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600 Personal Development Exercises

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What is an Annual Renewal?

1/1/2021

 

​ANNUAL RENEWAL

I’m happy just sitting here,
in the lobby of
my New York City Hotel.
 
Just chilling,
with the laid-back mood music, in
my New York City Hotel.
 
It’s the first of January,
and I’m getting ready in
my New York City Hotel.
 
A new year, and
a fresh start begins from here, in
my New York City Hotel.
 
Thanks, have been said for all
that has led me here, to
my New York City Hotel.
 
Resolutions and promises,
 will all unfold from here, in
my New York City Hotel.
 
I remember it all so clearly,
a year ago, today, sitting in
my New York City Hotel.

PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT EXERCISE
1. What were you thinking about a year ago today? 
2. What will you be thinking about a year ahead from now?

Day 283 of Des McCabe's Personal Development Exercises

Who do you Toast?

12/31/2020

 

TOAST

 On this New Year’s Eve
I cast my mind back and remember
all who are no longer here.
I think of my Mum and my Dad.
I remember my Granny, Aunts and Uncles.

And I remember different times,
different places and different scenarios.
Each New Year’s Eve has been filled
with thanks and joy, or with sorrow
or relief that certain things have passed.

And as we look forward tonight
we will raise our glasses and our hearts,
and wish each other happiness.
Just like we did with you all
on many a New Year’s Eve before.

PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT EXERCISE
1. Who will you remember on this New Year's Eve? 

Day 282 of Des McCabe's Personal Development Exercises

What is Cumulative Thinking?

12/29/2020

 

REPOSITIONING

We can get stuck in cumulative thinking.
We keep thinking ‘what’s next?”
We move forward step by step,
based on what we have done before.
This is called cumulative thinking.
 
But the New Year is a chance for us
to reposition where we are.
In other words, we can step
outside of this cumulative process.
We can find a better or a happier way.
 
So, move outside of  your cumulative process.
Start from this moment.  
Start afresh from now.
 Imagine this is the first day of your new life
 and plan to go where you should be.
 
What has gone before no longer matters.
You do not have to behave
as you’ve always done.
 You do not have to carry the past with you.
You have a chance to reposition everything.
 
This New Year is much more than
the charting of a new path.
It’s also a mind shift.
It’s freeing up your thinking
and allowing yourself to start again
.

PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT EXERCISE
1. Can you see how you might be in the cumlulative thinking process? 
2. How might you completerly reposition your life?

Day 280 of Des McCabe's Personal Development Exercises

What happens between Christmas and the New Year?

12/26/2020

 

EXTRA TIME

Some describe this week
as extra time or overtime.
It’s the space between
Christmas Day and New Year’s Day.
It’s a week like no other in the year.
Between the end and the beginning.

We’ve had the busyness
in the build up to Christmas,
and soon we will be back to
ordinary life at the start of January.
But before then, there’s a space for us,
for the world is busy in its own places.

This is our week to step back,
rest, reflect,  rethink, reorganise,
refocus, restructure and regain
a sense of all that is important to us.
And to use this extra time to guide
the next part of our journey.

PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT EXERCISE
1. How will you use your 'extra time' this year?
2. Where will you find a space for yourself?​


Day 277 of Des McCabe's Personal Development Exercises

Where should we go to on Christmas Day?

12/25/2020

 

CHRISTMAS DAY

The message of Christmas Day
is to go beyond
everything that we think we know
and trust in a place
that we have never been,
and a life we have never seen.
Just like the new born baby
in Bethlehem.

PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT EXERCISE
1. What message will you take from this Christmas Day?

Day 276 of Des McCabe's Personal Development Exercises

What were the names of Santa's ten Reindeer?

12/24/2020

 

​GUARANTEED DELIVERY

This exercise is for those
waiting for Santa tonight.
It’s a busy time for him and his team.
Can you name Santa's ten Reindeer?
 
There’s Dasher and Dancer.
Prancer and Vixen.
Comet and Cupid.
Donner and Blitzen.
 
Ok, that eight!
Rudolph is number nine and
and perhaps the most famous
because of the song about his red nose!
 
And then, of course, there's Olive,
‘the other reindeer’
(just sing Rudolf’s song!).

PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT EXERCISE
1. What was the best gift that Santa brought you?
2. How would you desctibe that Christmas Eve feeling? 


Day 275 of Des McCabe's Personal Development Exercises

What are the most popular Christmas Gifts?

12/23/2020

 

CHRISTMAS GIFTS

I have received
the gift of understanding,
the gift of knowledge,
the gift of truth,
the gift of insight,
the gift of time,
the gift of places,
the gift of serving,
the gift of writing,
the gift of purpose,
the gift of others,
the gift of friendship,
the gift of support,
the gift of love, and
the gift of being with you.
 
But more than these,
I have been given the gift
of how to use these gifts.
And the daily help to do so.
 
You see these are not momentary gifts. 
 They are lifelong gifts
that grow and produce outcomes.
They are the blessings and architecture
of a life I could never imagine.
 And all of these are poured out for me
​every single day.

PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT EXERCISE
1. What gifts have you been given?
2. How will you use these today?


Day 274 of Des McCabe's Personal Development Exercises

What was a Covid Christmas like?

12/19/2020

 

REVISED CHRISTMAS SCHEDULE
 
Covid is trying to force the
cancellation of Christmas this year.
Locked in, our loved ones
are feeling lost and uneasy.
 
The time for family and friends
has been slapped down.
There is a different rulebook
on what we can or should do.
 
But Christmas is safe
within each one of us.
No matter what happens,
we can link up and be with each other.
 
Let’s schedule our daily phone calls
to catch up and chat.
Let’s send our texts randomly and often.
Let’s plan Zoom chats for games,
quizzes and present opening.
For Santa is coming as planned.
 
Let’s watch our TV shows
and films as usual.
Let’s set up the laptop beside the TV
and bring all of us together.
 
Let's also take a moment
to remember those who have died. 
Let's reach out to those missing loved ones
and those struggling with isolation.
 
For we can expand our get-togethers
this year, not restrict them.
Let's use WhatsApp, FaceTime or Skype
to include more people than ever before.
 
Let’s have big bubbles and
little bubbles everywhere!
Let’s encourage and bring cheer to others.
Let’s celebrate all of Christmas this year.
 
So, let’s plan our revised schedule now
with who, and what and when.
Let's send out our invites to our loved ones.
And let's include others with a very
deliberate act of Christmas kindness.
 
And let us look forward this Christmas   
with moments of love and hope. 
For we know, as always, there are babies
soon to be born all over the world.

PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT EXERCISE
1. Plan an amazing Christmas schedule.
​2. Who, what and when - get your invites out!


Day 270 of Des McCabe's Personal Development Exercises

What Gift should I bring a new Baby?

12/16/2020

 

CHRISTMAS SHOPPING

What gift will you
be bringing the baby
Jesus, this year?

PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT EXERCISE
1. Who, and what, is on your shopping list this year?

Day 267 of Des McCabe's Personal Development Exercises

What can we inherit from our Parents?

12/6/2020

 

INHERITING A HOUSE

When I was young we had a Christmas crib
that stood on a little table in our hall.
We all passed it coming in and going out of the house.
There was a orange light that went into the back.
The crib lit up the hall from within.
 
The little bed of hay in the centre of the scene,
stayed empty until Christmas Eve.
We switched on the light every morning.
Mary, Joseph and the Shepherds were waiting.
We never have the three kings.
 
Fifty years on and we still have the same crib.
It's in a new setting with new young people.
We all pass it coming in and going out of the house.
The little bed of hay is there.
Mary, Joseph and the Shepherds are waiting.

PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT EXERCISE
1. What treasure have you inherited form your parents? 
2. What will you pass on to your children? 


Day 257 of Des McCabe's Personal Development Exercises

What is the Greatest Life?

12/4/2020

 

CHRISTMAS PRESENT

You have the greatest life.
Beyond all imagination.
Beyond all thankfulness.
 
You have been given the grace
to see that this life
is not measured by
what you have or have not,
or how easy or difficult
your situation is.
 
You have the greatest gift.
Connected to Love.
Connected to eternity.
 
You have been given the grace
to see that this life
is totally amazing.
Blessed and sacred.
No matter what has happened,
or is yet to occur.
 
You have the greatest life.
Beyond all imagination.
Beyond all thankfulness.

PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT EXERCISE
1. Our life is the greatest Christmas present. How big is your imagining for your future? How big is your thankfulness?

Day 255 of Des McCabe's Personal Development Exercises

Why do Advent Calendars have little Windows?

12/1/2020

 
​
WINDOWS


When others talk about Windows,
I remember the little tabs
on my childhood advent calendar.
 
And behind each number
was a Christmas picture
or a piece of chocolate!
 
We counted down from the
​first of December to Christmas Eve,
one little window at a time.

PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT EXERCISE
1. How might you rediscover the magic of Christmas?
2. Who could you give an advent calendar to this year?


Day 252 of Des McCabe's Personal Development Exercises

What is a Black Christmas?

11/22/2020

 

​BLACK FRIDAY

They’re going to be
scratching their heads
even more this year.
Wondering what to get
the Old Man for Christmas.
 
Amazon will have more
clicks and cash than it
could ever have imagined.
Black Friday is becoming
Black Christmas.
 
So perhaps I’ll adopt
a different approach,
and take the pressure off those
determined to buy me something.
This year. I’ll say exactly
what I would like.
 
There are millions of people
and thousands of groups
struggling in the present situation.
There is no normal Christmas
this year.
 
So, I would love it,
if you could
make a small donation
to those doing good work
or help a local cause on my behalf.
 
However, if you really want
to do the online
Christmas shopping experience,
then why not send a surprise toy
to a young family,
a gift to an older person or
a food delivery to a local food bank.
 
We can spend our way from now
to a Black Christmas
or we can empower each other
and create a Kinder Christmas.

PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT EXERCISE
1. What would you like for Christmas?

Day 243 of Des McCabe's Personal Development Exercises

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