Tag Archives: Demp Coaching

You Need Less Than You Think

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“You need less than you think. Just enjoy the moment now.”

—Brendon Burchard, Author of High Performance Habits

Imaage of African people in colorful dress walking

Image from Unsplash by Piotr Usewicz

My trip to Africa last August was an eye-opener. Seeing the beautiful landscapes and fantastic animals was amazing.

An additional highlight was the opportunity to meet others in our group from all over the world, and of course, the people of Africa who live far differently and with far less than we do. Their diverse communities seem to be living more consistently with the idea of “The best things in life are not things.”

EXERCISE:

In what areas of your world and in what ways would a “less is more” and “Live in the moment” approach be the way to a happier and more fulfilling life?

Abundance is not Something we Acquire

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“Abundance is not something we acquire. It is something we tune into.”

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

Image of a woman holding a fan of American money

Image from Unsplash by Sharon McCutcheon

Take a look at these two lists in their relationship to the concept of abundance:

Extrinsic

Intrinsic
Money Love & Joy
Professional Designations Balance
The Perfect Body Kindness
Fame Quality Relationships
Material Possessions Serenity
Achievements Gratitude

EXERCISE:

What level of enduring fulfillment and satisfaction do you experience when you acquire the extrinsic items? What feelings do you experience when you tune into the intrinsic items?

What is your personal definition of living an abundant life?

Consider reflecting of Jeff Foster’s Deeper Meaning of Abundance

Friday Review of posts on distraction

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Friday Review: Distractions

Are you easily distracted? Here are a few distraction-related quotes you may have missed. Click the links to read the full message.

 

“Lighthouses don’t go running all over an island looking for boats to save. They just stand there, shining.”

 

 

 

“Don’t let yesterday use up too much of today.”

 

 

 

 

“Starve Your Distractions. Feed Your Focus.”

 

 

 

 

A man’s pride can be his downfall

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“A man’s pride can be his downfall, and he needs to learn when to turn to others for support and guidance.”

—Bear Grylls, British Adventurer

Image of Bear Grylls

Image of Bear Grylls from DailyExpress

If you were to look up the phrase “rugged individual or adventurer” on the internet, you would likely see a photo and description of Bear Grylls.

He served in the British army, trained in unarmed combat, desert and winter warfare, survival, climbing, and parachuting. He is also noted for his numerous expeditions, including:

  • Climbing Mount Everest
  • Circumnavigating the United Kingdom on a jet ski
  • Crossing the North Atlantic in a rigid inflatable boat
  • Climbing remote and “unclimb-able” peaks in Antarctica

Although much personal attention has created his celebrity status, he points out most vividly, with today’s quote, that in virtually all cases, his successes involved and were dependent on the support and guidance of others.

EXERCISE:

Where in your personal or professional life have you been going it alone to achieve what you desire? Where and on what matters it is time to more fully embrace and yes, request the assistance of others in your various communities?

Check out Grylls’ Wikipedia page, and note how many of his accomplishments include many other people backing his efforts.

The Most Important Things are the Hardest to Say

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“The most important things are the hardest to say, because words diminish them.”

—Stephen King, American Author of horror, suspense, and science fiction

Image from Unsplash by Aaron Burden

Last August, my wife Wendy and I took an extraordinary vacation with two friends. We went to Africa, Ireland, and Iceland.

As I so often do, I took a journal to capture our daily adventures, but found that I had surprisingly little interest in detailing our many wonderful experiences through the written word.

When I did write something, it felt like a recounting or summary of the days, and had none of the emotions and deep feelings of awe we experienced. I did, however, find that taking pictures lived up to the “thousand words” motto – and we sure took a bunch!

EXERCISE:

Reflect on some of the most important things in your life and consider how you experience them beyond the limits of any words. Feel free to reply to this post with your best description of what you observe, even if it falls a bit short of the full experience.

Every Small Positive Change We Make in Ourselves

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“Every small positive change we make in ourselves repays us in confidence in the future.”

—Alice Walker, Author of The Color Purple

Image of a man buttoning his suit jacket

Image from Unsplash by Hunters Race

Confidence is a quality most of my clients and the people I meet wish to increase. Although some may not always admit it, I’ve observed over time that most people have an inner critic that lessens their self-worth on many occasions.

For some reason, they often compare themselves to others and see big gaps, with others being far ahead of them. The leap to reach that level can often seem daunting or even impossible.

An alternative to giving up is the moment-to-moment and daily positive efforts for change we can all exercise. In doing so, we move closer to the future we see for ourselves – one step at a time.

EXERCISE:

Select one small positive change you wish to make in your personal or professional world, and stick with it for at least a week. Share your intention and specific action plan with others, so that you can be supported and reminded to stay on course.

If you continue this practice in the weeks, months, and years to come, I bet many of your friends and colleagues will admire the confidence they observe in you.

A Recipe Has No Soul

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“A recipe has no soul. You, as the cook must bring soul to the recipe.”

—Thomas Keller, American chef, restauranteur, and cookbook author

Image of a vegetable pizza

Image from Unsplash by Edgar Castrejon

On a recent vacation, Wendy and I decided to visit one of the cruise ship’s specialty restaurants, where they up-charge for the higher level cuisine.

One of the specialty appetizers was home-made pizza cooked in a wood-burning oven. As a vegan, I was looking forward to the chef creating something extra special. Unfortunately, I was very disappointed in that all they did was put a bunch of raw, unseasoned vegetables on a piece of dough and baked it. It had virtually no flavor, and certainly no soul.

EXERCISE:

What special ingredients and soulful spices can and will you bring to life’s recipes to delight yourself and those in your various communities?

Friday Review of posts on TIME

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Friday Review: Time

What are your beliefs and practices relative to time?  Here are a few time-related posts you may have missed. Click on the link to read the full message.

 

“What you do today is important because you are exchanging a day of your life for it.”

 

 

 

“The bad news is time flies. The good news is you’re the pilot.”

 

 

 

“There are people whose clocks stop at a certain point in their lives.”

 

 

 

 

 

Thanksgiving 2018

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Dear Friends:

Thanksgiving Day is more than a holiday, a great meal, and big football games to me.
Thanks-Giving—gratitude—is a way of life, a discipline and for many, a spiritual practice. Today I give thanks for all of you—my friends, followers, clients, and colleagues. You have enriched my life by allowing me into your mind, your heart, and your world. May this Thanks-Giving bring you laughter, love, and gratitude for all that you have and all that comes to you over the next year.

Here are a few Thanksgiving posts from years past. May each of them give you reason for thought and celebration:

 

“Thanksgiving is a time of togetherness and gratitude.”

 

 

 

 

“He who receives a benefit with gratitude repays the first installment on his debt.”

 

 

 

“I am grateful for what I am and have. My Thanksgiving is perpetual.”

 

 

 

 

two words you should always remember never to use

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“Always and never are two words you should always remember never to use.”

—Wendell Johnson, 20th Century American psychologist, actor, and author

Did you know that always and never are considered violent words? In the book Nonviolent Communication: A Language of Life, Marshall B. Rosenberg PhD suggests these words usually get in the way of compassionate, heartfelt relationships.

Consider what you think and feel when people in your personal or professional worlds use these words to dramatically make their point. This practice generally conveys considerable judgement and a critical view, thus attacking the perspective held by the other parties.

EXERCISE:

Where is being right and making others wrong through the use of the words always and never getting in the way or diminishing the kinds of relationships you sincerely desire?