Tag : Meaning

Freedom with Positive Psychology Flourish

Posted by Dr. Judy at 3:00 am

How do you know if and when YOU are flourishing?
And how does FREEDOM add to well-being and life satisfaction?
Who do you have to thank besides yourself when you are living
your 24 character strengths?

America…”Land of the free and home of the brave.” Both values upon
which we built our independent nation. Dr. Martin Seligman, positive
psychology pioneer and author of the acclaimed book, Flourish, defines
flourishing as: “…Happiness, flow, meaning, love, gratitude, accomplishment,
growth, better relationships – constitutes human flourishing.”

In the USA, this July 4th, I salute all those who have helped us flourish.
Many who have risked their lives or paid the ultimate price to assure our
country remains free.

Here is my July 4th wrapped in red, white, and blue take on freedom
and flourishing:
Freedoms ~ Free speech, free expression, free to live life your way with
well-being, your reward for your life well-lived.

Remembrance ~ Gratitude to those who serve to keep your country free
so you may walk though your world safe and secure.

Encouragement ~ Every day is yours to creatively, curiously explore.
To welcome and savor life. A “Bring it on!” attitude.

Engage ~ Enhance, enlighten, enjoy, evolve, empower, and embrace all
life has to offer you. You are free!

Duty ~ To yourself and others; To make choices that help you thrive.
Service. You pay love forward, a well-being win win.

Opportunity ~ To live, love, grow and use your strengths in a country
affording you opportunities to morph into lovely Flow.

Mindfulness ~ Pause and appreciate your fortune to live in a country
that embraces diversity. Let all spirits soar. Hope rings!

Let Freedom ring ~ mine from the Liberty Bell!

With patriotic, wave the flag, deep gratitude to all who serve to keep us free.
God Bless you all!

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My appreciation for our nation and my rights to life, liberty, &
pursuit of happiness sky-rocketed after visiting Cuba and seeing what
people there lived did not have: freedom and essentials for everyday life.

See the Cubans’ amazing spirit and beautiful scenery in my book:
Photo Adventures in Cuba ~ Unlock Your Power of Positivity!
Now a best-seller on Amazon ~ Kindle

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

Home is Where Your Strengths Spotting Lives!

Posted by Dr. Judy at 3:00 am

“Home is where the heart is.”

Bet you have heard that lovely quote before. I am going to tell on myself.
I was whining about all the going home packing I needed to do after 5 months
in Puerto Vallarta. I know, spoiled me, I reminded myself. Getting to escape
the WI chill, having stunning flowers on my terrace, and come to think of it,
a floral bedecked terrace in both bedrooms, too, shame on me! And I surely
can’t forget the most important part, our cherished old and new friends. There
is always a bit of mourning when the time comes to shift “home” and leave them.

Time to put on my positive psychology Super Woman cape, roll up my sleeves,
and be grateful for having beauty, waterfront beauty no less, surrounding me
no matter which home welcomes me. And different beloved friends to hug
me with open arms again. Not to forget Mom, Cathy and Bill in DE. My two
friends make Mom’s life happy everyday. “Queen for a Day, every day”
Mom blissfully boasts.

Curious about the photos? They sweetly reflect my life with Ken in two “homes.”
The one on the left is a photo I took the day I went flying after my book was
published  on Amazon. You can see only the roof of our house on Lake Michigan,
it glistens green  among the trees. On the right, hope you enjoy the vista I recently
left behind with a  bit of my heart, too, the ones from our sunny Puerto Vallarta
terrace. This is the view I savored daily as I wrote blogs to you. Ahhh…The
turquoise treasured Pacific and  iridescent vistas are happily ensconced in my
positive reminiscing brain. I will hold  them in my heart, too, until next winter,
universe willing.

You will love this. While I was bemoaning my dreaded packing, a friend emailed
me,  “But think of all the fun you will have in WI. Watching koi in your pond,
planting plants,  and getting to see your Mom again a few days after you get back
to the States.” She was  spot on!  DUH!!! I needed to re-frame and focus on what
was RIGHT about packing,  not what I loathe. Yes, loathe is a strong word, but it
is the word that came to mind. Honesty is a great character strength, so I needed
to own up to it. Reverse gears, girl!

After a dose of strengths spotting positivity, I gave myself a challenge. “See how
much  you can get done in two hours,” my positive self-talk tauted. OK! Away
I went. I tackled the gifts for folks back home and made sure they were wrapped
securely with a prayer nothing would break. Next, begin to line up the books to
leave here and the ones to cart  home; along with my files, paperwork, and clients’
charts. I did tell you I came down here with over 150 pounds of coaching materials,
didn’t I? Three suitcases full and 3 more with a few clothes and lots of vitamins
and other supplies I can’t get in Vallarta. Now I have to go through them all again.
Whew! Poor Ken, God love him. Every flight, he hoists into the  overheads two,
50-pound carry-ons with me in the background holding my breath, hoping they’ll
fit. My guy deserves a medal. I can’t risk any charts getting lost! So we schlep those
heavy monsters through 3 airports.

So what did I accomplish? Two suitcases were packed. Amen! I continued that
2-hour  routine until every drawer, filing cabinet, and stack was sorted. Yes,
you gotta pay before  you play! And I did end up with a smile on my face!

Here’s your fun…How many strengths did you see and feel me using while you
were reading this blog. I’ll give you a start: appreciation of art, honesty, tenacity.
I’ll give you a hint, too.  The biggest strength is one of my top ones. It starts with
a “g”… next “r”…  Your turn to figure out the rest!

What strengths can you spot when you need to do a sordid task that pushes you
to the edge? What do you do to make that medicine go down? I would love to
know. So would our other readers. My face lights up when I get an email from you.

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Speaking of strengths spotting, if you haven’t had a chance to take a super fun
journey into recognizing your strengths, I hope you pause and do so right now
Take a look into of my new bestselling book on Amazon ~ Kindle

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

Gratitude ~ An Awe-Inspiring WOW! Flourishing Film!

Posted by Dr. Judy at 2:14 am

What is today?
It’s yours!
Every nanosecond.

YOUR MINDFULNESS means you own it. How grand!
You are a walking positive psychology, uniquely human,
wondrous creation.

This will be my shortest blog.

Why? Because I’m asking you to watch this amazing gratitude video,
“Moving Art,” by famed filmmaker, Louie Schwartzberg. It will gift you
with an elegant bouquet of life’s flowers. It will also gently sprinkle
fairy dust upon your soul.

Click here to watch this amazing video.

Did your “Appreciation of Beauty and Excellence” strength inspire an “Ahhh!!!”?

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And humbly speaking of beauty, hope you have taken in an eyeful
of my new bestselling book on Amazon ~ Kindle

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

Hummingbird Happiness ~ Mom Marvels at the Minis!

Posted by Dr. Judy at 3:00 am

© 2011 Dr. Judy Krings

Did you ever wake up, get the coffee on, and hear your little voice telling you,
“I am happy!”

No reason. Nothing to analyze. Nothing special going on. Just a smile pops on your
face for no reason. A calm sitting into yourself. Aware. Life is good. It’s all good.

What would you do after your sublime feeling of oneness with the world?

If you’ve read my other blogs, you know what I did. I paused to think of Mom and
her angel caregivers, Cathy and Bill.

Mom spent yesterday watching baby hummingbirds, unsteady on their mini-magic
wings. Each took a turn to perch, taking their time with succulent slurps.

With her own hungry hawk eyes focused on her mission, Mom is a patient,
vigilant explorer. Suctioned to her window and on posts nearby, her candy
red feeders are her constant summer joy.

Can you think a better way to pass the day?

Jack up your strengths and ask them to play!

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P.S. Judy loves to hear your comments.
Feel free to send her questions you may have!
You can also connect with Judy on facebook, LinkedIn, or follow her on twitter
http://www.facebook.com/drjudykrings

HURRY Huge Pre-Order Discount still available!
“Photo Adventures in Cuba ~ Unlock Your Power of Positivity”
http://www.coachingpositivity.com/photo-adventures-in-cuba/