Tag Archives: Barry Demp Coaching

“Follow your heart. Purpose will reveal itself to you only while walking your own path.”

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“Follow your heart. Purpose will reveal itself to you only while walking your own path.”

—Brendon Burchard, New York Times best-selling author

Image from Unsplash by Lucas George Wendt

These days, many people are feeling a bit lost.

The proverbial bread crumbs they placed along their life paths have been blown, washed, or burned away by the events and challenges facing us all.

Taking time to look around at reality—and within our hearts—to revisit or discover our foundational values and core life principles is a good place to start.

Doing so will likely reveal various paths you can take and what direction to head. In these moments, it can be enough to step forward in ways that express these values.

Trust your heart that purpose and meaning will meet you on the way.

EXERCISE:

Consider completing the Life Vision Exercise to see what your heart has to say, and pack a few snacks for your purposeful journey.

“Laws are never as effective as habits.”

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“Laws are never as effective as habits.”

—Adlai Stevenson II, 20th Century Governor of Illinois

Image from Unsplash by Unman Yousaf

To what degree do you see yourself as a law-abiding citizen? Take a moment to examine the laws and some of the “do’s and don’ts” that influence and govern your household, organizations, and communities.

How do you feel when any form of authority tries to enforce any particular law?

Given our current pandemic, how are you and others viewing social distancing efforts and the wearing of masks?

We all love our freedom and the ability to choose our own behaviors guided by our values. In groups and organizations that have empowering cultures, it is the sharing of these values and principles that guide the norms and habits of its members.

EXERCISE:

Where and how could you and others in your various communities be even more effective by encouraging better habits and enforcing fewer laws?

“The truth is in you. How much room do you give it?”

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“The truth is in you. How much room do you give it?”

—Laurent F. Carrel, Founding Partner of Carrel & Partner

Image from Unsplash by S&B Vonlanthen

Imagine you are about to embark on a hike along the Appalachian Trail, The Pacific Crest Trail, or Camino De Santiago De Compostela. You have trained for months, eaten all your veggies to lose those extra pounds, and freed up your calendar.

In the process of packing your gear with what you consider the essentials, you find that it feels like you’re wearing an elephant.

Where is your life over-packed and wearing you down? Where do you need to unclutter your head and heart and make more room for your truth?

EXERCISE:

What actions can and will you take today to live your truth even more fully?

“Faced with crisis, the man of character falls back on himself.”

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“Faced with crisis, the man of character falls back on himself.”

—Charles De Gaulle, 20th Century President of France

We need more Level 5 leaders today!

In his classic book, Good to Great, Jim Collins describes Level 5 leaders as more like Abraham Lincoln and Socrates than George Patton or Julius Caesar.

Level 5 Leaders have a mixture of humility and stoic resolve, doing what it takes to make organizations—and hopefully a nation—truly great again.

These special people demonstrate character by shouldering responsibility for difficulties and generously acknowledging and praising others for the efforts and progress that are realized.

EXERCISE:

Where are you seeing evidence of great character and resolve in the leaders in your personal and professional communities?

How and in what ways can you also fall back on yourself during these difficult times?

“When a man eats his words, that’s recycling.”

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“When a man eats his words, that’s recycling.”

—Frank A. Clark, 20th Century American lawyer and politician

Image from Unsplash by Artem Beliaikin

Here in Rochester Hills, Michigan, we are very proud of our recycling efforts. We were the first city in Michigan to pioneer a program where recycled waste was weighed during weekly curbside pickup — and each household was provided a tax credit for their efforts.

What recycling efforts do you participate in and see occurring in your part of the world?

These days, various forms of verbal and written pollution are damaging our environment with many hurtful and toxic effects on our local, national and global communities.

EXERCISE:

Where in your world would eating a larger portion of your own verbal missteps make the biggest difference?

Imagine the world that would result if all people took on this recycling effort!

“Democracy is based upon the conviction that there are extraordinary possibilities in ordinary people.”

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“Democracy is based upon the conviction that there are extraordinary possibilities in ordinary people.”

—Harry Emerson Fosdick, 20th Century American Pastor/Author

Image from Unsplash by Element5 Digital

I hope you voted early.

If you exercise this right in person today, please do so safely.

EXERCISE:

Consider having a few significant conversations today with friends and family about the extraordinary possibilities you envision and intend to be part of in the years ahead.

“Dialogue is balancing advocacy with inquiry.”

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“Dialogue is balancing advocacy with inquiry.”

—Author Unknown

Image from Unsplash by Priscilla Du Preez

 

In his book, Dialogue: The Art of Thinking Together, William Isaac describes this critical skill as the intention to reach new levels of mutual understanding.

Doing so, he indicates we can form a totally new basis from which to think and act.

He further states that this capacity for talking together constitutes the foundation for democracy.

EXERCISE:

Where are you observing and participating in true dialogue in your various communities?

How could a better balance between advocacy and inquiry improve communities throughout the world?

Friday Review: Fear

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FRIDAY REVIEW: FEAR

How often do you let fear stop you from achieving your goal? Here are a few fear-related posts you may have missed. Happy Halloween!

 

“Do one thing each day that scares you.”

 

 

 

 

“Become so wrapped up in something that you forget to be afraid.”

 

 

 

 

“If it scares you, it may be a good thing to try.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

“All learning is state dependent.”

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“All learning is state dependent.”

—Jim Kwik, Author of Limitless

Image from Unsplash by Matthew T. Rader

Over the past months, many of us have become increasingly aware of our biases, whether conscious or unconscious. We have learned, through countless examples in our personal and professional worlds, which doors to open, and which to keep closed.

How often do you close the door on others, or worse yet, never open them to peek at what’s inside? To what degree do you live in a state of judgement and protection of the status quo?

What past lessons have been ingrained and habitualized?

EXERCISE:

Where would a state of greater openness, curiosity, and acceptance of other ways of thinking and acting create new learning and opportunities for a fuller and better life?