Phil McAuliffe
Your life audit
Are you feeding connection and starving loneliness? Let's check.
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Be a connected diplomat
Photo: Michael White Photography
the lonely diplomat
blog
No one else writes about the highs and lows of this diplomatic life from both the perspective of the posted diplomat AND the accompanying significant other like the lonely diplomat.
Read one, two - or binge them all - of the articles to be supported, challenged and inspired through Phil's lived experience, wisdom and insight.
They're all here for you as you live your diplomatic life and want to reconnect with yourself and the world around you.
You're not alone.
Phil McAuliffe
Mar 4, 20236 min read
On managing overwhelm
Let's explore why you and I feel so frequently overwhelmed. Our lives may depend on it.
Tanya Crossman
Feb 4, 20238 min read
How diplo life can affect our kids
For all the wonders and joys, this diplomatic life can really harm our kids. Let's talk about that.
Phil McAuliffe
Dec 3, 20228 min read
Connection and the modern diplomat
Connection is a big deal
You need connection to survive
Why aren’t you prioritising it?
Phil McAuliffe
Nov 5, 20228 min read
Why hit rock bottom?
Hitting rock bottom is messy. Why do you wait to hit it to make change?
Phil McAuliffe
Aug 14, 20216 min read
Checking our privilege
Words can mean different things in different contexts. Privilege is one of those words.
Phil McAuliffe
Aug 7, 202110 min read
On belonging
We humans - even diplomats - can hustle to feel like we belong and to feel worthy. Let's talk about that.
Phil McAuliffe
Jul 31, 202110 min read
My resilience reset
A whole lot of life has happened for us in 2020 and 2021. We need to process it in our way.
Phil McAuliffe
Sep 7, 20198 min read
'What will people think?' must end
'What will people think?' silences innovation. Here's how to challenge it and work through fear.
Phil McAuliffe
Aug 10, 201912 min read
Find balance to avoid burnout
You must find a balance that works for you if you are to avoid burning out
Phil McAuliffe
Jul 20, 20196 min read
Your life under a microscope
What you know is valuable. People want to know what you know. What you say, do and think is interesting. This is not a normal way to live.
Angela Pickett
Jul 6, 20198 min read
On leaving diplomacy
There's nothing like a career in diplomacy. It's tough to leave. What if it's time to do something else?
Phil McAuliffe
Jun 23, 20199 min read
Friendship and diplomacy
Making friends and maintaining friendships can be tough when living the diplomatic life.
Simon
Jun 9, 201911 min read
On being a male diplomatic spouse
'My reference point for others was suddenly not to me, it was to my female spouse.'
Phil McAuliffe
May 26, 20198 min read
Thrive through your mid-life crisis
Resist the sportscar, the affair or dramatic career change. Welcome your mid-life crisis and thrive.
Phil McAuliffe
May 12, 20197 min read
A clarion call to the leaders of diplomacy
I've a clear message for the leaders of diplomacy: your diplomats are struggling.
Jaqueline Benndorf
Apr 28, 20199 min read
'Finally, I can eat garlic!' Life as a diplomat's daughter
How can growing up as the child of a diplomat affect how our children view themselves and their world?
Phil McAuliffe
Apr 14, 201911 min read
'Big' vs. 'Little' resilience
How the diplomatic life tests your big and little resilience each day and how you can respond
Phil McAuliffe
Mar 17, 201910 min read
Finding your home
Where, or what, or even who is home for you?
Phil McAuliffe
Mar 3, 20199 min read
The stories we tell ourselves
We are all fantastic story creators. The stories we tell ourselves can become our truths. They're often wrong.
Phil McAuliffe
Feb 3, 201910 min read
Always being 'on'
It's a fact that we're never 'off' when
on a diplomatic posting. This is very damaging to your health and well-being
Phil McAuliffe
Jan 6, 20199 min read
Say what you mean. Mean what you say.
Stop being diplomatic. Sometimes you actually need to say what you mean and mean what you say.
Phil McAuliffe
Dec 2, 20189 min read
Stop glorifying exhaustion
Might there be more to that exhaustion you're feeling? There's a strong link between exhaustion and burnout with loneliness
Phil McAuliffe
Oct 21, 20189 min read
Love and diplomacy
We love what we do, but we don't do it alone. We bring our significant others and our families along for the ride - or not.
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