600 Personal Development Exercises
do one a day - every day!
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FLYING INSTRUCTOR Don’t be downhearted. Don’t lose hope. Don’t give up. You’re doing good. You’re amazing. You’re a star. I know you don’t feel like this now. I know you’re weary. I know you’re nearly spent. But I will lift you. I will help you run. I will help you fly. That’s why I am here. We go together, forever and ever. So trust in me. Let it all be. Let us fly together. PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT EXERCISE. 1. What is it that you must not give up on? 2. Who is your flying instructor? Day 221 of Des McCabe's Personal Development Exercises
BORDER CONTROL The Syrian family that drowned in the English Channel, preoccupies my mind. Seeking a better life, young lives were lost in a world of borders. Adrift in freezing water, a family fought, and lost, their desperate scramble. This is the ultimate price that others pay for our inability to help. We create boundaries not just by country, but in our personal world. We can look at the TV and think how bad this is, safe within our borders. PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT EXERCISE. 1. Kurdish-Iranian Rasoul Iran-Nejad, 35, Shiva Mohammad Panahi, 35, Anita, nine, and Armin, six, and fifteen-month-old Artin all died. The family is believed to be from the city of Sardasht in western Iran, close to the border with Iraq. Let us think of them now. Day 220 of Des McCabe's Personal Development Exercises
APPRENTICESHIP People used to look to religious bodies for spiritual guidance and the path to salvation. Nowadays, many of us work to find our own path in life, and our own way. For we know that there is no one way and no one map. There are different maps and so many ways. We can each find a path that works for us. Our path will be like no one else’s. It will be like no other. We will learn and do what works for us. And that is exactly, how it is meant to be. PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT EXERCISE. 1. What journey are you on? 2. How would you describe your path or your way - so far? Day 219 of Des McCabe's Personal Development Exercises
QUIET ROOM There are two types of prayer. Busy prayer and Quiet prayer. Busy prayer is doing, helping, sharing, listening, encouraging, supporting, fixing, joining, and much, much more. Quiet prayer is beyond silence, beyond thought, beyond all that we know and all that we are. Busy prayer will one day disappear but Quiet prayer will open for us a doorway that we already know. It makes sense to get to know Quiet Prayer by learning to be silent, to go beyond all thought and explore all that we are. For here we will find that doorway to whom we will become, to God, to love and to all that is. PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT EXERCISE. 1. Tell me about your Busy prayer today. 2. Tell me about your Quiet prayer today. Day 218 of Des McCabe's Personal Development Exercises
COLLABORATIVE WORKING Let’s sort it out. Let’s get going. Let’s not wait for others. Let’s join together. Let’s start the ball rolling. This is our task. This is our piece. This is our love. This is what we are about. And this is who we are. Let’s press the button. Let’s change things. Let’s lend a hand. Let’s share what we know. Let’s give what we have. This is our task. This is our piece. This is our love. This is what we are about. And this is who we are. PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT EXERCISE. 1. What is your piece? 2. Who are you working with? 2. What are you going to sort out? Day 217 of Des McCabe's Personal Development Exercises
OUTLOOK It’s just so great to sit here and not have to think about work, or all the tasks I need to do. There are still there of course, but in these moments there is nothing to do. There is no clamour, no burden no pressure and no stress. In these moments, I can just sit here in a gentle way, looking in a different way, in a different direction. PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT EXERCISE. 1. What is your outlook on life at the moment? Day 216 of Des McCabe's Personal Development Exercises
INBOX Every day holds a message for you. It will come in what someone says. It will come in the words you read. It will come in a video on your phone. It will come in a thought from heaven. It will come from deep within your soul. It will come from those who love you. It will come from those who have left and are still with you. It will come in the breeze and in the sunshine. It will come in her smile and his gentle laugh. It will come when they hold your hand and says it’s okay. Every day holds a message for you. PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT EXERCISE. 1. What is today's message? Day 215 of Des McCabe's Personal Development Exercises
SPACE EXPLORATION There is a world I can enter which is not of this world. It is not about my work, or my family, or my health, or my age, or my journey. This is a world I cannot see or touch or even feel. It is simply a space that sits with a door and is always there. But I am so busy doing so many things and getting on with my life. But today I stand looking into this space. I put the words around this and I try to describe for you what cannot be described. For there is nothing to see. There is nothing to feel. There is nothing to know. There is just an awareness, of otherness, of separation, from all that I am and know. And yet, I am part of the space. I am in the space. I am this space. PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT EXERCISE. 1. Think about 'the space' within you . Write down the words that come to you.... Day 214 of Des McCabe's Personal Development Exercises
ENTERPRISE DEVELOPMENT Sometimes you start something, with a sense of optimism and belief. It’s part of your great plan. Others are enthusiastic and encourage you. You are on a roll. After a while, it gets tougher, others lose interest, but you keep going. And then, there comes a time, when others say maybe you should stop, Or, that it is not working. They question your judgement, and what you’re doing. But you keep going. And then you struggle. It’s just tough to keep going. For the energy that started this enterprise, has virtually dissipated. And yet, some reserves kick in and you muddle on. You feel it is part of something that is worth sustaining, no matter what others say. For maybe, the enterprise is about more than the effort. about more than the output, and about more than you can ever imagine. PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT EXERCISE. 1. What have you started as part of your great plan? 2. Read 'Enterprise Development"every time you stumble and then keep going, no matter what. Day 213 of Des McCabe's Personal Development Exercises
SORTING CENTRE Life doesn’t come in ready-made boxes. Everything is not sorted for us like a ready meal. No, bits and pieces arrive as demands are made, responsibilities press on us and work need to be done. And alongside all of this we have our own personal thoughts, our hopes and worries, and our memories and disappointments. Yes, life comes at us in a real mixed up way. And our task is to sort this and try and make sense of it. So when people say to me 'Are your writings religious?' or 'Are they about business and work, or about personal development?' 'Are they about spirituality, or more about love and kindness?' I think that they are really asking the question of themselves. In which box do I put this? Please place it anywhere, if it helps you. I don’t mind, for I’m just passing on the mixed-up thoughts as they come. PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT EXERCISE. 1. Which box do you place this perspective in? 2. What is your favourite box - and your least favourite box? Day 212 of Des McCabe's Personal Development Exercises
COMPOUND INTEREST What is it that you really want to do, to build or to achieve? Most things don’t happen overnight. Anything worthwhile usually takes some time to put in place. So, in a busy world, with limited resources, how can we make it happen? It’s about doing something every day. It’s about adding a piece today, and then another piece tomorrow. This is the way we achieve all that is important to us, and how we build our future. Put your priorities first each day or you simply won’t get round to it. Seize this moment. Make a plan. Be determined. Start today with one piece. Tomorrow, add another piece. The next day, add the next piece, and every day, no matter what, keep adding a piece. Do something every day. PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT EXERCISE. 1. Compound interest is not just about investing money. It's about investing a little of our time every day to build your core aim. We are only here once, so what do you really want to do? What do you want to build or to achieve? 2. Say this phrase every morning 'Do Something Every Day' - DSED 3. What is today's piece? Day 211 of Des McCabe's Personal Development Exercises
MISSIONARY WORK Imagine if we all have a mission to fulfil. Imagine if we were all given this task at birth. Imagine if we spend our lives deciphering this task and working to achieve it. Imagine if we helped each other, to understand and achieve their mission. Imagine then, if all our tasks were part of the same great mission. Imagine if we could see that all lives are connected as one. Imagine if we knew that those who went before us, were also part of this mission. Imagine that those who come after us, will also take up the reins of this mission. Imagine when this great mission is achieved, and what this will mean. Imagine that your life and work right now are the perfect fulfillment of your mission. PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT EXERCISE. 1. How is your mission unfolding? 2. What is your task? Day 210 of Des McCabe's Personal Development Exercises
ABRIDGED Take me to the end. To where the river splits. Here the choices are clear. I can go back the way that I have come. I can instead turn right, for the less-trodden path. Or my third option is to get across the river! I have been walking along this tributary outwards and back again for years assuming all the while this was the only path. I could turn right and uncover another way, or go back on familiar ground. Or I can decide to go forward. I can start working out how to cross the river. PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT EXERCISE. 1. What bridge could you build at work or at home? 2. What new way of thinking can you bring to your routine? Day 209 of Des McCabe's Personal Development Exercises
LIFE INSURANCE Insurance is a way of life. We cover our house, our cars and indeed, our life. But life insurance doesn’t protect us, it just helps those we leave behind. So, what if there is a heaven and God? What if we’ve ignored this throughout our lives, and then we find they do exist? Perhaps we should buy some real life insurance so that our future in heaven (if it exists), is protected. We cannot buy this life insurance, for it is available to everyone for free. To avail of this lifelong offer, simply spend some time thinking about the possibility of God, and having a life beyond here. God or heaven may not exist, but it makes sense to think about it, as an insurance policy, just in case. Who knows, you may need to cash it in someday. PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT EXERCISE. 1. What real life insurance have you taken out? 2. What is your 'just in case' contingency plan? Day 208 of Des McCabe's Personal Development Exercises
BLUEBERRY MUFFIN A man in a yellow jumper is sitting on the bench just in front of me. He seems to be asleep. All around him is a collection of holdalls, carrier bags and a pull-along case. It seems like all his possessions are there with him. I am sitting with my Americano, and blueberry muffin. After a while my man gets up slowly, unable to really stand up straight. He begins to load himself like a donkey, with all his bags. He’s clearly done this many times, for most goes over his shoulders and around his back leaving his hands free for the final bags and the pull-along case. Off he shuffles. Twenty minutes later he comes back, with all his bags neatly packed into one shopping trolley. He heads off slowly, down the street. A police car arrives and travels alongside him, clearly checking out the situation. My man stops as the police get out. He follows them, with his trolley, to the police station. I write this and finish my Americano, and blueberry muffin. PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT EXERCISE. 1. What should I have done? 2. What should I do now? Day 207 of Des McCabe's Personal Development Exercises
OUT OF DATE We only ever truly appreciate something, when it’s over. It is when we look back that we get a sense of what was there. And what has now gone. So, in the midst of all events we remember that we cannot see the full value. We cannot see all that is there. It is only when it is gone, that we can fully appreciate it all. PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT EXERCISE. 1. Reflect on a key event in your life and compare how you think about it now compared to how you felt at the time. 2. What events are happening with you at the moment? Where might there be value that you are not fully appreciating? Day 206 of Des McCabe's Personal Development Exercises
DICTATION In this moment a thought is born, and the idea comes. The words flow and the writing takes shape. Ready to share. Every moment holds a thought, so let your ideas come. Let your words flow and your writing take shape. And get ready to share. PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT EXERCISE. 1. Start a journal today. Capture your thoughts throughout the day. Write in your journal every day. 2. Review your writings once a week. What do they tell you? Day 205 of Des McCabe's Personal Development Exercises
PREDICTIVE TEXT You cannot even begin to imagine, what will happen over the next 10 years. Look at where you were 10 years ago, what you were doing, and what your work was. So be open to all possibilities. Expect the unexpected. Embrace all with gratitude. This time will be truly amazing! You cannot even begin to predict, the blessings that await you, over the next 10 years. PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT EXERCISE 1. Write your thank-you's for all that has happened over the last ten years. 2. Write down all that you would like to see happen in the next ten years - in every area of your life. Day 204 of Des McCabe's Personal Development Exercises
PARADIGM SHIFT It is not what I must do. It is not what I must be. It is not who I am. It is not which direction to take. It is not about time. It is not about action. It is not about the world. It is not about me. So, what is it? PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT EXERCISE 1. How do we step out of all that we know and all that we are? 2. How can we change everything? Day 203 of Des McCabe's Personal Development Exercises
WHEELBARROWS It is people who create, drive and sustain businesses. The company's success is simply a by-product of human endeavour and teamwork. Yet we make the share price or the return on investment, the key measures of success. In the future we need to be better at capturing personal and group achievements along with the economic ones. We must learn to harvest individual innovation, the new models of collaboration, and problem-solving approaches that are helping our organisation to succeed each day. And then we can leverage this into all sorts of products, services and new ways of thinking. It's a bit like two people inventing the wheel, and then we only use this to sell wheelbarrows. We have of course, learned to go to the next stage, and use the wheel in millions of other ways. But the wheel is still a by-product. What about the two people who invented the wheel or solved a problem in your workplace? That’s where the real opportunity and value is. Individuals are the key to success, if we can just free ourselves of wheelbarrows. PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT EXERCISE 1. How do you harvest and leverage your creativity? 2. How do you help to harvest and leverage the creativity of others? Day 202 of Des McCabe's Personal Development Exercises
FUTURE PROOF Today was a perfect day Everything worked All went better than I could have imagined, or planned. All the pieces fell into place. Everything was in harmony. Everyone was there. You were there. It was as if my whole life was in this one day. And that this day, is now forever. PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT EXERCISE 1. Describe your perfect day. Day 201 of Des McCabe's Personal Development Exercises
VOCATIONAL GUIDANCE Be gracious. Be kind. Listen. Ask questions. Smile. Be positive, no matter what. Find the good in every situation. Search for alternatives, even if you cannot see any. Do not boast. Do not take the credit. Be humble. After all, your success is because of others. Recognise that you are not perfect, and that this in itself is perfect. Accept that others are not perfect, and that is the way it is meant to be. You do not have to know everything. Just work with those you can help and with others who can help you. Love plays to people strengths. Discover and celebrate the talents of others. Your workplace is the whole world. Your task is to reach out to all for you are responsible for everyone. This is not an impossible task. It is your gift of compassion to those in need. Be ambitious for all that you can be. Remember that you can achieve absolutely anything, with the right support. Surprise others. Make them laugh. Do the unexpected. Make every day different and every meeting memorable. Make every customer feel amazing with your smile. Respond to unhelpful people with kindness. Answer aggression with politeness. Stick to your own framework of love no matter what difficulties arise. For all things will pass. Stay young no matter how old you are. Be wise and listen no matter how young you are. Always. What do you do today is your legacy. Use every moment. Explore. Wonder at the sunrise, the water and the smile of the child. Embrace those you love every day. Hug them and tell them that they are truly amazing. Tell them you love them. Your children will teach you everything you need to know. Your grandchildren will teach you even more. Remember that you are working in every minute. And being rewarded with the gift of life. Never work for just money for time is so precious. Every person is a star. Every conversation an inspiration. Capture value from everything for it has all been given to you as a gift. Be thankful. Your work is you. It isn’t an office building or a factory. Take your work into every situation, as a force for good, as a champion of kindness. You are a fountain of love. You can choose to be majestic or to keep your tap turned off. You are the fountain of all love. All love can flow through you. All the love that has ever been and ever will be, is connected to you, and through you. Your health will not always be good so never take it for granted. Waking up in the morning is the most amazing gift ever, for one day it will cease. Be bold. Be brave. Be daring. Be adventurous. Be creative. For love Shake the tree and rattle the cage. How else will you know if apples will fall or that lion will roar? Then gather the apples and open the cage. Don’t accept half measures. Don’t settle for anything less than brilliant. Bring out the best in everyone. For if it is worth doing, it’s worth doing right Don’t be self-sufficient! Build amazing relationships everyday with your partner, your family, your community, and your many workplaces. Decide where you’re going. Imagine all that you should be. Focus on this each day. Don’t get distracted. Stay your course and claim that prize. Just because it hasn’t been done before doesn’t mean you can’t do it. Just because everyone else has failed doesn’t mean you will. Just because others say something doesn’t mean it’s true. Listen to yourself. Go for a walk on your own every day. Sit in silence and try not to think Forgive yourself. Always Stop beating yourself up. You are perfect as you are. You have nothing to prove to anyone. Be thankful every single night. Recognise all that has happened and the fact that you were part of all that has happened today. You played your part in the theatre of the world Sometimes it’s good to act fast. Other times it’s good to sit and do nothing. Go with the flow. You are not on your own. You are not alone, even in your darkest moments. All times will pass. And love will continue to grow Be successfully before 10 o’clock each day. Always say yes. Ask for help for it’s a sign of strength. Build linkages, and enable others to play their part. Be enthusiastic in your work, and smile. You are amazing! Use your voice and say what is important to you. Decide on your purpose and play every day with possibilities. PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT EXERCISE 1. What is your vocation? Day 200 of Des McCabe's Personal Development Exercises
TIMEKEEPER The village clock says 11:52, and chimes three times. An hour later, the village clock says 11:52, and chimes four times. PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT EXERCISE 1. How well are you keeping time? 2. How might you 'stop your clock'? Day 199 of Des McCabe's Personal Development Exercises
PROBATION PERIOD We’ve only been here for a few days, but it feels like months. I feel like we are now well settled in this place. We’ve been in this house for a few years, but it seems like a lifetime. I feel like we are now well settled in the area. Although I’ve been around for fifty years or so, it all seems like yesterday. I feel like I’m only just settling into my life. I’m just starting to feel comfortable with what is going on, and who I am. I feel like I’m beginning to settle into my life. PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT EXERCISE 1. How well are you settling into your life? 2. What areas are you comfortable with? 3. What areas are you not totally at ease with yet? Day 198 of Des McCabe's Personal Development Exercises
STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURE For twenty years I cut the grass the same way from the back door to the beach and back again, stripes leading outwards from the back door taking me to the beach and back again. Today I cut the grass a different way. I don't know why - it just happened. I cut the grass from the left to right and then right to the left. Starting at the back door and slowly getting closer to the beach without going back to the house. I had stripes across the lawn rather than up and down. Today, after twenty years I cut the grass in a different way. PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT EXERCISE 1. What is your routine or standard operating procedure? 2. What might you change - just to get a different perspective? Day 197 of Des McCabe's Personal Development Exercises
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