Des McCabe
  • Books
  • Exercises

600 Personal Development Exercises

do one a day - every day!

What is the Helping Model?

5/1/2021

 

THE HELPING MODEL

​We can shift our thinking about
helping others, and move from
a ‘selective’ or ‘ad-hoc’ or ‘reactive’
approach, to making it our ‘normal
way of being’ with everyone.
This is when we are applying
the helping model.
 
When we help someone
we gain experience.
We have a case study.
We learn something new.
We produce something together.
We get feedback.
We build a relationship.
We get ideas.
We grow together.
We feel better.
We make a contribution.
We become more.
 
When we apply the helping model,
we free ourselves to look outwards.
We become proactive.
We become problem solvers.
We generate ideas.
We enable change to happen.
 
We not only fast track
our own growth and success,
but change countless lives
along the way.

PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT EXERCISE
1. How can the Helping Model free you to become more?

Day 403 of Des McCabe's Personal Development Exercises

What is Friendship?

4/19/2021

 

FRIENDSHIP

We don’t try to
sell stuff to our friends.
We help them,
without asking for money.
 
We don’t try to
make money from our friends.
We share what we have,
for free.
 
Friendship is a mindset,
with activities that offer
and share all that we have,
 for the benefit of others.
 
Friendship is that joyful space
of playing together and
growing with others,
where money is not the driver.
 
For friendship is a gift where,
we quietly receive more
than we could ever imagine,
for free.

PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT EXERCISE
1. Where is 'money the driver' in your relationships with others?
2. Do you look to build friendships first or to sell stuff first?


Day 391 of Des McCabe's Personal Development Exercises

What does your Fuel Gauge say?

3/19/2021

 

FUEL GUAGE

They don’t tell you that
every day is not the same.
That we have good days,
and not so good days.
 
We are meant to work
at full performance
 all the time,
but life isn’t like that.
 
They don’t tell you that
there will be good times,
and bad times.
All times are not the same.
 
We are meant to be
at our best
all the time,
but life isn’t like that
 
There are peaks and troughs,
ups and downs,
times when we work
on full power,
and times when
our tank is nearly empty.
 
So, remember,
when you meet with others,
that one of you
might be low on fuel.

PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT EXERCISE
1. What does your fuel gauge say at the moment? Are you looking after yourself?
2. What about others? Do you know anyone who needs some fuel? How can you help them?​


Day 360 of Des McCabe's Personal Development Exercises

What is Kindling Kindness?

2/23/2021

 

KINDLING

 We all depend on positive feedback,
confirmation that we are doing well,
being told that we are making
great progress, and  that we are loved.
  
We all thrive when others show
interest, say 'thank you', tell us
(and others), that we are amazing, and,
when they encourage us onwards.
 
These inputs from others create
new energy within us, for each comment
and smile is like kindling for the fire,
burning within each of us.
 
Kindling comes from the word kind, 
and means to initiate and build kindness,
in every thought, in every word,   ​
 in every moment and with every person.

PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT EXERCISE
1. What kindling  have you created and shared today?
​2. Who is giving you kindling that is sustaining you​?
3. What piece of kindling could you initiate and share right now? 


Day 336 of Des McCabe's Personal Development Exercises

How can we build a Kinder World?

2/6/2021

 

​KINDNESS
 

Personal development
is not about me alone.
For my personal development is dependent
upon many others, especially those
who I interact with for food, work, safety,
security, energy, health, friendship and love.
 
Personal development
is therefore about all of us.
It’s about us working together
and looking after each other,
in ways that enable us all
to live happily, and to grow, together.
 
Personal development
is about us reaching out
and giving to others, so that
we can all be safe and well.
And yet, in our world we see so many
living and dying  in shocking conditions.
 
We have been taught
to strive for more, put ourselves first
and hold onto everything.
But in our interconnected world, this
approach only serves to make life less secure
for ourselves, for our children and for others.
 
Kindness is much more
than a nice thing to do.
It is our emotional, rational and practical selves
acting through initiatives, responses and
actions to uncover who we are
and see what we can become.
 
Kindness is uncompromising and demanding.
It causes us to make choices.
It takes us out of our comfort zone.
It makes us look at the needs of others.
It enables us to understand who we really are.
Kindness is the heart of personal development.
 
It's time to put kindness on our curriculum.
It's time for  kindness policies to drive our
workplaces, schools, universities and governments.
And it's time for us to build
a collaboration of kindness in our world,
in our community, in our family and in our day. 

PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT EXERCISE. ​
1. Where is kindness in your life and in your workplace?
2. How can you personally, become part of the collaboration of kindness in the world?


Day 319 of Des McCabe's Personal Development Exercises

What is the Core Law of Humanity?

12/27/2020

 

MANKIND

Karma tells us that everything we do
has a positive or negative reaction.
All we do determines our fate in this life,
and what we become in our next life.

In every moment we can
spread love and kindness, or not.
In every moment we can
become love and kindness, or not.

It is the core law of humanity,
building kindness and becoming love.
It’s how we are meant to think
and act in every single moment.

PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT EXERCISE
1. What will you become in this life and in your next life?

Day 278 of Des McCabe's Personal Development Exercises

What does a Flight Attendant do?

11/13/2020

 

FLIGHT ATTENDANT
 
You can throw that old
unused loaf of bread
in the bin,
to rot,

or take the slices
and scatter them 
on the grass
for the birds.

​PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT EXERCISE
1. How are you connecting to and looking after the natural world we live in? 

Day 234 of Des McCabe's Personal Development Exercises

Who is your Flying Instructor?

10/31/2020

 

FLYING INSTRUCTOR

Don’t be downhearted.
Don’t lose hope.
Don’t give up.
 
You’re doing good.
You’re amazing.
You’re a star.
 
I know you don’t feel like this now.
I know you’re weary.
I know you’re nearly spent.
 
But I will lift you.
I will help you run.
I will help you fly.
 
That’s why I am here.
We go together,
forever and ever.
 
So trust in me.
Let it all be.
Let us fly together.

PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT EXERCISE. ​
1.
What is it that you must not give up on?
2.
Who is your flying instructor?

Day 221 of Des McCabe's Personal Development Exercises

What is the best Garden Hose?

7/15/2020

 

GARDEN HOSE
 
The garden hose lies there
like a dark green snake on the grass.
It can take water
to areas needing refreshment and
to the plants that are struggling.
 
We too can go
where we are needed.
We can bring all we have
to areas needing refreshment and
to those who are struggling.

PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT EXERCISE
1. Who do we know that may be struggling?
2. What refreshment can we bring?
3. How do we turn our tap on full? 


Day 114 of Des McCabe's Personal Development Exercises

Who might be Struggling at this time?

7/5/2020

 

REMOTE CONTROL
 
I met someone today
who is really struggling.
She is carrying so much more
than I could ever imagine.
 
She spoke so little
and I have no idea
of what she is trying to
cope with at home.
 
The success of others around her
instead of encouraging her,
only seems to magnify
her pain.
 
I do not know how to respond
to the dullness in her eyes.
 
Words do not seem to help
for they only emphasise
the chasm between us
and where she is stranded.
 
All I can do is to try
and be there
and to ask love
to sort it out, please.

PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT EXERCISE
1. Who do you know that is struggling?
​2. What can you do to help?


Day 104 of Des McCabe's Personal Development Exercises

What is the top Investment Strategy?

6/5/2020

 

INVESTMENT STRATEGY
 
When we speak of investment
we think of the financial return on our money.
But this is not investment,
this is just making more money – or trying to.
 
If we really want a return on our resources
 then we should invest in the skills, experience
knowledge and shared passions of all the people
that we know and those we don’t know.
 
And we don’t do this for financial gain.
We do it because we have money
and because we can help them
to become what they should be.
 
 This is real investment,
 helping people to be all they can be
and in turn enabling us to be
who we should be.
 
When we die we will have no money.
 We can’t take it with us.
So, plan to invest all you can and
watch the fruits grow while you’re still here.
 
Create ripples of goodness.
Plant seeds of hope.
Invest in all that is positive and kind.
Make your mark on all those you meet.
 
Invest your time helping others.
Go way beyond duty or expectation.
Surprise others with your commitment,
your energy, your enthusiasm and your spirit.

PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT EXERCISE
1. Who is your investment strategy focussed on?
2. What is the return on your resources?


Day 74 of Des McCabe's Personal Development Exercises

What is Blockchain Kindness?

5/5/2020

 

BLOCKCHAIN
 
With blocks of information
being passed digitally
from person to person
we can track every
financial transaction in the chain.
We can always go right back
to the source,
the first block in the chain.
 
Likewise, every time we reach out
to help someone
we begin to build a chain
from person to person,
that spreads forever.
We create blockchains of kindness.
We are the source,
t
he first block in the chain.

PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT EXERCISE
1. Think of one person you could help today. As a result of your input  what might they  do, or do better?
2. Each of us encounters hundreds of Blockchain kindness opportunities (BKO) every day. Some are as simple as saying thank-you, sending a text or offering some advice. Starting from now, list the next ten BKOs you see today.


Day 43 of Des McCabe's Personal Development Exercises

Can we lend our love?

5/3/2020

 

INSTANT LOANS
 
Lend your love today
to someone far away
in another country
who is struggling
with no basic resources,
or help for their family
and who can see no future.
 
Connect with them now
for just one minute.
Reach out to them
at a personal level
as their father or mother,
as their son or daughter,
in our family of one.
 
Think of them now.
For this will become
the greatest thing
that you ever do.
Changing everything
in an instant.
Lend your love today.

PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT EXERCISE
1. In this one minute you can connect beyond all geography and technology to be with someone who desperately needs help. Sit quietly and be one with them. ​

Day 41 of Des McCabe's Personal Development Exercises

How do I write a Kindness Policy?

3/31/2020

 

POLICY REVIEW

Life is hard for many people.
We lose those we love.
We suffer personal disappointments and setbacks.
We struggle to pay for the things we need.
We worry about those close to us.

Most of this people carry to work.
Where little is said.

Kindness is the foundation of wellbeing.
It's a gentle way of being.
It’s helping when you can without being asked.
It's checking quietly if all is okay.
It’s time to write our Kindness Policy​.

PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT EXERCISE 
1. Draft a Kindness Policy for your workplace, group or family.
2. What is the purpose of the Policy?
3. How will it work?
4. What should it achieve? 


Day 8 of Des McCabe's Personal Development Exercises

    Search all of the Exercises


    View our 24 Categories

    All
    Business
    Career
    Christmas And New Year
    Collaborative Working
    Creativity
    Daily Routine
    Dying
    Education
    Future Planning
    Gratitude
    Happiness
    Harvesting
    Inclusion
    Inner Learning
    Kindness
    Leadership
    Life Journey
    Love
    Peace
    Personal Effectiveness
    Purpose
    Spirituality
    Wellbeing
    Work


    Picture

    Leave your 
    feedback

    Linkedin
    ​Instagram
    ​​Facebook

    RSS Feed


    Picture

    Don't miss
    ​a day ...

    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020


Personal Development Exercises - 24 CATEGORIES
​Work
Business
Gratitude
Daily Routine
Spirituality
​Kindness
Love
​Leadership
Harvesting
​​Inclusion
Gratitude
Happiness
​Creativity
​Purpose
Inner Learning

Collaborative Working 


Wellbeing
​Education
Future Planning
Career
Personal Effectiveness 
Dying
Life Journey
Christmas / New Year







​
Resources
Contact Us


Picture
Picture

Copyright © ​Des McCabe 2010-2022  ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. 
  • Books
  • Exercises