Tag Archives: The Quotable Coach

”It’s not what you say out of your mouth that determines your life, it’s what you whisper to yourself that has the most power!”

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”It’s not what you say out of your mouth that determines your life, it’s what you whisper to yourself that has the most power!”

—Robert Kiyosaki, American author of Rich Dad, Poor Dad

Image from Unsplash by magnet.me

Thoughts become things. In a typical day, we actually use our inner voices far more than our external ones.

We are constantly having what Susan Scott describes in her book, Fierce Conversations, as versations — which is simply a conversation with ourselves.

The power of bathing in our own thoughts is a form of leadership where we  repeatedly speak about our reality and our vision for the future. This repetition carves deep grooves in our conscious and unconscious minds, which can and often do lead to behaviors that determine our lives.

EXERCISE:

Notice your inner voice whispering to you throughout the day. What is it saying?

Is this voice positive and affirming or negative and judgmental?

How can and will you use the power of versations to enhance your life?

“Do it well, finish it properly, and move on.”

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“Do it well, finish it properly, and move on.”

—Eunice Kennedy Shriver, late American philanthropist & member of the Kennedy family

Image from Unsplash by Michal Balog

How often do you find yourself lingering over a past activity or replaying a conversation with others?

As part of our move to Pennsylvania early this month, Wendy and I looked over the many VHS tapes, DVDs and CDs we have accumulated over the years.

The question of keeping some of our favorites to review again or discarding many of them before the move had us consider our use of time and space and how we wish to spend them going forward.

The idea of moving on and properly finishing things from the past offered us a great sense of freedom to explore activities within our new community.

EXERCISE:

What are some areas in your world where moving on is far most important at this point in your life?

“To better the future, we must disturb the present.”

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“To better the future, we must disturb the present.”

—Catherine Booth, 19th Century co-founder of The Salvation Army

Image from Unsplash by Ronnie Overgoor

What comes to mind when you think about goal setting and the achievement of your personal or professional objectives?

What has been your track record in meeting or exceeding your desired intentions?

For many, the course taken is often the path of the New Year’s Resolution — most of which are slowed down or completely stopped by mid-February.

A common reason for giving up may simply be that we believe we must always go big and have tectonic shifts in our reality if we are to realize our dreams of a better future.

Many pioneers in the world of human achievement and behavior suggest it is better to go small.

Books such as Tiny Habits and Atomic Habits point to the power and sustainability of even the smallest of actions taken on a routine basis, producing big, long-term results.

EXERCISE:

How can and will you make small but subtly disruptive changes in your life to help you realize the better future you desire?

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

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

—David Maister, former Harvard Business School professor

Image from Unsplash by Fredy Jacob

Where are your skills and knowledge not keeping up with the times?

Where have you dropped your intellectual anchor, letting the whole world know you have stopped at what seems like a safe spot to rest and sit things out?

I was recently asked to help a friend with her printer, to make copies of her resume to secure a new job. Although she had brand new cartridges installed, her computer couldn’t communicate with her printer due to an old, unsupported operating system.

EXERCISE:

Where are you falling a bit behind in the skills and knowledge needed to be successful professionally or personally? What investments can and will you make that will appreciate in value in the years ahead?

 

“We have two lives, and the second one begins when we realize we only have one.”

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“We have two lives, and the second one begins when we realize we only have one.”

—Attributed to Confucius

Image from Medium.com

Groundhog Day with Bill Murray is one of my favorite movies. Beyond its humor is the central message of waking up to our lives anew each day.

Take a close look at your life. Examine each day of the past week, month, or even the past year or so. Can you see each moment with clarity, or do things look more like a train speeding by?

I’ve practiced a daily meditation over the past five years. I’ve found this simple — yet often not easy — daily discipline has slowed me down considerably. I have become more mindful and aware of how I navigate my days.

EXERCISE:

How and in what ways can you apply the wisdom of today’s quote to realize and not miss any possibilities in your precious life?

 

“Lower the volume so your soul can speak.”

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“Lower the volume so your soul can speak.”

—Barry Demp, Demp Coaching

Image from Unsplash by Alasdair Elmes

What do you hear when your mind is quiet?

By quieting the thinking mind, your soul has a better chance to be heard.

It is this deep soulful voice we wish to hear so that we can be fully present to both ourselves and others on a more profound level.

Lowering the volume to a whisper can help put you on a path to explore even greater mindfulness and self-awareness.

EXERCISE:

Where and how do you take time each day to lower the volume so your soul can speak to you?

Friday Review: Self-Image

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FRIDAY REVIEW: SELF-IMAGE

How has your self-image shifted over the last year? Here are a few related posts you may have missed.

 

“When I let go of what I am, I become what I might be.”

 

 

 

 

 

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

 

 

 

 

“Your ‘I Can’ is more important than your I.Q.”

 

 

 

“Be humble, for you are made of earth. Be noble, for you are made of stars.”

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“Be humble, for you are made of earth. Be noble, for you are made of stars.”

—Serbian Proverb

Image from Unsplash by Noah Buscher

Who are the people in your communities that you consider humble and kind?

Sometimes we refer to these special folks as being “down to earth.” What other qualities do you see in them that make them so grounded and solid?

How many of the same people also demonstrate noble qualities? These are the people who not only shine, but they also energize and illuminate those around them. They tend to attract others with a gravitational force that holds things together.

EXERCISE:

If you asked these questions of your family, friends, and colleagues, how many of them would put YOU on their list?

What efforts can and will you take to be this proverbial person in the days and years ahead?

Every morning you have two choices

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“Every morning you have two choices: Continue to sleep with your dreams, or wake up and chase them.”

—Carmelo Anthony, American professional basketball player

Image form Unsplash by Oladimeji Ajegil

What time do you get up in the morning on weekdays and weekends?

How often do you find yourself hitting the snooze button rather than leaping out of bed to pursue your day with intention and excitement?

Fast forward a few hours to the time you crawl under the covers. Recount your day to see if it was a good one or not.

What are the factors that have you give an “A” for your efforts and progress?

EXERCISE:

How frequently do you actually chase your dream and not just contemplate them?

How do your efforts correlate to a far more satisfying sense of engagement and fulfillment?