THE CLOUD I’ve just realised that I rarely look upwards. And if I keep looking in the same way, then I will continue to see what I have already seen. What I have already know.. The 'Cloud of Unknowing' was written by an anonymous English monk. I too must learn to look upwards. PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT EXERCISE 1. Am I brave benough to surrender my mind and ego to the place of "unknowing"? 2. What will I find there? DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION Diversity has been described by some as the reflection of God in the world for we are all made in His likeness. Each of us is a unique piece, needed for this complete picture of God. Inclusion is therefore our mission. PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT EXERCISE 1. How is your piece unique? 2. Why are you necessary? REVISED CHRISTMAS SCHEDULE Covid is trying to force the cancellation of Christmas this year. Locked in, our loved ones are feeling lost and uneasy. The time for family and friends has been slapped down. There is a different rulebook on what we can or should do. But Christmas is safe within each one of us. No matter what happens, we can link up and be with each other. Let’s schedule our daily phone calls to catch up and chat. Let’s send our texts randomly and often. Let’s plan Zoom chats for games, quizzes and present opening. For Santa is coming as planned. Let’s watch our TV shows and films as usual. Let’s set up the laptop beside the TV and bring all of us together. Let's also take a moment to remember those who have died. Let's reach out to those missing loved ones and those struggling with isolation. For we can expand our get-togethers this year, not restrict them. Let's use WhatsApp, FaceTime or Skype to include more people than ever before. Let’s have big bubbles and little bubbles everywhere! Let’s encourage and bring cheer to others. Let’s celebrate all of Christmas this year. So, let’s plan our revised schedule now with who, and what and when. Let's send out our invites to our loved ones. And let's include others with a very deliberate act of Christmas kindness. And let us look forward this Christmas with moments of love and hope. For we know, as always, there are babies soon to be born all over the world. PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT EXERCISE 1. Plan an amazing Christmas schedule. 2. Who, what and when - get your invites out! PRODUCTIVITY I am at my most productive when I’m least efficient. When I don’t have a to do list. When there is no schedule. When I go off-piste and my mind has no barriers or constraints, to keep it on track. This is where my real productivity is. PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT EXERCISE 1. When are you at your most productive? 2. What does productivity mean for you? DEFROST You are not behind schedule. You are not trying to catch up. You do not have a mountain of work . You do not need to go crazy. No, you are exactly where you should be. For all else is just activity, and not you. You are okay. All is totally fine. You can relax. What is really important will eventually get done. And all else will melt away. PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT EXERCISE 1. What is making you so busy? 2. Is it time to defrost? CHRISTMAS SHOPPING What gift will you be bringing the baby Jesus, this year? PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT EXERCISE 1. Who, and what, is on your shopping list this year? WRITE OFF So often I have been caught out. You’d think that I would know by now, how to approach these things. We are all faced with events, activities and duties which we are not really looking forward to, or even dread. And yet somehow, maybe because my expectations are so low, or I have allowed my brain some space, these turn out to be okay. Indeed, the events we dread can often become a lesson for us, a magical moment, or a joyful experience. When something new happens. So turn your switch to positive and give yourself the possibility, that the event or activity you have written off, might just be okay. For when we trust in the process, life can unfold and evolve in ways we could not imagine. New beginnings can emerge. PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT EXERCISE 1. What meetings, activities or events do you dread? 2. Could you possibly turn your switch to positive ... and see what might emerge? LENDING LIBRARY Go to your bookshelf. Look through your collection. And choose a book that you haven’t read for years. Go to your past and rediscover this time. And bring it forward, anew. To all that is now.Go to your bookshelf. Look through your collection. And choose a book, that you haven’t read for years Go to your past and rediscover that time. Then bring it forward, anew, to all that is now. PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT EXERCISE 1. Go to your bookshelf and read something from a book you had a few years ago. 2. What does this say to you now? CALM It’s really stormy The wind is howling. The dark sea throws us around. It seems that we are forever on this boat. I wake up relieved that I am no longer a fisherman. I now explore a different world at the bottom of the ocean. PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT EXERCISE 1. Have you woken up yet? 2. Have you got arond to exploring a different world? GREEN LIGHT Now is the moment. Not later. Not next week. Not next year. Now is the time. To start. To do it. To make it happen. PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT EXERCISE 1. Are you ready to move? 2. What exactly is holding you back from being your total real self? |
The BookYour FREE daily training!Des McCabe's acclaimed blog posts are also on Facebook, Linkedin and Instagram every day Explore more
June 2021
Keep in touch |