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600 Personal Development Exercises

do one a day - every day!

What is the cloud of forgetting?

9/12/2021

 

FORGETFUL

​Older people are sometimes
viewed sympathetically
or in a patronising way,
when they seem to struggle
to remember dates,
or names, or events.
 
But what younger people
do not yet know is that
as we grow older,
we can be blessed with
‘the cloud of forgetting’,
which is often given other names.
 
An unknown 14th century mystic
set out clearly for us, how
the cloud of forgetting
awaits us all, as we
move upwards to become
one with eternal love.
 
Once we have this understanding,
we too can experience
the gift of forgetting, now.
We can also look
to forgetful older folks with
​a sense of wonder and learning.

​​PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT EXERCISE
1. How might you learn and appreciate the gift of forgetting?

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Day 537 of Des McCabe's Personal Development Exercises

What is the paradox of life?

8/26/2021

 

​PARADOX
 

You do what you do,
because it’s what you must do
You do what you do,
because you are only here once.
And you do what you do,
knowing that, none of this matters.

​PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT EXERCISE
1. Write down how the paradox of life applies to you.

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Day 520 of Des McCabe's Personal Development Exercises

What is your Way?

6/18/2021

 

​MY WAY
 
You will find the path
to your inner self.
Others can make suggestions
but only you know what is real.
 
It’s not in any pre-packaged
structure or methodology,
for you are your own solution
and will find your own way.
 
St Ignatius of Loyola famously
said ‘just do what works’.
And Frank Sinatra sang
about ‘My Way’.
 
So, keep asking or listening,
looking or reading,
being busy or sitting still,
and uncover your inner self.

​PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT EXERCISE
1. Think about 'your way' and 'your path' to your inner self. What have you uncovered so far? 
2. Start a conversation with yourself in your Journal and you will notice new thoughts every day.


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Day 451 of Des McCabe's Personal Development Exercises

What is in the Silence?

6/13/2021

 

THE GREATEST PRAYER
 
The greatest prayer
is in our silence
where we have no words
and no thoughts.
Where nothing happens.
 
So, sit and say nothing.
Think of nothing,
as best you can.
And just be there
with the love you are.
 
For prayer
is not about religion,
nor any set of words.
Prayer is the place of love
within each of us.

PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT EXERCISE
1. Sit in silence for 20 minutes. Sit and say nothing. Think of nothing, as best you can. And just be there with the love you are.

Day 446 of Des McCabe's Personal Development Exercises

What is your Great Transformation?

5/30/2021

 

THE GREAT TRANSFORMATION

The great transformation
of your life is about to begin.
You will see things
in a different way.
You will think about things
in a different way.
You will relate to others
in a different way.
 
And there are no words
to describe this transformation.
For all words limit, and reduce
what you are about to become.
 
Your transformation has begun.
Hold the seed gently.
Be quiet. Walk slowly.
Give this process a chance
to take root in your busy brain,
and predictable life.
 
For you will never think
the same again.
You will never act
the same again.
You will never be
the same again.
 
Today you have received
the invitation of all invitations.
Begin to get ready.
Clear the decks.
Be willing to grow.
For everything you do
from now on, will speak
to you of transformation.
 
The words you hear
will be of encouragement
for your transformation.
The people you meet
will be the helpers
for your transformation
 
And every day will give you
the next stage,
the next piece, and
the next step forward
in your transformation.
 
You have nothing to do
but to be ready,
to be open, and
to say yes each day,
to your great transformation.

PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT EXERCISE
1. How can you begin, in this moment, your Great Transformation?

Day 432 of Des McCabe's Personal Development Exercises

What colour are Oranges?

5/20/2021

 

ORANGES
 

We are more than one thing.
We are not defined by our job,
or the work that we do.
 
Each of us is like an orange
that we can divide gently
into separate segments.
 
Each segment is a different piece
of who we are.
Each piece looks the same
from the outside.
And each piece fits together
as one.

PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT EXERCISE?
1. What are your segments?​

Day 422 of Des McCabe's Personal Development Exercises

What happens when Nothing happens?

5/18/2021

 
 
NOTHING
 

It is when there is no activity,
that all activity happens.
 
It is when there are no outcomes,
that the real outcomes occur.
 
It is when there is no thinking,
that there is no need to think.
 
It is when nothing gets done,
that everything is done.

PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT EXERCISE?
1. What  does nothing mean to you - in all aspects of your life and who you are?​ 

Day 420 of Des McCabe's Personal Development Exercises

Are you living in the Real World?

5/11/2021

 

LIVING IN THE REAL WORLD
 
It is only in the place
of total silence,
that we can hear
words spoken without sound.
 
It is only in the place
of total darkness,
that we can  become
the brightest light.
 
It is only in the place
of total emptiness,
that we can touch
what is really here.

PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT EXERCISE?
1. What do you hear in total silence?
2. What do you see in total darkness?
3. What do you touch in total emptiness?​


Day 413 of Des McCabe's Personal Development Exercises

What is White Space Time?

4/28/2021

 

WHITE SPACE 

When I feel the automatic urge
to pick up my phone, switch on
the TV, or browse the net,
I now pause.
 
For I realise that these are
habits I’ve learned.
I fill my brain and use up my time,
with activities.
 
It’s all other people’s content,
and although some is good,
to be honest, most is not really
the food of life!
 
I 'm trying not to give away
my time and my focus to external
content. I'm learning to be
more selective in my choices.
 
My freelance graphic designer
has spent years telling me
about white space, and urging
me to see things differently.
 
‘You don’t need to fill
every piece of the page
with text, images or content,’
she says.
 
I’m now leaving empty spaces
in my day, replacing the urge
to fill every moment.
It’s my white space time.

PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT EXERCISE
1. When is your White Space time today?
2. How much are you filling up on other people's content? 


Day 400 of Des McCabe's Personal Development Exercises

What is the Rule of One?

4/26/2021

 

THE RULE OF ONE

The center of the universe
and of everything
is in each of us.

All power and powerlessness
lies within each of us,
in our own measure.

All resources and lack of resources
 lie within each of us,
in our own measure.

All opportunity and struggle
 lies within each of us,
in our own measure.

All joy and pain
lies within each of us,
in our own measure.

All hope and hopelessness
 lies within each of us,
in our own measure

All love rests within each of us,
overflowing beyond all imagination,
embracing each of us,
without measure.

PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT EXERCISE
1. What is your measure of power, resources, opportunity, joy and hope? 
2. Where is our embrace for those who struggle, are in pain or powerless in our world? 


Day 398 of Des McCabe's Personal Development Exercises

What is Inner and Outer Learning?

4/20/2021

 

INNER AND OUTER LEARNING

There are two parts of your self.
There is a busy part that we
know well and lasts a lifetime.
The quieter part is hidden
and it lasts forever.
This is the part 
that we must find.
 
These are the two aspects
to personal development.
Outer learning shows us
how to survive and
grow in the world.
And Inner learning
teachers us about
who we really are.

PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT EXERCISE
1. What are you doing to develop your inner learning?
2. What are you doing to develop your outer learning?


Day 392 of Des McCabe's Personal Development Exercises

What do others think of you?

4/12/2021

 

IDENTITY PARADE

It’s not that I don’t care anymore,
about what others think of me.
 
It’s that I care more than ever,
about who I am.

PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT EXERCISE
1. How would you describe how others see you?
2. How close is this image to the real you?
​3. What is stopping you being  open with others about who you really are? 


Day 384 of Des McCabe's Personal Development Exercises

How do I create a Personal Development plan?

4/7/2021

 

​PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT PLAN

Life doesn’t come neatly
packaged in different boxes such
as work, relationships, spirituality,
health, happiness, children,
career aspirations, money or hobbies.
 No, everything is mixed together.
 
So, when it comes to
personal development do not limit
yourself to courses such as
communication skills, or
books on the latest business idea,
or webinars on income generation.
 
Our life isn’t one dimensional.
 It has multiple jigsaws with pieces
all mixed together. These pieces sit
alongside each other, slotting together,
overlapping and creating multiple
pictures, all of the time, for us.
 
We all have pieces on self-improvement,
emotional development, inner learning, 
mental health, spiritual development,
fitness programmes, vocational training,
personal wellbeing, career progression,
and so much more, to explore and enjoy.
 
Develop every aspect of what speaks
to you, what you love and what makes
you happy. Create new pictures.
Personal development is your call to
play with all of the different pieces that
make up the unique person that you are.

​PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT EXERCISE
1. Make a list of all of the aspects of personal development that you would like to explore.
2. Put a series of actions against each one of these - and start to play!


​Day 379 of Des McCabe's Personal Development Exercise
​

​What is our Consciousness?

3/30/2021

 

CONSCIOUSNESS
 

Our consciousness consists
of just two elements.
The journey of life
that has taken us to this point,
and the moment that is now.
 
Both are reinvented
and repositioned every second,
as we grow and change.
We are continually being
recreated in all that we are.
 
This moment informs
and defines the
pinnacle of our lives.
This moment is our end point.
Our  journey, has all been for this.
 
And that is why, this moment
holds all that we are, and ever will be.
This is why this moment
is so precious, as the amazing gift
that is now.

​PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT EXERCISE
1. What is growing, changing and being recreated for you in this moment?

​Day 371 of Des McCabe's Personal Development Exercises

What is Distraction?

3/26/2021

 

DISTRACTION

All life is distraction
from who we really are.
 
All activity is distraction
from what we should do.
 
All thinking is distraction
from not needing to think.
 
All distraction is a reminder
of looking in the wrong place.

PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT EXERCISE
1. What does distraction mean for you?

​Day 367 of Des McCabe's Personal Development Exercises

What is Within and Without us?

3/14/2021

 

WITHIN AND WITHOUT

There is something
too deep for words
that is part of us.
There is something
too deep for thoughts
that is part of us.

​​There is something
too gentle for words
that is all around us.
There is something
too gentle for thoughts
that is all around us.

PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT EXERCISE
1. What is too deep for words or thoughts that is part of you?
2.
What is too gentle for words or thoughts that is all around you?​

Day 355 of Des McCabe's Personal Development Exercises

How do I improve my concentration?

3/3/2021

 

​CONCENTRATION

You cannot fill a full glass.
So empty some.
Empty out some more or
start with an empty glass.
Leave space within you
for new thinking.
Do not dilute your new thoughts
Concentrate on your true way.

PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT EXERCISE
1. Are you too busy, chasing around and trying to fit everything in? Have you little time for your own development? What could empty  out?

Day 344 of Des McCabe's Personal Development Exercises

What is Writer's Block?

2/27/2021

 

WRITER'S BLOCK 

I have never suffered from
writer's block.
I have never worried about
the words not coming,
or writing a daily quota.
 
You see, for me
the words are a by-product,
and not the main objective.
My aim is to sit quietly and
this is the process that may,
or may not, produce words.
 
The real joy, wonder
and contentment comes
in the process of sitting quietly.
For this is the block we can 
all build upon each day.



PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT EXERCISE
1. When do you sit quietly? 
2. When do you write the words that are within you? 


Day 340 of Des McCabe's Personal Development Exercises

How can we use Inverse Proportion?

2/25/2021

 

​INVERSE PROPORTION

By stepping back
from the world.
By spending time
on our own.
By moving further
into our being.

And by going deeper
into ourselves,
we in fact move away
from all notions of self,
to be closer to where
we truly belong.

By going inwards
we really go outwards,
and we see more and more,
that we are connected
to all that ever was,
and ever will be.

PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT EXERCISE
1. How are you learning to go deeper into yourself? 
2. What is your 'self'?  


Day 338 of Des McCabe's Personal Development Exercises

What does Becoming mean?

2/21/2021

 

BECOMING

Be with me
at the start of the day.
Be with me
throughout the day.
Be with me
at the end of the day.
 
Be with me
in all our thoughts.
Be with me
in all our actions.
Be with me
in all our relationships.
 
Be with me
in all we were.
Be with me
in all we are.
Be with me
in all we will become.

PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT EXERCISE
1. Define what each of these means for you - be, being and becoming?
2. What is the practical day to day outworking of each? How are they each made visible in your day?


Day 334 of Des McCabe's Personal Development Exercises

How does we Measure what is Important?

2/10/2021

 

SCALES

What if in the
bigger scheme of things,
failure, is
just as important
as a success?

What if in the
bigger scheme of things,
inactivity, is
just as important
as activity?

What if in the
bigger scheme of things,
poverty and pain, are
just as valuable
as riches and fame?

What if in the
bigger scheme of things,
failure to achieve anything,
was just as important
as achieving something?

What if in the
bigger scheme of things,
periods of desolation and depression,
are just as important as
times of excitement and jubilation?

What if in the
bigger scheme of things,
we are using the wrong scales?
What if there are no scales
and that everything is one?

PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT EXERCISE. ​
1. How do you measure what is important to you?

Day 323 of Des McCabe's Personal Development Exercises

Where is Nothingness?

2/3/2021

 

DAYDREAMING 

There are times when
our minds wander off
beyond thoughts,
into nothingness.

It seems like we have
gone beyond daydreaming.
These are precious moments,
not a time of lost activity.

For beyond daydreaming is
the place of all nothingness.
When for a few moments,
we journey beyond ourselves

PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT EXERCISE. ​
1. How are you developing the skill of going beyond daydreaming?
2. When will you next sit in silence and journey beyond yourself?


Day 316 of Des McCabe's Personal Development Exercises

Is 'Heads or Tails' the only choice?

1/30/2021

 

HEADS OR TAILS?

There is no success
and there is no failure.
There is only the outcome
that is here with us now.

There is no past
and there is no future.
There is only the process
that is here with us now.

There is no other
and there is no self.
There is only the one
that is here with us now.

PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT EXERCISE. ​
1. What does success and failure mean to you?
2. What does your past and your future say to you?


Day 312 of Des McCabe's Personal Development Exercises

How can we Collect our Thoughts?

1/23/2021

 

​COLLECTING MY THOUGHTS

It’s like trying
to capture snowflakes,
in the wind.
 
Different thoughts
arrive together,
and I grasp my pen.
 
I’ve missed one.
It’s melted
and gone.

PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT EXERCISE. ​
1. What thoughts can you collect right now? 
2. What will you do with these?
 


Day 305 of Des McCabe's Personal Development Exercises

What is a modern Sitting Room?

1/9/2021

 

SITTING ROOM
​

I used to think of this time
just sitting quietly,
as taking a chunk out of my day
when I had so much to do.

Now I know that this time
just sitting quietly,
is the most important part of my day
and is all I need to do.

PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT EXERCISE
1. When are you going to sit quietly today?

Day 291 of Des McCabe's Personal Development Exercises
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