J Words as Guiding Principles
Our lives are journeys, and we each have our own unique path. When we get clear on what we want, and we give ourselves permission to realize our hopes and dreams, our paths become bright, and life becomes exciting. We then find ourselves truly living our hopes and dreams. In the spirit of life as a journey, I have chosen six J words as guiding principles: journey, joy, judgment, jumping-off place, juicy, and join. Each of these words describes qualities that are important to develop and embrace as we navigate our life journeys. This is meant to be a creative, playful approach toward thinking about your life and personal progress.
Journey
“Something suggesting travel or passage from one place to another”
I care about your journey! The letter J is symbolic of the complexity of our life paths. A journey is a passage from one place to another—with a lot happening in between. Like the letter J, you may find that your journey has occurred in anything but a straight line. Sometimes we judge ourselves for this, yet every turn we make on our paths has meaning and value, whether or not we are aware of it.
Like the cursive J, which intersects itself, at various times along our life paths, we find ourselves at crossroads. These are the decision points in our lives where we are challenged to choose one way or another. Sometimes, navigating these intersections is fun and easy. At other times this causes us great turmoil, such as when we feel stuck, doubt ourselves, or when we are catapulted into uncertainty, anxiety, and despair. But, when we become conscious of who we are, the forces that shape our life paths, and the value of our journeys, then we can truly engage with our life purpose and live abundantly and freely.
Joy
When we live in alignment with our values and purpose, we find joy. But often we live against our values and what truly brings us joy. When we get honest with who we are and what we want, and we allow ourselves the chance to be who we truly are, and do what we love, we find joy.
Judgment
“The act or process of judging; the formation of an opinion after consideration or deliberation”
No one would argue the importance of sound judgment, yet there is a kind of judgment that makes living abundantly and freely, difficult. We do it frequently and without consideration or deliberation. When we are critical in ways that do not represent ours and others’ true worth, we shortchange ourselves. We miss out on the abundance of life that flows from the highest form of energy, which is love. It is my goal to help you identify your judgments, let go of them, and embrace abundance and freedom.
Jumping-off Place
“A starting point for a journey” “the last place to be reached”
A jumping-off place is the starting place for a journey. It also describes the last point to be reached, or the destination. Perhaps you are not sure where to begin, feel you have lost your way, or you are not sure where you’re headed. When you get clear on your life vision, you will find your jumping-off places. It’s about you are getting clear on where you are and where you want to go so you can enjoy your work and life with abundance and freedom!
Juicy
“Rewarding or profitable especially financially” “yielding profit” “rewarding or gratifying” “full of juice” “succulent”
We all have had the sense of excitement as we are about to bite into a piece of colorful, juicy fruit. We salivate even before biting into it. But sometimes we bite in and quickly discover a dried-out and inedible fruit—not an enjoyable experience. That is often what our lives are like, but, unlike the dried-out piece of fruit that we likely toss away, we often accept living dried-out lives. When is the last time you gave yourself permission to live a ripe, fruitful, juicy life? You will if you give yourself permission. As your coach, I am committed to helping you do just that. Will you settle for dry, or are you ready for something more? I suspect you are ready for something more or you wouldn’t be reading this. Keep reading…
Join
“To come into or be in contact or connection: a place where cliffs and sea join”
Joining is a crucial aspect of coaching, not in the sense of joining a club or organization, but in the sense of coming together and working together for a unique purpose. Let’s join together on your journey to help you navigate all the twists and turns of your path, to help you discover your purpose, find your passion, and live abundantly and freely! Why wait? You have nothing to lose. You have much to gain!
