Tag Archives: Demp Coaching

Quarrels Would Not Last Long

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“Quarrels would not last long if the fault were only on one side.”

-Francois Duc de la Rochefoucauld, 17th Century French Author

Image of two men arguing

Image from Times of Malta

How often do you observe quarrels in your personal or professional worlds? If, for some reason, you don’t see much, simply take a look at our political environment and the resulting media circus!

Since it clearly takes two to tango, why is it that many of us blame others for missing a step or for stepping on each others toes?

What if, instead of pointing our index finger at others, we acknowledge the three fingers pointing back at us and take greater responsibility for our current realities?

EXERCISE:

What would happen in your relationships and your world if you looked at what’s right and good about others, and take greater responsibility for the quarrels you may experience?

The Center of the Universe

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“When science discovers the center of the universe, a lot of people will be disappointed to find they are not it.”

-Bernard Baily, DC Comic Book artist

Image of a nebulae

Image from nasa.gov

Early man believed that Earth was the center of everything, since they observed moons, planets, and stars revolving around it in the night sky. As science advanced, we learned that Earth is actually in an elliptical orbit around the sun.

With further advances in science⏤particularly in astronomy and astrophysics⏤we now know that we are a small speck on a small planet in a small solar system tucked away in the far corner of one out of two trillion galaxies in the universe.

And yet, many people believe they are the center of the universe, and that the world should somehow work out in whatever way they desire. History has clearly proven this idea ridiculously untrue, yet many still want to believe it.

EXERCISE:

How would seeing yourself and others as part of the oneness of all things provide you greater peace of mind and contentment? Consider the fact that we are all stardust, and that we have an important role to play in this infinite universe.

Friday Reviewing Worry

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FRIDAY REVIEW: WORRY

Have you ever questioned the benefit you get from worrying? Here are a few worry-related posts you may have missed:

 

“I have lived a long life and had many troubles, most of which never happened.”

 

 

 

 

“Worry is like a rocking chair: It gives you something to do but never gets you anywhere.”

 

 

 

“Worrying won’t stop the bad stuff from happening. It just stops you from enjoying the good.”

 

 

 

the highest expression of love

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“Nothing is a stronger influence psychologically on their environment and especially on their children, than the unlived lives of their parents.”

-Carl Gustav Jung, 19th Century Swiss Founder of Analytical Psychology

Image of a father and daughter

Image from Flickr by Michelle Ress

Parenting is perhaps the highest expression of love I can imagine. Having two special kids in Dan and Rachel⏤now 31 and 29 years old⏤I know both my wife and I would do anything to support their happiness.

Jung’s statement caused me to ponder just how good a job we are all doing, coaching our children through the lives we live and the examples we set.

How excited are you when you share your life pursuits and adventures with your children?

How much dismay or regret do you experience as you look back, even on today, or into the days ahead? It’s not too late to turn things around or turbo-charge your efforts. I’m sure your children are still watching!

EXERCISE:

How and in what ways can and will you step into living an even more extraordinary life as an example of what is possible for those you love, especially your children?

a slogan for an interesting life

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“‘Why not?’ is a slogan for an interesting life.”

-Mason Cooley, late American educator and aphorist

image of "Why Not? in a circle

Image from whynotdumaguete.com

Regret is a terrible thing. When questioned about their lives, virtually all elderly people indicate that they most regret the things they did not do, rather than what they did.

In my coaching, I encourage my clients to have a “Try it On” attitude, in which they intentionally explore ideas and strategies that may not exactly fit within their comfort zones. In some cases, these ideas fit better than they think, or need only a bit of tailoring.

EXERCISE:

Where and in what ways could you lead a more interesting and rewarding life by asking yourself, “Why Not?”

Give more experiences and ideas a try today and in the days ahead. Feel free to reply to this post and let me know what happens.

Invite people into your life who don’t look or act like you

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“Invite people into your life who don’t look or act like you. You might find they challenge your assumptions and make you grow.”

-Mellody Hobson, Chair of the Board of Directors of DreamWorks Animation

Image from the shore of Australia

About a month ago, my wife Wendy surprised me with a 60th birthday trip to Australia and New Zealand. During our three week trip, I had the opportunity to expand my world view and perspective by meeting dozens of people from other countries.

Among these interesting individuals were a kiwi farmer from New Zealand, an Academy-Award Winning sound designer who worked on the Lord of the Rings Trilogy, and a Naturalist about to start working with a non-profit in Hawaii.

EXERCISE:

How can you arrange – sooner rather than later – a “Bucket List” adventure so you can invite more new and interesting people into your life?

Our antagonist is our helper

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“He that wrestles with us strengthens our nerves and sharpens our skills. Our antagonist is our helper.”

Edmund Burke, 18th Century Irish Statesman

Image of wrestling competition

Image from Flickr by Christopher Paquette

My dad was a physical education teacher and coach for multiple sports, one of which was wrestling. Young men of equal weight would compete in one of the most challenging and physically exhausting sports I’ve ever experienced.

In a matter of minutes, while engaged with your adversary, you would likely find yourself gasping for air and having already worked up quite a sweat.

Not surprisingly, wrestlers are some of the most fit athletes because of the struggles they face in competing at a high level.

EXERCISE:

Who are the antagonists/adversaries that strengthen your nerve and build your personal or professional skills? How can you appreciate and perhaps seek even greater challenges to further your personal excellence journey?

Friday Review March 24 2017

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Friday Review: Humor

How would you describe your sense of humor? Here are a few humor-related posts you may have missed. Click on the links to read the full message.

“I learned that when I made people laugh, they liked me. This is a lesson I’ll never forget.”

 

 

 

 

“Humor is the affectionate communication of insight.”

 

 

 

 

“Sometimes one likes foolish people for their folly, better than wise people for their wisdom.”

 

 

Getting Ready is the Secret to Success

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“Before everything else, getting ready is the secret of success.”

-Henry Ford, Founder of the Ford Motor Company

Image of an announcer with a bullhorn

Image from Flickr by Jun

Get Ready! Get Set! Go! …. Announcers of so many races use this phrase!

Perhaps as a child you raced with friends on the playground. I recall numerous events in which a particular race was deemed “unfair” by a participant or two. Their exact words, when complaining about the unfairness were, “I wasn’t ready!”

EXERCISE:

What are some of the most important life races in your professional or personal worlds? What extra effort can and will you make to be fully ready when it is time to go?

If people are doubting how far you will go

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“If people are doubting how far you’ll go, go so far that you can’t hear them anymore.”

-Michele Ruiz, award-winning broadcast journalist

Image of man walking on ice

Image from Unsplash

Having supportive people in your life is a critical component to success.

It is bad enough when our own thinking fuels the seeds of doubt; we surely don’t need those around us sharing their limiting beliefs and negative views of our potential.

The coaching for today is to see these individuals as toxic, and to remove them completely from our worlds.

EXERCISE:

Who are the doubters and naysayers in your personal and professional worlds? In what ways can you get far away from them, to avoid their negative influence? How can and will you surround yourself with “true believers” to support your greatest personal and professional potential?