Recently my family and I visited the Ghibli Museum in Tokyo. This place gives a great insight into the creative process behind the magical animated films of Studio Ghibli – films such as Spirited Away, Ponyo and My Neighbour Totoro (pictured). There is an especially strong focus on the work and vision of filmmaker and […]
How this “Play it Safe” Guy Took a Leap
3 months ago I took an uncharacteristic leap of faith when I left my safe and secure government employer of 20 years to begin consulting full time. I didn’t leave because my job had been made redundant. I didn’t leave because I was forced to leave. I didn’t leave because there was anything wrong with […]
How to Knock Self-Doubt Down to Size
Self-doubt. All of us have it. For some of us it’s an occasional visitor, while for others it’s ever-present. Sometimes it’s useful. For example, the self-doubt that stops me from swimming outside the flags in rough surf conditions has probably served me well. Other times self-doubt is much less useful, such as: The kind that stops […]
10 Questions to Ask Yourself in Midlife
Midlife is an important time for reflection. In this period of life, more-so than most, its really important that we have a sense of where we are and where we are going. Working your way through these 10 questions will start you thinking. They may also be just the thing you need to start contemplating […]
When Experience AND Time are On Our Side
There’s a saying I like (source unknown) that goes: “You start life with a bag full of luck and a bag empty of experience. The trick is to fill the bag of experience before you empty the bag of luck.” I’m not so sure that our luck really gets used up as we go […]
Midlife Generativity or Midlife Stagnation?
In 1959, a German-born psychologist with a repetitive sounding name, Erik Erikson, developed an eight-stage theory of development through life. According to Erik(son), people address specific challenges at each life stage. Five of the stages in this theory take place during childhood, while the other three occur in adulthood. The 3 adult stages in Erikson’s […]
How to Change Career Direction Without Running off the Road
Making decisions is not easy. There are so many choices available to us in today’s world that even small decisions like what to have for dinner can be difficult. It’s no surprise, then, that big decisions about our lives can be paralysing. At some point in our adult lives most of us will find […]
Success and Happiness in Midlife
I’m in my late 40’s. Not young, not old …. middle aged. I’m not sure exactly how it happened but my young adulthood is in the rear view mirror and here I am, right smack bang in the middle of life. My midlife period has brought with it a few challenges, such as: My body isn’t […]
Are You Playing to Win or Playing it Safe?
Some time ago I read an excellent article by Australian golfer Jason Day titled “Letter to My Younger Self”. Whether you like the game of golf or not I really suggest you check it out on The Players Tribune. There was one part of this letter that really struck a chord with me. Jason Day […]
What to Do When You’re Stuck in a Rut
We all get stuck in a rut sometimes. These ruts we find ourselves in often looked attractive to us at first; they may have served us well at some point; and they have a certain appeal with the comfort they offer. However, they are no longer useful to us. Common ruts are dead-end jobs where people’s […]
