Day 337 of Des McCabe's Personal Development Exercises KEYWORD Imagine if we could find a way to work together that was for the benefit of those most in need, as well as our own personal interests. Imagine if governments across the world were to work collaboratively, not on the basis of trade, but in looking after everyone on our planet. Imagine if all religions and beliefs were to act together, to help all of those in need. Imagine if all situations of conflict could be transformed, now, to communities of peace. Imagine if we could understands our true purpose, and could live this in every moment. Imagine if we could find something so precious that we give our whole life to it. Imagine that one word holds the key to all of this. PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT EXERCISE 1. What is this keyword for you? 2. Now that you know this keyword, what are you going to do? Day 336 of Des McCabe's Personal Development Exercises 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 335 of Des McCabe's Personal Development Exercises WORK Work is simply a method of engaging in prayer. PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT EXERCISE 1. What is your work all about? 2. What would you really like to work on? Day 334 of Des McCabe's Personal Development Exercises 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 333 of Des McCabe's Personal Development Exercises RSVP Inclusion is the ongoing invitation for collaboration, participation, sharing and caring, that we send out to others. Inclusion is our offer that requires acceptance. And not everyone will say yes. You cannot take them all with you. And so, inclusion is a continuous and everlasting invitation. It is our individual, organisational and global, lifelong purpose. PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT EXERCISE 1. Who will you send an invitation of inclusion to today? 2. How is you organisation being inclusive to all its staff, those it serves and the wider international community? 3. How are you reaching out globally to include others ? Day 332 of Des McCabe's Personal Development Exercises 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 331 of Des McCabe's Personal Development Exercises TEAMWORK You must work with us. If you go off on your own to do your own thing, then it’s solely about you. If we could all work together then everything becomes about us, We can help each other to achieve all that we should. PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT EXERCISE 1. Who is on your team? 2. How are you helping them to achieve all that they should? Day 330 of Des McCabe's Personal Development Exercises VALUE ADDED When we go through our list of previous jobs and roles, we tend to think of the title, responsibilities and payment. We may even reflect on the people we worked with and some of the work we did. And if we keep going we get to that same point in every role, and hope that we did something good, something that lasts. We also realise that our presence becomes embedded as value added in the lives of others, who after we leave, take their turn and make their contribution. So remember, our job outcomes are realised long after we are gone. And when we look back we see that we did something good, something that lasts. PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT EXERCISE 1. Who did you add value for? 2. How are your job outcomes growing in each role or job that you had? BIRTHDAY PARTY There is a party in our village when a new baby is born. Families all get together on a Saturday morning at 11am to meet the new arrival, and welcome this new person to our world. We celebrate with smiles and hugs giving thanks for all our lives. We shed a small tear of remembrance for those who have left us. These little parties are literally, staging posts, and the lifeblood of our village. We call this a 'Birth Day' party, for the time of our first days. It’s the informal coming together of family, friends and community. It’s our call to journey with the child and for us all to begin again. PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT EXERCISE. 1. How might you 'journey' with us and 'begin again' this Saturday morning at 11am? 2. Who would have been around at your Birth Day - and what do you imagine they said? GLASS BOOKCASE He must have been a senior lawyer or perhaps a judge. The extensive law library housed in a beautiful glass bookcase across three walls of his study, bears witness to a serious role and a long commitment to his work. His large oak desk still has the files of papers he was working on. He died two years ago and his ground floor apartment remains largely untouched, although the conservatory wall is in need of some paint. We view the property as potential buyers and see family photos of a grandad, and a bedroom left as if it was just tidied up for our viewing. His home is full of outdated furniture and we learn that, after our judge lost his wife, he lived on here for years, immersed in his retirement. This flat will be sold and cleared out, except for the glass bookcase, which I think, will remain, waiting for new books to arrive. PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT EXERCISE. 1. What books would you treasure and keep in your glass bookcase? 2. What in your life, is your long term commitment to? |
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March 2021
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