Tag Archives: Barry Demp Coaching

I recommend that the Statue of Liberty be supplemented by a Statue of Responsibility on the west coast

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“I recommend that the Statue of Liberty be supplemented by a Statue of Responsibility on the west coast.”

—Victor Frankl, Austrian neurologist, author, and Holocaust survivor

Image from Unsplash by Miltiadis Fragkidis

As a relatively new grandparent, I’ve become interested in parenting approaches in today’s rapidly changing world. When I think of the phrase “Teach your children well,” I recall my own upbringing and our efforts with our two adult children, now in their mid-thirties.

Even if you are not a parent or grandparent, consider your own upbringing. How much liberty and how much responsibility were taught and modeled by your elders?

As we fast forward to today, what lessons do our children — and for that matter all of us — need to live healthy,  happy, and responsible lives within our various communities?

EXERCISE:

Where do you stand on the pursuit of freedom and liberty in the world? What is your perspective on the benefits of greater responsibility? What steps are needed coast-to-coast and throughout the world?

What new chapters do you want to write with your life

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What new chapters do you want to write with your life?

—Calm App Reflection

Image from Unsplash by Maegan Martin

I love the idea that thoughts can become things and that what we think about can come about.

What is your relationship with the written word? Have you kept a journal, written a blog, written a letter, or perhaps even published a book? How often to you text, tweet, or use email?

Alternatively, how often do you think and speak? What are the words that you form and utter that do not necessarily make it into print but have the potential to become real?

EXERCISE:

What would you include if you wrote an autobiography?

What new adventures and engaging stories can and will you write with the rest of your days?

Friday Review: Skills

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Friday Review: Skills

We don’t all have the same skills. What are yours? Here are a few related posts you may have missed.

“Left untended, knowledge and skill, like all assets, depreciate in value surprisingly quickly.”

 

 

 

“The word ‘listen’ has the same letters as the word ‘silent.’”

 

 

 

 

“Today will be what you make of it.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

“If you don’t become the ocean, you’ll be seasick every day.”

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“If you don’t become the ocean, you’ll be seasick every day.”

—Leonard Cohen, late Canadian singer-songwriter, poet, novelist

image from Unsplash by Anastasia Taioglou

How have you been feeling lately? To what degree are you experiencing a sense of well-being or discord with the world around you?

We recently had our piano tuned after moving about six months ago. They say it takes about this long for a piano to adjust to its new home so that it can be tuned in harmony with its surroundings.

This past year we’ve had our share of seasickness with numerous ups and downs. Slowly, we are regaining our sea legs and have become more at ease within the ocean of our new communities.

EXERCISE:

How can you move from some of the lower decks of your life to the bridge of your ship to settle your stomach and view the horizon of each new day?

“Without jumping off its perch, the bird would never fly.”

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“Without jumping off its perch, the bird would never fly.”

—Mark Nepo, author of The Book of Awakening

Image from Unsplash by AARN GIRI

I love to watch documentaries and educational programing about animals and our natural world. The best programs include outstanding visuals and a compelling story about how these creatures go about securing food, avoiding predators, finding a mate, and adapting to their environments.

Among all the animals, there is something magical about young birds. They go from helpless, blind, squawking mouths to feed to soaring sparrows and eagles that can inspire even the most sedentary couch potato of us to get up and spread our wings — even if it is just to secure another snack.

EXERCISE:

Where is it necessary for you or others in your communities to jump off your perch and spread your wings? What will you do, and where will you go when you fly?

the change was adjustment without improvement

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“…. the change was adjustment without improvement.”

—Toni Morrison, late American novelist

Image from Unsplash by Firmbee.com

Where have things changed in your life over the past couple of years? Where have some areas improved, stayed about the same, or regressed?

Coaching encourages people to control what is controllable and be willing to break old patterns so new and improved results can emerge. If improvement is not observed with various initial adjustments, what then?

Do we simply accept and adjust to our new reality or go back to the drawing board to devise a new plan with changed behaviors where success and improvements can occur?

EXERCISE:

Where would an “If at first you don’t succeed try, try again” strategy offer you the progress you seek? Consider the support of friends, family members, colleagues, mentors or coaches to support you in making the necessary adjustments.

 Stop, jot, and share. Use the superpower of reflection

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Stop, jot, and share. Use the superpower of reflection to cement the value of the information you take in.

—Calm App Reflection

Image from Unsplash by Gardie Design & Social Media Marketing

What types of information are you taking in these days? What are your strategies to not have the most valuable information go in one ear and out the other?

Consider the concept of eating and digestion. How do you select the most healthy and appetizing items to consume?

How do you chew on these ideas and mix this mash with the saliva and digestive juices of your past experiences and existing wisdom?

How do you discern and absorb the best nutrients and discard any waste products not meant for you?

EXERCISE:

How would jotting in a notebook or journal aid in your reflective skills to squeeze out even more nuggets of wisdom from your information diet?

Friday Review: Trust

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FRIDAY REVIEW: TRUST

How trusting are you? How trust-worthy are you? Here are a few related posts you may have missed.

“Trust is the glue of life. It’s the most essential ingredient in effective communication. It’s the foundational principle that holds all relationships.”

 

 

 

“To trust yourself, to test your limits. That is the courage to succeed.”

 

 

 

 

“Tell a lie once and all your truths become questionable.”

 

 

 

Act the way you’d like to be and soon you’ll be the way you act

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“Act the way you’d like to be and soon you’ll be the way you act.”

—Leonard Cohen, late Canadian singer-songwriter

Image from Unsplash by Kyle Head

To what degree are you the person you want to be? Where do you see gaps that you wish to bridge in your personal or professional worlds?

Consider examining the lives of people you admire and respect within your various communities. What are others doing and achieving?

Examining the lives of people outside our communities and studying the biographies of remarkable people from the past can also provide clues to how we wish to live.

EXERCISE:

Where and how can you begin acting in the way you would like to be?

What specific behaviors have been modeled for you by others, to guide you to act the way you would like to be?

“It is difficult to be creative and enthusiastic about anything for which we do not feel affection.”

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“It is difficult to be creative and enthusiastic about anything for which we do not feel affection.”

—David Whyte, Anglo-Irish poet

Image from Unsplash by Dragos Gontariu

What are the things in life you love the most? Where do you find yourself being the most creative and enthusiastic?

Complete the following sentence. “I am looking forward to….”  Repeat this sentence five or six times for both your personal and professional efforts.

What activities and people spark your energy and engagement? Where and with whom do you find yourself going through the motions, waiting to punch out so that you can get on with the good parts of life?

EXERCISE:

Filter your day’s activities through the lenses of the words: More, Less, Start, and Stop. How does your affection and desires to engage in some of these pursuits enhance your enthusiasm and creativity?