossibility.com

IT’S OUR TIME

Mark Susnow — Thu, 02 Apr 2009 17:47:11 +0000

I had the privilege to visit the site of a project that one of my life coaching clients,our good friend Les, an architect, was designing. It was a fabulous project with incredible views of the reservoir and the ocean. The hacienda style house was almost built. The finishing touches will be complete within the month.

I would describe it as simple elegance. It blended in perfectly with the lay of the land. Our possible view was maximized and as you walked around there was a organic feeling that gave you the feeling that you were home. This was a plum job…perhaps one the most idyllic jobs in the county. And Les was the architect…this wasn’t the only plum that was coming Les’s way.

Yet Les didn’t see himself in that light. Les downplays his accomplishments, so much so that he doesn’t see himself on the same level as some of the other architects who are his competitors.

I suggested to Les that he begin to see himself as a star (or any adjective that would empower him)…to realize that this is his time to shine and that the universe has recognized his greatness before he has.

That’s the way it is for many of us….we are our own worse critic…we would never talk to a friend the way we talk to ourself.

So that’s why I suggested to Les to see himself as a star…he doesn’t have to concern himself with thinking that he might be boastful. No one will ever think of him in those terms. For Les a little more ego can go a long way. For many others that’s not the case.

Like many of us, Les has arrived. It’s our time. Our star is shining bright. All we need to do is say to ourself…thankyou…thankyou and to enjoy the journey. And don’t forget to smile and laugh a little bit more than yesterday.

JOURNEY ON

MARK

Planting Seeds of Possibility

Mark Susnow — Thu, 12 Mar 2009 02:35:39 +0000

Life’s seasons are amazing and always full of surprises, some of which you are not prepared for. I always look forward to the winter rains filling up the creeks. There’s nothing more soothing than taking a walk in nature in the midst of rushing water on the way to a cascading waterfall. And yes in our busy lives it’s important to take the time to enjoy these special moments.

This winter has been fairly mild; so mild that there was concern about a possible drought, which is certainly a contrast to a few years ago when we had the many storms and floods. Just about when we had given up hope of any rain, the late storms came and the creeks and reservoirs began filling up. The trails have been glorious.

But then I think back to a few years ago when we were in the middle of a major storm. Like many challenges that we face in our life, you sometimes wonder if it will ever end. You also know that after the storm there is a sense of calmness, clarity and beauty. You feel lighter.

Spring is perhaps my favorite season. As spring approaches I notice the first wild flowers, the blossoms on the fruit trees and the abundance of birds in the trees. In the evening, the sky is clear and I notice the many stars and the brightness of the moon.

Spring is a time of new beginnings as we ready ourselves for the spring ritual with its sense of optimism and hope. As you think about what you want to harvest, you pull out the weeds and prepare the soil for planting. Think of the weeds as the limiting beliefs that clutter your mind, and the seeds that you plant as ideas in the form of possibilities in the garden of your mind.

How you cultivate your garden determines your harvest. Sometimes you’ll pour seeds right from the package onto the soil and at other times you follow a systematic plan of planting every few inches. Some seeds and we don’t know which ones, emerge from the darkness toward the light and become healthy plants that nurture us in many ways. Not only do they provide food for the body, they provide food for the soul. From the darkness there is a miraculous process that gives birth to creation. That’s the way it was for each of us. We emerged from the darkness of the womb to the light of the day.

What we harvest in the future from these seeds becomes our destiny. This spring let us be inspired by the ritual of spring to think bigger–to think about what we can plant that will transcend our normal way of looking at spring. Think of spring as a time of possibility. Be sure to plant some seeds that won’t have to be replanted next year, that will grow and can be harvested and enjoyed by future generations. We are talking about creating a vision. What we stand for now, determines the future for ourselves, the generations to come after us, and the planet earth.

Sometimes an inspiring poem says it all. This poem, written in 500 B.C. by an anonymous Chinese poet, is most poignant. Enjoy the poem.

The Harvest

If you are thinking a year ahead,
sow seed.
If you are thinking ten years ahead,
plant a tree.
If you are thinking one hundred years ahead,
educate the people.
By sowing seed once,
you will harvest once.
By planting a tree,
you will harvest tenfold.
By educating the people,
you will harvest one hundredfold.

We educate with our ideas. We lead with our vision. Imagine there’s a movie screen, the movie screen of your mind that connects with the universal mind of the world. Imagine you have a magic power that can influence the way people think. You can empower the world to think differently. What do you want them to know? What is your hope for yourself, your community and the world?

My hope is that we all will share our vision. When enough of us share the same vision and commit to it we can create an unstoppable force of possibility. We want to experience love and that sense of connection. We long for peace on the planet and want to see an end to world hunger.

When we feel connected to each other, to nature and to this empowering presence, we know we are not alone. From this place of knowing, we know that what is possible in our lives is unlimited. As spring unfolds it is my hope the seeds you plant renew your sense of hope and optimism. May you be inspired by this journey. By “you being you,” you make a difference.

As you Journey On, make your life an exciting journey of discovery.

Mark

Mark Susnow, Executive and Life Coach, Visionary Speaker and Inspirational Leader, has a unique background. Throughout his life, Mark has always made a practice of taking a leap of faith whenever he heard the call for something more. His life has been an unfolding journey of discovery. 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. Whether coaching one-on-one, speaking to groups, or leading a retreat, he shares his message that regardless of our life’s circumstances, we can find more joy and meaning in our life. He is a sought after speaker and coauthor along with Zig Ziglar and Brian Tracy and other experts in the book 101 Great Ways to Improve your Life. Mark’s new book, Dancing on the River…Finding Joy and Meaning in the Midst of Change will be released in the fall of 2009. http://.www.inspirepossibility.com

HAVE FAITH YOU ARE ON THE RIGHT PATH

Mark Susnow — Tue, 10 Mar 2009 17:59:40 +0000

When i talked with our good friend Les who you might feel you know by now, in a life coaching session yesterday, he had a concern. Yes he has been incorporating some of my ideas into his life. But he felt that sometimes they worked and sometimes they didn’t. One of my ideas was for him to meditate.

Les was somewhat sporadic in his approach in that he really didn’t make a commitment to the practice. If he did it one day and he felt good afterwards he did it the next. But if he didn’t feel good the next day, it would be a while before he would meditate again.

I pointed out to Les that he hadn’t really made the commitment which is what you have to do in the beginning, until it becomes part of your life. Then you do it because it’s like mental flossing. You floss because you know that it goods for you. Let’s say with flossing that the dentist tells you still have a problem. What do you do? You find out how you can tweak so it works better. You are committed to the process for your self-care.

Meditation is like that. You might want to reevaluate you practice. Sometimes just a subtle shift in your approach makes the biggest difference. But we can’t be attached to the results like Les was.

Have faith that you are ON THE RIGHT PATH….give it time…smile and laugh a little bit more than yesterday and

JOURNEY ON

MARK

JOURNEY ON is a blog dedicated to personal and professional development. Mark Susnow, an executive and life coach inspires others to find joy and meaning in the midst of change. 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. Whether coaching one-on-one, speaking to groups, or leading a retreat, he
shares his message that we can make our life an exciting journey of discovery. He publishes the inspirational ezine, Letters on Life. Mark’s new book, Dancing on the River…Finding Joy and Meaning in the Midst of Change will be released in the fall of 2009. http://www.inspirepossibility.com. 415.453.5016

On the Path to Mastery

Mark Susnow — Fri, 06 Mar 2009 22:19:04 +0000

During our life coaching session yesterday with let’s call him Carl, Carl was concerned that there wasn’t anything he was excited about in his life. His life seemed flat. He would try something and then after a while decide that he didn’t like it. And because this has been his pattern for so long, he was reluctant to try something new unless he heard bells ringing and trumpets blaring.

I explained to Carl that no matter what he does there are going to be moments when his enthusiasm wanes. That’s the learning curve. We have a sense of commitment and sometimes excitement to learn something new but after a while we reach a plateau. It’s no longer fun and we feel stuck. We make a decision that it’s not for us and stop. Then we try something new and come back to the same place with the new thing. It goes on and on until we change our relationship to the plateau.

As George Leonard the author of Mastery encourages…”Learn to love the plateau.” Learn to love that stuck place. On the other side of the plateau is where mastery occurs. When I started going to Salsa classes I reached that plateau. I felt like quitting. But I also was inspired by many of the other dancers who started at the same place I did. I kept at it and then went to the next level. It became fun and once it becomes fun, it has a life of its own.
What I suggested to Carl was that it didn’t matter what he did, as long as he did something. Then in the process of doing, there is the possibility that something great can happen. Carl also felt that he didn’t have any friends. I suggested to him that in the process of learning and being involved is where i have made most of my friends. Years ago I began the study of Tai Chi. In the class I made three life long friends and none of us still do the Tai Chi form that we learned. But out of the doing, something greater occurred.

Put yourself out there and transcend the plateau. Smile and laugh a little bit more than yesterday.

JOURNEY ON

MARK

TAKE THE TIME FOR SELF-CARE

Mark Susnow — Thu, 26 Feb 2009 17:01:53 +0000

I have been noticing that in our coaching sessions this week, whether they are pertaining to life coaching or business coaching, the focus is the same.

Most people that I work with seem to have increasing challenges as they are affected by the national mood. While they remain optimistic, it still effects them on some level.

And some also have personal challenges dealing with other stressors. It could be a difficult relationship or a significant illness of a loved one.

Some not only have the responsibilities of a wage earner and business owner, but also the responsibilities of a care giver.

They are stretched in many directions.

In our calls, I always ask them about their self-care. It’s so easy to get lost in all of the responsibilities that you have, that you forget about yourself. You forget to take time for what nurtures you.

In normal times you should have a proactive self-care program. When you have more challenges than usual then you should increase the amount of time that you take for yourself. You are always going to have challenges. You can’t get away from it. Perhaps what bothers you now won’t bother you in a few months, but there will always be something else that comes up that concerns you. So life won’t stop. But you can develop a plan that will help you find more joy and meaning in your life.

Perhaps you think that you’re too busy…that you don’t have time. What you’ll find is that when you take just 10-15 minutes in the morning before rushing out of the house, your day will go smoother. When you take time for a meal, you’ll experience a deep sense of relaxation the rest of the day. If you take the time to read an inspirational magazine or book before falling asleep you’ll sleep better. It’s taking the time for yourself. It not only becomes a habit, it becomes a way of life. You couldn’t imagine your life any other way. It’s a choice. Choose happiness.

Smile…laugh a little bit more than yesterday and journey on

Mark

A reminder to remember

Mark Susnow — Tue, 24 Feb 2009 00:47:48 +0000

I saw an old friend yesterday, lets call him Carl, at Unity. Calling him an old friend doesn’t accurately describe our relationship. I’ve known him for over twenty five years. He really wasn’t someone who played a big part in my life–just one of those many people that you run into every three or four years and when you do, you talk at a certain level. Somewhat superficial— it never really flows…at least that was my experience until yesterday.

Was it me or was it him…or perhaps a combination of the two? What started out as a polite hello, ended up with a full-on connection. An hour later we said our good-bye and I am sure we both left with that feeling that you have when you have touched another’ soul. You want more and at the same time you feel complete. Yet I had the feeling that we would be more involved in each other’s life. We’ll see.

In the meeting, Carl reminded of a conversation that we had over 20 years ago that made a profound difference in his life. I had shared with him a workshop that I had just completed. Carl was inspired to eventually take the workshop. Although it took him a while, it totally changed his life and he was grateful for my willingness to share my experience with him.

I was touched knowing that I made a difference in his life. And had I not ran into Carl that morning, I would have never known about my gift or remembered our meeting. I wonder how many other profound meetings that I have forgotten about. So think about. How often do you hold back, rather than share what’s on your mind? It’s that smile or gesture or kindness that can make all of the difference in someone’s life.

It’s “you being you” that makes a difference in the world. Don’t let someone dissuade you from expressing who you are. Smile and laugh a little bit more than yesterday and

Journey ON

Mark

JOURNEY ON is a blog dedicated to personal and professional development. Mark Susnow, an executive and life coach inspires others to find joy and meaning in the midst of change. 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. Whether coaching one-on-one, speaking to groups, or leading a retreat, he
shares his message that we can make our life an exciting journey of discovery. He is a sought after speaker and coauthor along with other experts Zig Ziglar and Brian Tracy in the book 101 Great Ways to Improve your Life. He publishes the inspirational ezine, Letters on Life. Mark’s new book, Dancing on the River…Finding Joy and Meaning in the Midst of Change will be released in the fall of 2009. http://www.inspirepossibility.com. 415.453.5016