Tag: Karol Ladd

A Hint for Happy Holidays

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Thanksgiving is an everyday occurrence in my life. I’m not talking about the food (although wouldn’t that be fun?), but I am talking about the focus. Yes, it has become a joyful habit in my life to start each day by giving thanks to God for at least five blessings. Psychologists now confirm that daily gratitude can elevate our level of happiness, and the more specific, the better.

With my first cup of coffee each morning, I journal my thankful reflections over the past twenty-four hours:

              Thank you Lord that I happened to see Patricia at the grocery store.

              Thank you Lord for my husband cleaning up the dinner dishes.

              Thank you Lord for the phone call from my daughter in Philadelphia.

              Thank you Lord for extra space in my schedule to catch up on emails (a rarity in my life).

              Thank you Lord for the sweet hugs from my grandkids and time to play together.

It does my heart good to think about the daily blessings God brings into my life. It reminds me that He is continually at work, and there is always hope. Even in the rough spots of life, I can thank God for His presence and the life lessons I am learning. On days when it is difficult to see the good, I may need to look a little harder for the glimmers of hope. It’s always there, it just may be more challenging to see.

Aren’t you glad that Thanksgiving comes right before we enter the Holiday season? Sometimes we need an extra dose of thankfulness as we encounter crazy traffic, stressful shopping, and not-so-easy family members. Let’s maintain a heart of thankfulness and a habit of daily gratitude as we walk through this busy yet glorious season.

May our lights shine brightly with hearts full of His joy as we reflect on His many blessings.

Photo by Alisa Anton on Unsplash

Make a PLAN

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Study the word PLAN.  Prepare Logically — Adapt Needfully. In other words, make thoughtful, definite plans. Then, adapt and modify those plans as the situation might require. Great salespeople, like effective performers in all walks of life, are those who are organized, flexible, and adaptable. They size up situations and, when the occasion demands, they quickly, effectively and confidently alter their original course and go to “Plan B.”

In the Navy, this kind of adaptability is referred to as “changing the course.” In the Boy Scout training, it’s called “improvising.” In football, it’s “calling an audible.” In selling, it’s adapting the prepared agenda to meet the need. In other words, the situation is the boss. In every sales encounter, you must learn to adjust and adapt. When the prospect starts making objections and offering resistance, “call an audible” — adjust and adapt.

Display flexibility. Move ahead to achieve your goal – another satisfied customer. Remember that in order to be able to adapt needfully, you must be prepared. Ad-libs are for amateurs. Preparation will give you the confidence to adapt, should the situation require it.  

This is an excerpt from the new book I wrote with my dad, Garry Kinder. It’s more than just a business book, it is an “inspiration for life” book. Click Here to order your copy of Positive Connectivity.

Construction Photo by Shivendu Shukla on Unsplash

Positive Connectivity

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We live in a society that is attached to our mobile devices. In fact, psychologists recently coined the term nomophobic (no-mobile phone phobia) for those who have a fear of being without their phones. Honestly, who doesn’t have a bit of a sinking feeling when their phone is nowhere to be found? Perhaps we all are a little nomophobic now and then. Yet, despite the fact that we are constantly electronically connected, most people feel disconnected when it comes to human relationships.

A recent Harvard study found that 36% of Americans are experiencing “serious loneliness.” Whether we are engaging with friends, family, clients or business relationships, we must go beyond merely messaging or emailing to experience a true sense of understanding and connection.

One thing we have learned through the recent global pandemic is that people are not created to  be completely isolated from one another. On the contrary, humans need authentic interaction. In fact, most people thrive through healthy connectedness – feeling heard, seen, and valued by another person. In the next few weeks on this blog, I want to help you spark that kind of positive and lasting connection. I want to encourage you to relate in a deeper and richer way with the people in your life, both family and friends.

How does that kind of connection happen? We will explore areas such as perception, presence, the power of words, perspective, potential and purpose. Bottom line, when we think about satisfaction in life, it begins with the satisfaction of experiencing lasting and meaningful relationships. Let’s never stop learning to build deeper and stronger connections with the people God puts in our lives.

Check out my new book, Positive Connectivity.

Blog photo of man with phone by Andrea Piacquadio on Pexels.com

Staying Steady Through the Rocky Roads of Life

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How do you handle the tough stuff in your life? We all face obstacles, difficulties, and even tragedies at times, but the question is how will we respond to these challenges. Personally, I’ve weathered through my own fair share of sad circumstances. I’ve learned to grieve the loss and grow in strength through each.

This past week, I shared a bit of my story on a podcast with my friend Tasha Calvert. Listen in by clicking the link. I hope it will give you encouragement and strength in the difficulties you face.  

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/digging-in-with-tasha-calvert/id1623106116?i=1000614127246

Photo by Julian Hochgesang on Unsplash

The Toughest Job You Ever Loved

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The process of shaping the child, shapes also the mother herself. – Elisabeth Elliot

Motherhood made me a better person. I must admit, before having children I was a fairly self-focused young adult doing whatever I pleased, whenever I pleased. But when that first little bundle of Grace arrived, I grew to understand a depth of love and selflessness that I had never experienced before.

Caring for someone else’s needs above our own changes us. It stretches us, grows us and creates a hidden beauty just waiting to be uncovered. It seems a bit counterintuitive, and yet it’s true – the more we give from the heart, the more our heart is filled.

Whether you’re a mother or you have people in your life whom you pour into, may we continually find joy in the giving and not the taking, the stretching and not the hoarding, the sacrifice and not the self-centeredness. We are put here in this world for a purpose, and it is not for self-promotion, rather it is to give our lives away in loving and serving others. That’s the joy of motherhood! It’s the toughest job you ever loved.

Photo by Caroline Hernandez on Unsplash

For more of my thoughts on Motherhood, check out The Power of a Positive Mom