Your Mindful Coach offers mindfulness & meditation workshops, retreats & consultations
 with a special focus on youth sports, men, middle age and the workplace.

Welcome to the April issue. More time for joy as well as several announcements and offerings. Please note the Compassion Retreat scheduled for April 22 has moved to June 3. Best, Marc
Finding Joy, Part 2

Last month I explored the question " Where does joy come from and how can I get it?" I posted a related talk and guided practice. I planned to move on to Compassion as this month's topic. But after sharing the practice of joy with others, I found their wisdom worth passing along. Read those stories here!

Exploring the Gates to Joy

2012-PE-Review-Uncovering-ValueI am drawn to language of uncovering, revelation and vulnerability as a path to contentment, joy and happiness. These are often referred to as gates. Gates are protective but flexible. Gates offer a possibility and a choice. Jack Kornfield identifies six " Gates to Joy" that are available to everyone with just a bit of work:
  • Integrity - With thoughts, speech and action are in harmony, our true self emerges.
  • Generosity - Sharing our heart can bring us joy as we ease the suffering of others
  • Gratitude - We can transform even our suffering into gratitude for each moment.
  • Trust - Each morning we wake, and each waking brings possibility.
  • Mindfulness - As we become aware of what is really happening, we introduce choice to our experience
  • Connection - Joy is contagious. When we surround ourselves with relationship, joy multiplies and spreads.
These six qualities help incline our mind and heart towards joy. There is no guarantee, but like the blue flowers that blossom in our consciousness, cultivating them makes them grow and flourish.

Find a longer version of this post at yourmindfulcoachblog.wordpress.com.


Introducing Men Sitting by A Fire starting May 18

Wow! This is going to be AWESOME.

This summer, I'll be launching a new group, Men Sitting by a Fire. With inspiration from my monthly men's group, I've developed a regular gathering for men to explore authentic friendship.  If you know how to sit by a fire, you'll be a natural. This will be a drop-in group so no need to make a permanent commitment. Learn more here to sign up today for our first meetings on Thursday, May 18 and Sunday, June 11.
New Dates for Compassion and more this June!


I have rescheduled   Cultivating the Heart of Compassion  to 
Saturday, June 3  from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Tredyffrin Library in Strafford, PA.  Enter the  promo code "NEWS"  for a $10 discount.

You may also enjoy  Compassion, Kindness, Joy and Balance , a weekend retreat in the mountains, from  June 16-18  near Wilkes-Barre, PA.
Your Mindful Coach achieves milestones

2016 Constant Contact All-Star Award


Your Mindful Coach has been chosen for the 2016 Constant Contact All Star Award. This award is given to a small fraction of Constant Contact customers. 

This award is because of you the reader. It is based on newsletter open and click rates as well as regularity of engagement with subscribers. Thank you for making this happen!
 

5,000 Plays!

In just over one year,  Your Mindful Coach podcast episodes have been played 5,000 times. The U.S. accounts for about 80% of plays followed by the U.K., Australia and Canada. I was surprised to see Israel and Saudi Arabia among the top 10 countries with regular listeners!

The most popular of the 38 episodes is  Fierce Self-Compassion, A Talk On A Different Way to Treat Yourself with other episodes from the  Self-Compassion series right behind it. The most popular guided meditation has been the  Mindful Body Scan.  

Marc Balcer  brings his experience as a coach, entrepreneur and investor to Your Mindful Coach . He has received training in Mindfulness-Based Stress Management, Mindful Self-Compassion and Mindful Schools. A limited number of private consultation times are available to build your mindfulness practice. Sessions may be done by phone, Skype video or in person at a rate of $95/ hour.
Email for details.