Life...a PSALM and a GIFT

Five Steps Down the Path

Last week I shared my excitement as I began my Optimize Coaching Certification. Today, I am officially five days down the path of my three hundred day journey, and I am SUPER excited. I’m thinking of this as my own personal hero’s journey as I step beyond my comfort zone and forward into growth.

Constructing a Framework

This week, I began the coaching course and started unpacking the wealth of practical wisdom that was presented. As I did, I had to step back and take a second look at my life intentions, vision, mission, purpose, goals, and guiding principles. It is clear that I need to make space for this new wisdom and introduce it in a way that is in tune with my current values. To do this, I played around with some ideas and came up with this little acronym to help construct a framework to build on. I’m sure it will evolve as I step further down the path but as for now I feel comfortable beginning with this statement. "My life is a PSALM and a GIFT."

My Life is a PSALM

Presence

Stillness

Awareness

Living

Moments

and Life is a GIFT

Gratitude

Intention

Foundations

Transformation

A PSALM is a sacred song, holy and set apart. The original Hebrew word can be interpreted as a melody or bright music brought forth from an instrument. I like that. The thought of my life being an instrument that plays the melody of God’s love in this world. Our lives are this song and this PSALM. Then consider the GIFT of life, given out of love. It is not earned, it is simply received and appreciated. Life truly is a GIFT from the Divine Giver. With this in mind, I love the idea of life being a PSALM and a GIFT. With each letter, I have a few thoughts that help anchor my life intentions, vision, mission, purpose, goals and guiding principles. Here is each letter with a little more depth and nuance, ideas that are in tune for this melody.

P: presence, patience, and peace

S: solitude, silence, stillness, serenity

A: awareness, and achieving arete, actualizing my potential

L: loving God and others; living life better; living an intentional life, an optimal life, a compelling life, and a contemplative life

M: moment to moment to moment

G: gratitude; grounded spiritually, emotionally, and relationally; gaining and giving love and compassion

I: Intentionally Implementing habits, systems, and rituals

F: foundations of faith and family

T: transformation; time is now and precious; today is the day

My life truly is a PSALM and a GIFT. In these next 295 days, I’ll continue to build and grow this framework. I plan to continue sharing the adventure with you each step of the way, and I wish you Godspeed on steps in your journey and in the melody of your life.