Bridge-the-Gap Life Coaching Services, LLC

March 26th

Sharon — Mon, 26 Mar 2012 12:18:29 +0000

In 2 weeks I will be gathering with a group of old friends in a warm and lovely place. We do this every few years. The group is spread throughout the country, so many of us only see one another at these gatherings. Our time together is always a blissful reconnection filled with relaxing and talking, some crying and an enormous amount of laughter. When together we tend to regress to the dynamic we had with each other when we were in our 20s, which often leaves us feeling young and giggly! And yet, we also share about our very adult journeys and revel in the love and support. The time together is an incredible blessing.

At present we are in the planning phase of the trip. This is also a very precious part of revitalizing our relationships. Through email we are not only navigating the logistics of being together, but renewing our bonds and being reminded of each one’s unique sense of humor. Delighting in the preparation time is a significant piece of the larger positive experience.

This dynamic has me especially mindful of the opportunity to savor the goodness that is in our midst, all of the time. Even embracing the practice of looking forward to what is yet to come is a way to live positively in the present. Savoring in between times is not about putting everything on hold until the anticipated event or experience occurs. Rather it is immersing ourselves in a spirit of appreciation as well as anticipation. We can enjoy being optimistically curious about what the future holds - today! That may involve completing tasks that will enable us to be ‘ready’. But it can also mean embracing a mindset that is grounded in a belief that goodness and blessing are always present … and always will be.

· If it feels like there isn’t much good happening on this Monday morning, what might you begin to look forward to that will shift your mindset into a positive mood?

· What are you anticipating in the future that makes you smile?

February 28th

Sharon — Tue, 28 Feb 2012 14:20:54 +0000

Life happens. An enormous amount of it cannot be controlled. But we can choose our responses to what emerges along the way. A positive, optimistic, attitude has a very strong impact on resiliency. Those who have a belief in their own ability to work through an issue or figure out what to do, have a relatively high tolerance for change. In this world of constant change, it is extremely useful to nurture a sense of optimism. It is an important internal resource for us as we navigate the ever changing landscape of life. Life is a gift from God. Living in the confidence that God desires goodness and blessing for us - and will equip us along the way so that we are empowered to live out that vision of goodness and blessing - is foundational to a life of optimism.

How might you build up a stronger sense of confidence in yourself and your ability to face into life’s challenges?
What is the dream God is dreaming for your life?

February 22nd

Sharon — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 15:19:33 +0000

Today we begin the Lenten journey with the imposition of ashes and the poignant reminder: “from dust you have come and to dust you shall return.” The experience is not only a reminder of our own mortality but highlights that each breath of life is a gift of the great Creator, Reconciler and Sustainer. Though the Ash Wednesday focus is meant to be humbling, it does not need to be disempowering. Embracing our faith journey as a path navigated in partnership with God and dependent on divine grace is both a comfort and an inspiration. We are not alone! We live in God’s world! The fact that our time on this earth is limited can serve as motivation to live dynamic lives full of purpose and meaning.

As we immerse ourselves in this season set aside for self reflection and personal awareness, we may encounter a special invitation to live out the resurrection story in bold ways that we have never before considered! May you be given wisdom and courage for this exciting journey!

· How would your life be different if you moved away from deadness and toward resurrection?

· How might a habit change affect your ability to live life more abundantly?

February 16th

Sharon — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 15:17:49 +0000

It is a dreary, February day. It is not cold enough to feel like winter. The ground is muddy and it is raining instead of snowing. And yet, it is not springtime either. It is not warm enough or even a little bit sunny. Though a few crocuses are in bloom, the landscape is mostly bare and brown and grey. It feels as though we are lingering in an in-between time. And my mood fits the seasonal tone. A lack of energy weighs me down and leaves me believing that it is either too late or too soon to accomplish anything of significance. Personal and professional life feel kind of …blah….right now.

Yet, when I ponder this experience, I realize that there is an important treasure in these in-between times. A lack of motivation to be productive, at least in the ways I usually like to be productive, may be a signal to me that my mind and soul need space to pause. Perhaps it really isn’t time to ‘accomplish anything of significance’. But maybe, the time is ripe for turning inward and considering where I am on the journey and who I have become in the midst of it. These are useful questions to periodically ask ourselves. So, on this dreary, February day, I will embrace this in-between time. Perhaps I will learn to re-define what it means to be ‘productive’ and accomplish ’something of significance’ !

Where are you on the journey?
Who have you become in the midst of it?
How will you move forward?

January 31st

Sharon — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 14:45:48 +0000

One of my sons is a potter. He recently went through a very prolific time trying new forms and glazes. The result is that I now have a closetful of the assorted handmade bowls, vases and pots that he deemed ‘mistakes’. And yet, some of them are absolutely beautiful! (Though yes…some are very clearly ‘mistakes’). But it is a reminder to me that even when things don’t turn out the way we intend, they can still be useful and even quite lovely.
It is important for us to clarify our goals and objectives and to strategize ways to accomplish them. But, when things aren’t working out the way we planned, it it doesn’t necessarily mean they aren’t working out at all. Often, our ‘mistakes’ lead us in new directions that have the potential to become even more creative, intriguing and fruitful than our original plans. In paying attention to the possibility and promise inherent in each and every turn, we may discover that there is goodness and light everywhere!

Are you in the midst of something that is not turning out the way you planned?
What are you learning and experiencing from the present situation?
How can you discern the possibility and promise that may be emanating from this unexpected path?

January 23rd

Sharon — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 14:10:29 +0000

Throughout the story of the Christian faith is a line of men and women who were willing to follow the voice of God and take risks that moved them in new directions that forged a way for fresh beginnings. The Holy Spirit is revealed again and again as a dynamic, creating, moving force that is actively calling humanity to abandon old and tired ways of living and to enter into the flow.
The first step in discerning God’s intention for our lives is not to know the specifics to which we are called, but to pay attention to the Divine presence that invades even the ordinary life that is going on around us. It is just when we are cozy in our cocoons of sameness that God calls us forth into new life. The Holy invites us to be participants in the creative process of change; both change within ourselves and change for the benefit of all.

Are you paying attention? Stop - Look - Listen How might you emerge from your cocoon of sameness?

January 16th

Sharon — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 14:43:18 +0000

“The church must tell people to take their burden. Take their grief and look at it. Don’t run from it. Say that this is my grief and I must bear it. Then, look at it hard enough and say, ‘how can I transform this liability into an asset?’” Martin Luther King, Jr. from his sermon - ‘Guidelines for a Constructive Church’ - (1966)

On this annual observance of the inspiring life and ministry of Martin Luther King, Jr., it is appropriate to consider what we really stand for…and what we are willing to do about it.

Life can be so messy and disappointing that we sometimes find ourselves fully immersed in our troubles and overwhelmed by the issues that concern us. We begin to claim an identity around what we are against. We define our lives and actions around the negative energy of anger and frustration and antagonism. We lose ourselves in the certainty of what we are not.

When we find ourselves in this kind of season, it is time to reclaim our center and to embrace the goodness of what we really care about and are willing to work towards. Defining ourselves in terms of our positive stances and commitments can be clarifying and invigorating. When we can identify our passions in terms of hopes and visions that are not couched in the negative, we begin to come back to ourselves. And working and acting in ways that support our passions is much more productive than putting our energy into how to work against others who see life differently.

What is it you stand for?
What undergirds the positive energy that motivates you?

How will you engage your passions today?

January 3rd

Sharon — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 15:31:45 +0000

Happy New Year! These early days of January have become the season of resolutions. It is a time for breaking bad habits and attempting to live in new ways. Whether the goal is to lose weight or get more organized or save money or pray more regularly, the more specific the goal is, the more likely it is that you will accomplish it. Being specific entails clearly defining a quantitative bench mark and setting a time line. For example, if being more organized is the general goal, a specific goal might be something like: ‘I will completely re-organize the hallway closet by the end of the day on Friday.’ Or, if the general goal is to pray more regularly, a specific goal might be something like: ‘I will pray for 15 minutes each day right after breakfast.’

But, no matter how specific the goal, it will be difficult to sustain it without a strategy to support the habit change. ‘How will I achieve this goal?’ is the question that needs to be addressed. Engaging this gets at the core of re-designing our lives. An honest and fruitful answer to the question will need to touch on issues of motivation, a willingness to abandon present practices, and a long term desire to live life differently.

If you really, REALLY want to make your new year’s resolutions reflect a transformational experience of habit change and dedication to living life in a new way, face into the question of “How?”.

December 13th

Sharon — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 17:14:19 +0000

As I am preparing my sermon for the 4^th Sunday of Advent on the story of the Gabriel’s announcement to Mary and the Magnificat, I am keenly aware that sometimes, we, like Mary, end up in situations that are not of our own choosing. But even if we did not choose the circumstances that surround us, we, like Mary have choices to make regarding how we will deal with challenges presented. Engaging life with a positive outlook and a willingness to be creative and flexible, will keep us moving forward. When we center our spirits on the Holy, we may not be shown a neat and tidy path to follow, but we will have confidence that we will be given the necessary tools to navigate the ups and downs of life.

· Is there a situation in your life that you did not choose?

· How might you engage that situation in a positive way?

· How might you tap into your God-given creativity and brilliance to navigate this season of your life?

November 17th

Sharon — Thu, 17 Nov 2011 15:50:56 +0000

It is almost time to rake up the leaves, but I like to wait until they have all fallen from the trees…so…not yet. My Christmas cactus is covered with buds and I anxiously check it each morning. But… no flowers yet. We are hoping all 3 of our adult children will be able to be home for Thanksgiving, but their plans are not completely settled, so we don’t really know …yet. My first book was published last month, and I am excited to know how it is selling. But sales reports are not available yet.

Sometimes I feel like I am living in the season of ‘not yet!’ I know that these kind of in-between times can be useful, but sometimes I just spend the day spinning my wheels waiting for the ‘not yet’ to become the ‘now!’ Today I am determined to let go of my frustration about the timing of things over which I have no control. Today I will live into the ‘now’ and set aside the ‘not yet’. Today I will immerse myself in those things that are ripe and ready to be engaged. Today I will stop waiting and start doing.

· Is there an area of your life where you are feeling frustrated by the ‘not yet?’

· How would today be if you set aside the ‘not yets’ and focused on the ‘nows?’