Blog
How to stay out of trouble
Have you ever thought how much easier your life would be if only you did not have to deal with other people? Have you ever felt that people are an endless source of trouble? For example your aunt and mother have been involved in a family feud for 10 years. Two of your work colleagues
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The Secrets to Writing Good Short Stories
Over the long summer holidays, parents struggle to entertain their children and end up arranging activities for them. For example they might arrange a painting day or a cooking day. This expands the child’s interests and encourages them to be creative. I’m going to be like a parent today and encourage you to be creative
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Why Comparing Yourself to Others is Dangerous
As a middle-aged man I have many friendships that span decades and it’s always interesting to look at where my friends are at. Some have great careers, some have great families, some have great careers and great families, and some have neither. Yes, I believe that life is what you make it, but of course
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My Top Book Reading List for Self-Development
The festive season is almost here and we will all be looking for some holiday reading. I think it’s important to “do some work on yourself” over the break. Do some deep thinking and ‘reset’ yourself in time for the New Year. Of course I’d love you to read some of my books over the
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Are You Destined to Turn Out Like Your Parents?
That old saying, “an apple never falls far from the tree” is the equivalent to saying “like father, like son” or “like mother like daughter”. It is another way of saying that children inevitably become like their parents. Are you like your mother or father? Do you want to take after them? If you had
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The Difference Between Being Fearless and Being Reckless
In films and novels heroes are always fearless. And popular culture is constantly telling us to overcome our fears and live big lives. We are told that a life lived in fear is a life half lived. The motto of every hard-core surfie is ‘feel the fear and do it any way’. I have told
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Are you pro or anti Christmas?
Are you for or against Christmas? Do you relish every minute of the festive season or do you just grin and bear it? I think Christmas accentuates the tenant of your life. What do I mean? Well, if you are an incredibly busy, harried person throughout the year, Christmas will just about push you to
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How to Effectively Deal With Passive Aggressive People
I met up with a friend the other day, whose job is causing him grief. He is working on a difficult project with a difficult person. The deadline for completion of the project is just a week away, but his work colleague sounds like a nightmare. We’ll call this difficult work colleague Jeff, and to
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The Power of Self Care and Prevention
Ask any doctor and they will tell you that prevention is better than a cure. It is better not to drink too much alcohol and develop gout. It is better not to eat too many lollies and get cavities in your teeth. However prevention is not a message that politicians are comfortable delivering because they
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The Latest Unconventional Method to Release Stress and Anxiety
Have you heard of the practice of otonamaki or adult swaddling? It involves curling up into the foetal position and getting someone to wrap you up in a giant sheet. Once bound – even your head is covered – you are rolled from side to side. Essentially this is meant to make you feel secure
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To Swear or Not to Swear?
I recently watched a very odd exchange between two office workers at a sandwich shop. Let’s call them Andrew and Chad. Andrew wanted to know what time a staff meeting was. ‘Don’t know,” was Chad’s first response. Andrew asked a second time. “Can’t help you, mate” was Chad’s second response. But this Andrew was tenacious,
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Do Manners Still Matter Today?
Recently a man in his twenties asked me how he could improve his social skills. He was poorly dressed, quite abrupt and didn’t thank me for my advice about practising his conversational skills and taking an interest in other people. After speaking to him it dawned on me that he needed to improve his manners
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