Now What?® Coaching

from Laura Berman Fortgang

Inspiration to Follow Your Blueprint

THANK YOU Readers!

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A heartfelt thank you to all our readers as we cross over into another year.
We appreciate your readership, your participation and most of all your courage
to keep considering new avenues for your work and life.
 
May your holidays be joyful and warm and may the new year bring you
opportunity, abundance and a prosperous heart.
 
Best Wishes from Our Now What?® house to yours.
 
Sincerely,
 
Laura Berman Fortgang, Now What?® Founder and Editor in Chief
Ginny Kravitz, Now What?® A-Team Coach and Deputy Editor

Miracles, Mortals, and Mosquitoes

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by Ginny Kravitz, Deputy Editor

Right-click here to download pictures. To help protect your privacy, Outlook prevented automatic download of this picture from the Internet.<br />photo of star-filled skyI felt inspired after seeing Daniel Day-Lewis’ intimate portrayal of Lincoln. The central message I took away was also in another movie directed by Steven Spielberg, Schindler’s List. Both of these illustrate the difference one person can make. Each man answered life’s call in the affirmative, and when he did, the results were nothing short of miraculous.

What is your take on miracles? This was how Albert Einstein saw it:“There are two ways to live: you can live as if nothing is a miracle; you can live as if everything is a miracle.”

full article here…

The Ninth Candle: Servant to the Light

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by Now What?® Coaching Founder, Laura Berman Fortgang

(Originally Posted at Huffington Post)

Hannukah, Christmas and Kwanzaa all have a focus on lights or candles this time of year. The lights symbolize different things in each tradition, and in Judaism in particular, the Hannukah lights represent the eight days that the oil burned in the temple when there was only enough oil for one night. That is the miracle of Hannukah. The Jews had just won a battle that destroyed their temple and there was only one night’s worth of oil to burn. The eight candles on a Menorah represent the eight-day miracle. So that begs the question:

“Why are there nine candles in a Menorah?”

Ah, yes. The ninth candle. That candle is called the Shamash, which in Hebrew means “attendant” or “servant.” The Shamash is the servant to the other lights. The menorah can only be lit by the Shamash. It is not OK to light the other lights with any other candle other than the ninth one. As the attendant to the light, the Shamash is responsible for lighting all the others.

Each of us is a light. We have the choice as to whether we live from that lit-up place or ignore our light. During the holiday season, most people feel their light more acutely. It’s a time of giving, sharing, remembering those less fortunate and wishing strangers on the street a good holiday. What I suggest this year is that not only are we all “lights” but we are also Shamashim. We are both light and the servant to the light because in every moment we have the choice to light other lights as we go about our day. Hold that image for a moment.

If you were the attendant of other lights, is there anything you would change? If you were to hold other humans in your mind eye as a light to keep lit, would you change how you address them or think of them?

I am the servant to the light in my children, my spouse, my family, my clients, by neighbors and I’ve chosen it as my work. Do I succeed all the time? Oh, God, no! But I am reminded as we light the menorah every night of the power we have to celebrate the light — the light in every single being. The light in you.

Happy Hannukah to those who celebrate and enjoy the festivities of the season.

Take Courage!

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by Ginny Kravitz, Deputy Editor

Fear is a Given

“It’s not my first rodeo,” remarked Jeanie, a client who is preparing to move cross country and pursue a new career path.  She is familiar with the voices of fear from the peanut gallery. Some are from friends who ask, “Are you sure about this?” while other doubtful refrains originate in her own mind. Fortunately, Jeanie has made big moves before and is prepared for this stage of second-guessing her decision. She knows how to keep the fears in perspective by talking back to them: I know this is right for me.

Notably, “Be not afraid,” is a command that appears throughout the Bible many times. The implication is that we have the power to choose even though it doesn’t feel that way when in the grip of fear. I once heard it suggested that a better interpretation is: Do not remain afraid. Now that seems more doable. Since fear is a given in life, it’s vital to remember that courage is a decision, sometimes a stubborn assertion, and always an act of will.

As with so many other uncomfortable emotions, rather than expecting to eradicate fear before proceeding, we only need to know how to diffuse it. There is a coaching aphorism: Fear may be in the car, but it doesn’t have to be driving.

full article here…