|
|
|
|
| Ki Moments |
Support for life's "key" moments
August 2008 |
|
|
Welcome to your August issue of Ki Moments with monthly tips on centering, conflict, and communication.
Take a moment now to center, expand your ki, and be present with whatever you're doing or whomever you're with.
It's been a busy and educational month, including work with small business owners, corporate managers, ski industry professionals, nurses, physicians, and the defense industry -- from Bar Harbor to Baltimore.
I hope you enjoy this month's article - A Revolutionary Act. If you click the link at the end of the article, you can hear me sing Put On A Happy Face!
Good ki!
 Judy Ringer |
| A Revolutionary Act |
|
It started with friend and colleague Barbara Wilson's email quoting Patch Adams: "The most revolutionary act one can commit in our world is to be publicly happy." We talk so easily about what we don't like. And yet it feels almost forbidden at times to talk about our happiness.
Barbara's email was followed by one from Olen Jones. Olen is in community relations with National Community Renaissance (National CORE), an organization that develops quality affordable housing throughout the U.S. Olen says there isn't a lot of negativity in his workplace, and one reason may be that CORE has an intranet Blog where contributors can post answers to questions like: "What's RIGHT with National CORE"?
Olen writes: As my friend Jim Lord says, "Isn't it interesting how easy it is to talk about what's wrong, but SO difficult to talk about what's right? It's almost like we have made some kind of agreement that this is how we will talk with each other -- like we find our connection with each other around how 'bad things are.' Hidden inside those conversations is an understanding of what we do want. Why not talk about that instead?" Focusing on what we do want allows us to move in that direction; there's just no movement in avoiding what we don't want! Why not focus on the possibilities contained in the 'positive attributes, good deeds, strengths, and acts of kindness' we have seen?"
This resonates with me. It sometimes seems as if there's an injunction against being too happy. We don't want to stand out from the crowd, appear different, weird, or as if we're putting on that happy face to show off or cover something up.
Olen put an assignment on the National Core blog for anyone interested in pursuing this line of positive inquiry. I offer it here, with Olen's permission, and I have already begun to practice it myself:
- Think about three things that detract from your work experience.
- Now ask yourself what are the things you value that are hidden inside those three things? For instance, if a pet peeve of yours is people showing up late and/or unprepared to meetings, a "hidden" value in that negative feeling might be "showing respect for other people's time."
- Find the three values you're able to identify, and how they relate to your work.
Last week, I found myself heading in a negative direction when I stopped by a local retail store just prior to closing time only to find the owner had already gone home. I looked for the hidden positive value and realized how much I appreciate it when people keep agreements and commitments.
I'd love to hear how you used this exercise to turn your negative thoughts into positive ones.
Finally, as I re-read my article from last month, I noticed I too was focusing on the problem when I said "There are loads of articles on the Web about Negativity in the Workplace." I have since found there are at least as many sites that focus on the positive.
So I will leave you on three positive notes:
- I realize I haven't sung for you in a while. So I hope you'll stop and enjoy 45 seconds of me singing, "Put on a Happy Face!"
- Learn more about Patch Adams and his work.
- And, enjoy the paragraph below on "The Art of Possibility," which ends with an inspiring 20-minute video clip. Have fun!
|
| The Art of Possibility |
|
I love to attend the Boston Philharmonic. Their music is beautiful and their conductor, Benjamin Zander, gives fascinating talks before the performance on what to listen for so that we can better appreciate what we are about to hear. Maestro Zander wrote a book on The Art of Possibility and presents on leadership, vision, and, as he refers to it, "one-buttock" playing! Watch a Ben Zander video on possibility, passion, and "one-buttock" playing! |
| Journey to Center |
|
Join me in Peaceful Valley, Colorado September 8-12 for "Journey to Center," Tom Crum's wonderful week long program on conflict, communication, and living a more powerful life. This is an opportunity to:
- turn your stress into vitality
- your conflicts into powerful relationships
- your 'busyness' into being
Anyone who mentions my name will automatically receive a big smile and a $150 "I know Judy Ringer" appreciation discount. For more information and registration, visit Tom's Aiki Works website or call 585-924-7302.
|
| In a Pickle? |
|
Would you like to nourish body, mind, and spirit at the same time? My friend and colleague, Joy Jacobs, has created some sweet and intelligent recipes for "cooking" up our life experiences in useful and positive ways. Healthy recipes for hummus, chicken noodle soup, sweet relish, and more lead the reader to even more nourishing food for thought in short articles like "The Rich Hummus of Failure" and "Relish the Day."
Joy will be teaching a workshop with me in October (Unlikely Teachers, Oct. 21). She's great and you'll love her book!
In a Pickle? is $10.00 plus shipping. To order your copy call Joy at 603-924-7008, or visit her website: www.joyjacobsnh.com |
| Contact Information |
Judy Ringer Power & Presence Training 76 Park Street Portsmouth, NH 03801 voice: 603.431.8560 website: www.judyringer.com
Judy Ringer is Founder of Power & Presence Training, a Portsmouth, NH company specializing in unique workshops to help you and your organization manage conflict, communicate effectively, and co-create a more positive work environment. E-mail Judy at judy@judyringer.com for a free initial meeting to discuss your training needs.
Ki (from Ai-ki-do) is Japanese for life energy. Ki Moments is a complimentary monthly "e-zine" with tips and how-to articles to help you manage the key moments in your life.
If you enjoy our news and stories, feel free to share them with friends or colleagues. Use our "FORWARD" link below to pass it along with our thanks! | |
|
|
|
|
"Pick out a pleasant outlook,
Stick out that noble chin.
Wipe off that "full of doubt" look,
Slap on a happy grin!
And spread sunshine all over the place,
Just put on a happy face!"
|
|
-- from Bye, Bye Birdie
Lyrics by Lee Adams, and music by Charles Strous
| |
|
|
|
|
|
Ki Moments Archives:
July, 2008
June, 2008
May, 2008
April, 2008
March, 2008
February, 2008
January, 2008
December, 2007
November, 2007
October, 2007
September, 2007
August, 2007
July, 2007
June, 2007
May, 2007
April, 2007
March, 2007
February, 2007
January, 2007
December, 2006
November, 2006
October, 2006
September, 2006
August, 2006
July, 2006
June, 2006
May, 2006
April, 2006
March, 2006
February, 2006
January, 2006
December, 2005
November, 2005
October, 2005
September, 2005
August, 2005
July, 2005
|
|
