“Great people are not affected by each puff of wind that blows ill. Like great ships, they sail serenely on, in a calm sea or a great tempest.”

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“Great people are not affected by each puff of wind that blows ill. Like great ships, they sail serenely on, in a calm sea or a great tempest.”

– George Washington, first President of the United States

452Image from Flickr by Mr.Thomas.
Have you ever attended a cruise ship orientation? In addition to learning all the fascinating statistics about these floating cities, you will almost always find out about their technology – which includes a very sophisticated set of navigation and stability control capabilities.

It’s remarkable that the crew can get these great ships from point A to point B with minimal disturbance to the passengers’ enjoyment.

How often are you negatively affected by those small (and not so small) puffs of wind in your daily activities? How often do you experience bouts of seasickness that upset your day?

Exercise:

What factors in your world help create your own personal stability control center that can help you sail through life in a more serene and calm manner?

“Quotable quotes are coins rubbed smooth by circulation.”

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“Quotable quotes are coins rubbed smooth by circulation.”

– Louis Menand, writer and academic

451Image from Flickr by KristinNador.

One of the great things about coaching is that its impact is “sticky” and often produces a sustainable, long-lasting difference in the lives of those involved. However, many people find it difficult to receive an adequate level of coaching support in their vocational and personal lives.

Powerful and highly memorable quotes are one solution, and the more they circulate through the written and spoken word, the more life’s edges are smoothed.

Exercise:

Visit The Quotable Coach’s website (www.thequotablecoach.com) and find the category of quotes in the sidebar that has the greatest value for you at this point in your life. Capture between one and three of your favorites and share them with people who will be supportive of your efforts.

News: I am working on a book for The Quotable Coach, to be launched in ebook form at the end of March. I will be sharing possible titles soon and would very much appreciate your feedback when I do so.

“The pleasure of doing a thing in the same way at the same time every day and savoring it should be noted.”

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“The pleasure of doing a thing in the same way at the same time every day and savoring it should be noted.”

Arnold Bennett, English writer

450Image from Flickr by North Charleston.

Loyal readers of The Quotable Coach will know that coaching often has a lot to do with breaking patterns so that new worlds will emerge. (See my recent audio post for more on this: https://www.thequotablecoach.com/coaching-2/patterns-change-time-audio.)

Bennett’s quote has an appeal in that doing the same thing over and over again the same way at the same time each day can have considerable merits. A daily rhythm of behaviors to provide consistency, stability and a general foundation for the rest of our diverse and wildly varied lives can be compared to a strong building’s foundation or a tree’s root system and trunk.

Exercise:

What current daily habits and behaviors do you currently have that simply work well for you?

What new or additional daily rituals can you embrace or engage in that will make you feel even more centered and happy?

Please reply to this message with some of your current daily rituals that work for you.

“There is nothing that makes its way more directly to the soul than beauty.”

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“There is nothing that makes its way more directly to the soul than beauty.”

—Joseph Addison, English writer and politician

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Image from Flickr by mRio

Beauty has a way of stopping me in my tracks. The past few days here in Michigan have been filled with snow. The beautiful white blanket has literally stopped me from my usual routine of working out at the health club and doing a variety of errands.

Slowing down and taking a few extra moments to embrace this beautiful sight seems to connect me with a deeper experience of being in the world, which I find very important. Unfortunately, many of us, including myself, have to be forced to stop in order to take note of this beauty and the accompanying soulful experience.

Exercise:

Imagine that you are a “beauty detector”, similar to a metal detector. When you come across some beauty, stop and “dig it up” to experience more of the treasures available.

Feel free to reply to this message and let me know what you discover.

“Passion is energy. Feel the power that comes from focusing on what excites you.”

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“Passion is energy. Feel the power that comes from focusing on what excites you.”

– Oprah Winfrey, talk show host and actress

448Image from Flickr by danxoneil.

Oprah Winfrey sets a wonderful example of a person of passion. From her early years in broadcasting to her 25 amazing years with her own network show, she lived and worked true to these words.

How passionate are you? What is it like for you on Sunday evening or on Monday morning as you embark on the day ahead?

Exercise:

Pay particular attention to your daily levels of passion, energy and excitement. They are barometers for a fully engaged life.

Be prepared to make some needed changes and to become your own “weather forecaster”, paying attention to these barometers so you can have that feeling of living a powerful and passionate life.

Please consider replying to this message and let me know what you plan to do differently and what results you produce from these changes.

“It was only a sunny smile and little it cost in the giving, but like morning light, it scattered the night and made the day worth living.”

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“It was only a sunny smile and little it cost in the giving, but like morning light, it scattered the night and made the day worth living.”

– F. Scott Fitzgerald, American author

447Image from Flickr by rkramer62.

Winter here in Michigan began about a month ago, and along with some of the coldest temperatures in the area due to the Arctic vortex effect, we are experiencing days with the least amount of daylight of the entire year.

A reasonable number of people are affected to some degree in their mood and outlook by the lack of daylight. Some experience a syndrome called Seasonal Affective Disorder that can cause low energy, moodiness and even depression. You can find out more about this here:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seasonal_affective_disorder

Exercise:

Each time you offer or receive a low-cost smile today, think of it as a form of light therapy to help you and others “spring forward” – just as if you were beginning your own personal daylight saving time.

“No plan is worth the paper it is printed on unless it starts you doing something.”

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“No plan is worth the paper it is printed on unless it starts you doing something.”

—William Danforth, co-founder of the American Youth Federation

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Image from Flickr by orangeacid

January is one of the busiest times for coaches, when both individuals and organizations crystallize and clarify their goals and plans for the new year. Of course, we have all seen these intentions and plans lose their steam and sit on the shelf to eventually await the next planning cycle, when we do it all over again.When asked, a very significant percentage of professionals would describe the planning process as “unremarkable” and “not particularly worthwhile” – primarily due to the lack of ongoing review and rigorous execution.

Exercise:

Seek out the help of your own individual or organizational coaches to make sure that this year, your plans are worth their weight in gold.

If you do not yet have a coach, you may want to take a look at the services I offer, to see whether I would be a good fit for you:

www.dempcoaching.com/professional-services

You stand between whatever binds you to your past

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 “You stand between whatever binds you to your past and whatever might be unbounded in your future.”

– Seamus Heaney, Irish poet and playwright

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Image from Flickr by macinate

The beginning of the New Year is a poignant time for most people. It is, as Heaney suggests, a form of boundary between the previous year and the year ahead. Taking stock of the past can be a useful exercise to discover lessons learned, mistakes not to repeat, and places where you have succeeded, where you have considerable momentum to carry you forward.

Exploring the possibilities of an unbounded future in the various domains of your life can be very energizing and exciting. Tap into your courage, boldness, passion and values to make this future come true.

Exercise:

Select a coach, mentor, friend, family member or colleague to talk to about the unbounded possibilities of your future. Buy them a cup of coffee – or better yet, take them out for a meal. This is not an exercise you want to rush.

For extra credit, consider meeting with this person at least once a month to explore your efforts and progress throughout the year.

“Kindred spirits are not so scarce as I used to think. It’s splendid to find out there are so many of them in the world.”

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“Kindred spirits are not so scarce as I used to think. It’s splendid to find out there are so many of them in the world.”

– L.M. Montgomery, author of Anne of Green Gables

444Image from Flickr by Ingrid Truemper

How do you find a kindred spirit? It might appear difficult if you believe that things of the spirit world are invisible.Consider the scientific corollary of the electromagnetic spectrum of light. Even the visible spectrum of light is invisible without a prism to show us the beautiful colors within. Perhaps we as human-beings each have a “rainbow-making” capacity to help us reveal these kindred spirits.

Exercise:

Imagine you are a radio transmitter that can deliver into the world your invisible signal powered by your vision, value, beliefs and passions. People who can pick up these signals without static and from considerable distances are your kindred spirits.

It just happens that you are also a radio receiver with the power to tune in and receive the signals sent by others.

Montgomery is suggesting here that if we are very intentional about our transmitting and receiving, we will be surprised by just how kindred the human spirit really is.

“The greatest story you will ever tell is your own.”

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“The greatest story you will ever tell is your own.”

– Charlie Rose, American broadcast journalist443Image from Flickr by visual.dichotomy

A few years ago, my family started a new tradition of taking one day over the holidays as a “movie marathon day” where we all see the top movies back-to-back from early morning until midnight.

This year it was five in a row, but in previous years some of the gang saw as many as six or seven. We all love to be carried away by the drama, romance and humor of these wonderful stories.

Exercise:

During January, please take about 15- 30 minutes to do a “year in review” to identify the signature stories that would make up your highlight reel of 2013.

Take another 15 – 30 minutes to script out your coming attractions for the year ahead, doing your best to make sure it would be nominated for your best year ever.