600 Personal Development Exercises
do one a day - every day!
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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?  Day 479 of Des McCabe's Personal Development Exercises 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?  Day 474 of Des McCabe's Personal Development Exercises 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
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
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? 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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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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