Tag Archives: Barry Demp Coaching

“Both faith and fear may sail into your harbor. But allow only faith to drop anchor.”

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“Both faith and fear may sail into your harbor. But allow only faith to drop anchor.”

—Author Unknown

Image from Unsplash by Matthew Wheeler

When was the last time you went boating?

What is it like to watch the comings and goings of vessels as they enter and leave their assigned marina slips?

What is a typical speed during these maneuvers? What happens to the boats and the passengers when someone exceeds the limit?

EXERCISE:

To what degree are you experiencing the wake and excessive wave action of fear in your life and in your communities?

Where would the slow, stabilizing attribute of greater faith calm the seas of this world and make for safer harbors?

“Sometimes good things fall apart so better things can fall together.”

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“Sometimes good things fall apart so better things can fall together.”

—Jessica Howell, American actress and producer

Image from Unsplash by Zdeněk Macháček

Consider the concepts of entropy and order.

The first is about how things pursue a random path of coming apart. The second pertains to things coming together in a more organized state.

Where have some of the good things in your life and our world fallen apart? How many of these issues are related to entropy, bad luck, or perhaps our lack of attention and effort to bring order to these matters?

Where are things beginning to fall together—not by chance, but by individuals and communities of shared vision and values choosing to create their own good once again?

EXERCISE:

Where and how can you play a bigger, more positive role in your world so that better things will fall together? Consider placing the following quote by Desmond Tutu somewhere you will see it often—and consider reading my post about it from a few years ago.

“Do your little bit of good whoever you are; it’s those little bits of good put together that overwhelm the world.”

“How are you doing at keeping up with yourself?”

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“How are you doing at keeping up with yourself?”

—Author Unknown

When someone asks How are you doing?, where do you go to look for your answer?

Far too often, many of us look to compare our lots in life with those displayed in the media. This comparison with others can be a slippery slope, often leaving many feeling stressed, anxious, and even depressed.

Many authorities suggest that a more empowering and positive approach is to focus primarily on bettering oneself and only competing with the person you were yesterday.

EXERCISE:

What actions and efforts are you taking these days to not only keep up but exceed your previous self?

Consider engaging the support of a coach, mentor, friend, or family member to increase the likelihood of success.

Friday Review: Waiting

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FRIDAY REVIEW: WAITING

What are you waiting for? Here are a few waiting-related posts you may have missed. Click the links to read the full message.

 

“Life lived for tomorrow will always be just a day away from being realized.”

 

 

 

 

“The work will wait while you show the child the rainbow, but the rainbow won’t wait while you finish the work.”

 

 

 

 

“It’s better to bite your tongue than to eat your words.”

 

 

 

 

“Following the crowd never gets you very far.”

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“Following the crowd never gets you very far.”

—Robin Sharma, Canadian Author of The Monk Who Sold His Ferrari

Image from Unsplash by Chuttersnap

It is human nature to want to belong to our professional and personal communities. We tend to thrive and live longer, happier lives due to the supportive relationships around us.

Following the crowd and group think, however, is rarely associated with extraordinary levels of achievement and excellence. When one looks at the subject of personal mastery, important relationships with role models, mentors, teachers, and coaches are always involved. And yet, they evolve and change over time, to propel people forward, often leaving once valued relationships behind.

EXERCISE:

Where in your life have you and are you following the crowd? How has doing so held you back from going even further in either your personal or professional life?

What bolder, more courageous actions can and will you take to realize even more of your fullest potential?

“Keeping a journal is praying on paper.”

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“Keeping a journal is praying on paper.”

—Robin Sharma, Canadian Author of The Monk Who Sold His Ferrari

Image from Unsplash by Brad Neathery

A few months ago, I began journaling again for the umpteenth time. Sitting on my desk are four journals from previous attempts. I started with great enthusiasm, then lost interest and momentum after only a few dozen pages.

Things seem different now. I somehow have become more patient and reflective. Taking time to capture my thoughts, feelings, and emotions appears more important than ever. With the perfect storm of current events, this is clearly a great time to pray and take action together to better our world.

EXERCISE:

How can more prayer, written or spoken, alone or with others, be a source of healing and strength for you and all of your communities?

“If you will please people, you must please them in their own way.”

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“If you will please people, you must please them in their own way.”

—Lord Chesterfield, 18th Century British Statesman

Image from Unsplash by Sebastian Herrmann

Are you a sales person? If you answered YES because of your job, you fit with one in nine people, based on Dan Pink’s book, To Sell is Human. Surprising to many of us is the fact that the remaining eight out of nine of us are also “in sales” when we try to influence others to our way of thinking.

If you happen to be a parent, how effective are you at getting your kids to do their homework, their chores, eat their veggies, or go to bed on time?

A current client asked me to review a few of his recent business proposals. He wanted to know what I thought might be the reason for his low level of acceptance. The overly simple answer we discovered was that the proposals were focused primarily on what he and his organization was selling. They were not focused on the deep desires of his potential customers. He did not sell them on their own YES.

EXERCISE:

How would the idea that people participate and buy into things that they help create improve your sales and influence in your professional and personal communities?

How could pleasing others in their own way open many more doors to your own success?

 

“Pause, breathe, repair the universe – then proceed.”

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“Pause, breathe, repair the universe – then proceed.”

—Author Unknown

Image from Unsplash by Sonja Langford

Let’s do an experiment. Take out your cell phone or other device that has a clock or time-keeping function. Count the number of breaths you take in one minute, breathing at a normal rate. Do not try to alter the way you breathe, just count the number of inhale/exhale cycles.

How did you do?

If you are like most people, you were probably between 15 and 20 cycles.

In his book Breath, James Nestor suggests that we could all benefit greatly if we would reduce our breathing cycle by two-thirds, to around six breaths per minute.

The quick and over simplified reason is to increase the amount of CO2 in each cell, which in turn causes more oxygen from the blood to go to that cell—helping us feel better.

Perhaps this recommendation is one reason why there is such an increase in the number of people embracing mindful breathing as part of their meditation practice.

EXERCISE:

How would more pausing and mindful breathing help you repair and improve your piece of the universe?

As a simple experiment, try breathing in to the count of five, and out to the count of five for two to three minutes and see how you feel.

Friday Review: Kindness

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FRIDAY REVIEW: KINDNESS

What acts of kindness have you witnessed or displayed over the last year? Here are a few kindness-related posts you may have missed.

 

“Kindness causes us to learn, and to forget, many things.”

 

 

 

 

“Life is mostly froth and bubble, two things stand like stone. Kindness in another’s trouble, courage in your own.”

 

 

 

“It is hard to fight an enemy who has an outpost in your head.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

Happy Thanksgiving

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Happy Thanksgiving!

It’s been over nine years and 2,200 posts – I am motivated by your continued readership and grateful for your comments.

Over the years, we’ve looked at motivational quotes covering nearly 200 categories or topics. Take a look at the right sidebar, scroll down till you see “categories” and take your pick!

May your days be filled with Thanks-Giving.