Tag : Gratitude

Spontaneous Humor: Ho Ho Ho Frivolous Play Flow!

Posted by Dr. Judy at 3:00 am

© 2011 Dr. Judy Krings

Are you the type who loves all the hustle and bustle of the holidays?
Or are you someone who feels like Scrooge on a bad day and wishes
all the folderol was over?  Maybe you are somewhere in between.
Regardless, I have a solution to lighten up your load for the holidays
as well as your New Year to-do lists.

Spontaneous “frivolous flow play!”

I read this phrase from StoryPeople the other day and cracked up. Me to a tee:
“Silly in Public: I figured out that if I keep it up, someday I’ll probably get wise
enough to be silly in public but I probably won’t wait that long.”

I didn’t wait long as this photo reveals!

Did you ever sit on Santa’s lap? Were you scared?
Did you eye him up good before you took a seat?

When I was about 5, I remember seeing the string on Santa’s beard and asking
myself, “What’s with that?”  I asked Mom, and she said he was a helper. Santa was
too busy to be everywhere at one time. That was all I needed to hear.
Whew, Santa was real!

When I was in Delaware visiting Mom as few weeks ago, my best friend,
Cheryl Lynn eyed Santa and Mrs. Claus sitting on the boardwalk ready
for the young’ins to arrive. I couldn’t resist! Memories are a soft place to land.

Here’s a tip. Get someone to take a photo of your frolic.
I was so appreciative Cheryl caught the moment. Any time with her is a treat,
but we now have another shared memory to laugh at and roll our eyeballs
when our tandem rocking chairs creak. A double-your-pleasure of positive reminiscing.

Hope your holidays sparkled. What frivolous fun play might you allow yourself today?
Funny how jumping at an opportunity to laugh while others gasp fills up your
gratitude tank and re-frames the moment to joy.

Is that you I spy looking for an opportunity to pounce?
I love to here from you! What did you do to curl your toes this holiday season?

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Want more frivolous fun flow in 2012?  Join me in Cuba…

Savor a new adventure and the beautiful photography in my new book:
Photo Adventures in Cuba ~ Unlock Your Power of Positivity”
Click here to take a peek!

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I’d love to hear from you!
Just send me your questions, and I will answer in a future blog.
You can also connect with me on facebook, LinkedIn, or twitter
www.facebook.com/drjudykrings

Cheerios with a 2-Dog Character Strengths Chaser!

Posted by Dr. Judy at 3:00 am

© 2011 Dr. Judy Krings

How do you eat your cheerios? Plain?  with Bananas?
Maybe with a box of sweet raisins?  Do you have pet critters watching you,
praying your spoon might slip, leaving them a tasty drop or two?

When Mom’s beloved caretaker, Cathy, sent this photo, I cracked up.
Teasing, I told Mom she eats her breakfast with 2 bodyguards.
No need for a napkin, either.  They lick her face for dessert!

Want to know about Miss Kiki, the white smarty pants, and Mugsy,
the marvelous brown mini-guard dog? When Mom first went to stay with
Cathy and Bill the end of April, Mugsy decided he and Mom were soul mates.
Granted, it took him a few loud barks to get the larger dogs to hoof it somewhere
else. The huge black dogs, Dudley, the great Dane, and darling German Shepherd,
Jet, had to hightail it when the 2 little terror pups pranced in.

But where did Lucas, the Black Scottie fit in?
Not one for attention, he’s the bystander and sometimes the referee.
Ironic, as Mom had a Black Scottie dog, Katie, she adored. I had bet
the ranch Mom would take to Lucas. But I was wrong. Wise Mom let the
dogs decide where their canine behinds would reside.
Luca-Duca likes to hide under Mom’s chair.

Love trumps. Mugsy was in love with Mom from the get go. He laid claim
to her lap ASAP! Pet time, nap time, treat time (don’t tell!), like a king, he reigns.

Are you wondering how Kiki got into the lap time picture?
Cathy’s watchful eye captured the original scene.
One day a few weeks ago, Kiki kept staring at Mom and Mugsy.
Her doggy brain must have lit up like a Christmas tree.
Cathy swears Kiki figured out Mugsy was hogging all the attention.
Kiki is, after all, the only lady in a sea of 4 male dogs.
It was time for her to garner some respect!

After a calculated moment, Kiki took a long leap. She unceremoniously
landed right on top of Mugsy. Not one to easily give up his kingdom,
Mugsy let Kiki lay right smack on top of him. He never budged for hours!
Mom laughed her butt off.

In some nonverbal diplomacy, the two of them have worked out squatters’ rights.
Negotiation and compromise. Not bad for two pesky pups knowing they’re in luck!

How many character strengths did you notice?
Here’s a few to get you started (even if some of them are of canine origin!):
Love…Patience…Creativity…Kindness…Teamwork…Gratitude…
Critical Thinking…Humor…

What have you learned from your pet today? Ever notice their strengths?
I’d love to hear about your critter capers. And speaking curious capers. . .

Treat yourself, friends and family to my new book:
Photo Adventures in Cuba ~ Unlock Your Power of Positivity”
Click here to take a peek!

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I’d love to hear from you!
Just send me your questions, and I will answer in a future blog.
You can also connect with me on facebook, LinkedIn, or twitter
www.facebook.com/drjudykrings

Sharpening Wisdom ~ Positivity Pencil Tips

Posted by Dr. Judy at 3:00 am

© 2011 Dr. Judy Krings

What does a pencil mean to you?

My husband sent me this message about a pencil.
I’d never seen it. I included it as is, but you know me.
I had to sharpen my own pencil and add five more friendly, non-toxic tips.

A Pencil Maker told the pencil 5 lessons just before putting it in the box:

1. Everything you do will always leave a mark.

2. You can always correct the mistakes you make.

3. What is important is what is inside of you.

4.  In life you will undergo painful sharpening;
which will only make you better.

5. To be the best pencil you must allow yourself to be held
and guided by the hand that holds you.

We all need to be constantly sharpened.
This parable may encourage you to know that you are a special person,
with unique God-given talents and abilities.  Only you can fulfill
the purpose which you were born to accomplish.
Never allow yourself to get discouraged and think that your life is
insignificant and cannot be changed and, like the pencil, always
remember that the most important part of who you are, is what’s
inside of you and then allow yourself to be guided by the hand of God.

Judy’s 5 Tips To Wisdom Bliss:

1. Your pencil showcases your strengths.
Creativity, kindness, and gratitude to name a few.

2. Your life may get dull. It’s up to you to be aware and seek out new opportunities.

3.  What you write on your wall of life also affects others.
Be mindful your writing language is powerful.

4. You can share your pencil with another who has none.
Communities share great stories!

5. You are creative, resourceful, whole, and enough. Your pencil is magic.
Your possibilities are infinite!

Ok, what would you add? Come on! Stretch your creativity muscle.
I’d love to read your pencil-packin’ wisdom.

Is that you I see with a sharpener?

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And speaking of writing, the holidays are coming.
Treat yourself, friends and family to my new book:
Photo Adventures in Cuba ~ Unlock Your Power of Positivity”
Click here to take a peek!

I’d love to hear from you!
Just send me your questions, and I will answer in a future blog.
You can also connect with me on facebook, LinkedIn, or twitter
www.facebook.com/drjudykrings

Have You Ever Made Your Dreams Come True and Helped Others, Too?

Posted by Dr. Judy at 3:00 am

© 2011 Dr. Judy Krings

Have you ever made your dream come true and helped others, too?

Do you need a pause to mindfully mull over that that powerful question?
It’s your personal positive psychology coaching in action.

Simultaneous positivity. You helping others the same time you are living a bucket list dream.
It trickles down to rivers of lovely life-long memories. Not to mention passion, meaning and
purpose. Here’s my recent story that may help you open your memory bank.

My big time moment of joyful jubilation was watching the thrilled, excited, and shocked
look on the faces of the folks I met during my travels to Cuba last year. I left money as a tip,
but I also left them items I had researched and knew were scarce, or down right impossible,
to procure in Cuba.  Shampoo, make up, tooth brushes, other personal items, colored pens
and paper, markers, nylons, stickers and little toys for the orphanage kids, to name a few.
I had my huge suitcase packed with magazines, books, and other goodies, and even food
treats, hoping I’d not get busted at the border. I made it.

I DID get my naughty self into a jam or two, but I’ll save those stories for you later. My
fellow travelers teased me about my over-sized luggage, but I knew the secret inside.
My few clothes were in my carry on.

Lucky me, after 57 years of waiting (and patience has never been my strong suit!), my
dream to go to Cuba flowered. Why such intent? To share the photos with my Mom.
Her only 2-day vacation with my Daddy was an unexpected ferry ride journey to Havana
after a family emergency in Florida. And they talked about it and relished their photos.

Want to know how you can unleash a flood of positive memories using your character
strengths? (Remember you can always review the list of the Values in Action 24 strengths
at my website)

Here’s 5 Tips to lovingly laminate and celebrate your happy moments:

1. Find old photos and use “Positive Reminiscence”. Famed positive psychology researcher,
Sonja Lyubomirsky shines her coaching positivity light on sealing happy savoring.  How?
Write down cherished happy events in your life.  This nets you greater well-being than if
you only think about happy memories. So Journal your joy!

And that knowledge, dear Watson, led me writing notes to share with my 92 year old Mom,
Louise. I had no intentions whatsoever in writing a book about Cuba, but life intervened,
and those notes were invaluable.

2. List your cherished memories as far back as you can remember. There is an odd
thing that may happen here, so plan ahead. Sometimes when you remember a lovely memory,
a not so fun memory surfaces as well. Kick that one to the curb. Re-enacting the negative
event may spoil your positive memory.

3. Keep your eyes closed while you are remembering the good times. Go ahead and
look at your cherished photos, but then close your eyes. You will remember subtle details,
especially if you are helping someone else. Paint a mental picture of you with them and
feel a smile erupt on your face. Authentic you helping bringing joy to another. Pristine
positivity. I will never forget the look on a Cuban farmer’s face after he had stopped to
let me take a photo of him and is water buffalo team. Gratefully, I handed him a pen and
a candy. His jaw dropped in humble humility. He couldn’t believe his good fortune. He
joyfully stared at that pen as if I had given him all the prizes in one of Oprah’s
“Favorite Things” shows.

4. Sharing is caring and puts memories in bold. To strengthen happy memories, talk
about them out loud. Mom and I talked about Cuba and my Daddy, and other adventures
as we looked at Cuba now. We laughed and neither of us will forget these great times
together. Thank God her memory at 92 is Windex clear.

5. Live for today but be mindful to create memories for tomorrow. Take photos. Close
your eyes and memorize the scene you want to remember. Your brain is your friend! Use it.
You might get teased the way I do when someone notices me, but who cares. I want to
cement my fun for the days to come when my travels are done.

Tell friends your stories. Jack up your courage strength and go on a radio show. Hosts
are always looking for fun people with interesting experiences to share.

Want to keep your momentum going? Think of a dream you have. Make a plan. Set a timeline.
Weave in ways you can help others. Give win win a spin! Your treasured memories await.
And speaking of looking for the good, using your brain also wards off dementia.
How’s that for motivation?

“Go ahead and make my day”, as Clint Eastwood would say! I would LOVE to hear your
happy stories, so please send me a comment and share.

“Don’t be pushed by your problems, be led by your dreams.” ~ Les Brown

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Want more adventurous ways to spice up our life and create your best life zest?
Then you’ll love my new book, “Photo Adventures in Cuba – Unlock Your Power of
Positivity”. Get your Kindle, ireader, Ebook or print book at: Amazon.com

Confidence Quotes Fly In On Serendipity Wings

Posted by Dr. Judy at 3:00 am

© 2011 Dr. Judy Krings

Did you ever have one of those days when you felt like one foot was nailed down
and you were going around in circles?

I was ready to scream. My Internet went down, and I lost a graphic that wasn’t
saved. Yeah, I knew better, but the long email that was lost in cyber space is
what threw me over the edge.

That’s when “Life is a balance” kicked in.

Out of nowhere, just when I was at my wit’s end, I received the loveliest email from
my wonderfully supportive friend, Heather, in Nova Scotia, Canada. She was
reviewing old emails when she came across confidence quotes I had shared with
our “Friends of Positive Psychology” LinkedIn group. She told me they were
precisely what she needed.

So did I! Ironically, a tip of the hat to “serendipity” again (thank you, God!),
I had unsuccessfully looked for this list last week.

May these confidence quotes elevate your spirit and add joy in your journey!
Deep bows of gratitude to you, Heather.

The photo? Confidence Cutie, Mom, is ready to take the plunge. Deaf, 100% vertigo,
and unable to swim, she strapped on 93 years of pluck. Her wonderful caregiver,
Cathy, lowered her wheelchair into the pool for exercise, and after a few steps
holding on for dear life, confidence bubbled up. “Never give up!”, Mom’s mantra.

What have you done lately to stretch your confidence muscle?

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“Confidence comes not from always being right but from not fearing to be wrong.”
~Peter T. Mcintyre

“Having once decided to achieve a certain task, achieve it at all costs of tedium
and distaste. The gain in self-confidence of having accomplished a tiresome labor
is immense.”
~Thomas A. Bennett

“Nothing builds self-esteem and self-confidence like accomplishment.”
~Thomas Carlyle

“Whatever we expect with confidence becomes our own self-fulfilling prophecy.”
~Brian Tracy

“I quit being afraid when my first venture failed and the sky didn’t fall down.”
~Allen H. Neuharth

“Inaction breeds doubt and fear. Action breeds confidence and courage. If you
want to conquer fear, do not sit home and think about it. Go out and get busy.”
~Dale Carnegie

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Want more confidence? I’d love to hear from you. Flash me an email.

I’ll tell you about coaching and help you launch your strengths.
Time to soar with eagles.

Do you know how to fly? No? You will, when you get coaching!

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I love your comments, so I hope to hear from you! Feedback is fun.

Need more coaching positivity strengths? Get more fun well-being and flourishing
tips and my free Ebook at http://www.coachingpositivity.com.

Hope you enjoy a peek at my glossy new strengths book,
“Photo Adventures in Cuba ~ Unlock Your Power of Positivity”, too.
Or download a copy for your kindle or ireader at:
http://www.amazon.com/Photo-Adventures-in-Cuba-ebook/dp
/B005CRDHWY/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1316487933&sr=1-1