Notes
Deep Life Notes
Thoughts and observations on living deliberately in modern life.
Deep Life Notes is an ongoing collection of thoughts and observations on living deliberately in modern life.
Drawing from psychology, philosophy, history, technology, and everyday experience and reflection, these pieces explore work, craft, attention, identity, change, ageing, meaning, and living well in a modern world.
Deep Life Notes is currently being revised and refined. Some older entries are being updated into a clearer, more consistent format.
Who’s on Your Bench?
Rich social bonds are part of how our minds stay strong, connected, and alive.
Living Healthier for Longer
No-one will ever be more invested in your health than you. That means prevention, knowledge, and taking the wheel early.
Under the Knife
Open-heart surgery was not part of the plan. But life does that sometimes, and the only choice is how we face it.
A Mind for Life
Getting older does not have to mean mental decline. What we believe about ageing can change how we live it.
A Different Tomorrow
We make decisions for a person we haven’t yet become, often forgetting how much we still have left to change.
The Art of Inspiration
The people who inspire us are often the ones who trust us, respect us, and help us think differently.
Your Career Is Not Your Life
Yes, work matters. But when it becomes the whole story, other parts of life begin to pay the price.
Why Pessimism Sounds Smarter
Pessimism often sounds serious and useful, while optimism can sound naïve. That doesn’t mean pessimism sees the world more clearly.
Your Strengths = Your Success
We spend too much time repairing weaknesses when some of our best growth comes from understanding what already comes naturally.
The Focused Mind
Distractions prowl everywhere, but unbroken concentration remains one of the most powerful ways to create something valuable.
Ten Lessons Learned Since 17
Thirty years after turning seventeen, I share ten lessons that might help someone younger make sense of the road ahead.
Video: Finding Intention, Balance and Cultivation in a Distracted World
As a guest speaker at King’s College Hospital’s inaugural scientific convention, I shared insights on how we can find more intention, balance and cultivation in a distracted world.
Try Harder or Walk Away
It can be brave to push through, and it can be brave to quit. The trick is knowing whether you are giving up too soon or recognising a better fit.
Why Reading Matters
Reading takes us to new worlds, exposes us to new ideas, helps us become less distracted, and and gives us a better chance of creating things of value.
Habits Become Us
Habits are less about good and bad, and more about whether they are effective or ineffective in helping us become the person we want to be.
The Second Curve
As we get older, our sense of worth may be less about adding, and more about chipping away the things that no longer belong.
Flexible Work Still Needs Structure
Flexible work has loosened the old rules, but people still need signposts, the right tools, and permission to switch off.
Finding Flow
The best work often comes when challenge and skill meet, distractions disappear, and we become fully absorbed in something difficult.
The Power of Humility
In a world of ego, speed and smart machines, humility allows us to stay open, stay useful, and keep learning.
The Second Brain
Our brains are great at having ideas, but not so good at storing them. A second brain gives those ideas somewhere to live.
We have become very good at preparing people for work, and very bad at preparing them for life.