Let’s have a chat about real resilience and courage in this episode of The Lonely Diplomat podcast. A whole lot of life has happened for us in 2020 and 2021. We need to process it in our way. Even when it's hard and we're busy. No, ESPECIALLY when it’s hard and we’re busy. We need a resilience reset. You need a resilience reset. Let me tell you about mine, as unwelcome and inconvenient as it was. Want to talk with me directly? Get me in your corner through my mentoring services as you...

Happy New Year! It’s 2022 and our thoughts may be turning to the New Year and New Year’s resolutions. What’s it going to be for you? Quit smoking? Get a better work/life balance? Enforce boundaries? You know that I have content all designed to help you and others who live the diplomatic life as you live your diplomatic life. But change when living the diplomatic life can be so hard and the changes we want to make never really stick, do they? Let’s have a chat about that in this episode...

Ah, it’s getting towards the pointy end of the festive season and you might get some days off to rest and recharge shortly. Not before time, right?! Let’s reflect on 2021. What happened? What did we learn? Did 2021 happen to you, or did you happen to it? Let’s have a chat about that in this episode of The Lonely Diplomat podcast. Want to talk with me directly? Get me in your corner through my mentoring services as you live your diplomatic life. See link below. Links: Send me your...

Do you still feel like you must prove that you’re worthy of having your job wherever you are in the world? Do you still feel like you must prove that you being where you are and doing what you’re doing is not some horrible mistake? Do you still feel that you must constantly hustle to prove that you’re worthy of your job and your life? Trust me: You’re not alone. You belong right now. Let me share some of my story with you. Let’s have a chat about that in this episode of The Lonely...

One of you in my awesome global audience shared with me that you simply can’t turn off: you can’t relax. You’re always checking email. You’re always refreshing news feeds. You’re always watching the news. Always seeing what’s coming up next and how you can respond? I’m not surprised. What does it take for you to really relax? Let’s have a chat about that in this episode of The Lonely Diplomat podcast. Want to talk with me directly? Get me in your corner through my mentoring services...

While it sometimes may not feel like it, by any measure, diplomats and those who live the diplomatic life are privileged. Sometimes, we’re even a bit entitled. Sometimes, we’re really entitled. Sometimes, we even act like spoiled children when we don’t get our way. We need to check our privilege. What if we used our privilege and listened to the needs of the communities in which we live? What if we used the latent power of the global diplomatic community to contribute in its way to...

I’m calling forward the men of diplomacy to sit with me and talk about something real. That means no: - talk about work or how busy we are. - talk about sport. - talk about the weather. - talk about politics. - talk about sex. - no gossip. Nothing that passes as safe, small talk. That’s not connection. We need to talk about why, as men, so many of use wait until every other option has been explored – and failed – before we ask for help. If the men of diplomacy are meant to be good...

I bet that every diplomat and those who live the diplomatic life can share several stories about how their accent made it challenging to be understood. These stories are often hilarious, and the memories stick with us for years. Indeed, you’re probably thinking of an example right now and smiling. If that’s the case: good! You know EXACTLY what I’m talking about. But these stories are funny until they’re not. Language issues make it difficult to communicate. We can be scared to answer...

Ep. 40 - Reflecting on COVID times by Phil McAuliffe

Hello! It's wonderful to be back in your ears having a chat with you. In this first episode of this new season, we’ll chat about how the oft-used phrase ‘fake it till I make it’ can be a really good way to reassure ourselves when we start something new. We’ll talk about how the sentiment can be helpful, but is no way to go through our working life. How so? Let’s have a chat about that. Want to talk with me directly? Get me in your corner through my mentoring services as you live your...

In this final episode of the current series, we’ll chat about how diplomacy often requires us to be ready to work at all hours. We’ll talk about work/life balance and how our work/life balance isn’t given to us: We must get our life for ourselves. But how? Let’s have a chat about that. I’ll be back with a new series and new topics to discuss in a few months. In the meantime, get me in your corner through my mentoring services. See link below. Links: Send me your question:...

In this second last episode in this series, we’re going to discuss what can happen when we valiantly try to cope with ceaseless demands on our time and attention at work and in life. For all our skills, talents and ability to serve our governments and our fellow citizens, diplomats and those who live the diplomatic life are still human. We all have our limits. Let’s have a chat about how we can engage on our mental health during these difficult times. Get me in your corner through my...

We’re going to have a kind and honest conversation on a subject that we too often only speak about in hushed tones: relationship infidelity and the challenges that this diplomatic life puts on our relationships. Please join me if you’re ready to sit with some discomfort and to start a kind and honest conversation. Get me in your corner through my mentoring services. See link below. Mentioned in this episode: Esther Perel: IG @estherperelofficial Mark Groves: IG...

One of you – my awesome global audience – shared with me that you’d been enduring constant bullying, harassment and intimidation in your workplace. You shared that this appalling behaviour had left you feeling stressed, isolated and alone. During our chat, I asked: ‘Why didn’t you reach out to someone for support?’ You answered: ‘I didn’t want to be a burden’. Let’s talk about that. Get me in your corner through my mentoring services. See link below. Links: Send me your question:...

Let’s jump straight into 2021 and let’s have a chat about an issue that many diplomats who belong in a family or community all struggle with at some point: Should we do another posting? It’s a question that often brings our familial responsibilities and our work responsibilities into conflict. Remember to like, comment, share and/or follow! Get me in your corner through my mentoring services. See link below. Links: Send me your question: [email protected] Website:...

I’m all about helping you reconnect with yourself and the world around you as you lead your diplomatic life. What are your plans for Christmas this year? What were you hoping to do? Christmas – and any other event that brings friends and families together – can be hard when we’re so far away from home. Ironically, even when we are at home we can still feel like we’re not home. Then, throw 2020 into the mix and, well… Thank you for being here and letting me support you as you lead...

I’m all about helping you reconnect with yourself and the world around you as you lead your diplomatic life. When one of you asked me for help with their feelings of being a fraud at work, I knew that my response would be helpful to many. After all, feeling like a fraud or an impostor is common among high achievers. What do you do when you feel like you’re a fraud or an impostor? Do you ‘fake it ‘till you make it’ and power through? How sustainable is that approach? Is it really working...

I’m all about helping you reconnect with yourself and the world around you as you lead your diplomatic life. When one of you asked me for help and said that one of their biggest challenges was getting too many emails and worrying about missing something important, I provided this advice to them. I now provide it for you, too. Hint: It’s all about the emails and not at all about the emails. Remember to like, comment and share! Links: Website: www.thelonelydiplomat.com Blog:...

In a stunning example of gross diplomatic understatement, 2020 has been quite a year, hasn’t it? There have been life lessons aplenty. And for a blogger/podcaster on this diplomatic life, there’s always a rich vein of content from our collective experiences. We’ve all been tested in our own ways. That we’re still here with food in our bellies and roofs over our heads is in itself a worthy achievement. Let’s review 2020 and see what we can learn from it. I’ll go first. Remember to like,...

It’s great to be back! Let’s have a chat about my purpose: why I do what I do for you and other diplomats and those who live the diplomatic life. Remember to like, comment and share! Links: Website: www.thelonelydiplomat.com Blog: www.thelonelydiplomat.com/blog Want my mentoring services? Become a ‘Minister’ or ‘Ambassador’ member today at www.thelonelydiplomat.com/membership-information Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/_AG9SafgaME

After reflecting on our soulaches for the past few weeks, let’s have a chat about what gives us soulgasms and brings us joy as we live our diplomatic lives in this episode of The Lonely Diplomat podcast. Are you numbing, ignoring and denying your soulache as you live your diplomatic life and focusing only on that which brings you joy? Do you allow yourself to feel your soulgasms? Big question time. But let’s get you finding the joy in the everyday as you live your diplomatic life. Once...

There are fewer worse feelings than our own soulache. We can feel empty and at odds within our selves. A soulache develops when what we do is not aligned with who we are. This begs the question: Who are you? Let’s have a chat about your answer to this question. A soulache while living the diplomatic life can lead for some uncomfortable reckonings within us about what we do. I invite you to go somewhere quiet to listen to this episode so you can reflect on your own soulache. ...

Who gets lonelier: the posted diplomat or the accompanying significant other? I’m asked this question more than any other when people learn that I’ve twice been the posted diplomat and twice been the accompanying significant other during my 20-year diplomatic life. Let’s answer the question and investigate what it really means. Links Website: www.thelonelydiplomat.com Blog post: ‘The Lonely Diplomat: who gets lonelier: diplomat or spouse?’ at https://bit.ly/2DwtrqX My book:...

You know that I often recommend that we who live the diplomatic lives need to use social media for good. But was I using it for good? This question prompted my month-long detox from my personal social media accounts. I had two major insights during the detox. First, social media can be a powerful tool of connection when we use it mindfully. It’s an avenue for mindless consumption of ideas, thoughts and stuff when we don’t. Secondly, you and I get to decide who we let into our online lives,...

Change is inevitable. Seasons change. Children grow up. People come into – and then leave – our lives. Why is it that I resist the changes I know that I must make in my own life, even when I know that I must change if I’m to evolve and grow? Why is it that we all do this? Change does not happen – within our selves or in society – from simply reading, listening and watching. Change comes from doing. Let’s do change together. Links Website: www.thelonelydiplomat.com Blog post: ‘The...