WHAT DO YOU WANT TO BE WHEN YOU GROW UP?

I had a great Thanksgiving Holiday — simple and loving.  What more could anyone ask?

During the socializing and relaxing, I noticed a conversation that kept coming up from many people — young, old, male, female, business professional, and artist.  The conversation focused on new directions, new careers, new possibilities.  I’ve been having this conversation with myself for years now.  I enjoy doing so many things and I dabble in far more things than one might think possible.  I used to make myself wrong for playing in so many different fields, but in recent years I’ve realized what a gift it is.

It seems that many people are at a tipping point in deciding what they want to do next, what they want to do when they grow up.  The interesting thing in these recent conversations is that they were not so much focused on new career paths with a primary need to make money, but to do something that makes the heart sing out loud.

I think this is a great precipice upon which to stand.  It opens up possibilities and reignites conversations with the heart.

If you’ve been asking yourself questions about your new direction, you’ve got plenty of company.  If you don’t yet know what that new direction is, stop and breathe.  Be quiet.  Don’t force it.  Keep your eyes, ears, and heart open.  Little by little, the new “thing” will reveal itself.

And as Dr. Seuss so famously said, “Oh, the places we will go!”

Body Talkin’,

Mark

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www.MarkEdgarStephens.com

www.WhoAreYouChoosingToBe.com

GOODBYE SUMMER … HELLO AUTUMN!

While the rest of the world was experiencing warmer than usual summer temperatures, here in Southern California we truly only had about 2 weeks that felt like real summer (temperatures above 85 degrees).  Growing up in Central Florida, I like a good, hot summer.  “Aha!” I thought.  Perhaps this mild summer here in SoCal means an extended period of summer.  Nope.  It’s now two days past Labor Day and both yesterday and today have been overcast with drizzle.  The current temperature at 9:30 am is still in the 60’s.  Though the calendar does not yet say so, it is officially Autumn.

I love the holidays that this time of the year brings and I welcome change, but there is that part of me that feels like I somehow got cheated out of a full summer.  My vacation plans were shortened and, in some cases, cancelled.  August, typically a slow month for me, was busier than many other parts of the year.  So, as I sit here wearing a light jacket and looking out on the misty hill in front of me with a few drops of moisture streaming down my window, I wonder what this new season brings … and I am extremely optimistic.

This week I get to work with one of my favorite corporate clients, Paul Mitchell the School.  I am days away from the launch of my new business website with corporate consultant, Mike Amado, titled NexAim.com.  One of my comedic, creative writing projects with my life long friend about a Behavior Therapist is being passed around in entertainment circles.  I continue to have great meetings with companies with whom I wish to partner.  I am inspired to continue developing a web series that is about communication, body language, choices, coaching, questions, NLP, movement, passion, love, forgiveness, gratitude, and any number of subjects about which I care with my good friend, Tom.  Next month, I get the opportunity to unveil a jazz concept designed to entertain while also educating and in November I’ll be working with The Lythgoes on a new entertainment project that promises to be a lot of fun.  I feel that I have so much to look forward to and I am so grateful.  My challenge is simply to breathe deeply as it is all happening and enjoy it as much as possible.  As was testament this summer, life moves so quickly.  Given the choice to enjoy it or rush through it (and I believe we have a choice about how we experience life), I am choosing to relish every bit of it.  Life is good and I am grateful.

Wishing everyone a pleasant transition into Fall,

Mark

www.MarkEdgarStephens.com

www.WhoAreYouChoosingToBe.com

DO WHAT YOU LOVE! Audio Post

FOLLOWING PASSION AND GOING FOR YOUR DREAM

I like to watch the Tony Awards.  Before my current incarnation as the Body Language/Behavior Modification guy, the New York Broadway Community was my community.  Over the years, I have watched friends, former classmates, and former clients perform on the Tony’s stage and win a Tony or two.  It is a world that is very familiar to me and I enjoy hearing the words of those who maintain the discipline and work ethic to be able to sustain eight shows a week, sometimes for years on end.  Last night’s Tony’s ceremony was no exception.

One of last night’s recipients (Katie Finneran) encouraged young people who dream of one day performing on Broadway to go for it.  She essentially said (and I am paraphrasing here) that no matter how far you may be from the bright lights of Broadway, the right teachers, opportunities, and moments arise when you follow your passions, follow your heart, follow your dreams.  It is not important how you get to where you are going.  It is only important that you follow the dictates of your heart unwaveringly.  I agree with this statement.  I was inspired by what she said to millions of people last night.

If you have a dream, go for it.  Life is a gift and it passes more quickly than we sometimes realize.  What inspires you?  What is your dream???

Supporting your dreams,

Mark Edgar Stephens

www.MarkEdgarStephens.com

www.WhoAreYouChoosingToBe.com

INVITING QUESTIONS!!!

So, the summer months are coming and with them come long days and more time for questions.  I am entertaining the thought of starting a weekly (or daily) video log (vlog) to answer, comment upon, or explore some of the questions that I receive in emails, during personal appearances, and from clients.  I need your help in this endeavor.  Any question that is related to body language, hypnotherapy, dream analysis, graphology, behavior modification, public speaking, body/mind therapy, overcoming fear, moving ahead in life, raising consciousness, my book, relationships, sex, romance, dating, passion, possibilities, inspiration, or anything related to life-affirming, life-enhancing issues, I welcome to this blog or to my personal email, mark@markedgarstephens.com  My intention is to start this vlog response, which will be featured on this blog, on my website and on youtube, as soon as it is possible.  So, please, if you have been holding onto a question with which you’d like a bit of perspective and exploration, I’d really like to hear from you.  As usual, I’ll keep you posted with developments on the vlog.   Of course, if you are visiting this blog regularly, you won’t be able to miss it.

Curious about your questions,

Mark Edgar Stephens

www.MarkEdgarStephens.com

www.WhoAreYouChoosingToBe.com

MOTHER’S MILK

On Mother’s Day, my Mom did the shopping and cooking for a full family outdoor get together.  It was Mother’s Day and there she was doing the bulk of the work (okay, she had help from family, but still, the point is she was doing a lot of the work).  When I commented on this, my grandmother said, “Well, that’s what mothers do, isn’t it?”  It seems to be true.  Where mothers are concerned, there is always work to be done.

One of the exercises in my book is titled, “Mother’s Milk.” The exercise is all about taking care of ourselves so that we can be at our optimal best for tending to our passionate purpose (whether that be family, career, hobbies, creative projects, etc.)  In order for a mother to best nurture her newborn baby, her own health must be a priority.  This includes proper rest, a healthy diet, and a positive mental outlook.  I was reminded of this last facet of optimal health on Mother’s Day.  My mother did not complain about the work or seem in the least harried by the experience.  On the contrary, she seemed to be taking joy in the whole thing.  Throughout the day, relatives came in and out of the house and gathered round and about.  She did not need to be the center of the activity, but seemed content to just watch the many facets of her passionate purpose (her family) being together.  Her “work” on that day was a part of her joy.  Everyone was together — eating, playing, laughing, talking, etc.  It was a day when the “Mother’s Milk” was truly at its optimal best.

May we all be so healthy!

Mark Edgar Stephens

www.MarkEdgarStephens.com

www.WhoAreYouChoosingToBe.com

WOW! THANKS FOR THE SUPPORT!

I simply have to take a moment to say “WOW & THANK YOU” to everyone who is following this blog and the activity at www.MarkEdgarStephens.com and www.WhoAreYouChoosingToBe.com.  On Monday I sent out an email blast to a moderate number of friends, colleagues, clients, associates, and people that I have either worked with or spoken in front of about the changes to my business, including my websites, this blog, my book, and the upcoming seminar on May 15th in Olympia, Washington. The response was greater than I imagined.  I got a read out of my stats for the website and blog and it turns out that a great many of you checked out the things I suggested to you.  This puts a bit of fire into me to keep providing information and creating content that is of interest to you.  As I strongly believe that gratitude is a cornerstone for growth, I simply want to say “thank you, thank you, thank you.”  And, in the wonderful words from that old American standard, “The Best Is Yet To Come.”

With passion and purpose,

Mark Edgar Stephens

www.MarkEdgarStephens.com

www.WhoAreYouChoosingToBe.com

If you’d like to see the posting I sent out, it is on a “hidden page” of my website.  You can access it by typing or pasting the following link into your browser:

http://www.markedgarstephens.com/the-latest-news.html

PASSION!

What is passion?  Where does it come from?  Do you have any passion in your life?  How do you find passion again?  Did you ever have passion in the first place?  These are the questions, among many others, we will be discussing on May 15th at Community Chiropractic in Olympia, Washington during the 3-hour seminar, FINDING YOUR PASSION!

I love the subject of passion because without it, life just seems to be a bit blase.  From 10 am – 1 pm, Dr. Wendy Schauer and I will host 30 participants who feel the same way about passion.  Using exercises from my book, “WHO ARE YOU CHOOSING TO BE?” we intend to discover, recover, and revitalize the passion in our lives.  This is passion not only in relationships, but also in terms of life purpose, hobbies, friends, and family.  We’ll be working and playing together with the intention of putting a smile on a lot of faces, laughter in a lot of bellies, and a spring in a lot of steps.  I hope you will join us by reserving your space at 360-705-1116.  See you on May 15th!

With passion and purpose,

Mark Edgar Stephens

http://www.MarkEdgarStephens.com

http://www.WhoAreYouChoosingToBe.com