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600 Personal Development Exercises

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What are your Memories?

7/16/2021

 

MEMORIES


Memories,
​even painful ones,
are prayers of gratitude.

​PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT EXERCISE
1. What are your favourite memories?
2. What do you say 'thank-you' for?

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Day 479 of Des McCabe's Personal Development Exercises

When should we say thank-you?

7/11/2021

 

​EVERYDAY GIFTS

​Life is a gift
in every day,
in every hour, and
in every moment.
 
A gift given to us,
without expectation
or cost.
 
The purpose of life
is simply
to say thank you,
for that gift,
 
in every day,
in every hour, and
in every moment.

PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT EXERCISE
1. What would you like to say thank-you for? 
2. How can we build the practice of thank-you into our daily lives? 
​

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Day 474 of Des McCabe's Personal Development Exercises

What is your Appreciation Rate?

6/10/2021

 

 APPRECIATION RATE
​
When others show their
appreciation for us,
our energy is boosted and
our relationship is strengthened.
We go forward, together.
 
Being taken for granted,
on the other hand,
takes away our energy,
drains our enthusiasm and
leaves us disappointed.

We can all share and enjoy
the gift of appreciation,
in every conversation.
Let's ​increase our Appreciation Rate
 and build a kinder world.

PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT EXERCISE
1. Create three phrases of appreciation that you can use... e.g., I really appreciate your help, thanks John!
​2. Resolve to use one of these phrases in every conversation. 
3. What is your Appreciation Rate for today - in other words, what percentage of conversations include words of appreciation? 


Day 443 of Des McCabe's Personal Development Exercises

What Happened on This Day?

3/23/2021

 

THIS DAY

This day is not
a list of things to be done.
This day is not
a day of deadlines.
This day is not
about tomorrow.
 
This day is not a day
to weigh heavily on you.
This day is not a day
for you to struggle.
This day is not a day
for you just to get by.
 
This is the day to be joyful.
This is the day to stop and look.
This is the day to listen.
This is the day to be grateful.
 
This is the day to smile.
This is the day to be kind.
This is the day to reach out.
This is the day to look in.

PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT EXERCISE
1. What happens on this day for you? ​

Day 364 of Des McCabe's Personal Development Exercises

What are Stone Buildings?

3/21/2021

 

STONE BUILDINGS

I carry a little stone
in my pocket.
I picked it up
on a beach in Ireland.
 
Every day, it reminds me
to build something,
never to hurt anyone and
be thankful for all that I have.
 
My little stone
will still be here
long after I am gone,
in everything I’ve created,
 
So, I keep this little stone
in my pocket,
as a gift from the world
to be given back to the world.

PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT EXERCISE
1. What are your three daily reminders for yourself?
2. I use a little stone as a way of remembering these. What do you use?
​

Day 362 of Des McCabe's Personal Development Exercises

What is Enough?

3/12/2021

 

WHAT IS ENOUGH?

The greatest privilege
is to be alive
today.
And that is
enough.
 
The greatest gift
you will ever receive
is today.
And that is
enough.
 
The greatest that
you will ever be
is today.
And that is
more than enough.

PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT EXERCISE
1. What will you do with the wonderful gift that is today?
2. When will you say 'I have enough'?


Day 353 of Des McCabe's Personal Development Exercises

What is the best way to Waken up?

2/12/2021

 

AUTO START
 
Open your eyes.
Turn on your ears.
Unleash your tongue.
Unfold your hands.
Switch on your speech.
 
We start up our five senses
every morning, in a seamless routine,
without acknowledgement or thanks,
for these most amazing gifts.
So, let us pause and say,
 
Thank you for my seeing today.
Thank you for my hearing today.
Thank you for my taste today.
Thank you for my  touch today.
Thank you for my voice today.

PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT EXERCISE. ​
1. Which of your five senses are most important to you?
2. Can you describe other senses that you have? I have a sense of ...


Day 325 of Des McCabe's Personal Development Exercises

What is a Personal Audit?

2/8/2021

 
​
AUDIT

 
You have wisdom
Beyond your years.
You have understanding
Beyond this world.
You have gifts
Beyond all imagining.
 
You have strength
Beyond all constraints
You have foresight.
Beyond all reason.
You have courage
Beyond all danger.
 
You have joy
beyond all pain.
You have hope
Beyond all suffering.
You have light
Beyond all darkness.

PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT EXERCISE. ​
1. This is your personal audit. Remember to be grateful for your gifts and blessings - and to celebrate your life every day.

Day 321 of Des McCabe's Personal Development Exercises

What is with you during your day?

1/10/2021

 
​
CANDLELIGHT


The first thing I do
in the morning,
when I come downstairs,
is to light a candle.

It sits beside me
on a little coffee table,
while I have
a cup of tea.

The candle is there,
alight all day,
as life goes on
around it.

And the last thing
I do before I go to bed,
is say thanks, and
blow out the candle.

PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT EXERCISE
1. What keeps you company throughout the day?
2. What is the last thing that you do before you go to bed?


Day 292 of Des McCabe's Personal Development Exercises

Can we be the Giver and the Gift?

12/11/2020

 

GIFT WRAPPED

Thank you for my life.
And let me pause here
for I normally go on to think
about all that I’ve been given,
all those I know, and
all that I am involved with.

But this morning I want
to stop at thank you for my life.
The gift that makes me here and now.
The personal unconditional
force of love that means
I exist in this moment.

The creatives force of love
that makes me possible,
smiles this morning. 
And gently reminds me
that we are all
both the giver and the gift.

PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT EXERCISE
1. How are you a gift of love to others?

Day 262 of Des McCabe's Personal Development Exercises

Why are the best things Out of Date?

10/16/2020

 
​​
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

Can you Future Proof your Life?

10/11/2020

 

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

What are the top 10 'Thank-You's'?

8/21/2020

 

SHORT-TERM MEMORY

We awaken each day.
We forget to say thanks.
We settle to sleep.
We forget to say thanks.

We eat our food.
We forget to say thanks.
We wear our clothes.
We forget to say thanks.

We have our home.
We forget to say thanks.
We have our world
We forget to say thanks.

We walk and talk.
We forget to say thanks.
We laugh and cry.
We forget to say thanks.

We have our family.
We forget to say thanks.
We have our friends.
We forget to say thanks.

We have our work.
We forget to say thanks.
We have our rest.
We forget to say thanks.

We have time to be busy.
We forget to say thanks.
We have time to rest.
We forget to say thanks.

We can think and dream.
We forget to say thanks.
We can plan and prepare.
We forget to say thanks.

We can be happy or sad.
We forget to say thanks.
We can be ourselves.
We forget to say thanks.

We were born and given life.
We forget to say thanks.
We have wonderful memories.
We forget to say thanks.

Everything has been given to us.
We stop and give thanks.
For all that we are.
We stop and give thanks.​

PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT EXERCISE
1. Just stop for a moment and give thanks for all that you are.
2. Write down you top ten thank-you's and remember to say them at the same time every day. 


Day 151 of Des McCabe's Personal Development Exercises

What have you received this week?

8/1/2020

 

DELIVERY CONFIRMATION
 

It’s time to write
this week’s list of thank-yous.
Where will you start?
Where was your joy?
 
What have you learned?
What have you been given?
What was the one big surprise?
Who has helped you?
 
What has been sorted?
How have you been?
Who did you speak with?
What did you take for granted?
 
It’s Saturday and it’s time
to write this week’s list of thank-yous.
To sign here for all
that you have received.

PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT EXERCISE
1. What have been the key events and memories of the last seven days?
2. Write down your top 10 thank-yous - and then rank them in order of importance for you,  from 1- 10.


Day 131 of Des McCabe's Personal Development Exercises

Is today really your Birthday?

7/14/2020

 

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

How can we measure Gratitude?

7/2/2020

 

OVERFLOW 
 
Today I have a sense
of everything being here and now.
Past, present and future
is all here.
 
Family and friends long gone
are with me in the garden.
Problems, difficulties and worries
have dissolved in the sunshine.
 
The blue sky holds
everything below in its care
and the Sun
warms me.
 
All exists without angst or worry.
Wonder, contentment
and sense of gratitude
fill me to overflowing.

PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT EXERCISE
1. Sit for a moment and hold your past, present and future together - all here now. Let go of anxieties. Who are the family and friends in your story?
2. Feel the warmth of their love and allow your gratitude to overflow....


Day 101 of Des McCabe's Personal Development Exercises

What are your Daily Reminders?

6/7/2020

 

REMINDERS
​
Never too old,

never too tired,
never too late,
never too much trouble.
 
Always enough,
always great,
always yes,
always love.

PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT EXERCISE
1. Write another two phrases beginning with ‘never …’ 
2. Write another two phrases beginning with ‘always …’ 


Day 76 of Des McCabe's Personal Development Exercises

What is a Privilege?

6/1/2020

 

​HONOURS LIST
 
I worry about what has happened
forgetting all is a privilege.
I regret the mess I’ve made
forgetting all is a privilege.
I feel disappointed by what I’ve done
forgetting all is a privilege.
 
Each day brings an ongoing torrent
of privileges, opportunities and gifts.
Irrespective of how well I manage these
the torrent continues.
And so, as I try to embrace what happens today
I remember that all is a privilege.

PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT EXERCISE
1. What privileges, opportunities and gifts have you already received today?
2. How will you embrace and use these?


Day 70 of Des McCabe's Personal Development Exercises

What is a Step Change?

5/27/2020

 

​STEP CHANGE
 
Back to work.
Back to the coffee shop.
Back to family and friends.
Back to barbecues.
 
Back to days out.
Back to meeting up.
Back to school.
Back to all we love.
 
Progress now means
that we move forwards
by going backwards
in small steps.
 
We are rediscovering
and cherishing
all that we had and
once took for granted.

PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT EXERCISE
1. What is the 'step change' you are most looking forward to rediscovering?
​2. How  do you express your thanks and appreciation for what you already have in all aspects of your life?


Day 65 of Des McCabe's Personal Development Exercises

What is a good morning Thank-you?

5/25/2020

 

​COFFEE MORNING
 
I just love this first cup of coffee
in the morning.
It’s my moment of appreciation
for the day I’ve been given.
 
It’s my celebration and gratitude
for a new start,
full of wonder of all that will unfold
before me and for me.
 
I gently leave to one side
the troubles from yesterday.
I do not carry
the worries of the past.
 
I begin afresh,
right here, right now,
with both hands clasped in thanks,
around this first cup of coffee.

PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT EXERCISE
1. How do you welcome and say thanks for each new day that you have been given? It can be as simple as a thoughtful cup of coffee!
​2. What is your new start? 


Day 63 of Des McCabe's Personal Development Exercises

Are you pleased with your current Workload?

5/7/2020

 

WORKLOAD

​ Be thankful for the tasks
you have to do today.
For there will come a time
when those seeking your help
or needing your input,
will no longer be asking.
There will come a time
when you will not be able to help.

PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT EXERCISE
1. What are your priority tasks today?
2. Can you look beyond the activity to further explore the relationships involved in each task? 


Day 45 of Des McCabe's Personal Development Exercises

When does the Sun rise?

4/13/2020

 
​​
BATTERY LIFE 

 
Each morning without fail
the sun rises on the horizon.
Slowly emerging into full view
so bright that I cannot look for long.
 
Each morning without fail
the sun rises on the horizon
whatever the circumstances
whatever I’m doing.
 
Each morning without fail
the sun rises on the horizon.
Before I was here and after I am gone
the sun rises on the horizon.

PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT EXERCISE 
1. Make a plan to sit and watch a sunrise. Take a notebook with you....

Day 21 of Des McCabe's Personal Development Exercises

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