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600 Personal Development Exercises

do one a day - every day!

What happens in your next episode?

8/27/2021

 

BREAKFAST SERIAL

I want you to be excited
about the work
you are about to do.
For the opportunities
that are waiting for you.
For the friends
who will support you and
for the new beginnings,
that we share each day.

​​PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT EXERCISE
1. What script do you write for yourself each morning over breakfast?
2. How can you create an amazing plot - of projects, opportinities and friendships to be played out today? 
3. Imagine it's breakfast time - and create the next episode in your serial. 


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Day 521 of Des McCabe's Personal Development Exercises

How is your elephant?

8/2/2021

 

ELEPHANT
 
They say that the best way
to eat an elephant
(meaning, to tackle that big task),
is one bite at a time.
 
Or to cross the river,
is to go,
from one stepping-stone
to the next.
 
Or to finish the jigsaw,
is simply to,
take one piece
at a time.
 
And so it is, with
our elephant,
our river and
our jigsaw.
 
They are all there
for us to take
one bite, one step,
one piece, today.

​​PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT EXERCISE. ​
1. What is your elephant?? 
​2. What is your river?
3. What is your jigsaw?
​

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Day 496 of Des McCabe's Personal Development Exercises

When should we change what we do?

7/23/2021

 

A DOG'S LIFE

The dog finds a stick.
The dog chases and fetches the stick.
The dog chases and fetches the stick.
The dog chases and fetches the stick.
The dog chases and fetches the stick.
The dog chases and fetches the stick.
The dog chases and fetches the stick.
The dog chases and fetches the stick.
The dog carries the stick.

​PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT EXERCISE. ​
1. Are you ready for a rest?
2. Is it time to change what you have been repeatedly doing? 


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Day 486 of Des McCabe's Personal Development Exercises

What is the daily habit of Wishful Thinking?

6/29/2021

 

​WISHFUL THINKING

We can change the world and
help others with our positive
ideas and our kind thoughts.
This is more than wishful thinking.
 
For Quantum Physics tells us, that
every single thought that we have,
influences everything else
in the universe, simultaneously.

And so, 
What are you thinking about, today?
What are you wishing for, every day?
What would you like to see happen, now?

PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT EXERCISE
1. What is the most important thinking that you can do?
2. How will you develop the daily habit of Wishful Thinking?
​

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Day 462 of Des McCabe's Personal Development Exercises

What's so special about Today?

6/14/2021

 

NEW DAY
 

Every day is different.
Every day is new.
Rediscover the ordinary.
Welcome what we take for granted.
Celebrate with those you meet.
Be open to filling all the spaces
of this day, in a new way.
For every day is different.

PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT EXERCISE
1. What will you re-discover today?
2. Who will you welcome?
3. What will you celebrate?


Day 447 of Des McCabe's Personal Development Exercises

What are the Three Elements of a Personal Daily Impact Framework?

5/19/2021

 

DON'T LOSE YOUR DAY
 
Do not let your day
become a list of things
to do, or meetings to
attend, or people to talk with..
 
For when our day is over,
all we will have achieved
are some 'ticks',
against our 'to do' list.
 
Start with meaning,
and look at all
that this day,
can offer you.
 
See every ACTIVITY
as your moment,
to make the world
a better place.

 
See every TASK
as an invitation,
to explore a new aspect
of yourself.
 
See every CONVERSATION
as your opportunity,
to build love through
   everything that you are.

PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT EXERCISE?
1. Replace your daily to-to list with a​ personal impact list.
2. Capture the results of every activity, task and conversation. 


Day 421 of Des McCabe's Personal Development Exercises

What are the top four Hearing Aids?

5/15/2021

 

HEARING AIDS
 
Our priority today is
to sit and listen,
to walk and listen,
to read and listen,
to watch and listen.

PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT EXERCISE?
1. How can you use your top four hearing aids today?

Day 417 of Des McCabe's Personal Development Exercises

How can we become more Proactive?

2/4/2021

 

Reactive
 
The bell rings and
the dog salivates.
Waiting for the next
piece of food to arrive.
 
Just because
there is a stimulus,
doesn’t mean that
there has to be a response.
 
Just because
someone says something,
doesn’t mean that
you have to answer.
 
Just because
something happens,
doesn’t mean that
you have to act.
 
Just because your phone pings.
Just because an email arrives.
Just because the time says so.
Just because social media keeps talking.
 
It is when we stop being controlled
by external activities,
that we can begin to listen
to internal whispers.

PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT EXERCISE. ​
1. How do you invest your time?
2. Who or what can controls your behaviour at times?
3. What might you say 'no response' to?


Day 317 of Des McCabe's Personal Development Exercises

Why should I do a Selfie?

1/31/2021

 

SELFIE

Do Something Every Day
for yourself.

Do something to harvest
what you’ve learned.
Do something to capture
your learning in words.

Do something to share
your experience.
Do something to help
others you meet.

Before you get captured
by emails, social media,
and the demands of others.
Before the day
disappears,
into more of the same.

Before you run
out of energy,
and out of time.
Do Something Every Day
for yourself.

For how else will you
use the skills you’ve been given?
For how else will you
make things better for others?

For how else will you
leave your mark?
For how else will you
make the world a better place?

Do Something Every Day.
Put yourself first.
Do a selfie every day.

PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT EXERCISE. ​
1. What will you do today to harvest and share your experience?

Day 313 of Des McCabe's Personal Development Exercises

What is Personal Insight?

1/28/2021

 

INSIGHT 

​The most exciting part
of my day, is here.
​Right now.

PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT EXERCISE. ​
1. Why is this the most exciting part of your day? 

Day 310 of Des McCabe's Personal Development Exercises

How can I make Monday Mornings magic?

1/18/2021

 

MONDAY MORNING

Monday morning
and time to set out
my focus and plan,
for this week.

Lots of stuff
as always,
to be done
in my daily routine.

But my stuff
is always there.
And all of us 
has stuff to do.
 
It’s what we think
that really matters.
What do we bring or
what’s our added value?

I can bring a positive spirit
I can bring encouragement
I can bring friendship
I can bring help.

I can also think 
about my journey 
and what all of
my stuff is about.

This is the real focus
for my week ahead.
Behind, within and above
all of the stuff.

PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT EXERCISE. ​
1. What stuff have you to do this week?
2. What's your focus behind, within and above all of your stuff.


Day 300 of Des McCabe's Personal Development Exercises

What is your Project for today?

1/4/2021

 
​
PROJECT MANAGER


Pick a project every day.
A mini activity
that you will focus on.
 
It might be writing something,
or fixing something,
or creating something.
 
It could be helping someone,
talking to someone,
or working with someone.
 
This will be your achievement
and success from today
and every day from now on.
 
Pick a project today
and every day.
And watch your legacy grow.

PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT EXERCISE
1. What is your project for today?
2. What is tomorrow's project? 


Day 286 of Des McCabe's Personal Development Exercises

Why is the recommended getting-up time?

1/2/2021

 

​EARLY MORNING CALL 

I like to get up early in the morning.
I like to get up and find the day.
I like to sit and see the Sun come up.
I like to get up and find my way.
 
I like to get up early in the morning.
I like to get up before the light.
I like to sit with my cup of tea.
I like to get up while it’s night.

PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT EXERCISE
1. How do you kick-start your day?
2. How do you focus on what is important to you every morning? 


Day 284 of Des McCabe's Personal Development Exercises

What is your Thought in this moment?

12/10/2020

 

THOUGHTFUL

I can do nothing about the past
for it has gone.
All is etched in time.
I can do nothing about the future
for the future never arrives.

All I have is this moment
and this thought.
I ask for your mercy
to forgive my past
and to guide my present.

PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT EXERCISE
1. What is your thought in this moment?
2. And what is your thought in this moment?


Day 261 of Des McCabe's Personal Development Exercises

Have you Synced the different parts of your Life?

10/9/2020

 

​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

What is the best Daily Exercise Routine?

10/2/2020

 

DAILY EXERCISE

Treat each day
like a race,
and run.
Run to win.

See the finish line
and go for it.
Start fast.
Run to win.

Go faster and
Faster still.
Keep going.
Run to win.

Who knows what
you might do
if you run.
Run to win.

Go past the finish line.
All is possible.
Run today.
Run to win.

PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT EXERCISE
1. What is your race today?
2. Where is your finish line? 
3. Are you running now? 


Day 193 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

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