Joseph Nicholas Mach is an accomplished musician, artist, Gestalt/IFS coach and founder of Ten Ox Coaching. Joseph studied for 5 years with Steve Flynn, MA/CMT, learning Gestalt therapy, bio-energetics, qi gong and Internal Family Systems and he teaches these powerful tools in one-on-one sessions, group workshops and retreats. With an emphasis on presence and openness, Joseph brings a grounded, embodied approach to exploring and untangling your inner world.
April Update - All Work And No Play...
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APRIL 2026 Hello Reader, One practice I’ve implemented for many years comes from Julia Cameron’s “The Artist’s Way.” It’s called an “Artist’s Date,” and is, as she puts it, “a once-weekly adventure to do something fun" that is "solo, festive, and designed to fill your well" with inspiration.” I found that a weekly date wasn’t sustainable with my schedule, so I’ve found that a monthly cadence is do-able. And, even at that pace, it’s a monthly struggle to make time for my inner artist, placing it as important among the many external demands of life. Last week was just such a case. I was planning to go to the HOPE Outdoor Graffiti gallery - something I’ve been excited to explore for quite some time. When it came to embark on the Artist Date, I looked it up on Google Maps, 23 minutes away!—and quickly started to pivot and make excuses. Maybe I could just swing by somewhere close and just keep it short. My wife and son needed my support, and that would give me time to help out at the house. Besides, I had a long to-do list, a newsletter to write, etc. I felt my spirit slump in driver seat. The “be productive” part in me was winning the argument. And then I felt a quiet voice whisper ‘GO’ - and I just committed. 23 minutes, who cares! Five minutes down the road, the joyous sense of ADVENTURE kicked in. I still felt all the demands, the excuses, the “better” uses of my time - but I also felt an immediate ping of celebration as my inner artist got the message - I am worth 23 minutes of inconvenience! I am important! Play is important! Yay! For my inner artist and I to have a strong, harmonious relationship—I have to show up. Which brings me to... Saturday, May 30, I am hosting an in-person retreat called “Make Friends With Your Mind.” I will lead us through several tools and exercises all designed to explore and get to know your inner world. We live in a busy world, with many demands on our time. And we all have parts of us that have been neglected, and are just waiting for the validation of saying YES, YOU ARE WORTH MY TIME. Sometimes, just the act of committing creates drastic change. If you hear a little voice stirring in you with these words, I invite you to say YES and see what happens when you start committing to your inner world. Registration is available here. Now Accepting New ClientsI love this work. I love sharing the tools I have learned; helping my clients navigate their inner world and then watching that ripple out into their external world in remarkable ways. And I also remember feeling SO NERVOUS to begin my inner exploration. It might not be time. But if you are feeling that call - what the Gurdjieff work calls "magnetic center" pulling you towards working on yourself - then I would love to explore with you.
Virtual or In-Person. For details on package rates and special trainings, visit www.tenoxcoaching.com. Upcoming Workshops & TalksWednesday, May 6 - Integration Circle, Kuya Wellness 6-8pm Saturday, May 30 - Make Friends With Your Mind Retreat 10am-3pm Joseph's MusicJoseph's Art
I'm so glad we get to stay connected in this way and I'm grateful that you are in my life. Feel free to share this with anyone in your life, and I would love to hear how you are doing. |
Joseph Mach
Joseph Nicholas Mach is an accomplished musician, artist, Gestalt/IFS coach and founder of Ten Ox Coaching. Joseph studied for 5 years with Steve Flynn, MA/CMT, learning Gestalt therapy, bio-energetics, qi gong and Internal Family Systems and he teaches these powerful tools in one-on-one sessions, group workshops and retreats. With an emphasis on presence and openness, Joseph brings a grounded, embodied approach to exploring and untangling your inner world.
NEWSLETTER - June 2026 Hello Reader, I have fallen in love with painting. Please don’t tell my guitar. I’ve been working on a recent series of abstract “Night Owls.” And I love them. I look forward to painting like a giddy schoolboy: There are two key components that I think are making a difference - why I am enjoying myself so much more - and loving the final product. #1 Dropping the agenda Up until now I have always painted from a reference photo, and most of the painting’s success or...
NEWSLETTER - MAY 2026 "Understanding is the gateway to compassion" -Thich Nhat Hanh Dear Reader, One of my favorite moments in session work (especially with beginners), is watching the profound SHIFT that takes place when a part (sub-personality) goes from the unforgivable villain of the internal narrative, to the misunderstood hero. The shift is often subtle - but it is a watershed moment often accompanied by a palpable sense of relief in the room. Take a common example, that of an...
NEWSLETTER - MARCH 2026 Hello Reader, Attending group workshops used to terrify me. I would spend the whole time ‘in my head’ - constantly monitoring my appearance, pre-rehearsing what I would share, second-guessing my every move. Sound familiar? (Reminds me of the Ram Dass quote - “In most of our human relationships, we spend much of our time reassuring one another that our costumes of identity are on straight”) I felt judged, out of place, an impostor of a human. I spent so much of my focus...