Tag Archives: Barry Demp Coaching

“The path of least resistance is a terrible teacher.”

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“The path of least resistance is a terrible teacher.”

—Ryan Holiday, American author and host of the podcast The Daily Stoic

Image from Unsplash by Taylor Flow

Look back on your life and consider your most impactful teachers.

Which of them left a lasting impression where — even today — you still refer to their lessons?

How often do you recall wanting to be challenged and stretched versus going for that easy “A”?

In today’s convenience-centric world, the goal most often seems to focus on maximizing pleasure and minimizing pain.

What has this approach taught us and how has it weakened our spirits and resolve?

EXERCISE:

Consider reading Robert Fritz’s book, The Path of Least Resistance to see what it has to offer.

Feel free to let me know your top take-aways as you wrestle with this concept.

“So much of the development of mental strength flows from our ability to normalize adversity.”

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“So much of the development of mental strength flows from our ability to normalize adversity.”

—Rohan Rajiv, Author of A Learning a Day Blog

Image from Unsplash by Aziz Acharki

Over the years writing this blog I’ve reference a book titled The Power of Full Engagement numerous times.

A key premise of its content is to expand one’s ability to increase their physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual energies.

Consider replacing the word energy with strength.

Where are you experiencing adversity in your life?

How are you being challenged and tested in your personal and professional pursuits?

Where are you feeling resistance and a sense of being stretched beyond what’s comfortable?

How do these situations actually increasing your overall strength, capacities, and resilience?

EXERCISE:

Read or re-read The Power of Full Engagement. Consider how normalizing adversity has actually supported your growth and development.

Feel free to reply to this post with some examples from your own life.

Abundance is not something we acquire, it’s something we tune into.

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“Abundance is not something we acquire, it’s something we tune into.”

—Wayne Dyer, late self-help author and motivational speaker

Image from Unsplash by Braden Callum

When is enough enough? How much money, possessions, status, and achievement lets you know you’ve made it?

Western society keeps fanning the flames of a “more is better” world. Many of us seem to be trapped in a vicious cycle of gluttony where our appetites are never satisfied — often to our own detriment.

Where do you find yourself running this race? To what degree do you find yourself on a treadmill getting sweaty but not getting anywhere truly satisfying?

EXERCISE:

What are the absolute essential elements of a good and meaningful life?

How tuned into and appreciative are you of the things you already have?

Try quietly sitting in this space to explore the peaceful abundant feeling it can offer.

Separate your notions from your emotions

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Separate your notions from your emotions.

—Calm App Reflection

Image from Unsplash by Uday Mittal

Ever found yourself upset by every little thing going on in your life? Times when the smallest details of your days grate on you and trigger levels of annoyance that feel well out of proportion?

Perhaps your mighty mind is actually making mountains out of molehills! Your power to interpret life’s events and other people’s motives have gone to the dark side, and you start playing the victim.

EXERCISE:

Where are your notions stirring up your emotions?

How might some buffer space between stimulus and response — and a bigger helping of objectivity — help settle your nerves?

Friday Review: Fun

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Friday Review: Fun

How often do you make “fun” a part of your day? Here are a few related posts you may have missed.

“Ask yourself: Does the job touch my heart and feed my soul? You will never be what you were meant to be if you aren’t having fun.”

 

 

 

 

“Adults need recess too.”

 

 

 

“True wisdom lies in gathering the precious things out of each day as it goes by.”

 

 

 

 

It’s on the strength of observation and reflection that one finds a way.

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“It’s on the strength of observation and reflection that one finds a way.”

—Claude Monet, 19th Century French painter

Image from Wikipedia

I’m a big fan of the Big Bang TV series and don’t mind spending a bit of free time watching a few reruns.

In one particular episode the whole gang decided to go to an escape room as an evening diversion.

With only an initial clue or two, the group, with their mighty minds and keen powers of observation, found the key to escape in only six minutes.

EXERCISE:

How strong are your powers of observation?

How much time do you patiently and calmly reflect on life’s sticky situations to find a way forward you might not have ever considered?

Procrastination is the thief of time

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“Procrastination is the thief of time. Collar him.”

—Edward Young, 18th Century English Poet

Image from Unsplash by nit niu

When we think of the word “collar” most of us think of the piece of clothing around our necks. In Young’s day, it was often used as a term to apprehend or arrest a criminal.

If you watch police shows on TV,  the term often points to the success rate of bringing in the bad guys and taking them off the streets to pay for their crimes.

Procrastination is indeed a thief.

What has it stolen from you over the years?

How is it picking your pockets these days?

EXERCISE:

What strategies can and will you use to collar procrastination and free yourself of its choke-hold on your life?

“Don’t swing at every pitch. Wait for the right ones and then knock them out of the park.”

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“Don’t swing at every pitch. Wait for the right ones and then knock them out of the park.”

—Rohan Rajiv, author of A Learning a Day Blog

Image from Unsplash by Josh Hemsley

I recently had the opportunity to observe two different sporting events on the same weekend.

One—as you might guess from today’s quote—was baseball. The other was tennis.

When I compared the two, I noticed a significant difference.

In tennis, the receiving player tries to return every serve that makes it into the service area, no matter how fast or how much spin it may have.

In baseball, the batter has a number of chances to be more selective on when to swing at what’s being offered by the pitcher.

EXERCISE:

Where do you find yourself swinging at every pitch coming your way?

How often do you strike out or get on base, given your ability to discern which pitches are right for you?

How would more practice increase your batting average and add more home runs to your stats?

Ring the bells of your days and sit in their reverberations

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Ring the bells of your days and sit in their reverberations.
—Calm App Reflection

Image from Unsplash by Manga Vitriolic

The days go by in a blur for most of us. Whether we’re rushing around like chickens without their heads or the world around us is speeding by, it’s all a bit dizzying.

Living with greater mindfulness and intention slows things down so that we actually notice our surroundings and reflect on what is going on, moment-to-moment.

With our best focused efforts, we take in and appreciate the bells we ring and the whistles we blow to signal the marks we make in our communities.

EXERCISE:

Take some extra time throughout your day — or just at day’s end —to feel the reverberations of your efforts and the impact you’ve had on the world around you.

Consider giving yourself a quiet celebratory high five to acknowledge the good you’ve done before you head to bed.

Friday Review: Mistakes

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Friday Review: Mistakes

What is the biggest mistake you’ve ever made? What “mistake” turned out to be a good thing? Here are a few related posts you may have missed.

 

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

 

 

 

“Just because you’ve made mistakes doesn’t mean your mistakes get to make you. Take notice of your inner critic, forgive yourself, and move on.”

 

 

 

“One thorn of experience is worth a whole wilderness of warning.”