My perspectives.
How to build a Deep Life.
In my pursuit of a deeper life, writing about personal and professional growth allows me to explore what I’m thinking, what I see, and what it means. If it resonates with others or helps them on their own journey, even better.
Below you can explore the complete collection of all my writing. In the first section, you’ll find a link to the archives of my weekly newsletter, Deep Life Reflections, where each week I share five things I’m enjoying and thinking about. In the second section you’ll find all my long-form articles themed around my Pillars.
I welcome your feedback and comments.
Weekly Newsletter
Deep Life Reflections: Friday Five
Access all my weekly email newsletters
Long-Form Articles
Resilience Under the Knife: My Journey Through Open-Heart Surgery as a Marathon Runner
John Lennon once said, “Life is what happens when you're busy making other plans.” That’s where I found myself in November 2023, planning my trip home to the U.K. for Christmas to reunite with family and friends after a challenging year. Little did I know life had other plans for me.
Building a Mind for Life - Part 1: Rethinking Our Beliefs About Ageing
In this special three-part series, I’m going to explore what it takes to build a mind for life. In this first part, we explore our current beliefs about ageing. Then we’ll look at how taking control of our health can strengthen our minds. In the final part, we’ll learn how the power of our social bonds affects our feelings and emotional health. We have three things to work on: what we believe, how we take care of ourselves, and our relationships.
A Different Tomorrow: Recognising Our Future Selves
Research reveals that our tastes, values, and personalities evolve significantly over time. However, our ability to anticipate these changes is often hindered by the "end of history illusion"—a psychological phenomenon where we perceive our current selves as final. Failing to comprehend this illusion can lead to significant challenges in our decision-making, particularly in major life choices.
The Art of Inspiration: How to Inspire Others Daily
Contrary to popular opinion, charisma, wealth, or status don’t necessarily inspire others. Instead, it’s those who embody positive behaviours, trust deeply, and genuinely connect with others who truly touch lives. These are skills we can all cultivate, enabling us to make a difference in the lives of others.
Redefining Success in the Era of ‘Workism’
For many, work has become the cornerstone of one’s identity. But this belief that work by itself can provide a fulfilling life neglects the vital role of other long-standing human needs. By embracing a balanced approach to life, we can pave the way to a deeper, more enriching life.
The Power of Optimism: Breaking Free From the Pull of Pessimism
Stories of doom and pessimism command our attention, but can lead to negative beliefs and negative self-images, impacting our health and well-being. Through self-awareness and embracing a more optimistic outlook, we can find our path to personal growth.
Find Fulfilment by Focusing on Your Strengths, Not Your Weaknesses
Conventional wisdom says your greatest potential for growth is by working on your weaknesses. But by focusing on your strengths instead, you’ll get the highest rate of return, making you happier, less stressed, and more confident.
Taking a More Intentional Approach to Reclaim Our Attention
Social media and many other elements of modern life are impacting our ability to concentrate, harming our efforts to produce work that makes a difference. We need a more intentional approach to reclaim our attention.
Looking Back Teaches Us Lessons For Future Generations
Reaching the thirty-year milestone since turning seventeen, I look back on ten things I’ve learned during those three decades, which may be useful to someone that age today.
Video: Finding Intention, Balance and Cultivation in a Distracted World
I was guest speaker at King’s College Hospital’s inaugural scientific convention and shared my story of how we can find more intention, balance and cultivation in a distracted world.
Knowing When to Persevere and When to Change Direction
Successful people quit fast and often when they detect a plan is not the best fit with their abilities and interests.
How Reading Helps Us Become Less Distracted and Produce Things That Matter
Unbroken concentration produces more from our brains than any other cognitive state, but today, that state is getting harder to achieve. Reading more is a powerful way to improve our concentration and attention, helping create more things of value in our lives.
The Importance of Identity in Shaping Our Habits
We often group habits into good and bad. But the distinction isn’t always clear. Instead, we should think of habits as effective or ineffective and figure out which ones are going to help shape our identity into the person we want to become.
Finding Our ‘Second Curve’ Can Help Us Reveal Our True, Fulfilled Selves
In our search for a meaningful life, we often add things to our lives. But the reverse may suit us better, especially as we get older. Chipping away, not adding, to help find our ‘second curve’.
Five Solutions to Navigate the Paradoxical Challenges of a Flexible Working World
In a disrupted world, we’ve lost the signposts and expectations on working norms. Organisations need to provide more structure to flexible working.
How the “Flow State” Can Boost Productivity and Creativity
In our increasingly anxious, distracted and overloaded professional lives, intentionally pursuing a regular flow state can benefit us in six specific ways at work.
The Power of Humility: A Formidable Skill to Navigate the Smart Machine Age
In a society that’s never felt more hyper-aggressive, competitive, and centred on the self, this seems like a timely reminder of the power of humility.
Consider Building Your Second Brain
Brains are great for having ideas, but not so good at storing them: Here’s where technology can step in.
Taking a Smarter Approach to How We Work and Live
Despite greater autonomy with how we fill the moments of our day, there is an increase in burnout.
What the Four Virtues of Stoicism Teach Us Today
Courage, justice, temperance and wisdom are the four virtues that underpin stoicism and can help shape our daily lives.