Diana lives on a small farm nestled in the Ozark Mountains in Arkansas. Like me, she has a deep passion for the beauty of the earth and a spiritual kinship for the animals who share the mountains with her.  From the moment we spoke, we both knew we were to partner together on this special project.  What has unfolded is a series of deep messages paired with beautiful art that speak to the heart, body and soul.

As I awoke this morning, pondering this month’s article topic, I decided to pull one of these “always knowing” cards for my own inspiration.  I drew the card, Dawn Dreamers.

In early morning light through the mist, secrets are shared.  Dawn Dreamers whisper.

There is a message to hear.  New possibilities are on the horizon.  Close your eyes.  Consider the colors you see.  Feel the groundedness that mother earth provides to you.  Today is a day started in peacefulness – let that feeling carry you through the day.

Glimpses of new paths are on the horizon.  This is the birthplace of unfolding opportunities – your seeds of life have been planted.  You only need to nurture these budding dreams.  Take time to live in these possibilities today.  Acknowledge them.  Write them down.  Paint the pictures and envision where these dreams will take you.  Dreams are your gift.

What an appropriate card as we launch into 2012.  For so many of us leverage the dawning of the New Year to declare new goals, envision budding ideas and play in the realm of new possibilities.  I invite you to take a bit of time today to quietly ponder in the message of this card.  Consider all that you’d like to manifest.  Get really clear about the vision.  As this vision finds clarity, write down your aspirations that will engine this vision.  Here are a few tips for writing aspirations!

• Make your aspirations Bold and Far Reaching.  Shoot for the stars here. No small dreamers allowed – envision all that you want to create and set your judge and any “Yea, but” self-commentary aside.  This is your time to own this vision.  Paint the picture with YOU at the center.  Feel it.  Breathe it.  Live it.  You’ll want to embody what it feels like to be amongst your stars.
• Build your aspirations from your Heart. They must set your soul on fire with excitement!  You’ll know you’ve nailed it when your heart starts to do summersaults and flips as you play in the possibilities.
• Select words for your aspirations in an Unconditionally Positive frame-of-mind, grounded with solid glimpses of yeses and success!  The power of the positive will guide you to achieve the impossible.
• Write your aspirations as if they are already Happening Today!  Believe in yourself, believe in your dreams and they will become your reality.
• Put a Deadline to your aspirations.  This is your chance to put these aspirations into motion.  It’s the opportunity to set up steps to take you there.  The deadline will jumpstart your path.

Take time this week for your own Dawn Dreaming experience.  Play in the dreams, embody the spirit of your dreams.  Then write them down so you can bring your dreams into your horizon in 2012.  If you want a little help getting started, call me for a Complimentary Introductory Coaching Session.  And if you want to be on the mailing list to be the first to get your own deck of Inspiration Cards authored by me and illustrated by Diana Lancaster, drop me an e-mail at kami@syzygy-co.com!  Happy New Year!  Let’s manifest some dreams together!

He was starting to shift his focus from the “successful career” to an abstract vision of a post-retirement lifestyle, but was uncertain what that might be.  What unfolded in his coaching work, was a surprise even to him!  (more)

For now is a perfect time to start shaping your next chapter.  It might be that you’ve worked hard in a career that’s provided you with many blessings, although you’re starting to see glimpses of a new stage in life.  Perhaps, life delivered unexpected changes that shook your world.  Or perhaps you just know you need to do something different, but you’re not certain what that might be.

Where do you start?  You start with you!!  The magnificence of you – what you’re best at – your strengths, your values and your passions!  You ponder in the moments that have moved you – whether it was this year, or twenty years ago.  You look beneath the stories that have shaped your life and seek their inherent meaning.  For your path is your own, and you have traveled exactly where you were destined.

But alas, you can shape your next chapter.  All of your life experiences to date are the foundation of what is to be.  You only need arrange this foundation in a direction that you’d like it to lead.  Block, by block – you can uncover the bricks that can shape your future.  A future with purpose.  A future with meaning.   A future with passion!

Imagine this future.  Can you think of a better Christmas gift to yourself?  Perhaps it is time to invest in your own inspired future.  Kick off your 2012 with the gift of a 3-month coaching program.  We’ll meet weekly uncovering the “Essence of You.”  You’ll gain clarity on who you are at your very core – and how these gifts of you can unfold new possibilities in your life.  I’ll help you step outside of your own box of what you do, into who you are – expanding your breadth of imaginable dreams.  Then together, we’ll narrow the options into a clear vision of your next chapter.  We’ll design the path to help you get there – step-by-step, stage-by-stage.

This is my own gift that I can give back to the world.  Making a difference in people’s lives – and reconnecting them to their very essence is so rewarding to me personally.  The synchronicity of possibilities that occurs when people are connected to their passions, values and strengths still amazes me.

One of my clients called me last week from her new beachfront cottage – with the ocean breeze blowing into the phone, and her dog splashing in the waves.  “Thank you!  Thank you!” She shouted above the soothing background sounds of the ocean, her bare feet playing in the sand.  This was the vision she painted a year ago – a move across country to back East… in a cottage… on the ocean.  A reconnection back to her roots.  Her new role in a company that she’s loved for years.   She painted that vision in the quiet of my Evergreen living room.  Today she is living it.

Another one of my clients recently launched her own business providing marketing services to wellness and health companies.  (www.MarketWell-Today.com) Her path from a high tech marketer to one focused on making a difference in the lives of others, combined her own solid foundation of 20+ years of marketing with her love of wellness and good health.  Today, she’s helping healthy companies grow. Today she’s connecting people to healthier life styles.  She’s making the difference in the lives of many.

I received an e-mail from this client just this morning that said, “My new business is feeling so perfect and right for me. It seems that this is the path that I was supposed to be on and YOU helped me find it!”

This is why I do what I do.  I love helping people through their own discovery.  Their own reconnections.  I love watching the doors begin to open, once someone has gotten clear on their purpose.  I love seeing new possibilities unfold and manifest in perfect timing.

Is 2012 your year?  Let’s start! Call me today for a Free Introductory Coaching session to start discovering your next chapter!  303.670.7244

http://denver.cbslocal.com/video/6078552-woman-finds-new-passion-through-horses/

Grounded in Appreciative Inquiry principles, the workshops and coaching programs have focused on:

1. Creating a strong team environment for this newly formed group of talented and seasoned professionals who work in complex partner environments, with literally thousands of moving parts every day.
2. Building an approach to partner collaboration that starts with the individual strengths of each team member.
3. Defining a set of guiding principles for Collaborative Excellence, which came to fruition through a series of interviews by the Denver team with RTD and the construction and operational teams.  These principles include:  Trust, Shared Vision, Respectful Relationships, Negotiate in Good Faith and Positive Communications.

The project will continue throughout the Fall, as we commence with a multi-day workshop summit bringing together several partner entities.

“Syzygy’s focus on the positive aspects of relationships and skills used for collaboration is helping the Denver team working on FasTracks to work productively with other agencies to help bring the largest transit expansion project in the country to reality,” shared team lead, Brian Pinkerton who serves as the City of Denver liaison to RTD/FasTracks.

If you’re interested in bringing stronger positive collaboration to your complex work environments, give me a call at 303.670.7244 and we’ll custom design a program to meet your needs!

To learn more about Syzygy Coaching Programs or to schedule your Complimentary Introductory Coaching Session, call us today!   303-670-7244.

A Journey Back to Her Roots Launches a New Chapter in Life – Brenda began her journey knowing that that she wanted to do something new and different – but not knowing where or what. She began to ponder, “What was I driven by? What were my passions? What kind of environment had been good for me? I saw this as an opportunity to get back to my roots.” full story

Seasoned Executive Hurdles Over an M&A Bump-in-the-Road – When John’s mid-size company was acquired by a large organization, a period of drastic change commenced. Through a sequence of lateral position shifts, John’s entire section of the company was blown apart, leaving John in a role with significantly reduced roles and responsibilities.

As the year unrolled, the nature of John’s conversations with the new executive team left John questioning his leadership skills and his entire history of career success. “That whole year really knocked me off my feet. I found myself questioning my whole career and was suddenly unsure what I wanted to do with my life. Kami picked me up off the floor and helped me regain my confidence, which I had always had, but had somehow lost,” he shared. full story

From High Tech to Health – Shifting Sand and Shifting Paradigms – Kathy, in her 25-plus year career had worked in a range of small start-up companies to large global organizations. Within that path she had experienced the spectrum of cultures that had come along through the high tech boom to the bust, to the market challenges of the past several years. After a couple of difficult layoff experiences, Kathy was starting to rethink her high-tech focus and was ready to explore new industries.

Kathy shared, “Kami took me back to a much deeper foundation starting with, ‘Who am I,’ helping me explore my background, and examine my strengths. Her approach was much more holistic and helped me connect back to who I am as a person.” full story

All of these stories manifested in a circle of self-discovery, dreaming, and designing new paths.  Its a continuous cycle that we face every day – making conscious choices toward life that is meaningful and aligned to your own purpose.  Isn’t it time you start your own journey?

Ode to Quattro Magicians

Uno
“Do what blows your hair back,”
Said blue-eyed handsome Zip
Zip’s breath warm
Warms and breathes courage into my dreams

Dos
Destiny – wise woman lead mare
once around… a gate
twice around… the gate
thrice… the GATE
“Go through. You are ready.
Remember, you are so much more interesting a person
When you are being yourself.”

Tres
Introducing Sugaree
Consummate actress shape shifter
Horse of a thousand persons
You won’t believe your eyes
Step right up, ladies and gentlemen!
Who’s next to experience a walk with the amazing Sugaree?

Quattro
Dakota Dear Big Brown Boy Beauty-full
Not sound of feet
ULTRA sound of heart
Big open accepting heart Superstar

Uno Dos Tres Quattro open hearts plus one
Connected, partnered in unity
I am grateful.

Thinking back to my own path, I took on the role of motherhood in my early 20s. To support my son, I became a receptionist at an oil and gas company – and quickly moved into the engineering department as an engineering tech. In the mid-80s when the oil market crashed, I took a job as an office manager at a sport horse breeding barn, which eventually turned into equine insurance sales for a national association membership program. However, the oil and gas industry would pull me back from there, offering flexibility and the financial wherewithal to put myself through college. Then a move into software marketing to eventually become a vice president within a large international company leading multi-discipline integration efforts.

Statistically, they tell us that we change careers somewhere between 5-7 times in a lifetime. I’m certainly on track to top these numbers. And frankly, I am thankful for the variety of life experiences this has provided me. I look back on that path and I met and worked with many wonderful people, got to experience different cultures around the world, and gained business experience from a multitude of angles. Each step had a defining moment for me – building on my knowledge and expertise – which would eventually provide me with a well rounded foundation. A foundation that would prove to be critical in my next chapter.

The 2008 economy was the gift that led me to redefine myself once again. And yes, it was a gift, as this time, my reinvention was different. My prior stepping stones had all been circumstantial. Opportunities had readily presented themselves, hard work had opened new doors and my path had generally just unfolded. What was different this time, was no new opportunities showed up and hard work didn’t lead to that next logical step. What was different this time, was I had time to reflect on my values, what I loved most in all these roles, what I was really good at. It was a gift of time and reflection.

When I took advantage of this gift of time and reflection, what unfolded for me was a life purpose. All those stepping stones in my life were important. They brought critical understandings and experiences. I considered the stories of my life where I had found excitement and meaning. What unfolded from those stories was a deep understanding of who I was as a person. What moved me, what made my life click.

As I worked to define me – and yes, I do mean ‘worked’ – I worked with coaches and entrenched myself into multiple self-exploration programs over the course of 18 months. When the ‘essence of me’ began to come clear, I started to dream about new possibilities. And guess what – this time, the possibilities weren’t circumstantial. They were grounded in who I was as a person. They were grounded in things I knew I loved doing. They were grounded in my passions. For the first time in my life – all of the complex pieces of me – fit together into a new puzzle picture to define what I was ‘supposed’ doing. That’s what was different this time.

So now I have the opportunity to guide people through this deeper exploration of their next chapter. There is nothing more rewarding that helping people rediscover their unique paths that have unfolded in their lives – seeking out the nuggets of passion, excitement and stories that defined them. I love their stories. The brilliant light this gift provides opens not only new doors for redefining their next chapter, but more importantly opens the right doors.

The study of life paths has become my passion. And the exploration of this passion is timely. Every day, I meet new people who are pondering their next chapter. They have worked hard their whole life, and are ready for something new. But they’re not certain what that might be. According to a recent Right Management Study, 84% of people say they’re going to look for new jobs this year (and only 5% say they are definitely going to remain in their current position). These numbers are staggering to me – and only support what I inherently knew. People are ready to make a change.

If you fall within this 84% statistic – you have a choice. Will you approach this from an opportunistic-only way, or is it time to really define your next chapter around your passions, your values, your strengths and purpose? There is really a big difference.

I can tell you – as I sit writing this from my summer deck surrounded by flowers, a water fountain and quiet music softly playing in the background, and horses munching contently on the green grass just a few feet from me – that there’s great reward in taking the time to plan your next chapter fully. I nailed my next chapter – it is my purpose. The satisfaction that I get in helping people rediscover themselves and define a life that is aligned to their purpose is greater than the sum of everything I’ve done in my life to date.

Chances are, if you study the stepping stones of your own life path, you’ll find nuggets of experience that are leading you to your next chapter. The answers are in your stories, your memories and grounded deep in your heart. The gift of exploring these stories can help you define your purpose and align your own path. I’d love to hear your stories and help you uncover these golden nuggets. Call me today for a Free Introductory Coaching session or sign up for an upcoming Equine Vision Journey Retreat to start uncovering your golden nuggets! 303.670.7244

To read more about how this Syzygy client took a journey to her next chapter in life, click here.   (Names in this story have been changed to maintain confidentiality of the Syzygy client.)