Sometimes, when we are out of balance, it’s obvious. At other times, we need to pay attention to the signs or signals that are letting us know that something isn’t right. Living a balanced life is a series of adjustments.

I like to think of sailing to describe this concept. When the direction or intensity of the wind changes we have to adjust our sails to keep the boat sailing in the direction we want.

And that is our life…The winds are always going to change. There are going to be times when there is little or no wind…. and times when there are heavy winds. The wind is just what it is, but it’s how we adjust that matters. Living a balanced life is the ability to recognize when you are sailing off course and making the appropriate adjustments. The sooner you recognize you are off course the sooner you can make the necessary adjustments. Think of sailing as playing in the elements. It can be an enjoyable experience and so can your life.

Lets look at some of the signs or signals that tell you your life is out of balance.

Health issues remind you to give your body more attention and to slow down. How often do you take the time to prepare and enjoy a meal? And when you notice that you feel tired, ask yourself if you are getting enough exercise.

Conflict in your relationships is another sign that your life is out of balance. Have you taken the time to evaluate the quality of your relationships and your communication skills?

Then there are those periods of your life when you are too serious and have lost the ability to laugh and to have fun. During these periods, life is a constant struggle and seems to have no meaning.

Financial issues remind you to examine your basic values and your priorities.

At the heart of all these challenges is your ability to adjust to the stress they are causing you. Until you are able to make the necessary adjustments the simplest problem will seem magnified.

If you are a reader of this blog, you will 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

This morning at the health food store, I heard a voice saying, “Mark…Mark…is that you?” And I looked up and it was an old friend whom I haven’t seen in years.

We talked as if no time had gone by. When there’s that repoire it’s easy to pick up where you left off. And last week I called my old friend Jim with whom I haven’t seen in 15 years. We were close at one time and then he moved away.

That’s the way it is. We have more close connections than we realize when we look at the big picture. This is the time to reach out and to enjoy the harvest.

Think about all of the close friendships that you have had in your life even if today there is no contact. By doing so it reminds you that you have touched many people in your life and that you can touch many others from this day forward. In this day with everyone being so mobile and changing locations friends do move on. But so do we and that’s why it’s important to keep reaching out.

And there’s no better way to mine the jewels you already have. This is the time of the year when you are supported in doing this. There’s nothing more rewarding than to get the juice from connecting. Reach out and touch someone.

Have you subscribed, yet, to my monthly 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. His articles reflect this journey in an inspirational and motivational way.http://www.inspirepossibility.com

Have you ever looked at being with yourself as an art form? Llke most art forms, if we keep at it, we get better at it. After a while, we become an expression of that art form…For example…if we are a dancer, we move in a certain way and are more comfortable in our bodies. If we are meditators we are more comfortable with silence. And it goes on.

The important thing to note is that as we become more comfortable with ourself the better decisions we make. This is especially so in the area of relationships. When we enjoy our own company we aren’t as needy and are more selective and usually able to avoid unhealthy relationships.

When we enjoy our own company we are more apt to be more adventurous. Sometimes we are reluctant to do things because we don’t want to do them alone. That is a big reason we end up in unhealthy relationships. We love the idea of being in love so much that we pick partners who are unhealthy just so we can get the drama associated with it.

We become drama junkies so that we don’t have to come to terms with the lonelinesss in our lives. But as I have said if we can be comfortable with ourselves we won’t compromise our standards and our values. I’m not encouraging being a loner…I love connection.

But don’t seek connection out of neediness. But seek it because that’s who you are. You are a person who loves to share with another who is open to receiving.

If you haven’t subscribed yet to my newsletter, Letters on Life, I invite you to do so.

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

In a recent coaching conversation, my client reported to me that she was told by a healer that she sensed an old wound around her heart. Of course she wondered what she could do about it…thinking that there was something she could do to get rid of it. It doesn’t work that way.

I don’t think we totally heal from these wounds and it’s not important that we do. We all have emotional wounds of one sort or the other. They make us who we are. They give us a depth of character that we couldn’t experience without them. They give us soul…compassion and tap us into our humanity.

The healing journey from these wounds is a journey. And I think of a journey in a different context. There’s no ending. The journey is a process to be experienced fully. Yes it is a journey to wholeness that we experience everyday with more vitality and aliveness.

To help you with this journey, I invite to signup for 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. His articles reflect this journey in an inspirational and motivational way. http://www.inspirepossibility.com.em>

We are in the season. Who says it has to be stressful? Yes there is a lot of hype about the stress of the holiday season, but it doesn’t have to be that way unless you buy into it.

You don’t have to say “yes” to everything that comes your way. You have an opportunity to say “yes” to yourself and “no” to the distractions that take you off course.

In fact this is a good practice to implement as a way of life. Whenever you say “yes” to working longer and harder you take time away from discovering what is really important to you.

Once you know what that is, you can live a life with purpose and meaning. Then you feel the passion. So make the gift of the holidays a gift to yourself; that gift being that you live an inspired life. Then you have more to give others. And isn’t that what its all about? Touching and giving to others. The holidays remind us to do that but we can do that in a more conscious way. I have a suggestion for you and perhaps I have mentioned it before. Pick up the phone and say hello to a few people with whom you haven’t spoken with in the last few years.

If you like this blog take the time to signup for my monthly 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. His articles reflect this journey in an inspirational and motivational way. http://www.inspirepossibility.com.em>

Last night I was in the mood to take a walk in the rain with my wife, Annie. This isn’t something that I normally do. Since it rains a lot on Kauai I don’t make a big deal out of it if rains but I don’t play in it either. Last night was different. We played in it.

Only a month ago I went to a football game with my son Josh and sat in the rain for four hours. I actually enjoyed that experience in the rain more than I did some of the other games. In the past if it rained I wouldn’t go to the games.

As we walked to our car after the game with our soaked pants, we couldn’t wait to get warm. We found a restaurant with a fireplace and had dinner.

I enjoy the rain. That’s now my mindset. We can make almost anything fun if we change our attitude.

I ask many of my clients how satisfied they are with the fun in their life. Most of them think in terms of activities and of course many of them don’t make time for these fun activities…so they see themselves lacking in this category.

Fun is an attitude…not something to do. The first step in developing this new attitude is to smile. What could happen if before engaging in a conversation, you smiled first. Do you think the nature of the conversation might change?

Without changing your activities what are some internal shifts you can make that make each day more fun? When was the last time you told a joke. Developing an attitude of fun doesn’t happen over night. A little progress each day over time becomes significant. Be patient. Remember you have the rest of your life. Personal development is a lifelong journey.

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>

Recently in a coaching call my client said that he had a glitch he wanted to talk about. I started thinking about what exactly is a glitch. Is it a problem or perhaps just a little hiccup? Is it a challenge or opportunity for deeper learning? I like to think of it as a challenge. In overcoming the challenge, you create an opportunity.

Let’s go back one step. Whenever you have what you call a problem think of it as a challenge. You’ll see where I’m going with this in a second.

Get rid of the word problem from your vocabulary. Instead think of the challenge as an opportunity…So whenever you have what you might have called a problem in the past, you now have an opportunity.

It’s a great shift…problem=challenge=opportunity. Just knowing the possibility of this shift in thinking is beneficial in itself. Be patient. Personal development is a life long journey. I have been working on this shift for many years and haven’t totally made the shift but my thinking keeps getting more positive. When things come up and they always will, I don’t freak out as much and down deep believe that they will turn around. They eventually do and as the years go by, they turn around much quicker. What I have noticed is life is now much more fun and exciting. We’re also taking about having faith that it’s all going to work out.

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>

I have been thinking about how important having a way to express yourself is so that you develop that deeper part of yourself. Too often after a day’s work…and then doing a few things around home or socializing we don’t make time for that other side of ourselves to develop.

When this happens we become defined by what we do in society…for too long I was defined by “Mark the lawyer”….and in other circles I was defined by Mark the clarinet player.

We are multidimensional beings…yet so much of our time is focused on just the most superficial level. The year is winding down….

What is something you could do that would develop that other side of yourself? Perhaps it could be play some music or go dancing…..or start a journal…take a painting class. I am sure there is something that you would find fulfilling…and if you are already doing something…how can you take it to the next level?

Throughout the years I have blessed to have a way to express myself…but it takes effort at first and commitment…it’s rewarding and gratifying as the years go by. There was music…writing and now dancing. It makes me a more interesting person and just as important I always feel engaged….

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>

What about me that neglected voice is saying….we forget about taking care of ourselves.In a call yesterday I was talking with a very successful woman who was starting a new business. The first year was winding down and by all standards it was a great year. There was one thing that she forgot to do that many of us also forget to do.

And that was to take the time to nurture herself. And maybe even pamper herself. Since I’ve always had my own business I am used to those cycles when you get those calls and at other times when it’s slow….and that’s the perfect time to do something special for yourself rather than wait around for the phone to ring.

And even if you are in a job…you can be creative in finding ways to treat yourself special. I know those with families make it work…if they have to take their kid somewhere they do it. It’s realizing that other part of yourself needs attention. Work isn’t the only game in town. For the next week do 3 nurturing things for yourself. It might be getting a massage or going dancing.

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>