Welcome to 2004!
With a new year, and the sense that brings of a fresh start, we often spend time thinking of changes we would like to integrate into our lives.

Reflecting on our lives and considering what we can do to become better people is always a good thing. In essence, that is our life journey.

This issue focuses on a few areas where most of us would like some growth in our lives. I hope you find them helpful!

A Reverse Resolution -- Less Busyness!
"There's more to life than increasing its speed," is an interesting quote from Mahatma Gandhi. That flies in the face of our 21st Century American culture. Corporate America's demand seems to be, "More! Faster!"

Francis de Sales said, "Nothing done impulsively and in a hurry is ever done well." Yet we live in a culture that encourages impulsiveness and speed in nearly every undertaking.

Some even suggest that Busyness is the idolaty of our age. Many of us seem to wear it as a badge of honor. "How are you doing?" "I'm so busy..."

Virtually every one of us (and our businesses, churches, etc.) could benefit from more quiet, relfection, and comtemplation -- and less busyness.

We miss out on so many of the important things of life because of busyness.

1. We don't experience the beauty of our world. We're too busy going 70 mph somewhere to do something.
2. We don't experience the love of relationships. We're too busy (or too tired from being busy) to invest in them.
3. We don't get to know God. We're too busy to "be still and know that I am God." Psalm 46:10

This list could go on forever, but you get the idea.

Achieving "less busyness" is a challenge. But success starts with a determination to align you life and your activities with your core values.

That means creating both a "TO DO" list and a "NOT TO DO" list. And sticking to them.

That's where I start when clients come to me seeking to improve life balance. I help them clarify their core values and review all they are currently doing, as well as discuss what they would like to be doing. Then I help them create the two lists. Needless to say, the "Not To Do" list is the most difficult to develop and stick with. That's where the value of coaching is realized.

So I encourage you to make a "reverse resolution" for 2004.

Decide what you WILL NOT DO this year so that you can enjoy having a fuller life.

Improve Your Daily Walk with God!
My welcome package includes a form asking new clients to rate their level of satisfaction with their lives in an array of life arenas.

Regardless of what they come to me to work on, most indicate that they would also like to improve their daily walk with God. I think it's just something that most of us who have reached midlife share. No matter what level of spritual development we've attained, we would like to improve.

Generally, I find that there are two major obstacles. We're too busy and/or tired to integrate a meaningful time for spiritual growth into our days. Or, when we have tried, the activities that we've used just haven't worked.

The busyness part means that you have to say "yes" to a period of spiritual activity in your day -- which likely means that you will have to say "No" to something else you do every day.

Finding meaningful spiritual activities that work for you is probably more a matter of some education and experimentation. There are a number of good books available on "Spiritual Disciplines" that have good "how to" ideas.

So then it's a matter of doing some reading and trying a couple of the ideas that seem right for you. While all of the spiritual disciplines -- there are 12 or more depending on who's counting -- can be beneficial, it's helpful to understand that you don't need to do all of them all the time. In fact, it's a good idea to have variety.

Email me to receive:
1. A free copy of the form that allows you to rate your satisfaction in the different aspects of your life, or
2. A list of books on Spiritual Disciplines.

I'd also be happy to visit with you about how a brief period of coaching can make a difference in achieving your goal of integrating a meaningful time of spiritual development into your daily life.


Seek to Make Things LESS Complicated!
If you're like me, one of your core competencies is taking something simple and making it seem extremely complicated.

Not that some things aren't actually complicated, but I'm amazed at our tendency to try to complicate even the things that really aren't.

I often make things complicated by not reading instructions.

Sometimes I make things complicated by being in too big a hurry.

Other times I complicate things so maybe I can impress others.

And yet in other areas, I complicate things so that only I can do it or so that someone else can't.

I even complicate things by trying to do things I don't know how to do or at least am not good at.

Maybe a good resolution for 2004 for many of us is "Seek simplicity in place of making things complicated."

I thought about this while reading David's prayer in Psalm 5, "Make straight your way before me." Straight might suggest easy to find, easy to follow, and easy to travel.

Yet it seems that man's natural desire is to make the path to God hard to find, hard to follow, and hard to travel. Just like we try to make everything else complicated.

So, my final suggestion for 2004 is to seek to make living life less complicated. Seek simplicity in what you undertake and how you undertake it. And like David, pray that God will make your way straight!

About Mapmaker Coaching
Mapmaker Coaching is a resource for the crossroads of your life!

Coaching is about helping you do the things you need to do so that you can become who you want to be.

Our work together is accomplished during scheduled telephone conferences. Between sessions, you take action toward achieving your goals, with email and phone support as needed.

If you think coaching might be right for you, finding out is easy. Your first session is free, with no obligation. Just email me and I'll schedule your free session.

Whether it's your career, business, ministry, retirement, or some other aspect of your life, a period of coaching can make a powerful difference in how you live your life.

Personal Notes
Publishing an email newsletter has some interesting challenges! Most revolve around the variety of measures being tried to prevent SPAM.

As you know, this is a Double Opt-In Subscription newsletter -- you must explicitly indicate your desire to receive it, or you are not on the list. SPAM blockers used by ISP's receive information with the email that tells them you have subscribed and that it is not SPAM. Some SPAM blockers you install yourself (and some that your companies have installed) are not as smart. So like other email newsletter publishers, I spend time every issue trying to resolve "bounces."

All this to say that if you or someone else you know who has subscribed starts not receiving the newsletter, please let me know and I'll work with you to resolve the issue. You may also periodically receive a request to confirm your desire to receive the newsletter.

May your 2004 be significant!

Jim