On January 31st, I had the honor and privilege of presenting the first of four half-day workshops, titled, “The Transformation Series.” It was held in Olympia, Washington, at Abundant Fitness Center (www.AbundantFitnessCenter.com). The work centered on the first two chapters of my book, “WHO ARE YOU CHOOSING TO BE?” (www.WhoAreYouChoosingToBe.com). As an inspirational speaker, corporate motivator, workshop facilitator, and life coach, my “work” introduces powerful new perspectives to people and organizations. With an intention to assist individuals, groups, and businesses to experience more satisfying and successful lives, both on a personal and a professional level, I instigate these discoveries by asking questions. I do not know what the answers will be or where those answers will take us as a group, but we always go on a journey together creating great change for all involved. During this particular workshop, I experienced great change.

Basically, I had a total of four hours to play with ‘Possibilities’ and ‘Belief Systems’ and the transformational qualities of each. If you know me personally or have ever been to one of my speaking engagements or workshops, you know that I really like to cover a lot of territory. In the four hours that we shared together, my intention was for the participants to experience a few, very powerful shifts in perspective in order to facilitate and inspire personal change --- a transformation of sorts. The intimate group of participants included a range of people from various backgrounds and spanning three generations. What they all had in common was a sincere desire to learn something more about themselves, their lives, and what is possible in their families, their communities, and their world. To say the very least, it was an inspiring day.

Before the workshop began, I was more relaxed than I had ever been before a presentation. I knew something was coming, but I was unsure as to what that “something” was. So, I proceeded to do “the work” and watched as this very special group shifted their perspectives into beautiful images of possibilities. For me, there was something magical in it. From the newly initiated counselor who left her high paying job in order to be of greater benefit to her community, to the young woman whose goal is to bike, hike, and swim the world (and in her own words, “jump off of everything”), these people continually inspired me with their being. Collectively, we watched as the female “Iron Man Triathlete” made the decision to ‘have it all’ as a good mother, successful business owner, and confident athlete. We smiled until our faces hurt as the uncertain burgeoning novelist, envisioned her book about home and family sitting on the shelves of the bookstore. We listened as obstacles to personal and professional desires were called out into the open and obstructions were replaced with possibilities.

After the workshop, the inside of my mind was bubbling like a slow simmering stew. I could feel the possibilities with which we played were already becoming reality. My possibility has always been to reach out to the world around me and play with this “work” that I do. The picture of that reality has taken many different forms over time, but the desire for it has been unchanging. On the day of that workshop, I saw more clearly my possibilities. I saw more clearly what is possible in the world, especially during this time of global transformation. The full picture is not yet fully formed inside of my brain, but it is coming into being as surely as I am writing in this moment. This clarity came about in conjunction with each workshop participant’s moment of clarity. For the realizations of what is possible, I am so thankful.

I applaud the people of Olympia, Washington, and I thank them for their courage in challenging the boundaries of what is possible in their lives and in their community. And, I wondered if perhaps it was possible for this to happen in many areas around the country, both large and small; huge groups of strangers and intimate gatherings of friends and family actively aligning themselves to make living more conscious and deliberate. The realization came into my head as a single word, “Yes.” I breathed deeply, and felt the power of transformation.

Thank you, Abundant Fitness Center. Thank you, Community Chiropractic. Thank you, Dr. Wendy Schauer. Thank you, Gary Moon. Thank you, Becca Niday. Thank you, to the people of Olympia, Washington. Through you, so much transformation is happening; one shifting perspective at a time.

With great appreciation,

Mark Edgar Stephens
www.MarkEdgarStephens.com
www.WhoAreYouChoosingToBe.com

THE NEXT STEP IN “THE TRANSFORMATION SERIES” HAPPENS IN OLYMPIA, WASHINGTON, ON APRIL 25, 2009. FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT GARY MOON @ 360-705-4412

Author's Bio: 

Mark Edgar Stephens inspires personal and professional change in groups and individuals by leveraging strengths and weaknesses in both thought and behavior. He was a guest expert on The Oprah Winfrey Show advising individuals on Interpersonal Relationship Skills and Communication Strategies. For two seasons, Mark was a dating and relationship coach with a focus on confidence, communication, and body language on TLC’s, Date Patrol. Mark was the Host and Life Coach for two seasons on HGTV’s, Under 1 Roof, inspiring, instructing, and motivating couples to resolve conflicts within their relationship. On each episode of NBC’s game show, Identity, Mark Guided contestants through difficult choices in order to win up to a half million dollars. Mark is the author of the powerful book of life coaching tools, applied choice, and motivational skills, “Who Are You Choosing to BE?”

Mark earned his credentials and certifications from The Behavior Science Center (aka, Hypnosis Motivation Institute) under the tutelage of Master Hypnotherapists, NLP Practitioners, and Relationship Specialists. His hours of on-camera and off-camera Therapeutic Coaching allow him to work with thousands of people as a “Professional Belief System Enhancer” and “Behavior Modification Specialist”. Mark uses many techniques in his work including Motivational Change, Body Language, Neuro-Linguistic Programming, Hypnosis, Graphology, and Communication Building Techniques. By motivating individuals to change the way they view their lives and their interpersonal relationships, Mark inspires people to make breakthroughs into new ways of thinking, behaving, and being.

Additionally, Mark has been a featured motivational, inspirational, and educational speaker for corporations and organizations such as; Bloomingdales, Paul Mitchell the School, Upward Bound House, Human Rights Watch, The Ratner Group, and The Learning Annex.

MarkEdgarStephens.com
WhoAreYouChoosingToBe.com