Friday Review: WONDER
Is there space in your world for Wonder? Here are a few related posts you may have missed.
“You don’t have to lose something to be searching.”
Bask in the wonderment of being a conscious part of the universe.
Tag Archives: Barry Demp
“Being in the same room with people and creating something together is a good thing.”
“Being in the same room with people and creating something together is a good thing.”
—Robin Williams, late American actor and comedian
Image from Unsplash by Clay Banks
In today’s digital age, remote collaboration is common, but nothing quite matches the energy of being in the same room with others.
When people gather physically, ideas flow more freely, creativity sparks, and connections deepen.
Shared spaces foster spontaneous conversations, rapid problem solving, and genuine teamwork that virtual meetings often lack.
Being together allows for immediate feedback, body language cues, and a sense of camaraderie that fuels motivation.
Handshakes, knowing smiles, and embraces to celebrate successes also do much to build and keep our tribes working together.
EXERCISE:
Consider reading The Culture Code: The Secrets of Highly Successful Groups by Daniel Coyle to enhance group collaboration and create more good things in your communities.
Without question, the material world and your everyday needs distract you from living meaningfully.”
“Without question, the material world and your everyday needs distract you from living meaningfully.”
—Menachem Mendel Schneerson, 20th Century American Orthodox Rabbi
Image from Unsplash by Paul Schafer
In our pursuit of possessions and daily comforts, we often lose sight of deeper purpose and fulfillment.
The constant chase for material success can cloud our awareness of what truly matters — relationships, personal growth, and inner peace.
While meeting basic needs is essential, allowing them to dominate our focus risks turning life into a routine of consumption rather than a meaningful experience.
To live fully, it helps to consciously step back from distractions, reflect on our values, and prioritize experiences that nourish the soul.
True meaning emerges not from what we own, but from how we connect, create, and contribute.
EXERCISE:
What are you doing to connect, create, and contribute to live a more meaningful life?
Consider picking up a copy of Toward a Meaningful Life by Simon Jacobson which includes more wisdom from The Rebbe-Menachem Mendel Schneerson.
Enjoy your precious time while you’re here
Enjoy your precious time while you’re here.
—Calm App Reflection
Image from Unsplash by Luke Chesser
Today’s quote is a simple yet profound reminder that captures the essence of living fully in the moment.
It emphasizes that life is not just about achieving goals but embracing the journey with purpose and presence.
Time — our most valuable asset — once spent cannot be reclaimed. To truly thrive, we must align our daily actions with what matters most, cultivating meaning and significance beyond fleeting success.
Coaching is about breaking patterns and creating new worlds where you deepen learning and enhance your quality of life. We do this by honoring our time, by being fully engaged, appreciating the now, and investing in what truly enriches our life and the lives of others.
EXERCISE:
Consider exploring The Happiness Project by Gretchen Rubin as a personal experiment in applying happiness research to everyday life.
Friday Review: Wisdom
Friday Review: WISDOM
What is wisdom? Where do you seek it? Here are a few related posts you may have missed.
“Help the punch move past you.”
“On the other side of the door of uncertainty is a room of wisdom.”
“It’s amazing how often the act of aligning on the problem untangles the messiest of knots.”
“It’s amazing how often the act of aligning on the problem untangles the messiest of knots.”
—Rohan Rajiv, author of A Learning a Day Blog
Image from Unsplash by Parker Sturdivant
When we take the time to clearly define and agree on the core issue, confusion dissipates, and solutions become visible.
Too often, teams or individuals get tangled in assumptions, distractions, or conflicting agendas. By aligning perspectives on the real problem, we create a shared focus that simplifies complexity and opens the path forward.
As a coach, I’ve seen this alignment unlock breakthroughs, enabling people to move past obstacles with clarity and confidence.
Untangling isn’t about forcing a solution — it’s about understanding the knot so well that the right moves become obvious.
EXERCISE:
How often do you and your teams focus on solutions before you fully clarify and align on the actual problem?
How would taking this foundational step put you on the road to far better outcomes in your personal and professional communities?
“Worry often gives a small thing a big shadow.”
“Worry often gives a small thing a big shadow.”
—Swedish Proverb
Image from Unsplash by Tom Barrett
Worry has a sneaky way of turning tiny problems into towering obstacles.
When we fixate on small issues, our minds often blow them out of proportion, casting long shadows that darken our perspective.
A minor mistake at work or a brief misunderstanding with a friend can feel overwhelming, simply because worry magnifies them.
This mental distortion drains our energy and clouds our judgment, making constructive solutions harder to find.
EXERCISE:
Consider setting aside “worry time” by scheduling specific times to process your concerns to prevent them from taking over your day.
Try including a friend, colleague, or coach in these sessions to gain greater perspective and better solutions to help you move past or work through your worries.
To forgive is to set a prisoner free and discover that the prisoner was you
“To forgive is to set a prisoner free and discover that the prisoner was you.”
—Lewis B. Smedes, 20th Century Christian author, ethicist, theologian
Image from Unsplash by Alex Shute
Today’s quote reminds us that holding on to anger and resentment traps us in a cycle of pain.
Forgiveness isn’t about excusing the wrongdoing or forgetting the hurt.
It’s about releasing the heavy burden that weighs down our hearts and minds.
When we forgive, we break free from the chains of bitterness, allowing ourselves to heal and grow. It’s a gift not only to others but, most importantly, to ourselves.
EXERCISE:
In what areas of your life can you tap into the power of forgiveness?
What actions can and will you take today to open the doors to greater peace, happiness and personal freedom?
Gratitude wakes us up to the beauty and good things in life
Gratitude wakes us up to the beauty and good things in life. We need to choose its light over and over again especially when things seem dark.
—Calm App Reflection
Image from Unsplash by Donald Giannatti
Focusing on the good things in life offers numerous benefits for mental, emotional and physical health.
Gratitude and positive thinking are linked to lower rates of depression, reduced stress, and greater resistance to illness, contributing to our overall well-being.
They enhance resilience and coping strategies during hardships, improving mood and reducing toxic thoughts.
By focusing on being grateful, we can re-wire our brains to detect and appreciate good experiences more readily, counteracting the frequent negative bias we often demonstrate.
EXERCISE:
Consider starting each day this week with a gratitude reflection before getting out of bed.
Compliment this effort by using a gratitude journal before bed to lighten and brighten your world and the world of those around you.
Friday Review: VULNERABILITY
Friday Review: VULNERABILITY
How willing are you to be vulnerable? Here are a few related posts you may have missed.
“You don’t protect your heart by acting like you don’t have one.”
“People who need help sometimes look a lot like people who don’t need help.”
“If you want to avoid criticism, create less. If you want to avoid irrelevance, create more.”