Tag Archives: Barry Demp Coaching

“Don’t let the behavior of others destroy your inner peace.”

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“Don’t let the behavior of others destroy your inner peace.”

—Gyalwa Rinpoche, the 14th Dalai Lama

Image from Unsplash by Shashank Sahay

Each tropical storm and hurricane season, meteorologists begin naming the weather events alphabetically, alternating between male and female names.

Who are the people in your life that create the stormiest weather and buffet you with their winds and waves?

What strategies do you use to deal with these disruptive people in order to remain calm and centered?

EXERCISE:

Take time today to notice the people in your world who exemplify the inner peace and calm you desire.

Consider asking them what they do to channel their inner Dalia Lama, then give some of their ideas a try.

“The creative mind is the playful mind. Philosophy is the play and dance of ideas.”

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“The creative mind is the playful mind. Philosophy is the play and dance of ideas.”

—Eric Hoffer, 20th Century American moral and social philosopher

Image from Unsplash by Ben Whites

Try the exercise of counting to one hundred by tens. This is no big deal for us adults, but for a two or three-year-old it’s pretty neat stuff.

Here we go:

10 — TEN
20 — TWENTY
30 — THIRTY
40 — FORTY
50 — FIFTY
60 — SIXTY
70 — SEVENTY
80 — EIGHTY
90 — NINETY

What comes next for my grandson Weston is, of course, TEN-Y! 🤣

How creative and playful are you in your personal and professional pursuits?

What enjoyment would you experience, and what new ideas might result to improve your life if you played and danced with a few more ideas?

EXERCISE:

Consider looking into the philosophical thinking and meditations of the stoics. One of my favorite books easily digested by even beginners is The Daily Stoic, by Ryan Holiday.

 

“When we know how to read our own hearts, we acquire wisdom of the hearts of others.”

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“When we know how to read our own hearts, we acquire wisdom of the hearts of others.”

—Denis Diderot, 18th Century French philosopher, art critic, and writer

Image from Unsplash by Jon Tyson

What comes to mind when you think about poetry?

In recent years, I’ve shifted considerably from a judgmental, sappy view to a more open, welcoming view of this art form.

For most of my years, I just didn’t get it, and it was far easier to disregard the hidden messages that went over my head, as clearly not meant for me.

It was a bit over nine years ago, following my mom’s passing, that I read The Book of Awakening by Mark Nepo. It seemed like none of my normal reading efforts hit home and my heart needed filling far more than my head.

It was then that I began to more fully explore aspects of my heartfelt emotions and feelings as a basis of connecting with others, especially family and friends.

EXERCISE:

How might playing with a bit of poetry help you read your own heart better?

What would be the benefit of acquiring the wisdom of the hearts of others in your various communities?

Friday Review: Expectations

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Friday Review: Expectations

What expectations do you carry for yourself? How do you react to the expectations others hold for you? Here are a few expectation-related posts you may have missed.

 

“As your consciousness expands, your level of expectation will grow. Keep asking yourself, am I selling myself short? Most of us are.”

 

 

“Accept this moment as if you had chosen it.”

 

 

 

“Nobody notices what you do until you do not do it.”

 

 

 

“If something comes to life in others because of you, then you have made an approach to immortality.”

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“If something comes to life in others because of you, then you have made an approach to immortality.”

—Norman Cousins, 20th Century American journalist, professor, and world peace advocate

Image from Unsplash by Tsunami Green

What are your views on the concept of immortality? For many, the idea that death will come to each of us points to the precious gift and importance of living each moment to the fullest.

How we spend our time and who we spend it with is essential to have The Dash between our birth and death have extra meaning and impact.

Regardless of your faith and spiritual perspective on life beyond our physical world, we can all clearly contribute and impact others in our personal and professional communities. To live on in the fruits of others from the seeds we plant may be the primary purpose and reason for our lives.

EXERCISE:

What impact have you had or are you making in the lives of others?

Where are others sprouting strong roots, beautiful flowers, and sweet fruits due to your intentional contributions?

“Measure wealth not by the thing you have, but by the things you have for which you would not take money.”

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“Measure wealth not by the thing you have, but by the things you have for which you would not take money.”

—Author Unknown

Image from abcnews.go.com

It was the 1992 Barcelona Olympic Games that inspired me to become a coach. Here were some of the best athletes in the world, and they all worked with a coach to pursue and achieve excellence in their chosen sport.

Where are you currently pursuing personal or professional excellence?

Did you know that based on current market prices, a 2016 Gold Medal is worth about $587, given that it is composed of 494 grams of silver and 6 grams of gold?

What do you think these symbols of extraordinary effort and achievement are worth to these remarkable athletes? What would you imagine is the intrinsic value of the Olympic experience?

EXERCISE:

In what ways do you live a gold medal life?

What in your life do you consider priceless?

Take some time today to be more fully grateful for all the blessings and riches we sometimes forget.

“If all you did was just look for things to appreciate, you would live a joyously spectacular life.”

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“If all you did was just look for things to appreciate, you would live a joyously spectacular life.”

—Esther Hicks, American channeler, inspirational speaker, and author

Image from Unsplash by Gabrielle Henderson

Esther Hicks narrated and appeared in the original version of the film, The Secret, as well as being a central source of the film’s inspiration.

One of the basic tenets of her teachings says that people create their own reality through their attention and focus.

Another aspect of her teaching is that the basis of life is freedom, the purpose of life is joy, and the result of life is growth.

EXERCISE:

Please consider working your appreciation muscles extra hard today.

Let me know what you see and how spectacular things go.

 

“Doing your best at this moment puts you in the best place for the next moment.”

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“Doing your best at this moment puts you in the best place for the next moment.”

—Author Unknown

Image from Unsplash by Serena Repice Lentini

What percent of the time do you give your personal and professional activities your very best?

How often do you feel stretched and notice the burn physically, mentally, or emotionally as you take on a particular challenge?

In grade school, I had the opportunity to visit New York and climb to the crown of the Statue of Liberty. The 162 steps to the top seemed like a million. I recall the heat and shaking in my legs as I tried to keep pace.

No one was stopping to catch their breath on the various platforms, and I sure didn’t want to look like a slacker in front of my friends.

Twenty minutes or so from my first step, I received my crowning reward, seeing the panoramic view of New York’s skyline, including the twin towers of the World Trade Center, and the Empire State Building.

EXERCISE:

Where in your world are you holding back your best efforts?

Where would taking those extra steps place you at a higher point to both see and pursue even greater personal and professional excellence?

Friday Review: Experimentation

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Friday Review: Experimentation

Where in your life has experimentation proven fruitful? Where has it not? Here are a few experimentation-related posts you may have missed.

 

“Creativity is inventing, experimenting, growing, risk-taking, breaking rules, making mistakes, and having fun.”

 

 

 

“There is always room in our budget for a little experimentation.”

 

 

 

“If you call failures experiments, you can put them on your resume and claim them as achievements.”

 

 

 

 

“The sooner you make a choice, the sooner you can make an adjustment.”

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“The sooner you make a choice, the sooner you can make an adjustment.”

—James Clear, America author, entrepreneur, and photographer

Image from Unsplash by Brendan Church

Consider these activities:

Rifle Shooting Archery Golf
Bowling Billiards / Pool Soccer
Drone Flying Darts Basketball

How many have you tried over the years, and how masterful were you, at your best?

How many shots were required to hit your target or better yet, the bullseye?

How did a ready, shoot, adjust, repeat process increase your eventual accuracy?

EXERCISE:

Where are you waiting to launch into action for fear of missing your target?

How would taking far more courageous shots at your personal and professional goals, making the necessary adjustments, help any misses become great hits in the future?