How do we maintain confidence in who we are when faced with moments of difficulty? Confidence is not about shouting affirmations into a mirror. It's about having an undeniable stack of proof that we are who we say we are.

To seek status is to seek satisfaction. The trick to enduring satisfaction is to want what we already have. What we always have is our values. Therefore, the status we seek is rooted in the values we hold. Our values become our lens for the status we seek. Acting them out consistently creates who we are.

The ‘When This, Then That’ cycle is a cruel one. When I achieve X, then I'll feel Y. It's always tempting, but only momentarily fulfilling. So how do we break it? We must learn to want what you already have.

Purposeful motivations should be embarked upon because we have decided for ourselves that they are worth the pain and sacrifice of endurance that they will undoubtedly bring, not out of expectation that they will make us happy.

Life is a compendium of feelings, thoughts and experiences. And that means stepping outside of our selves, in order to be better understand our self. Even when it’s not easy to do so.

Tips, hacks, life-changing habits: there is a simple way to sift the wheat from the chafe. The longer an idea sticks around for and remains significant, substantial, the more we should give it credibility. The more we should invest in it, not less. Because it’s more likely to continue sticking around, not to become out-dated. It’s proven that it has an impressive half-life.

The awkward truth, is that it's a natural desire. But one we need to learn to tame in the modern era. Because wanting more is actually our embedded quest to attain status. Status is a core human need, but knowing how to achieve has never been more confusing than it is today.

Social media is broadcasting i.e. casting or scattering in all directions. But that's not how we build authentic relationships, the most important contributor to our happiness. Narrowing our social media focus can make it work for us, and it turns out there's a number to help you do just that.

Focusing on what you can, and cannot control, is the first step in setting effective boundaries. This is hard, because it always requires us to let go. To let go of the idea that we can influence and change other people, events, or circumstances, when the reality is that in most cases in life, this simply isn’t true. All we can truly control, is ourselves, and the choices that we make.

Authenticity in our lives is earned, not granted nor asked for. Establishing healthy boundaries is an important skill we all need to develop and foster. And our workplaces are no different to any other interactions.

“Time is a created thing. To say 'I don't have time' is like saying, 'I don't want to.” - Lao Tzu. Western culture often demands us to live a linear life of progress. But reminding ourselves of the cyclical nature of life can slow things down, and take control of the pace of our own life.

It isn’t simple. Not should it be. Because without it, we have no freedom. Taking responsibility never works in just one direction, it is multi-directional. It doesn’t come for free, but it is a price worth paying: “Responsibility is the price of freedom”.

Struggling to implement new habits doesn't mean you're doing something wrong. The reason may be that you lack clear objectives to pursue. Understanding the values behind your goals will help you stay motivated and committed. Knowing your values and aligning them with your goals will help to establish new habits naturally. Discover more about how to create goals based on your values in this blog post.

The first step in creating effective financial habits lies in tracking your spending habits. However, this can be painful because it reveals truths we might not not want to acknowledge. But creating awareness is the first step in creating change. The same is true for life - if you want to change something, you need to first become aware of it.

The age old wisdom of counting sheep relies on boring yourself into submission, until your mind quietens sufficiently for you to drop off. But those passing sheep weren't made for counting, they were made for watching. And the difference between those two could change your waking life.

Attention is the rarest and purest form of generosity. - Simone Weil. Imagining an impartial spectator encourages us to step outside ourselves and view ourselves as others see us. This is a brave exercise that most of us go through in life avoiding or doing poorly. But if you can do it and do it well, if you can hover above the scene and watch how you handle yourself, you can begin to know who you really are and how you might improve.

“What the superior person seeks is in themself; what the small person seeks is in others.” - Confucius. How we feel about ourselves ultimately shouldn’t be decided by comparing ourselves to others. It should only be weighed up by comparing the current version of us, to our former self. Are we better today, than we were yesterday?

You have to assemble your life yourself, action by action. Squirrels bury many nuts, knowing not every specific treasure will be unearthed. But if they keep scattering enough effort around, they'll be rewarded in time.

Their bends and undulations aren't flaws, but the defining characteristic of what they are. When we accept the kinks, meanders and oxbow lakes of our own lives, we're able to treat ourselves more kindly. And in doing so, fall in love with a process over an outcome.

It's not about the choosing, it's about the having. Because all art, no matter the quality, allows me to remember something much more important. Every artist, every person, is simply trying to tell their story from their perspective. Empathy, and learning, starts when we're willing to listen, and step into their shoes.