Des McCabe
  • Books
  • Exercises

600 Personal Development Exercises

do one a day - every day!

What is Community?

9/7/2021

 

​COMMUNITY

Community is the
framework of relationships
that delivers your purpose.

​PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT EXERCISE
1. What are the key relationships that you have that enablle you to deliver your purpose?
2. Are you clear on your purpose?
3. How can you cherish and develop the relationships that really matter to you?
4. What new relationships might you need to look at?  
​

Picture
​Day 532 of Des McCabe's Personal Development Exercises

What way are you looking at things?

7/30/2021

 

​PERSPECTIVE

​If we keep looking
in the same way,
we will keep seeing
the same things.

​PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT EXERCISE. ​
1. What might we be missing in the way that we look at things?
2. What is the one thing that could happen that might make everthing look different? 

Picture
Day 493 of Des McCabe's Personal Development Exercises

Are you a working lamp?

7/24/2021

 

LAMP

If I don’t plug it in,
it will never have power.
If I don’t switch it on,
it will never light up.
If I don’t have the light,
I will work in the dark.

​PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT EXERCISE. ​
1. Imagine that you are a lamp. Where and how do you work? What is your work?


Picture
Day 487 of Des McCabe's Personal Development Exercises

How do you Verify your Identity?

5/21/2021

 

IDENTITY VERIFICATION
​

​If you define yourself
as a teacher,
what do you share?
Who do you help?
 
If you define yourself
as a leader,
what cause do you champion?
Who do you help?
 
If you define yourself
as a writer,
what do you say?
Who do you help?
 
If you define yourself
as a friend,
what do you do?
Who do you help?
 
If you define yourself
​as love,
what are you?
Who do you help?

PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT EXERCISE?
1. How do you define who you are
2. What do you do?


Day 423 of Des McCabe's Personal Development Exercises

What is Disruption Theory?

5/2/2021

 

DISRUPTION THEORY

Disruption Theory says that
​each of us has a responsibility
to disrupt the status quo.
To challenge the norm.
To question of the current process.
To reset the routine.
To search for a better way.

 Our task is to be a Disruptor.
To use our skills of insight,
creativity and leadership,
in all that we are, and do!
 
For how else, will the
important thinking happen?
For how else, will those that
we work with, find a better way?
For how else, will we shift ourselves,
to where we should be?
 
Our everyday opportunity is to
have fun, be real, and disrupt  
everything!

PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT EXERCISE
1. How can you disrupt and bring your skills of insight, creativity and leadership, to all that you are and do? 
2. List five areas where you can apply Disruption Theory today.


Day 404 of Des McCabe's Personal Development Exercises

What is Impossible and Unimaginable?

4/14/2021

 

IMPOSSIBLE AND UNIMAGINABLE

Leave some space every day
for the impossible
to happen for you,
or it won’t.
 
Leave some space every day
for the unimaginable
to happen for you,
or it can’t.
 
We cannot transform our lives
by expecting more of the same,
or repeating
what we’ve already done.
 
So, every day take a moment
for the impossible and the
unimaginable to happen for you, 
and it will.

PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT EXERCISE
1. Write down what is impossible for you?
2. Write down what is unimaginable for you?
3. Now allow yourself to see impossible an unimaginable actually happening for you.


Day 386 of Des McCabe's Personal Development Exercises

What are 'Past Present' Statements?

4/10/2021

 
​
​PAST PRESENT 


We can train our brains
to help us to achieve all
that is important to us, including
relationships, money, career,
health, home, happiness,
lifestyle, and so much more.
 
Simply write down your
Past Present statements
for exactly what you want to see
in every aspect of your life.
Be as detailed as you can and  imagine 
what each one means for you.
 
Past Present statements are written
in the past tense, such as
I created, I built, or I developed.
Or your statements can be written
in the present tense, such as
I am, I have or I own.
 
If we write our statements
 in the future tense, such as
I will or I am going to have,
then we are telling our brain
that this is not for today.
This is never going to happen.
 
Now read your top five
Past Present statements
first thing each morning
and last thing every night.
They will enable you to  become
the you, that you already are.

PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT EXERCISE
1. What would you like to see happen in your life?
2. What would you like to be different?
3. What does happiness really look like? 
​

Day 382 of Des McCabe's Personal Development Exercises
​

What is life all about?

4/5/2021

 
​
A DEFINITION OF LIFE

 
Life is not about
success or failure,
outcomes or achievements,
illness or health,
age or beauty,
status or income,
fame or legacy.
​
Life is all about
our personal relationship
with love.

​PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT EXERCISE
1. What does a personal relationship with love mean for you?

​​Day 377 of Des McCabe's Personal Development Exercises​

What is Factory Reset in people?

3/13/2021

 

FACTORY RESET
 

When we are born
we consist only of love,
goodness and trust.
 
We give ourselves totally
to those around us.
For we have no choice.
 
As we grow, we develop
our own personality and ego.
We make our own choices.
 
We meet our own needs first,
often forgetting
those around us.
 
We can however,
press our factory reset button
at any time.
 
We can become love
goodness and trust
again.

PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT EXERCISE
1. How can you become closer to your original self - full of love, goodness and trust?
2. What is it in life, that takes you away from  what you want to be? Is there a way to reset who you are? 


Day 354 of Des McCabe's Personal Development Exercises

What does Empowerment really mean?

3/10/2021

 

EMPOWERMENT

Empowerment is not something
we do to others, or something
we encourage others to do.
Empowerment is not something
we teach or train people to do.

Empowerment is when we
give ourselves permission to
be something bigger than we are.
 Empowerment is enabling ourselves
to become part of a bigger reality.

So, what is the bigger reality
that you want to be part of?
And are you willing to
immerse yourself in this,
and give yourself to this?

PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT EXERCISE
1. In what ways might you be trapped?
2. What is the bigger reality you would like to explore? 


Day 351 of Des McCabe's Personal Development Exercises

What is effective Decision Making?

2/26/2021

 

DECISION MAKING

No matter how old you are,
you can still change the world.
No matter what you’ve been through,
you can still change the world.
No matter what your current situation is,
you can still change the world.

It only takes a moment,
one new idea,
a different thought,
an unusual event,
a chance encounter,
an unexpected conversation,
a surprise meeting, or
some words of encouragement
for you to begin.

This is why you’re here,
and it will happen.
You are about to start afresh.
So, get ready to change the world.

And if you don’t believe this,
then how can it happen?
If you don’t think this is possible
then how can it begin?
And, if you don’t see that I am waiting
to help you, then how can you answer?

Your age is important,
for we all need your experience.
What you’ve been through really counts,
for we all need  your wisdom.
The fact that you are still here, tells us,
that you can change the world.

Everything that has happened
has led you here.
 Your plan is unfolding as it should.
And you are reading this now,
precisely because, this is the moment
you decide to change the world.

PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT EXERCISE
1. Well, are you going to join us? Can you help us to change the world? 
2. This is day one of starting afresh - where exactly will you begin?


Day 339 of Des McCabe's Personal Development Exercises

How do we find Meaning for our life?

2/19/2021

 

MEANING

 I seem to spend so much time searching
for meaning and looking for happiness.
Perhaps I need to start in a different place.
For when I see myself
at the centre of everything,
it’s easy to lose my way.
 
The first step I think, is to go deeper within myself
to that place of nothingness.
It is here that I find all that I need.
For  here is the reservoir of love,
where I can become, at the same time,
both all powerful and yet powerless.
 
When I then act, or talk, or interact from this place
I do so from a position of all-ness rather than self.
By trusting in love, I become one with love.
For all becomes possible,
when it is no longer about
my narrow definition of self, or purpose.
 
I find the meaning of all in this place within me,
in power and powerlessness,
in all-ness and nothingness.
For I am no longer separate from everything,
adrift on the sea.
I am the sea.

PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT EXERCISE
1. Can you shut out the world and go deeper within yourself? 
2. Can you sit for a few minutes in the place of nothingness? ​


Day 332 of Des McCabe's Personal Development Exercises

What is our Purpose?

2/7/2021

 

ZERO SUM GAME
 
There is nothing,
ever,
to be afraid of.
For love holds you
and will always care for you.
You, were made to smile.
 
There is nothing,
ever,
to be frightened of.
For love holds you.
and is there when you need help.
You, were made to laugh.
 
There is nothing,
ever,
to worry or stress about.
For love holds you.
and will never let you down.
You, were made to shine.
 
There is nothing,
ever,
to make you anxious.
For love holds you
and will never let you go.
You, were made to be free.
 
There is nothing,
ever,
to fear.
For love holds you
forever and ever.
And you, were made to be happy.

PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT EXERCISE. ​
1. Can you reach out and trust in love?
2. Can you let love hold you and smile, laugh and shine?
3. Can you journey with love to be free and to be happy?


Day 320 of Des McCabe's Personal Development Exercises

What is the difference between Vocation and Mission?

1/13/2021

 

VOCATIONAL TRAINING

Jesus was a carpenter,
a joiner as we say.
This was his mission
and his message.

His vocation was
the same as ours.
To create and fix,
and join us all together.

PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT EXERCISE. ​
1. What is you vocation?
​2. How are you also a joiner? 


Day 295 of Des McCabe's Personal Development Exercises

What is your Purpose?

10/20/2020

 

MISSIONARY WORK 

Imagine if we all have
a mission to fulfil.
Imagine if we were all given
 this task at birth.
 
Imagine if we spend our lives deciphering
this task and working to achieve it.
Imagine if we helped each other,
to understand and achieve their mission.
 
Imagine then, if all our tasks
were part of the same great mission.
Imagine if we could see that all lives
are connected as one.
 
Imagine if we knew that those who
went before us, were also part of this mission.
Imagine that those who come after us,
will also take up the reins of this mission.
 
Imagine when this great mission
is achieved, and what this will mean.
Imagine that your life and work right now
are the perfect fulfillment of your mission.

PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT EXERCISE. 
1. How is your mission unfolding?
2. What is your task?


Day 210 of Des McCabe's Personal Development Exercises

Where do you want to Make a Difference?

10/1/2020

 

ON PURPOSE
 
Of course, we are busy
with lots to do.
Our families and work make
demands all the time.
 
It is easy to be
in reactive mode.
Sometimes it is hard enough
just to get through the day.
 
Often, we don’t get everything
done that we should.
It can be difficult to
even think about our purpose.
 
We sense deep down
why we are here.
And we know what is
really important to us.
 
We still want to
make a difference.
This may be about poverty,
 or children or the environment.
 
It may be about illness
or helping others.
But our big dreams can
get swamped by daily demands.
 
This, however, is
far from the truth.
For every single thing we do
comes from our purpose.
 
Every good thought can
produce a response from us
that is visible, and then
magnified through others.
 
Everything we do is on purpose.
So, let’s be clear
about what is
really important to us.
 
For in our kindness and
compassion we achieve all.
In our busy day, everything
we do is on purpose.
 
So, look beyond the activities
 and trust in yourself.
For everything you do
 is as it should be.
 
At different points in our lives
we have our calls.
And each time they’re met with
the same core response.
 
The right actions come
from each of us as they should.
And everything we do
is on purpose.

PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT EXERCISE
1. Where would you like to make a difference?
2. What exactly would you like to see happen? 


Day 192 of Des McCabe's Personal Development Exercises

How can we Re-Purpose our Lives?

9/2/2020

 

​RE-PURPOSE

Perhaps it is time
to clear out the attic?
 
Perhaps all that has been
gathered up over the years
needs to be thrown away,
or used in a different way?
 
Perhaps we need to get back
to the house of years ago?
Free of clutter, freshly painted
and full of possibilities.

PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT EXERCISE
1. What is holding you back from being all you should be?
2. How can you discover the possibilities that will enable you to fulfil your purpose?


Day 163 of Des McCabe's Personal Development Exercises

What is a Personal Staycation?

7/28/2020

 

​​STAYCATION 

Go beyond the junk
always.
See past the hassle
always.
And stay where you are.

Look at the bigger picture
always.
Be true to yourself
always.
And stay where you are.

Get rid of the distractions
always.
Discard what is unnecessary
always.
And stay where you are.

PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT EXERCISE
1. What can you do to go beyond the junk and be true to yourself?
2. Where are you staying?


Day 127 of Des McCabe's Personal Development Exercises

Is God an Inclusion Manager?

6/8/2020

 

INCLUSION MANAGER
 
God has a different relationship
with every single person.
He communicates with us and
works with each of us in different ways.
 
We all have different roles and each  role
is equal, vital, personal and unique.
The unbeliever and the monk.
We all share the same space.

PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT EXERCISE
1. If 'Inclusion Manager' is another name for God, how is your role equal, vital, personal and unique?
2. What is this ‘same space’ that we all share?


Day 77 of Des McCabe's Personal Development Exercises

What is the Real Stuff?

6/2/2020

 

​PRIORITIES
 
I’ve run out of time.
I tick the boxes
get halfway through
but the end of the list
never gets done.
I just don’t have the time.
 
I start afresh each day.
I re-write my list and
put my priorities at the top.
But the important tasks
never get done.
I run out of time.
 
It’s the same routine
as I set out the tasks.
And then it hits me
that the real stuff never
even gets onto my list.
Never gets done.

PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT EXERCISE
1. What is the real stuff for you?
2. How will you rethink and reorganise your day to get the real stuff done?


Day 71 of Des McCabe's Personal Development Exercises

What is our Disciplinary Hearing?

5/23/2020

 
​
DISCIPLINARY HEARING 


You must never lose
your battle cry,
your willingness to go for it.
 
You must never dilute
what you once dreamt about,
what you saw so clearly.
 
You must never give up
whatever happens,
whatever others may say.

PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT EXERCISE
1. What did you once see so clearly? 
​2. How can you discover (or re-discover) your battle cry?
​


Day 61 of Des McCabe's Personal Development Exercises

What is your Message?

5/14/2020

 
​
MESSENGER

When you were born
you were given
a message for the world.

As you live your life
you will uncover and understand
this message.

And then, for the rest of your life
you must share your
message with the world.

PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT EXERCISE
1. How much of your message have you uncovered? 
2. Write down what you understand and what you have yet to make sense of, the questions still unanswered.
3. You message (however incomplete) is your purpose. Be brave and be true to yourself.   How can you share who you really are today? 


Day 52 of Des McCabe's Personal Development Exercises

What is your Ambition?

4/29/2020

 

AMBITION

The main task that you’re working on
at the moment is really a small thing.
Beyond this there is a larger task
that you are easily capable of.
Just think for a moment
what is this larger task?
For this is what you should be doing.
This should be your focus.

And beyond this larger task
is a greater task
one of real significance,
that you are easily capable of.
Just think for a moment
what is this greater task?
For this is what you should be doing.
This should be your focus.

And beyond this greater task
is the greatest task
where all of your effort should be,
that you are easily capable of.
Just think for a moment
what is the greatest task?
For this is what you should be doing.
This should be your focus.

PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT EXERCISE
1. What is the key task that you are working on now? 
2. What is the 'larger task', the 'greater task' beyond this and the 'greatest task'?
3. What is the level of your ambition?
​

Day 37 of Des McCabe's Personal Development Exercises

What is Contribution?

4/27/2020

 

​CONTRIBUTION 
 
If we are not different
we are just more of the same.

PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT EXERCISE
1. We are different to others and we all have a different contribution to make. What is your contribution?
2. Our future life is not just ‘more of the same’. It is not just extending what has happened up to now. How will you be different? ​


Day 35 of Des McCabe's Personal Development Exercises

Who are you?

4/2/2020

 
​
MANAGEMENT BUYOUT

 
I reinvented my life today.
I created a whole new way of being.
I redefined who I am
and what I am about.
I left behind my old life,
my previous world.
 
I still know all the same people
but I see them through different glasses
now clearer and brighter.
Today I created a whole new way of being.
I’m a different person
in the same skin.

PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT EXERCISE 
1. If you were to reinvent your life today what would it look like? 
​2. What is your new way of being? 


Day 10 of Des McCabe's Personal Development Exercises
<<Previous

    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