Welcome to The Seasoned Path

Welcome to The Seasoned Path. In each newsletter I will share some of my musings along the path as well as inspirations gained from those who have traveled this way before me. My hope is to tickle your curiosity, heighten your awareness, and encourage you to become an environmentalist for your heart.

In this Issue:

Quote of the Month
A Living Theme for the Summer: Becoming Self-Evident
Readings for the Journey
Upcoming events: Self-Care for the Care-givers: An Autumn Celebration of Women 

Quote of the Month

 "Often people attempt to live their lives backwards: they try to have more things, or more money, in order to do more of what they want so they will be happier. The way it actually works is the reverse. You must first be who you really are, then do what you love to do, in order to have what you want."
- Margaret Young 

Eagle's Nest Cabin, site of Self-Care for the Care Givers, Sept. 20-22

A Living Theme for the Summer - Becoming Self-Evident

Recently, I came upon the phrase, “Becoming Self-Evident.” Instantly, my curiosity was sparked. I felt, “Oooo, that’s how I want to be!” So I decide to take it on as my living theme for the summer.

A living theme is an ideal or quality that you want to enhance in your life. I used to select a theme for the New Year every January, but I have found that over time it tended to loose momentum. Instead, I have discovered that it is much more effective for me to select a theme for each season. A living theme needs to be an expression of both who you are now and the person you want to become. It is not another goal to add to your to-do-list, but rather a guiding image that will draw you forward, inspiring you to stretch and grow. For example, “to loose ten pounds” is a goal, but “to embrace a healthier lifestyle” is a living theme.

The first step is to define what the living theme means to you and why it is important at this point in your life. I started reflecting on what “Becoming Self Evident” means to me. First, I like that the phrase begins with “becoming.” Clearly, this is not something I could accomplish in one brief summer. It is a never ending process, but I’m turning 59 this year and its time to get real, literally!

I also needed to define what it means to be Self-Evident. My first thought was, “What you see is what you get.” When someone is self-evident, the person who shows up in the world is a true reflection of who they are, what they value, what they feel, what they think, and what they believe. This does not mean having an in-your-face-attitude, but quite the opposite. It involves being self-contained, self- aware, and self-managed. Only then can one truly be unselfish and fully present for others. Ultimately, to be self-evident is to have one’s outer life be a true expression of one’s highest inner self.

Once you have clarified the relevance of your theme, the challenge is to make it a way of life. I have discovered that are three steps to this process of change: Awareness, Acknowledgment, and Action.

First, I need to heighten my awareness of when I am being false or hypocritical; when what I’m saying or doing doesn’t match what I’m feeling or thinking. This isn’t so easy. An old behavior can become automatic and practically unconscious. So first I need to practice mindfulness, constantly checking my authenticity radar.

Second, I need to acknowledge what is really going on. What are my motives? What am I afraid of? Who am I trying to protect or impress? The trick is not to beat myself every time, but just to acknowledge, “Oh, I’m doing it again.” I need to become an insightful and compassionate observer.

Third, now that I am aware of my behavior and can acknowledge the underlying truth of the situation, the question becomes, “What am I willing to do about it? What choices do I have to behave differently? Am I willing to try a new behavior that is unfamiliar and uncomfortable? How in the present moment can I be true to my living theme?” It's a matter of consciously developing new behaviors, one instance at a time.

I keep a living theme for as long as it engages me, usually for about three months. That is long enough to allow new habits to become grounded, but once I notice the fascination fading, I let it go. Often this happens with the changing of the season; when energies are shifting all around me. Then, I wait to see what challenge presents itself. This way each new season becomes a distinctive chapter in my personal journey.

Readings for the Journey

The Soul of Money:Transforming Your Relationship with Money and Life, by Lynn Twist

Your Heart's Desire: Instructions for Creating the Life You Want, by Sonia Choquette

NOW WHAT? 90 Days to a New Life Direction, by Laura Berman Fortgang

Upcoming Events

SELF CARE FOR THE CARE GIVERS: An Autumn Celebration of Women
(Sept 20-22, 2009) Enjoy an extended weekend in the country to renew, revitalize and reconnect with your feminine power. Gather with like minded women for 2 nights and 3 days of inspiring workshops, quiet reflection, sharing and laughter. Location: Graystones Preserve in the Poconos (cozy, clean cabins with fireplace, living room, kitchen, and double occupancy bedrooms). Investment: $375, includes lodging, food, and retreat activities. Reserve your spot now with a $100 deposit. Full payment due by August 20th.

EMBRACING LIFE’S CHANGING PATTERNS: A Woman’s Retreat to Nurture the Body, Mind and Spirit (March 3-9, 2010)
Join us for 6 days of renewal, reflection, and adventure at Estate Concordia on St. John Island in the Caribbean. East meets West in this unique program with Linda Marrical teaching self acupressure, Chi Kung movement, and breath work, and Karin Marcus coaching on the healing qualities, accessing one's innate wisdom, and creating a personal vision. Your Investment: $1,750 includes all retreat activities, plus 6 days of lodging in spacious double occupancy Eco-tents with kitchenette and modern conveniences. Reserve your spot now with a $250 deposit.

CUSTOMIZED RETREATS: Are you looking for a retreat for your co-workers, a community group, or close friends? Or do you need to get away by yourself to gain clarity on an issue? We work with individuals and groups, designing custom retreats that focus on specific needs, whether it is marking a transition, learning to cope with change, or needing some extreme self-care

The Small Print

To schedule a complimentary 30 minute coaching phone session, email me at Karin@SteppingOutCoaching.com or call 610-667-5247

Visit my website for more coaching info www.SteppingOutCoaching.com

A Note About My Recommendations
I provide links in this newsletter to products and services I am offering or I have personally found valuable. If you are ever disappointed with one of these recommendations, please let them and me know. If they don't make it right, I will.

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The Seasoned Path is published 12 times a year and distributed by e-mail to subscribers on or about the first Monday of each month. Comments, submissions and suggestions are welcome. Please forward any or all of this newsletter to those you know will appreciate it and encourage them to subscribe for themselves.

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Copyright © 2009 by Karin Marcus. All rights reserved.
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