Tag Archives: Barry Demp Coaching

So plant your own garden and decorate your own soul instead of waiting for someone to bring you flowers

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“So plant your own garden and decorate your own soul instead of waiting for someone to bring you flowers.”

—Jorge Luis Borges, 20th Century Argentine essayist, poet and translator

Image from Unsplash by Markus Spike

Today’s quote reminds me of Stephen Covey’s habit of being proactive. These days, it has become increasingly easy to have things come our way with little effort. With the click of a few buttons on our phones we can order a meal, get a ride, and have virtually anything delivered in minutes or days.

The caveat here is that we still need to do a bit of searching and actively click a button or two for our flowers to arrive.

EXERCISE:

Where in your world are you waiting for things to happen with little or no effort on your part? Where would proactively planting your own garden and decorating your soul add more beauty and abundance to your life?

I believe a leaf of grass is no less than the journey-work of the stars

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“I believe a leaf of grass is no less than the journey-work of the stars.”

—Walt Whitman, 19th Century American poet, essayist and journalist

Image from Unsplash by Chang Qing

As part of my health and fitness efforts I take a daily shot of wheat grass juice each morning. Although some people might describe this practice as drinking a lawn, I’ve learned to appreciate its fresh scent and unique flavor.

As a superfood touted by many, I’ve learned that this plant is made of the stuff of stars. About 70% of this plant is chlorophyll. If you add in vitamin C, vitamin A, vitamin E, amino acids, and a host of other phytonutrients, you get a veritable chemistry set of elements supporting your life.

EXERCISE:

Examine the eating habits of the world’s largest land animals. When you think of elephants, giraffes, rhinos, it is clear that plants do a body good. How might you incorporate more plants in your diet to live a healthier, star-studded life?

Practice the art of mindful breathing whenever you wish to reduce stress and experience calm

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Practice the art of mindful breathing whenever you wish to reduce stress and experience calm. Your breath can inspire and in-spirit you.

—Calm App Reflection

Image from Unsplash by bobby hendry

About three weeks ago I reached a meditation milestone of 1200 consecutive days. This practice, which began before the pandemic, has helped me reduce stress, remain calm, and—when things get out of balance—not lose my head nearly as often as others.

Fundamental to this practice is the act of mindful breathing which helps body, mind and soul navigate our daily pursuits in all the minutes and hours off the cushion.

EXERCISE:

Consider signing up for a free trial membership of a mediation app such as CALM or Headspace. If this commitment seems beyond your current interest, please investigate the wide variety of breathing exercises out there that can inspire and in-sprit you. Please give these efforts at least a week and let me know what you experience.

Friday Review: Awareness

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Friday Review: Awareness

How aware are you of what’s going on around you, and inside you? Here are a few related posts you may have missed.

 

“We are sitting under the tree of our thinking minds, wondering why we’re not getting any sunshine!”

 

 

 

“It’s got to happen inside first.”

 

 

 

 

 

“We can only be said to be alive in those moments when our hearts are conscious of our treasures.”

 

 

Keep your attention on your present moment efforts

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Keep your attention on your present moment efforts. Forget the summit and focus on each step of your journey.

—Author Unknown

Image from Unsplash by Alessandro Erbetta

As kids on road trips, we kept asking our dad: Are we there yet? Most of our trips took less than two hours, but our “ants in our pants” impatience made them seem like eternity.

When our own children were young, Wendy and I lived in Michigan. Most of our road trips were ten to twelve hours, heading back east to visit family, and of course, our annual trip to the Pocono Mountains. With better car radios, cassette recorders, games, and interesting places to stop along the way, I don’t recall ever hearing those four little words.

EXERCISE:

How focused are you these days in reaching your personal and professional summits?

How would greater appreciation of the steps along the way make your journeys even more memorable and remarkable?

Don’t worry if you’re making waves just by being yourself.

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“Don’t worry if you’re making waves just by being yourself. The moon does it all the time.”

—Scott Stabile, Inspirational self-help writer and speaker

Image from Unsplash by San Sahil

Did you know that the moon only shows us one of its sides? Not until we sent spacecraft and men to orbit our neighbor did we see its other side.

Perhaps this is wise council for each of us as well. Being our true selves and showing the world who we are with all our impact craters may not be such a bad thing.

The moon has been tugging on us for billions of years. We were so fascinated by its pull we decided to visit it in the 60’s and early 70’s, and plan to return in the coming years.

EXERCISE:

How can living true to your nature—even if it makes a few waves—attract the people and opportunities you most desire?

One kind word can warm three winter months

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“One kind word can warm three winter months.”

—Japanese proverb

Image from Unsplash by Ditto Bowl

How have you been trying to stay warm this winter? Cranking up the thermostat, breaking out the thermal underwear, and adding another log on the fire are common ways to keep the goose bumps at bay.

But external strategies don’t keep us warm on the inside. Winter can be a lonely time for many and seasonal affective disorders from the reduced sunlight seems to be more prominent than ever.

EXERCISE:

Words and acts of kindness always warm our hearts. How are you keeping the kindness fires burning beyond the recent holiday season? With the appropriate people, perhaps a bit of cuddling under a cozy blanket can keep things toasty as well.

Nature offers us wonderful examples of growth

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Nature offers us wonderful examples of growth, renewal, and transformation when we allow each of its seasons to guide our life.

Calm App Reflection

Image from Unsplash by Ian Schneider

What is your perspective on winter? What activities make up most of your days during the winter months? How much time do you spend outdoors?

Except for periodic brisk walks and sprinting from one building to another with my car acting as a shuttle service, I live a predominantly indoor life when it’s cold. Although I admire the grit and fortitude of people who choose a frigid lifestyle, I prefer to hibernate or fly south.

Instead of feeling bad and self-critical during these months, I’ve learned to embrace more inner efforts as a necessary and valuable aspect of living on a planet that circles the sun on a 23 degree angle.

EXERCISE:

How can and do you embrace each of nature’s seasons and the opportunity they offer? What inner and outer work lies ahead for you in this new year?

FRIDAY REVIEW: PREJUDICE

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FRIDAY REVIEW: PREJUDICE

How do you view prejudice in your life and the world around you? Here are a few related posts you may have missed.

 

“Common sense is the collection of prejudices acquired by age eighteen.”

 

 

 

“A great many people think they are thinking when they are merely rearranging their prejudices.”

 

 

 

“Dogs bark at those they do not know.”

 

 

 

Still round the corner there may wait, a new road or a secret gate

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“Still round the corner there may wait, a new road or a secret gate.”

—J.R.R. Tolkien, 20th Century writer, artist, scholar, linguist

Image from Unsplash by Steve Johnson

Many people live their lives going in circles.

Like a revolving door to one of those fancy hotels in a big city, if we don’t exit at some point we keep going around and around.

How often do you take new roads and go through secret gates?

Where are you both looking and stepping around the corners of your world to discover new wonderful places around the bend?

What may be stopping you from going beyond your safe, well-worn paths?

EXERCISE:

How would a bit more “Hobbiting” in your life lead you to new and wonderful places?

What adventures may await you!