What is this one life about?

I woke up today thinking about the same thing I thought about yesterday and the day before that and the day before that. For seven weeks I wake up with a sense of urgency and also gratitude for my husband, my children, my health and their health, my family, my colleagues, my clients, my students, the World and finally for the opportunity to experience just one more day.

Seven weeks ago my healthy and fit 42 year old brother suffered a massive heart attack while jogging and passed away. This sudden loss reignited a soul searching quest to find meaning and purpose in this one life I have.

Everything feels upside down and based on the global news of 2011, I am not alone. The world as we know it is changing at a quickened pace and the spotlight is on politicians, corporations, governments, financial markets, natural disasters and this list grows daily. What we did yesterday is affecting our ability to strive and survive today. I feel a strong desire to challenge the status quo and explore opportunities I put aside for another time. Now is that time.

History teaches us that entire civilizations existed long before we were born. Science teaches us that there is a universe beyond this galaxy, as well as the complex structure and functionality of each human being. The arts, both visual and performing, inspire the soul and teach us about are our humanity. The flame of life appears to be fueled by experience and knowledge. Perhaps that is what this one life is about – our collective experiences and shared knowledge.

If this is true, then the survival of this New World global community is dependent upon socially-conscious, independent thinkers who will venture outside their comfort zone, taking risks, challenging the status quo and traveling unknown roads for the sake of the journey rather than the destination.

Our path is not neatly laid out, our life is filled with lessons and transitions and our World certainly is not perfect -nothing ever is. What is this one life about? For now, this one life is about the journey.

I wrote this blog today for the 3six5 project http://the3six5.posterous.com/


This project is premised on the belief that everyone has a short story to tell that will help create the experience of living through one year (365 days) across the World.

This Is the Age of Wisdom - Live, Love & Focus

Another graduation season has come and gone.  Commencement ceremonies are a time for family and friends to celebrate the accomplishments of the graduate.   The ceremony itself is usually very traditional, requiring the graduates to wear a cap and gown, walk across a stage, shake the hands of the school faculty and receive their certificate of graduation or diploma.   The other traditional component to the celebration is the commencement speech, often delivered by a prominent person, a famous person or a successful former graduate of the school.

This year in particular, there has been great attention given to the 2011 commencement speeches.  In fact, I recently read an article in THE WEEK magazine that highlighted some of the best advice and wisdom from our 2011 speakers and I think a few of them are worth mentioning today.   You can find some of these speeches on YouTube.

Pulitzer prize winning author, Toni Morrison said to Rutgers University graduates:  "Don’t' settle for happiness. Of course you deserve it, but if that's all you have in mind—happiness—I want to suggest to you that personal success will be devoid of meaningfulness, free of a steady commitment to social justice – and that's more than a barren life, it is a trivial one."   Her speech encouraged graduates to help change a world that seems to be "breaking apart" physically and emotionally.

Author of such novels and literary works as The Corrections, Strong Motion and most recently, Freedom, Jonathan Franzen said this to graduates at Kenyon College: [only portions of the full speech are noted here]

"….if you imagine a person defined by the desperation to be liked, what do you see?  You see a person without integrity, without a center.  If you dedicate your existence to being likable, however, and if you adopt whatever cool persona is necessary to make it happen, it then suggests that you've despaired of being loved for who you really are.  And if you manipulate other people into liking you, it will be hard not to feel, at some level, contempt for those people, because they've fallen for your schtick.  The simple fact of the matter is that trying to be perfectly likable is incompatible with loving relationships."  Mr. Franzen is talking about real love and loving ourselves for who we are – not for what we think others want us to be.

U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates told University of Notre Dame graduates this:  "If history and religion teach us anything, it is that there will always be evil in the world, people bent on aggression, oppression, satisfying their greed for wealth and power and territory, or determined to impose an ideology based on the subjugation of others and the denial of liberty to men and women."    Mr. Gates is basically saying there will always be evil – but we can rise above the evil in our World by being mindful and aware of our global environments and becoming actively involved and engaged.

Finally,

Pulitzer Prize-winning author, Harvard professor, and outspoken advocate for human rights, Samantha Power said to Occidental College graduates:  "Be fully present.  In whatever you do, try to be present, fully present.  Work like you don't need money.  Love like you've never been hurt.  Dance like nobody's watching.  You gotta be all in."    She told the graduating class that "You actually have to reacquaint yourself with concentration.  We all do".

There can be doubt that we are living in a time of global uncertainty causing us to focus on our problems, things gone wrong and scarcity.  The global economy, unemployment and political unrest remain a major concern for all of us. 

"It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom…"  (A Tale of Two Cities)

These are those times. 

Let's remember our own graduation ceremonies and these few excerpts from 2011 commencements as we bring into focus our goals, our contribution and all the things we can do with this one beautiful life we are gifted.  

Celebrate with gratitude your accomplishments, change your mindset from scarcity to abundance, be grateful and look for opportunities to challenge your greatness.    Uncover the potential each of you have to life your best life – a life you deserve.    

What's Your Plan?

I have been strategically realigning my values - with my vision - with my business - with my personal life and I am excited to report that I sure have a lot going on!

I'm facilitating a fantastic learning experience at the International Coach Academy. Starting this Thursday, July 7, 2011 I am presenting an 8-week Business Basecamp Workshop. If you are interested in designing a plan to start a business or take your business to the next level – stay tuned for more information on the Business Basecamp Workshops and Bskills programs.

So, let me share some of things I'm planning this year: I have a couple business opportunities "simmering", scheduled a few self-development seminars/workshops, have plans to meet up with a few colleagues at out-of-town venues, and have a summer packed with family celebrations, graduations, wedding vow renewal (my brother Mark and sister-in-law Erin are celebrating their tenth wedding anniversary with a vow renewal celebration that I am facilitating), and some personal travel with my hubby and friends.

It really feels great to look forward, have plans and set realistic goals. I intuitively knew that I wanted to live this one life I have to the fullest, but when I put my thoughts, goals and desires into a vision journal, I really started to notice my life taking on a structure to support and manifest what I wanted for myself, my career, my family and friends.

That's not to say it has been easy.  In fact, it has been and continues to be a lot of work around mindfulness, gratitude and appreciation that all things come just as they should in due time. In the process, I became reacquainted with who I am. I learned a lot about myself – especially how to forgive myself, to love myself and to appreciate the contributions I made and continue to make to this beautiful World.

What I have learned over time is that life is rich with intrigue, adventure, possibilities and reward if you have an open mind and accept life fully – the ups, the downs, the stops, the starts, the happy times, the sad times – all of it. Life is unpredictable and you can't control what will come your way – but you can control your reaction to it. Preparation is key and you begin to live a prepared life by setting goals, by celebrating milestones, and by focusing on what you have – rather than what you don't have. The focus should be on what you can do – rather than what you can't do.

What's your plan today, next week, a month from now, next year, the year after? What small step can you take today to bring you closer to that "thing" you want tomorrow? Set an intention, build on your vision, and bring into lazer focus with a vision journal.

No time like now to get started!

Align Your Vision and Values

Is your vision aligned with your values and your passion?

Do you find yourself saying the "IF" word these days?

IF I had a better job I would….
IF I followed my dream I would….
IF I had more money I would…
IF I were given a second chance I would…

Well, the good news is that you are not alone. People around the World are feeling the impact of the economic downturn and the changes taking place all around them – some good and some not so good.

These are unprecedented times and having a vision and being laser focused on your vision is the key to mastering these challenges. The first step in developing your vision is to create a list or inventory of all the things you are doing now. Once the list is complete, go through each item and ask yourself "How is this serving me?"

Perhaps you are not completely satisfied with your current job or career. If this is true for you, explore opportunities to build your strengths and skills and ignite new energy to build a better sustainable career aligned with your values and vision for your future.

Several years ago I took an inventory of my career, and it was obvious to me that my career path was on a dead end road. I researched self-development training and came upon the International Coach Academy (ICA) where I received my certification as an international professional coach. My goals and dreams came alive the minute I realized that I had choices. The choice I made to register for the coach training program has served me well and in fact, brought me back to ICA several years later as a facilitator/trainer.

If you want to investigate some choices that will align and sustain your vision and your values, have a virtual visit with ICA at http://www.icoachacademy.com/en/home. 

You can download the “Day in a Life of a Coach”, explore the Learning Leader program, meet the trainers, listen to live informational seminars with people sharing amazing and interesting stories, read and listen to testimonials from graduates who made the choice to invest in themselves and are glad they did!!

IF you don’t take the time to explore the many choices waiting for you today -- you will never know just what you can do with the one and only life you have….

Come visit me and start exploring your choices at the International Coach Academy.


Peace and best wishes!


Kathy

Your Vision

Each second adds to the next and ultimately creates the stories of our LIFE. Our stories are the testament to our existence.

Many of us forget to embrace who we truly are and what we really want from our one life because we are focused on our day-to-day existence. We forget all the things in our life that make us who we are. We forget to share ourselves, our dreams and our stories with loved ones, friends and our community. Eventually, for many of us, we lose our vision, clarity and our excitement for life.

How do you bring vision, clarity and excitement back into your life? You start by telling your story. To help you, I recommend creating a Vision Board – a placard comprised of pictures that represent your life, your goals and your dreams. This is the most powerful gift you can give yourself for several reasons.

First, it appeals directly to the right side of your brain which responds to feelings and images. Second, it helps you gain clarity around who you are, what you’ve accomplished and what’s left for you to do. Third, it forces you to stop and give gratitude for all the events, situations and people that got you to the place you find yourself today. And, finally – it’s FUN.

Your dreams can become your reality through this simple exercise of creative imagination. To create your Vision Board you will need the following items: a poster board, scissors, glue, markers, and several magazines and catalogs.

Cut out pictures and words from the magazines and catalogs that represent the things you have done and the things you want to do.

When you are finished, place your Vision Board where you and others will see it every day as a reminder that you grace this World with your presence, you have a story worth telling and you still have more to do.

I look at my Vision Boards every day to remind me of who I am, what I want from my one life and what I have left to do. I invite you to join me in sharing your completed Vision Board with the World by uploading it and your story to my Your Vision Blog right here.

Have fun!