MINDFUL I am busy all of the time. There is just so much to do. My mind never stops. I’m always thinking about this and that, and whatever comes along. My head is packed with information, ideas and plans. I have created a detention centre for my brain. How can I get my life back? Where is my rehabilitation program? How can I enjoy every day as if it is the only day I’ll ever have? How can I be grateful and happy for all that I’ve been given? How can I find space not to think, not to plan and not to be so busy? PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT EXERCISE 1. When and where do you find space and time not to think? VIRTUAL ASSISTANT I will be leaving you soon but please do not cry, for I can stay here forever and keep an eye on you. You won’t see me of course but sometimes you will know I am here. For nobody ever ends. We just change. I can stay here with you and in heaven at the same time. For heaven is all around us and within us, together. Our human abilities of course can’t understand this yet, for we are so limited by time and space. But those who have gone before are still here now, watching and waiting, guiding and helping, and rescuing us all of the time. Some call them angels, some call it coincidence or luck, some say it is the Universe, and some say it is God. But really it is our loved ones who are still here, chatting away, and trying their best to steer us and look after us. So, do not worry or be sad. And please remember to talk to me for I too will be here forever, to help and look after you all. You won’t see me in the usual way but you will know that I am here. For as I said, none of us ever ends. We just change into love. PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT EXERCISE 1. Which of your Virtual Assistants do you miss the most? 2. Speak to them now. FACILITATION SKILLS The greatest skill of a facilitator is to do nothing. To let people talk, together, and allow them to find the best way forward. You see it’s not about the facilitator, nor indeed the topic. It’s about enabling individuals to move forward, purposefully and securely, together. So as a facilitator, be kind and smile. Set the scene or task. Encourage your groups and then leave them to it. Your best results come when you do nothing. PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT EXERCISE. 1. When do you use facilitation skills – at work, online or at home? 2. In which situations might you do less (or nothing) and let others find a way forward? LIFE COACH If you’re thinking about using a Life Coach, then ask them one question. 'What is your purpose in life?' If you need to ask a follow-up question for greater clarity, you will know which one of you is the Life Coach and which one of you needs a Life Coach. PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT EXERCISE. 1. What is your purpose in life? WORK LIFE BALANCE My bike has a rickety wheel. It jolts me unpredictably from side to side. Like I am forever on a rocky beach. I balance as best I can, sometimes stopping to put one foot down. But I’m still here thankfully, on my bike with the rickety wheel. PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT EXERCISE. 1. How would you describe your work life balance? MANAGEMENT ACCOUNTS Please submit your Management Accounts for the past week. Tell me how you have been kind to others. Tell me when you have helped others. Tell me where the gentleness in your life is. Tell me where you need help or support. Tell me how you are managing at the moment. Your accounts should be submitted to the Chief Accountant within the next ten minutes. Thank you. PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT EXERCISE. Complete your Management Accounts and answer the five key questions: 1. Tell me how you have been kind to others. 2. Tell me when you have helped others. 3. Tell me where the gentleness in your life is. 4. Tell me where you need help or support. 5. Tell me how you are managing at the moment. TIP If we seek to gain something by delivering good service, then we lose the true value of service. We simply exchange service for money. If we can view service as an opportunity for giving, without thoughts of return or benefit, then we will receive more than we can imagine. PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT EXERCISE. 1. What does service really mean? 2. What does it take to make service exceptional for you? KEY PERFORMANCE INDICATORS If one idea you share helps someone, then everything is worthwhile. If one thing you do helps someone, then everything is worthwhile. If one word you say helps someone, then everything is worthwhile. PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT EXERCISE. 1. What one idea can you share to help someone? 2. What one thing can you do to help someone? 3. What one word can you say to help someone? ATHEISM There is no such thing as God. God is not a fixed entity to be defined in any way, for God is beyond definition. God holds everything and is in everything forever. God is the totality of an expanding, infinite and eternal love. When we create boundaries and limits, we force people to agree or disagree with us. So, stop trying to force God into your system of belief or unbelief. Stop trying to put limits or human boundaries around God. For God encompasses all thinking, all beliefs and non-beliefs, and all time. God rests in each of us and in all of us as one. PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT EXERCISE. 1. If we define God as love, then we can begin to see how this is 'in each of us and in all of us as one'. Starting from here, how would you explain what God is to a child. ALL SAINTS' DAY We tend to think of Saints as holy people from long ago, detached from the world, and living some sort of strange and perfect existence. It all seems to be millions of miles away from our lives, but Saints had their challenges and human weaknesses. They were no perfect Saints. There are Saints around us today, doing good work and trying to live their lives in the best way they can. For sainthood is not a badge but the alignment of the needs of others with our skills and commitment in love. We are all imperfect Saints, journeying in our own time, in our world and living some sort of strange and perfect existence. PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT EXERCISE. 1. What Saints do you know? 2. How does your life align with the needs of others? |
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June 2021
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