Des McCabe
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600 Personal Development Exercises

do one a day - every day!

How can we reduce Stress in our Lives?

9/30/2020

 

​STRESS MANAGEMENT

When I get overwhelmed,
thinking about all that
I have to do,
I now stop and smile.

You see I’ve learned,
that although it all seems
so important now,
it will be different next week.

I step back and smile.
I decide to do what I can,
go with the flow,
and just be happy in myself.

PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT EXERCISE
1. When do you tend to feel overwhelmed?
2. What will it all look like next week?


Day 191 of Des McCabe's Personal Development Exercises

What are Core Values?

9/29/2020

 

CORE VALUES
 
Stay at the core
and not at the periphery.
For all potential
lies at the core.
 
We can get ambushed
by worldliness,
by necessity,
by rights,
by fairness,
by ambition,
by vanity, and
by self-importance.
 
Stay at the core.

PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT EXERCISE
1. What are your core values? 

Day 190 of Des McCabe's Personal Development Exercises

Do you operate on Autopilot?

9/28/2020

 

AUTOPILOT
 
My thoughts are
all over the place.
I flit from one
thing to another.
 
But I’ve learnt to go with this,
and not become too engaged
in any one thought.
But to flit onwards.
 
For me, reflection or contemplation
are not about breathing techniques
 or trying to empty
my brain of all thoughts.
 
Rather, they are about meandering,
and using the thoughts
that come long,
simply as stepping-stones.
 
For if I am patient
and sit here,
I will get to
where I should be.My thoughts are
all over the place.
I flit from one
thing to another.
 
But I’ve learnt to go with this,
and not become too engaged
in any one thought.
But to flit onwards.
 
For me, reflection or contemplation
are not about breathing techniques
or trying to empty my brain
of all thoughts.
 
Rather, they are about meandering,
and using the thoughts
that come long,
simply as stepping-stones.
 
For if I am patient
and sit here,
I will get to
where I should be.

PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT EXERCISE
1. Take some time today and place your trust in your Autopilot. Give it time to take you to where you should be. 

Day 189 of Des McCabe's Personal Development Exercises

Is there a PowerPoint?

9/27/2020

 

POWERPOINT

 I will find a
moment of silence,
somewhere in this
busy day.

At some point
I will be able to stop,
rest, and give myself
some space.

Just to be who I am,
away from all the noise,
and demands
of the world.

At some point,
I will find
a moment of silence,
in this busy day.

PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT EXERCISE
1. When is your PowerPoint today? 
2. What will this moment of silence offer you? 
3. What will be in the Presentation? 


Day 188 of Des McCabe's Personal Development Exercises

What's your Special Offer?

9/26/2020

 

SPECIAL OFFER
 
Buy one and get one free.
Green Shield Stamps.
Nectar Card.
Air Miles.
 
Smart Rewards.
Two for the price of one.
Premier Points.
Avios.
 
Clubcard.
Loyalty rewards.
Tiger Tokens.
50% off.
 
Last minute.
Weekend Special.
Happy Hour.
Member Offer.
 
Double points.
Gift Certificates.
Cashback.
Frequent Flyer.
 
Christmas Club.
Introductory Bonus.
Buy three - cheapest one free.
Trading Stamps.
 
Free gift.
Sale price.
Buy one - get one half price.
Blue cross day.
 
Why do more
of the same?
 Make an offer
that really matters.

PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT EXERCISE
1. What is your offer? 
2. Why does it really matter?


Day 187 of Des McCabe's Personal Development Exercises

Can we apply Lateral Thinking to our Lives?

9/25/2020

 

LATERAL THINKING
 
The sunflower seed
does not worry about
being planted in the ground,
to wither and die.
 
For it has been told
that it will become
something unimaginable,
for such a little seed.
 
We too, have been told that
we will become something
incredible and unimaginable.
We are all sunflowers.

PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT EXERCISE
1. Without light, the sunflower seed cannot grow. Who, what or where is your light?
​2. Each of us is already 'something incredible and unimaginable'. How can we help our fellow sunflowers to grow?


Day 186 of Des McCabe's Personal Development Exercises

How should I write my Affirmations?

9/24/2020

 

AFFIRMATIONS

Every day I say my affirmations.
I call them my daily reminders as they help me
to focus on all that is important to me and
all I want to see happen in my life.

My daily reminders cover every aspect of my life
and everything I could ever hope for.
Work, opportunities, health, income, family,
personality, relationships and spirituality.

They are written in the present or past tense.
I have, I am, I own, I earn, I live….
I say my daily reminders
every morning and every night.

I can see every outcome in detail.
and watch as the results unfold.
For I am fulfilling my personal purpose
in all that I do today.

PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT EXERCISE
1. Write out your daily statements in the present or past tense - I am, I have, I own, I earn. I live ...
2. Include everything that matters to you.


Day 185 of Des McCabe's Personal Development Exercises

What is your Lifetime Cashflow position?

9/23/2020

 
​
CASH FLOW

 
The birds of the air
get their food.
The money will come.
 
The fish in the water
get their food.
The money will come
 
All of my life
I’ve had food.
The money has come.

PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT EXERCISE
1. What does your life cash flow look like? 
2. Where and how has the money come?
3. What does this say to you about your future hopes and dreams?


Day 184 of Des McCabe's Personal Development Exercises

Is Coffee time a chance to rest and reflect?

9/22/2020

 

COFFEE TIME
 
It used to be in churches
with stained glass windows and stillness
where our grandparents found respite.
 
For quiet, peace, reflection and rest
it is now to the coffee shop, with its
soft chairs and quiet corners that  many go.
 
The carefully designed colour schemes of
Café Nero or Starbucks soothes our minds.
The lighting creates a mood to help us relax.
 
But God is just at home in a coffee shop.
For us to rest and reflect
is really what matters for body and soul.
 
God is with us wherever we are,
not just in Churches or Costas.

PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT EXERCISE
1. When will you take some time to rest and reflect today?
2. Is it coffee time yet
?


Day 183 of Des McCabe's Personal Development Exercises

How can I create the perfect Job Description?

9/21/2020

 

JOB DESCRIPTION
 
Our spiritual journey isn’t
necessarily a holy or religious one!
We are all called to be part of love
in our own unique and special way.
 
For some this is in business,
others in acting, others in nursing,
others in sport or teaching,
or retail or manufacturing.
 
But these are only careers or jobs
that describe what we do
and not who we are. It’s who we are
that is the real spiritual journey.
 
It’s how we interact with people.
It’s how we reach out.
It’s how we help others.
It’s the times that we are kind.
 
This is the real day-to-day spiritual journey
that we are all on.
And it doesn’t matter what
our role or job or situation is.
 
For every connection with others
touches something deep within us.
It gives meaning
to who we are in that moment.
 
Each interaction connects us
to the same love
that is working within each of us,
and that we all share.
 
We are all on the same 
spiritual journey together.
A journey that is written by each of us 
as our own job description.

PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT EXERCISE
1. Write out your  job description. Remember, it's unique to you. 
2. How will your job description change in the months and years ahead?


Day 182 of Des McCabe's Personal Development Exercises

Can we break free of Travel Restrictions?

9/20/2020

 

TRAVEL RESTRICTIONS

It’s Saturday night in 1974
and me and the boys are
heading out on the town.
We are breaking free.

After two years of studying
the results arrived today
And tonight we celebrate.
We are breaking free.

My mum will wait up for us
to come home safely.
To ensure that we are okay
as we all pretend to be sober.

And since she died, I celebrate
on many a Saturday night
not with beer, but in thanks
and by looking at the stars.

Remembering my walk home
at 2am back in 1974,
on a wonderful and precious,
starry Saturday night.

It’s now a Saturday night in 2020
and me and the wife
are flying out to Dubai.
We are breaking free.

We will stay there for fifteen nights
to meet quarantine rules,
so that we can fly on to the US
for the birth of our new grandson.

After four months
of a Covid lockdown
and living in a virtual world,
we are breaking free.

My mum will be waiting
to see that we arrive safely,
and to celebrate with us
the  arrival of her new great-grandson.

And so, we all journey onwards.
And I gaze out of the window
on this wonderful and precious,
starry Saturday night.

PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT EXERCISE
1. When and how will you break free?
2. What is wonderful and precious for you?

Day 181 of Des McCabe's Personal Development Exercises

What is the Takeaway of this moment?

9/19/2020

 

TAKEAWAY
 
Let us talk of
inward reflection
rather than prayer.
 
For it is by going inwards
away from the clamour
of the world ...
 
... into the gentle silence,
that we see our real selves
reflected in love.
 
And this is what
we take into our lives
and all that we do.

PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT EXERCISE
1. Where do you  find the gentle silence?
2. When will you have your next takeaway? 


Day 180 of Des McCabe's Personal Development Exercises

What do Focus Groups tell us?

9/18/2020

 

FOCUS GROUP
 
I got a sad meal at McDonald’s yesterday.
Don’t you mean a Happy Meal?
No, the toy was missing and
I was a little bit sad.
 
(two young friends discussing their lunch)

PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT EXERCISE
1. What would others say, in private, about the product or service that you provide? 
2. Are you doing all that you should to make you happy?


Day 179 of Des McCabe's Personal Development Exercises

What is your Business model?

9/17/2020

 

MULTI-LEVEL MARKETING
 
I met Fred for the first time today.
He was passionate about trying to encourage me to join
his multi-level marketing scheme in crypto currencies.
I was puzzled because Fred clearly had more money than he needed.
He’d been successful in many other ventures.
And he was well into his 70s.
 
I marvelled at Fred’s sense of drive,
 his relentless passion and his total focus on building his team.
 ‘What drives you?’, I asked.
He said that when he was younger he was told
that he needed to have seven streams of income.
He only had six. And he laughed.
 
How could somebody be totally focused on building wealth?
 He was travelling the country attending meeting after meeting,
promoting all the time and in every single conversation.
He was a true MLM specialist,
living and working with everyone in his downline.
‘But, surely life must be about more than money?’ I asked.
 
Fred smiled and continued ‘My aim is to generate opportunities
for people to help them to fulfil their plans and their destiny.
I also spend my money
in ways that others don’t know about.
You see, each of us must find our own  way
and then give our all to that.’

PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT EXERCISE
1. What is your business?
2. Have you found your way?
3. How does your work help to deliver all that is important for you? 

Day 178 of Des McCabe's Personal Development Exercises

Are you Needs Driven?

9/16/2020

 

NEEDS DRIVEN
 
Embrace all possibilities.
Be open to the unseen potential
in every situation
and in every moment.
 
Go out.
Just go there, just be there.
And bring with you
all that you are.
 
Be positive.
Be encouraging.
Be ambitious for your success
and the success of others.
 
Be gracious.
Be grateful.
Be kind
and smile.
 
Do what you love.
Enjoy your interests.
Set the world on fire
and watch the grass grow.
 
And when you realise
that there is nothing
that you really need,
then you have everything.

PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT EXERCISE
1. How will you 'set the world on fire' and 'watch the grass grow' today?
2. What do you still really need? 


Day 177 of Des McCabe's Personal Development Exercises

What is our personal Stamp?

9/15/2020

 

STAMP COLLECTION
 
The world demands
outputs and results,
achievements and success.
But we long for
love and peace,
happiness and health.
 
We can be dominated
by external events,
or we can choose
to work together,
and create
a different way.
 
We can be continually
stamped upon in an
uncaring and demanding world.
Or we can come together,
and gently put our stamp
on all before us.

PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT EXERCISE
1. How has the world stamped on you in the past?
2. How are you gently putting your stamp on all before you? 


Day 176 of Des McCabe's Personal Development Exercises

What message are we Copying and Pasting everywhere?

9/14/2020

 

COPY AND PASTE
 
I typed the word love
and saw it
in front of me.
 
I highlighted the word love
and captured it
in my heart.
 
I copied the word love
and made it
who I am.
 
I pasted the word love
and it
was everywhere.

PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT EXERCISE
1. We 'copy and paste' who we are in every encounter with others. Where can you paste love today? 
2. What are the other words that are you pasting everywhere? What is the message that others are picking up from us? 


Day 175 of Des McCabe's Personal Development Exercises

Do we live Outwards and Inwards?

9/13/2020

 

​PARALLEL INTERFACE
 
We all live parallel lives.
Our daily work, our relationships
and the things that we do
are all part of our outer living.
 
What goes on in the deep recesses
of our mind and consciousness,
is our inner living.
Both co-exist together.

PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT EXERCISE
1. How much time and thought do you give to your inner living?
2. Have you explored how you outer living and your inner living work seemlessly together? 


Day 174 of Des McCabe's Personal Development Exercises

Does Love have a Short term Memory?

9/12/2020

 

SHORT TERM MEMORY​
 
Love forgives us
for everything,
unconditionally.
No matter what.
Right from now.
 
Love then forgets
everything that it forgives.
We can start again, afresh.
No matter what.
Right from now.
 
Love insists that you too
forgive yourself, and forget all
that you carry as a burden.
No matter what.
Right from now.

PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT EXERCISE
1. What do you still need to forgive yourself for? Do it now.
2. There is no longer any burden to carry. Are you ready to start afresh, right from now? 


Day 173 of Des McCabe's Personal Development Exercises

How are your eight Friends today?

9/11/2020

 

HOUSE PARTY

My mind is buzzing.
My brain is creating.

My ego is expanding.
My conscience is questioning.

My heart is beating.
My soul is too quiet.

My self is in doubt.
My body is restless.

There’s a lot going on 
in the house today.

PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT EXERCISE
1. What's happening in your house today? 
2. How are your eight friends - your mind, your brain, your ego, your conscience, your heart, your soul, your self and your body? 


Day 172 of Des McCabe's Personal Development Exercises

Can we create the best Gift Shop in the World?

9/10/2020

 

GIFT SHOP

There is no lock.
The door of the gift shop
is always open.

We are invited in
and we are able
to take what we wish.

This is fantastic!
Free gifts galore.
Let’s take more of these.

And then we realise,
that if we continue,
soon the shop will be empty.

So we stop taking.
Instead, we begin to bring
and to share our own gifts.

For we see now,
that together, we can create
the best gift shop in the world.

PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT EXERCISE
1. What gift can you bring to the best gift shop in the world? 
2. What do you enjoy most about the gift shop? 


Day 171 of Des McCabe's Personal Development Exercises

Have you tried Cheese Mints?

9/9/2020

 

ACHIEVEMENTS
 
My voice recognition software
thinks I’m talking about
cheese mints.
 
It looks like I’ve just
created a new product
by accident!
 
Imagine if this turned out to be
one of my greatest
achievements.

PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT EXERCISE
1. What has happened recently that has caused you to smile and see things a bit differently?
2. What new product or service would you like to create or offer?


Day 170 of Des McCabe's Personal Development Exercises

Why should I become a Landscape Architect?

9/8/2020

 

LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT

I am always looking ahead
thinking, what next?
Today’s plan? Next week’s activities?
Trying to schedule everything in.
 
But what I don’t do is
to look at the year ahead,
think about the next three years,
or indeed the next ten years.
 
I need to lift my thinking
to be more strategic and
not just task focused.
For life isn’t just about weeding.
 
The future is there to be imagined
And then created.
Seeds need to be planted
for the flowers I want to grow.

PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT EXERCISE
1. What's your personal strategy for the next year, the next three years, and the next ten years?
2. Write each of these down. 


Day 169 of Des McCabe's Personal Development Exercises

Why is it not enough to Think outside the Box?

9/7/2020

 

​CONTAINER BUSINESS

The original Business model was straightforward. It was about profit and building a business. The Mill owners of the Industrial Revolution had a simple focus.

Over the years other elements have impacted upon that business model - employee rights, consumer protection, international laws, environmental concerns, government interventions of all sorts, corporate social responsibility, exchange rates, global outsourcing, internet marketing, health and safety, and much more.

The local business entity of the industrial revolution has now become much more complex in a global interconnected world.

Interestingly though, our concept of what business is and how it should work is still defined by that original model. In short, we keep adding on more ‘hi-tech’ features to the vehicle without really looking at the 250-year-old chassis. This cumulative approach needs disassembling.

Henry Ford used to make all his cars in black but those days have long gone. Likewise, the ‘one size fits all’ approach to business is no longer relevant. Perhaps we should be exploring many models, driven not by history but by needs, situations and opportunities – however defined.
​
The Internet evolution should be our starting point and not the Industrial revolution. Business is now personal. It’s time for each of us not only to think outside of the box, but to get out of the business box and build new containers.

PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT EXERCISE
1. Business is now personal. What business are you in?
2. How do you define your model of business - making money and looking after all that you care about?


Day 168 of Des McCabe's Personal Development Exercises

What is your Hidden Agenda?

9/6/2020

 
​
HIDDEN AGENDA
 

There are things we should do
but we don’t do them.
There are people we should see
but we don’t see them.
There is work we should do
but we don’t do it.
There are words we should say
but we don't say  them.
There are places we should go
but we don’t go there.

PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT EXERCISE
1. What is your hidden agenda - the people and activities that you are avoiding?
2. How can you begin to address this? 


Day 167 of Des McCabe's Personal Development Exercises
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