The first chapter of my book www.WhoAreYouChoosingToBe.com is titled, "What is Possible?"  I've always loved this question for the answers that it brings.  Personally, I believe anything is possible.  The fantastic, the esoteric, the miraculous are all things that happen on a daily basis in my world.  Sometimes I am aware of these things, sometimes I am not.  Whether aware or not, they are happening.  The "chance" meetings, the unexpected phone calls, the unplanned opportunities show up and I smile realizing that new possibilities are popping up like green sprouts from seeds in the Springtime.  

This consistent belief that anything can happen at any moment makes my daily life feel more full and spontaneous.  Like a child exploring the world, I don't know what is around the next corner.  I simply know that anything is possible!

Enjoy today's surprises!
With passion and purpose,
Mark Edgar Stephens
www.MarkEdgarStephens.com
www.WhoAreYouChoosingToBe.com
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Since yesterday's posting of DO IT, I'm wondering how many people have thought about the things that lift them up and bring them back to a place of passion and fun.  The weekend is upon us and it's a great time to explore your possibilities.  Surprise yourself this weekend by doing something totally radical, out of the ordinary, or unusual.  I'm not saying to do anything illegal or dangerous, but simply something that your "adult" self might think is childish or silly.  It's the weekend.  Enter it laughing!

We will be playing with some laughter exercises on May 15th at Community Chiropractic in Olympia, Washington.  To join us for the fun and to reserve your space for this FINDING YOUR PASSION workshop, call 360-705-1116.  Have a great weekend!

With Passion and Purpose,
Mark
www.MarkEdgarStephens.com
www.WhoAreYouChoosingToBe.com
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DO IT! 04/15/2010
 
Choose something that you enjoy doing that you have not done in a while and do it in the next 48 hours.  This gives you until Saturday afternoon to do something fun, interesting, or entertaining that you've been putting off for "someday."  I've learned that "someday" rarely ever comes.  Just like work or deadlines, "fun time" can be written into your schedule.  And, I've found that when you take that break to walk on the beach, hike in hills, go to the park, paint the picture, go to the movie, listen to that music, sing that song, call that friend, or watch the children play, somehow it makes your whole day and sometimes your whole week better.  Try it!  

If you are stuck for ideas or need some inspiration for how to play more effectively in your life in order to regain some of the passion and purpose you haven't felt in a while, you can find a lot of helpful ideas in my book, "WHO ARE YOU CHOOSING TO BE?"  For real hands on experience, join us for the seminar FINDING YOUR PASSION in Olympia, Washington on May 15th.  Call 360-705-1116 to reserve your space.  Now, go out and play!!!

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During the next month, in anticipation of the workshop/seminar I am leading at Abundant Fitness Center in Olympia, WA on May 15th (call Gary Moon at 360-705-1116 for more information and to reserve your space), I'll be posting information about FINDING YOUR PASSION!  Some of these postings will be tips and some will simply be thoughts and perspectives.  Today is about what children know that adults have forgotten.

When you were a child, you played for hours at all sorts of games, make believe and otherwise.  In these games, you were having fun and living out your greatest desires.  There were things you loved doing that could keep you entertained all day and that brought a smile to your face or a laugh that came from deep inside of your belly.  I call these CHILDHOOD PASSIONS.  Many of the clues for what you most wanted in your adult life (no matter how "adult" you are in terms of seriousness or age) are in your Childhood Passions.  My strong suggestion is that you make a list of those passions.  Remember everything that brought you such great joy as a child.  Exhaust the list making activity until everything you can think of from finding a four leaf clover to playing with the dog are on the list.  Now, look at the list and ask yourself what it was about each of these activities that brought you so much joy.  Was it the excitement of discovery?  Was it the unconditional love you felt from your pet?  Identify the reasons.  Now choose one or more of the activities, the passions, and set a time when you will once again play with these childhood passions.  You can do it when nobody else is watching, when nobody else is around.  Simply do it.  Make the time for yourself to rediscover the joy you had as a child.  This is a good first step toward rediscovering, recovering, and revitalizing your passion.  Have fun and enjoy what comes up for you!
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I've been invited back to Olympia, Washington to teach a 3-hour, hands-on, inspirational seminar titled, FINDING YOUR PASSION!  Using concepts from my book as well as many things not found in the book, I have been offered the opportunity to work (and play) with 30 participants at Community Chiropractic/Abundant Fitness Center.  Dr. Wendy Schauer and Gary Moon are responsible for this event and I am thrilled to be coming back to an area that has been so welcoming to me in the past.  

We will be playing with several fun group and individual exercises and by the time the clock strikes 1 pm, we'll all be walking out with a smile, a bounce in our step, and some very concrete steps for discovering, recovering, and revitalizing passion in a variety of areas of our lives.  Space is limited for this workshop to 30 people.  If you'd like to join us (and please do) contact Gary Moon at 360-705-1116.

Thank you Dr. Wendy and Gary for the invitation.  I look forward to a great day with you and with Olympia on May 15th.
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Three Questions 04/12/2010
 
How Are You Feeling Right Now?
Where Is Your Attention?
What Is The Blessing?

These three questions are chapter titles from my book and they are questions that I ask myself often on a daily basis.  The answers are always different each time I ask because I am changing from moment to moment.  By asking these questions and identifying my answer, I become more aware of my state of being and I even get the opportunity to affect my perspective and to consci0usly change my answer.  If I don't like what I am focusing my attention upon, I can focus it somewhere else, giving my mind and my emotions a break from the thoughts that had previously held my attention.  By finding the blessing in all that comes up for me and being grateful for it, I can experience a new perspective in my emotional state of being.  

Don't take my word for it.  Try it for yourself.  Ask yourself these questions and see what comes up for you.
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Last night, I had a dinner with two dear friends.  One was my current business partner, Mike Amado, with whom I am creating the speaking/consulting/coaching series, "Integrity Resurrected!"  The other is my old time friend who is a Corporate Coach for Bloomingdale's, Craig Villarrubia.  As we sat down to a delicious meal, we continued our conversation about integrity in the workplace and the current need to prioritize the human element as the influencing force of any organization.  The wealth of experience and information that these two individuals have in the corporate consulting/coaching world is invaluable.  Their evolved perspective on where we need to head in our personal and business practices in order to maintain alignment with integrity and humanity is refreshing, inspiring, and candid.  

In yesterday's blog, I announced my intention to be a student holding an empty cup, patiently waiting for it to be filled with new things, new knowledge, new ideas.  Last night, that cup started filling with so much information and insight and possibility.  Though I teach it to others, I am still amazed at how life brings to you what you most desire.  I am grateful for the lessons I am learning, eager for more, and reminding myself to be patient.
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I am becoming a most willing student again.  In recent years, I have been called "the expert" or "the authority" on a a few subjects in my field.  It is very bolstering to the ego to hear such labels, but it can also get in the way of learning new things.  There is so much to learn in this world in such a variety of areas that somewhere along the way your cup has to be empty in order to fill up with something new.  So, I've emptied my cup in the areas of my life where I want to learn something more, something, as of yet, unknown to me.  I'm taking on a few teachers and mentors to help me in this venture.  My intention along the way is to do this with the image of the empty cup in my hand, patiently waiting as it is filled.  There is a great deal that I know in the subjects in which I am well-versed, but there is still so much to learn in other areas of interest.  I feel excitement, inspiration, and a bit of relief at this new venture.  When you are "the expert" or "the authority" you are expected to know the answers.  When you are "the student" there are a multitude of answers just waiting to be discovered.  This freedom and this anticipation bring a curious smile to my face.
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For the past two weeks, a man named, Refugio, has been laying new tiles in my bathroom.  Two weeks for laying tiles seems a bit long to me, but as I visit the work that this man does daily, I see how measured and precise he is.  The other day I called him "Michaelangelo" for much like that artist, the work is tedious and filled with miniscule details.  Like Michaelangelo, he keeps at it until it is perfect in every respect.  I admire someone with this type of work ethic.  Personally, I get frustrated with the minutia of such things in my own life.  My level of patience in my own daily activities does not carry the same calm as I observe in Refugio.  So, as I watch the slow moving procession that is the laying of the tiles, I am reminded to be gentle with myself as I create my own works of art in my life --- with clients, friends, family, home, projects, etc.  Life is a work of art that is never quite finished, but it does pause in interesting places.  Intending gentleness, patience, and appreciation today.
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For the past six years, I have done a bit of work with Human Rights Watch/Women's Rights Committee here in Los Angeles.  Each year, I attend the fundraisers they produce.  Last night, at the Kirk Douglas Theatre, they presented "Cries From the Heart."  This was a three-act presentation highlighting some of the human rights abuses taking place around the globe.  Interspersed with the dialogue and monologues were four musical acts.  Though the stage was filled with famous actors and the audience dotted with various celebrities, the true stars of the night were the women brave enough to stand onstage and speak about their homelessness and, in some cases, the violence of rape they have endured.  These women spoke of their journey toward finding "home" again --- in both a literal and figurative sense.  At times, I sat with my hand cupped over my mouth or over my heart.  The stories that we heard were powerful and painful.  It was not always easy to listen to what was being shared and, yet, it was not possible to turn a deaf ear.  Ultimately, the night succeeded in educating and highlighted issues and subjects that those of us who live in privilege should be aware (after last night, I consider anyone who is not living as a sex slave, domestic slave, rape victim, or homeless youth, privileged).  I am very humbled and inspired by the women who dedicate their time, energy, and effort to the causes of Human Rights Watch.  Thank you for all that you do.  www.HumanRightsWatch.org
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