600 Personal Development Exercises
do one a day - every day!
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HEADMASTER I am still in the office at home. I am still at work. My head is full of stuff. The number of things to do seems to be getting longer, not shorter. For as soon as I cross something off the list another two things appear needing to be done. My brain and my whole self are consumed and controlled by this list of what needs to be done. I can’t just walk away from it for it all needs to be sorted. And who else will do it, if I don’t? If this day was twice as long, I would fill it. If it was shorter, I would cram even more in. Then it hits me, that I am being managed by the time available – not by who I am. I have it all the wrong way round. For it's not about doing but being. Being is the master of time, my headmaster. PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT EXERCISE 1. What is your 'Headmaster'? 2. How does time and activity drive who you are? 3. What does 'being' mean to you - in practical terms? Day 130 of Des McCabe's Personal Development Exercises
ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE Years ago, when we were travelling we would stop at a lay-by, take out our map and plan our route. We would create options, factor in a coffee break at a little village and plot a route that worked for us. Now we put our destination into our phone which is more efficient. The route is planned for us and we do not have to think. We don’t pause in the lay-by. We don’t create our options. We don’t stop in the little village. We can just go where we’re told. PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT EXERCISE 1. What options and opportunities are you creating? 2. Where is your 'little village'? Day 129 of Des McCabe's Personal Development Exercises
COLOURING BY NUMBERS When I was a child I had a book called colouring by numbers. The outlines of everything were all there on the picture. I just had to colour in the spaces. Areas with ‘one’ were blue and those with ‘two’ were yellow and so on. The picture came alive in front of me. The outcome was complete and perfect! Imagine if you could have the outline of your life as a picture ready to be filled in now. It would mean that we wouldn’t live on the basis of process or journey thinking about what happens next year or what our next job will be. It’ll all be there in the outline. We just need to follow the numbers in any order we want. Nothing will be left out. All will be complete and perfect. Draw your outline! PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT EXERCISE 1. What would you include in your picture? 2. Is it about events, people, success, happiness - and what’s the background? 3. Who else is in the picture? Day 128 of Des McCabe's Personal Development Exercises
STAYCATION Go beyond the junk always. See past the hassle always. And stay where you are. Look at the bigger picture always. Be true to yourself always. And stay where you are. Get rid of the distractions always. Discard what is unnecessary always. And stay where you are. PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT EXERCISE 1. What can you do to go beyond the junk and be true to yourself? 2. Where are you staying? Day 127 of Des McCabe's Personal Development Exercises
TOW ROPE The world keeps pulling us back to its way of working. To follow its rules. To behave in the way that it wants us to be. Untie the rope. The world keeps taking us to places away from where we should be. Away from all we value Away from our true selves, to be dependent on it. Untie your rope. PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT EXERCISE 1. How is the world pulling you back? 2. How is the world taking you away from where you should be? 3. How can you untie your rope? Day 126 of Des McCabe's Personal Development Exercises
HOLY DAYS There were no visits to a church. There was no kneeling in prayer. There were no readings. There was no sitting in silence. and yet today was the holiest of days. I spent every moment with you working tirelessly on the project. PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT EXERCISE 1. What is your project? 2. How is today a holy day for you? Day 125 of Des McCabe's Personal Development Exercises
COMMUNITY COHESION A new community will emerge. A new type of community will emerge and grow. Offering help and hope A new definition of community will emerge and grow changing the why and the how and serving all. For community is not an organisation or a structure. Community is not based in a place or even in a virtual space Community rests in each of us enabling us to reach outwards and to work with all others. PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT EXERCISE 1. How can you build a new type of personal community? 2. What will you work on? 3. Who will you offer 'help and hope' to? Day 124 of Des McCabe's Personal Development Exercises
DAILY BLOG Start your daily blog today. Grab a notebook. Put day one on the first page. And write something. This is a blog for you, not for the world. Not for marketing your products or promoting your expertise. This is your daily feedback, conversation and notes for yourself. It’s your life training manual. To underpin all that you do. These are the words that tell you what’s really happening around you and within you. It’s only for you. And as you build your blog day by day you will see themes develop, ideas flourish and a plan emerge. You will build a greater sense of who you really are. Every day write your blog. Grab a notebook start today. It is here where seeds can be planted and flourish. For if you write it down It can become real. Capture what’s happening or isn’t happening. Capture all the joy and gratitude and all that causes you pain. For your daily blog is an ongoing conversation with all that really matters. Start your daily blog today. PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT EXERCISE 1. What would like to say to yourself today? 2. And how will yourself respond? Day 123 of Des McCabe's Personal Development Exercises
ALARM CALL Started in work mode. Straight onto my phone. Planning the day. Checking my appointments. Writing my to do list. Forgot to smile and say good morning to the one I love. PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT EXERCISE 1. What is the first thing you do each morning when you awaken? 2. Where is your smile? Day 122 of Des McCabe's Personal Development Exercises
EMPTY CHAIR This is a spiritual journey, not a business or work one. This is the journey in my eternal now, not a plan for the next year. This is a journey beyond this place, not a marketing or income strategy. This is a journey away from me, not a reliance on myself. This is a journey which cannot be described, not one plotted by success or failure. This is a journey without family or friends, and without myself. PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT EXERCISE 1. What is your journey? 2. Why is this called empty chair? Day 121 of Des McCabe's Personal Development Exercises
OPERATIONS MANUAL Today I’m going to be a bit radical. I’m going to break my rules. I’m going to do things differently. I’m not going to follow my normal routine. Today will take on a life and a process and a perfect purpose of its own. Whatever happens, happens. If it feels right, I’ll do it. Today I’m going to trust in the deeper part of myself, the one that is so often trapped or locked away. Today will see a different me. I’m re-writing my Operations Manual. Looking at the sky, walking somewhere different, just smiling and loving being with myself. PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT EXERCISE 1. Write the contents page of your personal Operations Manual. 2. Now write the Introduction as if you were talking to yourself. Day 120 of Des McCabe's Personal Development Exercises
ONE DAY DELIVERY True understanding cannot be accessed by us. Our normal tools of thinking, reading, listening and reflecting are of little use. For this tool kit can only help us to make sense of what is already in our heads. What we already know. We have to receive new thoughts, inspiration and ideas from outside to help us to make sense of what is going on. True understanding is outside of us. Our toolkit is of little use Until the package arrives. PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT EXERCISE 1. What do you not understand? 2. What package would you like to arrive tomorrow? Day 119 of Des McCabe's Personal Development Exercises
MAGIC The most curious thing we can witness is an impossible magic trick. Everyone wants to know the secret! Yet, for most, the secret is a disappointment But the magic is gone and will never come back. Sometimes, the magic lies in the joy of not knowing everything. PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT EXERCISE 1. What is the one thing deep down, that you would really love to know? 2. Why might it be better to enjoy the magic and not rush to work it out? Guest post by Tomas McCabe - International Mind Reader and Magician How are you thinking differently about everything? www.tomasmccabe.com / email Des McCabe with you Guest post . Day 118 of Des McCabe's Personal Development Exercises
CAREER CHANGE When we speak of career change we don’t mean changing jobs or sectors or a new job title. We don’t mean getting promotion, going back to college or having flexible work arrangements. We don’t mean working from home, working for yourself or starting a business. What we mean is changing the career model and becoming fully ourselves. We can step out of the career box that we are put in, for this is only one construct for guiding our lives. There are many alternatives such as time, purpose, age, self-knowledge, family, personal situation, wish list, relationships, spiritually, love, service or trust. The career model is not our only choice. We can all have a frame of reference for our lives that works for us. PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT EXERCISE 1. Which alternative to the career development model might you explore - time, purpose, age, self-knowledge, family, personal situation, wish list, relationships, spiritually, love, service or trust? 2. What does your future look like based on this? Day 117 of Des McCabe's Personal Development Exercises
BREAKING NEWS All the birds are chirping away loudly and enthusiastically. All talking at the same time. It’s deafening! And then, total silence as they fly off together to do what they must do. Responding to breaking news in their world. PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT EXERCISE 1. What ‘breaking news’ is happening in your world? 2. How will you respond? Day 116 of Des McCabe's Personal Development Exercises
LIMITING BELIEFS We can see the door and not open it. We can approach the gate and not go through it. We can be told the path and not take it. We can be shown a new way and not go there. PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT EXERCISE 1. What negative thoughts are holding you back from doing all you want to do? 2. All is possible through love and we are made of love. You can be all you should be. Open the door. Go through the gate. Take the path. Start your new way. Day 115 of Des McCabe's Personal Development Exercises
GARDEN HOSE The garden hose lies there like a dark green snake on the grass. It can take water to areas needing refreshment and to the plants that are struggling. We too can go where we are needed. We can bring all we have to areas needing refreshment and to those who are struggling. PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT EXERCISE 1. Who do we know that may be struggling? 2. What refreshment can we bring? 3. How do we turn our tap on full? Day 114 of Des McCabe's Personal Development Exercises
HAPPY BIRTHDAY Imagine if you arrived born into the world at the age you are now. Imagine if today was your first day, your birthday. You will meet your family, partner and friends for the first time. You will see the house where you live. You will see trees and water. You go to work for the first time, meet your colleagues and see how you’re using your talents Today, on this your birthday you will see all that has been given to you. You will discover all of the places where you make your mark. As you begin to take it all in, you’re filled with wonder, excitement and questions. You just can’t wait to get started, to find out more and to explore. It’s just so amazing what you’ve been given on this your birthday. And then, you receive the most incredible birthday present of all time. You will have a new beginning like this every single day for the rest of your life. A new day will arrive each morning ready to be discovered. PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT EXERCISE 1. Imagine if today was your very first day alive. Where would you start? 2. Where will you explore? How will you capture the wonder and excitment? What questions will you ask? 3. What will you do at the end of this amazing birthday? Day 113 of Des McCabe's Personal Development Exercises
COLLABORATION The sky gives me perspective. Ideas create my map. Random thoughts plot co-ordinates. Crazy dreams show alternatives. Harry sits on the roof to help wherever I go. Time has stopped for me as friends fuel the dream. PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT EXERCISE 1. Who or what is collaborating with you? 2. What is the dream? Day 112 of Des McCabe's Personal Development Exercises
SPATIAL RECOGNITION There is no set formula or words in prayer. Every conversation is different. For it’s not about talking. It’s about sitting patiently and waiting. Not for some miraculous words of wisdom, but for a gentle thought. This is prayer. Sitting, quietly waiting and leaving space for that thought. PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT EXERCISE 1. Where and when will you sit quietly today – ‘leaving space for that thought’? 2. The process of prayer is bespoke to each of us. I use the word Spatial Recognition to describe prayer. What word or phrase would you use? Day 111 of Des McCabe's Personal Development Exercises
STEPS Every morning around seven two women arrive outside our house on their morning walk. There are chatting as they walk briskly getting in their steps and sorting out everything they need to. Our house is the turning point on their walk. They change direction and head back to their separate days. We too can create a new routine going out and coming back each day, getting in our steps and sorting out everything we need to. PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT EXERCISE 1. What steps do you need to take? 2. What or where is your turning point? Day 110 of Des McCabe's Personal Development Exercises
CAREER DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY I was building my career and income and learning to live my purpose through this. Now I'm delivering on my purpose and building my career and income through this. PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT EXERCISE 1. What is your career development strategy? 2. How can your purpose help to steer your career? Day 109 of Des McCabe's Personal Development Exercises
TIMESCALE Time is not a linear concept. It is a circle. It is the never-ending present for there is no start and no finish. Live in this moment for it holds all moments and as you live in all moments you live forever. PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT EXERCISE 1. Draw your life as a complete circle. Where have you placed everything - people, events, relationships, understanding....? 2. What is on the rim of your circle? What sits within the rim? What is at the very centre? What is outside your circle? Day 108 of Des McCabe's Personal Development Exercises
OPEN DOOR POLICY There may be storms outside but inside all is calm. There may be darkness outside but inside all is sunny. There may be fog outside but inside all is clear. Forget the weather and come back to the house. PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT EXERCISE 1. What is your weather like today? What are your storms? What is your darkness? What is the fog? 2. Tell me about the house..... Day 107 of Des McCabe's Personal Development Exercises
HIGHWAY CODE The sIgns are there for you. Watch out for them. They’re not billboards and they’re not traffic signs. Yet they are within the landscape and all around us. Signs are moments of feeling, of awareness and sensitivity, when windows of light open and you know that something is significant or special. Or just meant to be. Be open to your signs, to see and listen to what is here and to follow with a 'thank-you'. For deep down this is how your soul talks and works with you. PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT EXERCISE 1. When did you last sense that something was special or just meant to be? 2. How will you respond the next time you get this feeling or awareness? Day 106 of Des McCabe's Personal Development Exercises
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