Are you connected with your life purpose? I know that when you are, life doesn’t seem to be a struggle.

For years, I’ve struggled with what my purpose was. I kept coming back to making a difference in the lives of others. Being a lawyer satisfied that purpose in the beginning.

But as my career progressed, I started to question how much I really was helping people. It seemed that what I did shifted from fighting for social justice to making money. And when I made this shift I struggled.

Because that is what happens when it’s just about money. There has to be something greater than ourselves that moves us. Our challenge is to find what that is. And what that is changes from time to time.

Having a family seem to to answer that question for a while until I reached a point when I started questioning what I was doing. A few days ago in my blog I stated that my deepest intent was to inspire others to believe in themselves. For now I resonate with that as my life purpose. It is my hope that reading this blog inspires you to connect with yours. You may also find my newsletter, Letters on Life, inspiring.

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. He also publishes, Letters on Life, an inspirational ezine. His articles reflect this journey in an inspirational and motivational way. http://www.inspirepossibility.com

If you are into sports, keeping score is a given. And it’s part of the game. We all also keep score with our finances. That’s another good thing especially if you are winning…i.e. not spending more than you are taking in.

But there is one area in our life where keeping score hinders us. And that is staying in touch with friends and family. If you are like most people, you probably notice when your phone call isn’t returned before calling again. Or it might be just extending yourself to another in some other manner. i sometimes find myself thinking that it is their turn to contact me.

If you want more connection in your life and I think we all do, then putting ourselves out there is a must. At times it might seem
we aren’t appreciated. So you have to ask yourself the question, What’s more important…making the connection or being right and not making another effort to connect?

In any relationship, one person has to step up to make it happen. How many times have you been with a friend and one of you says,”Let’s together soon….or I’ll call you.”

What happens is that you wait for the other person to initiate the contact. You wait and you wait and before you know it a year goes by and you haven’t talked with that person.

What would happen if in your relationships you took the responsibility to initiate contact. You know you would have more connection in your life. So ask yourself whether it was worth. Usually you’ll find that it was but not all of the time.

I like to connect with people. Probably my need is greater than a lot of people that I know.

If you like this blog, you would also like my newsletter, Letters on Life.

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. He also publishes, Letters on Life, an inspirational ezine. His articles reflect this journey in an inspirational and motivational way. http://www.inspirepossibility.com

We find out more about ourselves in the times of adversity. We have been getting more than our share of winter storms. Although there haven’t been major floods like two years ago, more than half the households have been without power for some amount of time.

And in some communities it’s been three or four days. So restaurants, coffee shops and bars have been really busy. In fact in one community, which didn’t lose any power, it was so busy that you couldn’t find a parking place. There were so many people looking for a place to eat and get warm.

So people came together and talked. Almost everyone you saw asked you if you lost power. And it was on this day that people sat and talked and got to know each other.

When you realize you share common concerns and problems, there is more room for common ground. So to speak we were all in the same boat.

And so it was that I felt a made a new friend. I was in no hurry…had no place to go and couldn’t get on the internet. Imagine that…couldn’t get online. I survived and connected in a different manner. As I said I made a new friend.

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. He also publishes, Letters on Life, an inspirational ezine. His articles reflect this journey in an inspirational and motivational way. http://www.inspirepossibility.com

A friend emailed this to me. It summarizes what I have been writing about recently.

Just for Today: I will live through this day only. I will not brood about yesterday or obsess about tomorrow. I will not set far-reaching goals or try to overcome all of my problems at once.

Just for Today: I will be happy. I will not dwell on thoughts that depress me.

Just for Today: I will accept what is. I will face reality. I will correct those things I can correct and accept those I cannot.

Just for Today: I will improve my mind. I will read something that requires effort, thought and concentration.

Just for Today: I will make a conscious effort to be agreeable. I will be kind and courteous to those who cross my path, and I’ll not speak ill of others. I will improve my appearance, speak softly and not interrupt when someone else is talking. I will refrain from improving anybody but myself.

Just for Today: I will do something positive to improve my health. If I’m a smoker, I’ll quit. If I am overweight, I will eat healthfully-if only just for today. And not only that, I will get off the couch and take a brisk walk, even if it’s only around the block.

Just for Today: I will gather the courage to do what is right and take responsibility for my own actions.

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. He also publishes, Letters on Life, an inspirational ezine. His articles reflect this journey in an inspirational and motivational way. http://www.inspirepossibility.com

A few of my clients have been concerned, among other things, about the growth of their business in this new year. Rising costs, and an uncertain world are the concerns of almost everyone.

So how do we go forward with this uncertainty? Assuming that one day there will be nothing that concerns is a trap. The trap is that we think that eventually we will reach a place in our life where there is no uncertainty. If we are fully alive and present, their will always be something that concerns us.

And this is the way that it should be. We don’t want to shrink from the world or to live in fear of new endeavors.

There is no question that having a plan and direction is necessary for us to create our vision of the future. But solving those concerns won’t help us as to how we experience today. When we focus on the future we sacrifice today.

So resolve that just for today you will only think about today; not yesterday or tomorrow.

As for today; be curious; wonder about what the highlight of the day will be…be in a state of wonderment.

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. He also publishes, Letters on Life, an inspirational ezine. His articles reflect this journey in an inspirational and motivational way. http://www.inspirepossibility.com

I had a few good laughs last night to start the new year but not at the comedy event. At the last minute we decided to go over to Rick and Nancy’s for a quiet evening. They were celebrating their new grandchild (three weeks old) and had some friends over.

So after all of that hype in my last blog we changed our plans at the last minute. I like to think that how you spend the last night of the year sets the tone for the new year. With that in mind what did last night represent?

Close friendships is the first thing that comes to mind. It was great seeing them and their son who just had his first child who I have known since he was born.

What is it that with some people our paths intersect over and over again and with others we just drift apart? In all of our close relationships we are more alike than we realize. What binds us together are our values which usually manifest in the form of our interests and lifestyle. What brings us together is our respect for each other.

So for me coming together seems to be the theme for the year. Coming together with people who share a common dream and in their own way share the same core values. And at the same time learning to love the uniqueness in each other. That’s what makes us interesting and our gift to the world.

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. He also publishes, Letters on Life, an inspirational ezine. His articles reflect this journey in an inspirational and motivational way. http://www.inspirepossibility.com

Do you have anything special for tonight? How are you going to bring in the new year? I have thought about that for a few days. I still haven’t decided what we are going to do. When we were on Kauai we would get together with a small gathering of friends and as the clock struck twelve, share our hopes and dreams for the new year.

Since we have been back in Marin we haven’t been as purposeful. Last year we got together we our old friends Rick and Nancy and went out to dinner. Since connection is one of my most important values, it was a great way start the year. And this year I feel good about the deepening connection in my life. I used to think that this required effort and reaching out. Yes perhaps it does require taking the initiative in creating and deepening relationships, but taking the initiative doesn’t have to be effort. Instead it can be a natural extension of who you are especially if you like to give to others which i do. It’s my way to give to others.

When I reach out I feel fulfilled and empowered. There are many folks out there who are stuck and are waiting for someone to call them. Maybe that’s you. Don’t wait any longer. Make that call and touch someone. It makes a big difference for both you and the person on the other end. Stay involved and get connected.

As to the new year. Annie suggested we go hear comedy as a way to bring in the new year. I like the idea. What greater way to start the year than with laughing and lightening up. So that’s one of my intentions for the year. More laughter and more play. Of course I also have tangible career goals such as publishing my book and growing my business. I have a feeling that more laughter is going to get me there.

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. He also publishes, Letters on Life, an inspirational ezine. His articles reflect this journey in an inspirational and motivational way. http://www.inspirepossibility.com

You are having a perfect day. It’s beautiful outside and then you get home and get back to work. You can’t get on the internet. So you do what you need to do to make it work again and it still doesn’t seem to work. So then you call your ISP.

The person you talk to is new on the job and can’t seem to help you. And then you go to pay your credit card bill. Of course there is a mistake that you called about last month that still hasn’t been cleared up.

You feel yourself start to get annoyed when you again have to call the company and go through the whole procedure of identifying yourself and explaining the problem. They say they’ll correct the problem on your next statement but of course they said that last time.

While I’m waiting on the phone…I’m listening to some good reggae music on ITunes….I’m smiling and it’s still beautiful outside.

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 and motivational way.http://www.inspirepossibility.com.em>

It wasn’t a good day for my team. Since I’ve been a kid I’ve always had a team to root for. Often the teams were just average and in some years they would achieve excellence. This was one of those years, so I thought.

As it turned out, this weekend made it clear that they are not an elite team. There bubble was burst. Where are they? Are they an average team or perhaps good team? What do they have to play for? It’s for pride and for them to be the best they can be. And it’s for the players and coaches to get better and to be the best they can be.

And that’s the way are lives are. We need to focus on always staying open to learning and growing from each experience. Sometimes that’s all we can do when things don’t work out. We look at what we learned in each experience.

Life is full of disappointment. But what makes the difference between the the successful person and the one who is always unhappy and full of excuses is how they handle adversity and disappointment.

We’ll see how my team bounces back. We’ll see how I handle each disappointment. What helps me in most of these situations is that I realize that tomorrow is a new day. I’m not defined by what happened in the past. I’m looking forward to where I want to go and I can use what happened then to make tomorrow better and you can to.

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 and motivational way.http://www.inspirepossibility.com.em>

We all have certain beliefs about life that hold us back. We accept what someone tells us and don’t inquire further. So we live a life of mediocrityand stay stuck in a box.

Let me tell you about Harry who believed that he wasn’t very good with money and that he could never get ahead of the game. He had accumulated a substantial amount of credit card debt and even though he was paying over $3000 per month, the principle sum that he owed stayed the same. He was defensive about discussing his situation and accepted that he couldn’t do anything about it because his credit rating was low. He felt hopeless.

Finally after much prodding he was able to find a lender who loaned him the money that he owed at a substantially lower rate.

Even though he still owed the same amount of money, his attitude about money and his self esteem immediately changed. He was smiling and optimistic about his future.

There are many assumptions that we make about our lives that are just not true. Challenge them to see if they are the truth. Sometimes they are but usually you’ll find that all you need is a shift in attitude.

So for Harry his next inquiry is to look at other areas of his life, where he might also be making false assumptions and to examine them one at a time.

In your own life, take a look at one of your false assumptions. What shift in attitude could you make that would change how you feel about the situation.

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 and motivational way.http://www.inspirepossibility.com.em>