are you busy?

Happy Friday,

The sun is shining today and is very welcome.   These are our shortest, darkest days and it often feels like a good time to hibernate.  Is it a blessing, a distraction, a burden that we are  busy with holiday preparations?   Where do you land on that question?   

My reminder today is about focus and balance.   I want to be clear about where to put my resources (time, attention, money, energy), and then focus on the task at hand:   What do I want to accomplish?  What will move this forward?   What is my time line?  I also want to keep a sense of balance, mange my expectations and be present enough to enjoy the process.  A tall order!

What supports you at this time of year?  

Where are you on the continuum of -

over-whelmed…………over-organized……...over-joyed?

Ho, ho, ho,   Judy

Looking ahead to 2013?   How about joining me for a one day retreat in St. Paul?   We will talk about life, balance, choices!

Email me for more info!   judy@mynextstagecoach.com  

Happy Friday!

     We are really fortunate here to have the most beautiful days ever!   No kidding.  
It seems only natural to have today's message be about enjoying the experience of being alive today.
Here is what I recommend....
     Let your focus today be to sense your aliveness.   Take in what is offered to you.   Notice the feast for your senses - the colors, the scents, the sounds, the touch on your skin.   Put your attention there.
    Notice your thoughts and be curious.  Is this thought something calling for action?  Is this thought something to capture, take note of?  Is this thought taking you away from being present?   Is this thought one to let go of?  Is this thought offering you insight?   Treat the thought as you like, knowing you can
choose. Then, bring yourself back to the present moment.  As you go about your day make a point of paying attention to being alive, to using your senses, to your breathing.   Pause, be aware, allow yourself to take in  this beautiful day.
   You may find yourself repeating this tomorrow!  

Enjoy,
Judy
check out my web site!  www.mynextstagecoach.com  

Start now!

August 31, 2012 

                                                          

Good Morning,

Two words have stayed with me from a conversation this week – just start.  As in; whatever is in front of you, whatever is calling for your attention....just start!  Just start somewhere.  Let go of the judgment of your inner critic/gremlin.  Let go of the pressure of knowing the outcome.  Let go of the fear of making a mistake.   Follow your intuition, your inner guidance and make a start. 

If you want to feel better physically, just start somewhere...walk....stretch....drink water...sleep more.

If you want better relationships, just start somewhere...smile....ask & listen....be present to another.

At work, at home, with friends, relatives, colleagues, alone –  start aligning your actions and words with what you want to create.   Let your desire be a signal to take action.  Feel the connection, the harmony, the flow as you create congruity of purpose, vision and action.   Go ahead.  Just start.

           

Ready, set, go,

Judy

To change ones life: Start immediately. Do it flamboyantly.    - William James

It’s time to start living the life you’ve imagined.                  -Henry James

If something you want is greater clarity and support on this journey – I can help with that.

Contact me to find out how.   mailto:judy@mynextstagecoach.com?subject=let's%20talk

Mindfulness

August 24, 2012

Happy Friday!

The question today is: How do you practice mindfulness?   

Wherever we go, whatever we are doing we bring with us some element of mindfulness.  We bring an attitude, a perspective, and awareness of being.   Do you notice variations in being mindful?   Do you consciously focus attention on developing awareness? 

This week see what you notice as you pay attention to your thoughts, your presence.  Practice raising consciousness as you do ordinary tasks (drinking coffee, brushing your teeth), be fully present and aware.   Also find some time to practice mindfulness in a quiet setting and see what you notice.  

Hunh…as I write this I am noticing the paradox:   practicing mindfulness, being aware in the now moment actually quiets the mind.    The quiet mind is not the same as mind-less.   What to call it?  What would you call it?

Take care,

Judy

If something you want is greater clarity and support on this journey – I can help with that.

Contact me to find out how.   mailto:judy@mynextstagecoach.com?subject=let's%20talk

take a break!

August 3, 2012

Happy Friday!

Time for vacation!  If you haven’t taken your break, think about choosing a vacation mind-set.  Here are some ideas to set you on your path….

Over the next few weeks see about taking a break from your usual routine.  

            See some new sights.  

            Travel some unknown trails

            Pause, reflect, be present and notice your surroundings.

            Take care of your body: rest, walk, eat well.

            Expose yourself to new ideas, read, talk to different people, and listen

            Appreciate the world around you and be open to adventure

            Focus on fun and renewal

Bring home stories,   

Judy

If you are feeling the itch to read a message in the next few weeks check out the archives. Comments welcome.    I’ll be back!

If something you want is greater clarity and support on this journey – I can help with that.

Contact me to find out how.   mailto:judy@mynextstagecoach.com?subject=let's%20talk

Summer + goals?

July 27, 2012

Happy Friday!

           

This may seem a bit out of season in July, but today’s message is a suggestion to consider some goals.  So, in keeping with this season of wearing lighter clothes, eating lighter foods, the focus in on “goals – light.”  

 So often when we think about setting goals it seems that our attention goes to things we think we should do, things that are good for us; sort of like taking medicine.  We know it’s good for us, but the experience is not a bit of fun.   

This week consider putting your time energy on doing something that sounds like fun, something new - something that sparks your interest, gets you curious.   Identify activities, hobbies you would like to engage in just for the experience of it, for what you would learn, or the challenge it would give, or novelty of it, or camaraderie you would have, or the good feeling you would get by helping someone else.

Some of what you identify could be done immediately…the walk on the beach….the phone call….listening to music.    See if you can also identify some longer term goals….taking a class….making something….having a party….volunteering.   See what surfaces as you ask yourself, “What do I want to do next?”

Stay curious,

Judy

 If something you want is greater clarity and support on this journey – I can help with that.

Contact me to find out how.   mailto:judy@mynextstagecoach.com?subject=let's%20talk

Appreciate Growth

July 20, 2012

Happy Friday!

            This morning’s message is another one to take with you as you go through your week.   See what emerges as you pay attention to the questions.  

            Give yourself some time to reflect on your growth, your learning.   Acknowledge yourself  for those times when you have made  conscious choices   in harmony with what you want to create;  when you have changed something – a thought – a behavior because you have grown, were able to tap into  greater insight, recognized  and choose  a bigger, more grounded perspective.  

            Whatever the outcome of the action you took, you made a stand for yourself.   You lived more consciously.  Appreciate that.

            What do you notice about making conscious, healthy choices?  What are the options, what do you want and what will serve you best? 

-        When to speak up……………………When to be silent

-        When to trust…………………………. When to question

-        When to hold on………………………When to let go

-        When to be strong……………………When to be supported

It’s all part of the ongoing dance.  Enjoy all of it, pay attention, adjust, learn new steps, listen, and give yourself a pat on the back for staying with it and doing your best in every moment.

Better ‘n Better,

Judy

 If something you want is greater clarity and support on this journey – I can help with that.

Contact me to find out how.   mailto:judy@mynextstagecoach.com?subject=let's%20talk

What to Create?

July 13, 2012

What do you want to create?   Where do you want to put your energy, attention, time, resources, talent?   What is calling to you?   What are you curious about?  What energizes you?  What is satisfying, worthwhile? 

These are questions we answer at times of change as we set our course.   They are also questions we can reflect on more often, to check in, to re-balance, and to align actions with our vision.

Take some time to consider what you are creating in various areas of your life. 

For example: 

            Your home:  does it serve you in the way you want?   Does it support you, give you      comfort, refuge?  

            Your self-care:  are you taking good care of your body?  Getting exercise?  Enough             sleep?  Taking time to look your best? 

These areas are just a start.   Pay attention to what would make your life even better, more joyful, more interesting, and more satisfying.

 If you want some guidance about this, get in touch.   I have some tools and ideas that can help!

Take care,

Judy

 If something you want is greater clarity and support on this journey – I can help with that.

Contact me to find out how.   mailto:judy@mynextstagecoach.com?subject=let's%20talk

Summertime

July 6, 2012

Each season has its flavor.   Right now the seasoning is hot!   

The message will be brief.   The question is, “What is this the perfect time for?”

This may be the perfect time to learn about pacing yourself, about taking care of yourself, about slowing down, about simplifying.

What is speaking to you?  

Take care,

Judy

And, if something you want is greater clarity and support on this journey – I can help with that.

Contact me to find out how.   mailto:judy@mynextstagecoach.com?subject=let's%20talk

Your guiding themes

June 29, 2012

Getting older is a mixed bag….good and bad…..rewarding and frustrating…..beautiful and droopy….wise and foolish.    We have many choices in how to be with the changes, in how to adapt.  We encounter many situations where we can apply our wisdom and experience.  

The message today is a reminder for you to be aware of what works for you, your guiding principles.   Recognize and appreciate the wisdom you have accrued.

Here are some examples that showed up for me on a fun day of shopping yesterday: 

Know what suites you.  

                        I saw many cute things that would have been just the thing if I was 25 – not so                           much right now.  There are colors and styles that are more flattering for me, so  why waste time on stuff that doesn’t?

            

Take advantage of opportunities when they show up.

                        That great pair of shoes on sale; something unexpected, but just the right                                     thing?  Items like this at least merit some consideration – keeping in mind the next principle.

           

Remember the “pause button.”

                        Keep using good judgment.  Don’t rush, take some time, and put the credit card                             away for a while.   Step away and see if the desire for the item persists, makes sense, fits with other things you have, other goals. 

These are principles to keep in mind when shopping.   Where else might they prove useful?

What guiding principles do you use, have you developed for yourself?

Share!

Judy

And, if something you want is greater clarity and support on this journey – I can help with that.

Contact me to find out how.   mailto:judy@mynextstagecoach.com?subject=let's%20talk

Let in well being

June 22, 2012

This is a message written a while ago.   It seemed fitting on this beautiful day.   Hope your day is opening well and you are ready to enjoy it!

Today is a perfect day.   The temperature is 77°; there is a slight breeze moving the air around bringing with it the scent of blossoms; birds are singing loud and distinctive songs; the trees, grass and plants are vibrant shades of green with flowers showing a jumble of colors that all seem to complement each other.  Perfect, a beauty of a day. 

Today it seems easy to take in these words from the book, Ask and It is Given*

            Well-Being is the basis of this Universe.  Well-Being is the basis of All-That-Is.  

It flows to you and through you.  You have only to allow it.  Like the air you breathe, you have only to open, relax, and draw it into your Being.

Today where ever you are, whatever circumstances you find yourself in, take this moment and allow yourself a sense of well being.  Well being is available.  Relax; notice, allow yourself to experience it.

Again, from Ask and It Is Given:

            Your motion forward is inevitable; it must be.  You cannot help but move forward.              

But you are not here on a quest to move forward-you are here to experience outrageous joy.  

That is why you are here.

Not just plain joy, but outrageous joy.  How about that?  Breathe that in today.  Be open to that today.   How great to be you today.  How lucky the people around you today.  

Joyfully yours,

Judy

And, if something you want is greater clarity and support on this journey – I can help with that.

Contact me to find out how.   mailto:judy@mynextstagecoach.com?subject=let's%20talk

---

* Ask And It Is Given  by Esther and Jerry Hicks (The Teachings of Abraham)

Golf lessons of a sort

June 14, 2012

Hello!

Reflections from the golf course:  Understand, I am not a good golfer.   I don’t want to give the impression that I have mastered anything related to golf.    You may wonder what I like about the game.  I’ve wondered that many times myself!  Something I have noticed through my many swings, walks in the rough and on the fairways, is that many of the things I try to focus on, put into practice on the golf course are metaphors for other aspects of life.   Since I am hoping to spend time on the golf course this summer, this is an opportunity to share some of these insights.

 Take for example, the issue of finding the balance of ease and tension to hit a good shot.  Trying too hard translates into a too tight grip, body tension – doesn’t work; being too relaxed – translates into mushy wrists, no follow-through – doesn’t work.   Somewhere in between is that sweet spot of relaxed, firm, poised, strength.

Where do you notice this kind of balance in your life?   At work?   Following through with tasks you’ve taken on?  What is the sweet spot between pushing too hard and being a push over?   What does that feel like?   When does it feel easy, natural – and work?

Swing away,

Judy

And, if something you want is greater clarity and support on this journey – I can help with that.

Contact me to find out how.   mailto:judy@mynextstagecoach.com?subject=let's%20talk

Play, try, stretch

June  8, 2012

Good Morning and Happy Friday! 

This morning’s message raises a question (no big surprise – right?) about challenging yourself.

As we begin the summer, what would you like to stretch for yourself?   What would you like to grow?  What would you like to experience?

Sit with these questions and see what surfaces.   Then, make a plan to do something about what comes up.   Identify something that will be interesting, challenging, get you moving in an interesting, different direction and get out there!

It would be great to hear what you come up with.   The possibilities are many! 

Play?   Learn?  Try?  Visit?   Say?   Write?   Picture?   Move?   Plant?  Cook?  Entertain?

Sending this on to you,

Judy

And, if something you want is greater clarity and support on this journey – I can help with that.

Contact me to find out how.   mailto:judy@mynextstagecoach.com?subject=let's%20talk

Seeking

June 1, 2012

Good Morning and Happy Friday! 

This morning I found myself searching for inspiration.   Below is what I found in searching past messages.   Nice to find something that spoke to me, hope you find something here too.  Where do you go when you look for inspiration?  

Originally sent May 2010 –

What would it be like if you could hold the thought that your life is unfolding perfectly?  What if you could appreciate all the variety, the richness of surprise, the tangle of relationships, the quiet, the noise, the fun, the sadness, the beauty, and the empty spaces?  Can you imagine this perspective - that the whole mix is just right?   What do you notice as you try this?  What shifts?  What’s different?

Take on the questions, and see what surfaces.  

Many colors, many textures,

Judy

And, if something you want is greater clarity and support on this journey – I can help with that.

Contact me to find out how.   mailto:judy@mynextstagecoach.com?subject=let's%20talk

Mind your roots

May 25, 2012

Good Morning and Happy Friday!  It’s Memorial Day week-end, the unofficial kick off to summer.  

Today’s message is a reminder to nourish your roots.   Think of your roots as those things that ground you, support you, and give you a sense of stability, security.   What are those things?  How do you tend them?    What attention do you give them?     What might strengthen them?

For example:

-         Look at your home environment.  Does it offer you comfort?  Is it a place where you can restore yourself, rest?  

-        Consider your relationships.  How do you get and give support to one another?  Who do you know that is there for you no matter what?

-        What do you do to take good care of your health, maintaining your energy? 

Get the idea?   Notice what you have in your life that supports your growth, your creativity, your vitality;   appreciate that, tweak, add, or prune as needed.

Keep growing,

Judy

And, if something you want is greater clarity and support on this journey – I can help with that.

Contact me to find out how.   mailto:judy@mynextstagecoach.com?subject=let's%20talk

Endings & Beginnings

May 18, 2012

Good Morning and Happy Friday!

This week in a conversation the question was raised, “What is ending and what is beginning?”  Such a good question, and very apropos this time of year; with a school year ending, graduations underway, many of us notice this being a time of change.   So, my request today is that you take a pause and reflect on what is ending and what is beginning.

Recognize what is ending in this season, cycle, stage, month, and take time to reflect on:

            -Accomplishments

            - Success – What worked?  What didn’t work?

            - What did you get better at?  Where were you spinning your wheels?

            - Where is there room for improvement?

            - What was enjoyable?

            - What insights were revealed?

            - What is calling for attention?

            - What is worth continuing?

            - What are the signs, inklings, clues to note?  What is your intuition telling you?

Pay attention! This is your journey,

Judy

And, if something you want is greater clarity and support on this journey – I can help with that.

Contact me to find out how.   mailto:judy@mynextstagecoach.com?subject=let's%20talk

No crowding please

May 11, 2012

Good Morning and Happy Friday!

Keeping this short today and for good reason – the reminder today is to allow yourself space.

Even with a busy schedule, a long to-do list, many responsibilities and a vision you want to bring to life, find spaces in between to take a breath, be mindful, be present.   Create some quiet moments – turn off the noise – quiet your thoughts – take in your surroundings – feel your body – be quiet.   

Notice what you get when you give yourself some spaciousness.    And, if you want to let me know, I am interested.

Ahhhhhh,

Judy

 If something you want is greater clarity and support on this journey – I can help with that.

Contact me to find out how.   mailto:judy@mynextstagecoach.com?subject=let's%20talk

Step up!

May 4, 2012

Good Morning and Happy Friday!

This morning I find myself thinking about challenges.   Life presents challenges in many ways: expected, unexpected, invited, uninvited, rewarding, frustrating, learning opportunities, wastes of time.   Have you noticed this?  How do you react when faced with a challenge?  What perspective do you bring to the situation, is it always the same?  Do you tend to let challenges find you, or do you go seeking challenges?

Challenges can be opportunities for growth.   It is likely that moving in a direction that is a stretch, a bit out of your comfort zone can offer something.  

My suggestion is to challenge yourself, try something new, start a project, and step out there.   See what happens!

Take a chance,

Judy

And, if something you want is greater clarity and support on this journey – I can help with that.

Contact me to find out how.   mailto:judy@mynextstagecoach.com?subject=let's%20talk