tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-496693808006745324Mon, 25 Jan 2010 11:51:14 +0000Stories, articles, research and quotes to support you in your journey to centerhttp://www.journeytocenter.net/noreply@blogger.com (Judy Warner)Blogger172125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-496693808006745324.post-888463260939257849Mon, 25 Jan 2010 11:44:00 +00002010-01-25T06:51:14.530-05:00Centering tests come in many shapes and sizes. My latest is a government solicitation for some human resource work that our company has been involved in. The federal government decided that a list of consultants would be drawn up based upon responses to a solicitation and contracts for the next five years would be awarded from this list. I received a heads up of this new way of doing business inhttp://www.journeytocenter.net/2010/01/test-of-center.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Judy Warner)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-496693808006745324.post-3481516633213658721Tue, 19 Jan 2010 11:19:00 +00002010-01-19T06:31:36.032-05:00powerMartin Luther KingJudy RingerlovePart of celebrating MLK Day for me is thinking about how he was able to combine seeming opposites in ways that spoke to all of us. One of my favorite of his quotations is from a speech to the Southern Christian Leadership Conference in 1967. Adam Kahane bases his new book, Power & Love on the premise. I cite the quotation here in hopes you'll enjoy reading it and begin to think about its http://www.journeytocenter.net/2010/01/power-and-love-in-honor-of-martin.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Judy Ringer)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-496693808006745324.post-3498697782198357161Thu, 07 Jan 2010 22:54:00 +00002010-01-07T18:20:35.357-05:00George LeonardaikidoHuman PotentialYesterday morning Sensei George Leonard passed away. He was a brilliant thinker, a gifted aikidoist, teacher, author and musician. And he was kind, thoughtful, joyful and a gentleman. I feel very blessed to have trained with him and to have had my horizons expanded by reading his books many years ago. He contributed a huge amount to the world of aikido and to the exploration of consciousness http://www.journeytocenter.net/2010/01/george-leonard-thanks-and-good-journey.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Ellen Stapenhorst)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-496693808006745324.post-5305373368751160247Thu, 31 Dec 2009 01:31:00 +00002009-12-30T20:58:36.258-05:00Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,And sorry I could not travel bothAnd be one traveler, long I stoodAnd looked down one as far as I couldTo where it bent in the undergrowth; Then took the other, as just as fair,Though having perhaps the better claim,Because it was grassy and wanted wearThough as for that the passing thereHad worn them really about the same. And both that morning equally http://www.journeytocenter.net/2009/12/journey-to-center.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Judy Ringer)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-496693808006745324.post-4675954497230453430Tue, 22 Dec 2009 20:16:00 +00002009-12-22T15:32:13.006-05:00seasons greetingsJudy RingerChristmasJudy, Judy, and Ellen wish you the happiest of holidays! Take a moment, turn on your computer speakers, and click here to enjoy an interactive holiday card by Jacquie Lawson.Good ki!http://www.journeytocenter.net/2009/12/make-season-bright.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Judy Ringer)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-496693808006745324.post-2846431168582041902Thu, 10 Dec 2009 13:05:00 +00002009-12-10T08:05:00.668-05:00Twelve Days of ChristmasJudy RingerMichael Chojnacki - professional speaker, trainer, and Aikido instructor - sent the following story in his AikiWay newsletter. I had never heard it and found it fascinating. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.*****************A favorite Christmas carol is "The Twelve Days of Christmas." Though there are many versions to this song in Europe, the first known English version appeared in a tiny http://www.journeytocenter.net/2009/12/twelve-days-of-christmas.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Judy Ringer)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-496693808006745324.post-5451122634696718415Thu, 03 Dec 2009 15:29:00 +00002009-12-03T10:40:08.511-05:00Sometimes (maybe always) simple is good. The Harvard Business Publishing email tip this morning presented this list and I thought I would pass it on."The best laid plans for your day are easily thwarted by simply opening email or walking past a colleague's desk. Before you know it, you've lost countless hours to putting out fires. Here are three steps for keeping control over your day and your http://www.journeytocenter.net/2009/12/managing-your-day-tips.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Judy Warner)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-496693808006745324.post-3784196697888984680Sun, 15 Nov 2009 12:08:00 +00002009-11-15T12:45:25.930-05:00presenceJudy RingercenteringpracticeIt's a very ancient saying,But a true and honest thought,That if you become a teacher,By your pupils you'll be taught.~ The King and IIt was the last day of the conference - the last few hours in fact. I had one more session, then pack up, get on the bus to the airport and fly home. It had been a wonderful few days, in which I participated and presented. My presentation naturally included http://www.journeytocenter.net/2009/11/by-your-pupils-you-are-taught.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Judy Ringer)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-496693808006745324.post-151450015090172681Sat, 07 Nov 2009 01:49:00 +00002009-11-06T20:59:22.243-05:00Earlier this week I sent out an emailing for Aiki Works about how to reduce stress for the holiday season. In case you missed it, I thought I would share the list here:Plan now for holiday giving. Write down three things that will make the holiday season a fulfilling experience for you - and decide now how to make those things a reality.Start doing the "Three Deep Breaths" practice three or four http://www.journeytocenter.net/2009/11/recipe-for-stress-less-holiday-season.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Judy Warner)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-496693808006745324.post-294359401605089100Wed, 21 Oct 2009 14:53:00 +00002009-10-22T15:56:28.098-04:00InquiryJudy Ringerviewing pointpoint of viewI first heard this elegant phrase from our friend and colleague Thomas Crum. He uses it to describe what happens when I move from a positional stance in a conflict and begin to look at what my partner sees, feels, and believes - a visual and kinesthetic metaphor easily understood in theory yet hard to do when we know we're right.The viewing point. What does it suggest? What does it do for us thathttp://www.journeytocenter.net/2009/10/point-of-vew-to-viewing-point.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Judy Ringer)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-496693808006745324.post-9084978941256136887Wed, 07 Oct 2009 14:44:00 +00002009-10-07T10:59:15.716-04:00Judy Ringer has an e-newsletter, Ki Moments, which she sends out monthly. In the October issue, she offers a link to a test to learn more about your 'hot buttons'. The Center for Conflict Dynamics at Eckerd College in Florida defines 'hot buttons' as those irritations and annoyances that can provoke you into conflict."They are the situations or characteristics in others that aggravate and http://www.journeytocenter.net/2009/10/hot-buttons.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Judy Warner)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-496693808006745324.post-4694837544431242219Sun, 04 Oct 2009 15:51:00 +00002009-10-04T12:11:50.780-04:00difficult conversations; Judy Ringer Back in 2005, I wrote a series of articles on those difficult conversations we all have - with coworkers, friends, and family members - and what keeps us from getting started and from holding them respectfully and safely. One of the most common reasons I hear in my workshops for putting these difficult conversations off is that we just don't know how to beginhttp://www.journeytocenter.net/2009/10/difficult-conversations-getting-started.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Judy Ringer)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-496693808006745324.post-7683093859871888511Sun, 13 Sep 2009 20:22:00 +00002009-09-13T16:43:40.178-04:00This morning I ran in a Half Marathon. That is nothing remarkable in itself, as I am training for a full marathon the end of October. What is encouraging is I ran the entire thing - I have a habit of defeating myself mentally towards the end of a race when I am getting tired and then walking quite a bit of the last few miles as I tell myself that I can't possibly run all the way to the finish http://www.journeytocenter.net/2009/09/chunking-it.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Judy Warner)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-496693808006745324.post-4491371222269074371Wed, 02 Sep 2009 12:07:00 +00002009-09-02T08:19:38.758-04:00One moment more; resolution; Judy RingerI just listened again to Ellen's song "One Moment More." What strikes me every time is her line:And the train’s pulling out of the station What has this fighting been for? Now I think of everything I’d say If I had one moment more.What would you say if you had one moment more? Who would you call or stop by to see? How many moments go by without http://www.journeytocenter.net/2009/09/one-moment-more.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Judy Ringer)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-496693808006745324.post-4944471071506094313Mon, 24 Aug 2009 14:00:00 +00002009-08-24T10:31:11.714-04:00Judy RingerEmailconnectionhuman voiceI just got off the phone with co-blogger Judy Warner. Besides writing our Journey to Center Blog, we do occasionally get to talk and see each other in person. The conversation over, I began to think about how easy it is in our email-centered culture to forget the importance of the physical voice. It was lovely to hear the the familiar lilt and laughter that is Judy W. And to receive more of the http://www.journeytocenter.net/2009/08/staying-in-touch.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Judy Ringer)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-496693808006745324.post-6600043929175104906Sun, 16 Aug 2009 23:27:00 +00002009-08-23T11:14:48.188-04:00Once again, a tweet from friend Mark Walsh, lead me to some material that prompted this blog entry. An article by Oliver Burkeman in The Guardian discusses positive psychology versus positive thinking. Mr. Burkeman questions the efficacy of positive thinking and suggests that it is positive psychology that is being validated in mind/body research.According to Burkeman, "The field of positive http://www.journeytocenter.net/2009/08/positive-thinking-versus-positive.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Judy Warner)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-496693808006745324.post-4347726245532994485Thu, 06 Aug 2009 09:59:00 +00002009-08-06T10:53:29.042-04:00victimsJudy WarnerTom Crum's latest book, Three Deep Breaths, is published by Berrett Koehler Publishing. It is a great company that publishes some really meaningful books and makes a real effort to support their authors. As part of that effort, they have created a blog that features their various authors and books.A recent post by author Noah Blumenthal definitely rang true for me. Noah is the author of Be the http://www.journeytocenter.net/2009/08/being-victims.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Judy Warner)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-496693808006745324.post-2046686032518972143Sat, 01 Aug 2009 15:00:00 +00002009-08-01T11:08:00.225-04:00emotionsJudy RingernegotiationsA friend sent me this link from Forbes.com about "How To Effectively Resolve Conflict," an interview with Daniel Shapiro, director of Harvard's International Negotiation program and co-author of ''Beyond Reason, Using Emotion As You Negotiate.''It sheds light on the conflict between Harvard professor Henry Louis Gates Jr. and Cambridge, MA police Sgt. James Crowley. I found it helpful (though nowhttp://www.journeytocenter.net/2009/08/emotions-and-conflict.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Judy Ringer)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-496693808006745324.post-7499095297130814019Thu, 23 Jul 2009 11:09:00 +00002009-07-23T07:23:17.458-04:00difficult conversationscenteringDifficult conversations are an inevitable part of life. The blog of Harvard Business Publishing recently offered a simple three step checklist to keep tough conversations productive, not combative:Decide on a realistic outcome. Remember, you and your counterpart may want different things. Think about your desired outcome rather than accomplishing everything on your personal agenda.Focus on the http://www.journeytocenter.net/2009/07/preparing-for-conversation.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Judy Warner)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-496693808006745324.post-1270446260944033056Sun, 19 Jul 2009 16:53:00 +00002009-07-19T13:01:07.460-04:00Judy RingerpridedignityIn church this morning, we sang a hymn by Peter Scholtes that contained these words:"We will work with each other, we will work side by side/And we'll guard each one's dignity and save each one's pride."And I thought, what would the world be like if we really did this -- if we guarded each other's dignity and saved each other's pride?I offer it up today as a thought to ponder.Good ki!Judy Ringerhttp://www.journeytocenter.net/2009/07/just-thought.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Judy Ringer)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-496693808006745324.post-1240412021510021773Wed, 15 Jul 2009 12:24:00 +00002009-07-15T08:43:58.556-04:00teamsJudy Ringerglue guysinfluenceTim Wakefield of the Boston Red Sox is a glue guy. So is Ryan Howard of the Philadelphia Phillies. According to the Wall Street Journal, the term refers to baseball players who hold teams together. They're not always the guys who have the best batting or earned run averages, though they could be. But they are the people who show confidence under pressure, offer support where needed, and generallyhttp://www.journeytocenter.net/2009/07/are-you-glue-guy.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Judy Ringer)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-496693808006745324.post-1467596875436435803Thu, 09 Jul 2009 15:36:00 +00002009-07-09T11:43:12.943-04:00Judy Ringer I first read this poem in The Tibetan Book of Living and Dying by Sogyal Rinpoche. When I Googled it, I found fourteen pages of links. It's clearly a favorite with many, including myself. Autobiography in Five ChaptersI walk down the street.There is a deep hole in the sidewalkI fall in.I am lost . . . I am hopeless.It isn't my fault.It takes forever http://www.journeytocenter.net/2009/07/walking-down-another-street.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Judy Ringer)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-496693808006745324.post-6821534516186433641Sat, 04 Jul 2009 13:50:00 +00002009-07-04T09:58:59.203-04:00Mark WalshJudy WarnerconflictHere is a piece that I couldn't resist sharing from our fellow aikidoka blogger, Mark Walsh, over in the United Kingdom. It is called 7 Reasons Why I Like the Recession. This is not meant to diminish acknowledgement of the pain that recession brings. But, as always, conflict bring opportunity and Mark does a great job of opening our eyes to that viewpoint. Thank you Mark for these great points!http://www.journeytocenter.net/2009/07/here-is-piece-that-i-couldnt-resist.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Judy Warner)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-496693808006745324.post-1078330786172314470Fri, 26 Jun 2009 21:44:00 +00002009-06-26T18:20:57.076-04:00I haven't been to Paris, but I did spend part of last week in Philadelphia attending the First World Congress of Positive Psychology, where I enjoyed four days of learning, dining al fresco, and taking in as much as I could of what this great city has to offer (which is a lot!). And yes, I climbed all those stairs at the Philadelphia Museum of Art - the ones Rocky climbs, waving his arms in http://www.journeytocenter.net/2009/06/positively-philadelphia.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Judy Ringer)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-496693808006745324.post-6065399924730632121Sun, 21 Jun 2009 07:30:00 +00002009-06-21T03:32:45.894-04:00Judy WarnerSitting here on the other side of the Atlantic Ocean this morning. ..a peaceful Sunday morning in Paris. My travel schedule for May/June has severely curtailed my blogging. Much thanks to Ellen and Judy for filling in.I am always fascinated when I travel with the opportunities to step back and reassess my own behaviors. This trip to Paris is no exception.Yesterday my husband and I stopped for http://www.journeytocenter.net/2009/06/lessons-from-paris.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Judy Warner)0