How to apply systems thinking to your life decisions In a previous post, Systems Decoded: Unravelling The Surprising Forces That Bind Us, I gave an overview of what systems are, and how different parts of systems are interconnected. I promised some practical examples of systems thinking so you can solve problems, make successful decisions and create a life you want. Brace yourself—this is that post. Too often people try to solve their problems in a linear, procedural manner, usually by whipping up a list or following typical A leads to B, leads to C thinking.  Let’s examine some more usef ..read more

Systems: A beginner’s guide to life’s invisible networks Hey there fellow earthling! Today, we’re off on an enlightening journey to unravel the mystery of systems—a concept as pervasive in our lives as the air we breathe, and often just as unnoticed. In this post we’ll uncover how these invisible threads intricately weave the tapestry of our existence and interconnected world. I’ll lay the groundwork for how systems work in this post. In future posts, I’ll explain how you can navigate systems to work for thinking, relating to others, solving problems and achieving the best outcomes possible. S ..read more

Welcome to a dog’s tail tale! Strap in, for a tale sprinkled with paws, laughter, and a dollop of doggy love. This isn’t my usual mind-bending, skill-enhancing post. Today, it’s all about Ragz, my Tibetan terrier; my ‘Ragamuffin Dog’. Born on a day when love is celebrated worldwide (Feb 14 for the non-romantically inclined!) Ragz has been a constant presence in both my life and my work. As many of you who’ve crossed paths with us know, Ragz was more than a dog—he was a character, a companion, and a source of countless smiles and endless love. Today, I’d like to share with you not just the stor ..read more

It can strike the best of us, this pesky ‘fear of failure.’ One minute you’re dreaming big—like Elon-Musk-on-a-space-odyssey big—and the next, you’re shrinking back into the cozy but oh-so-limiting cocoon of your comfort zone. Imagine you’re teetering on the brink of starting something fabulous; a giant leap of a goal, a brain-tinglingly exciting new hobby, finally sorting out that jungle you call a garden. Then, like a bad movie cliché, in swoops the fear fiend, hissing doubts in your ear. “How in blazes will I do this?” “What if it’s a cataclysmic flop?” “Who do I think I am?” “People wil ..read more

Conflict Resolution is rarely easy — or simple For successful conflict resolution, you need guts, tenacity, compassion, and a willingness to see different viewpoints. You also need resilience, good emotional intelligence, and sometimes, a thick skin. It’s very useful to have a proven process. The process, along with the other skills and personal traits, can all be learned. This post contains a conflict resolution strategy, which will be demonstrated through a relatable scenario. You’ll also find other articles on the website that deal with complementary traits. So, if you’re ready to dive into ..read more

Conflicts often evoke negative connotations, from altercations to avoidance, but reframing our perceptions can transform conflicts into opportunities for growth and resolution. In this guide, we’ll explore strategies to avoid a potential conflict and maintain peace in various situations. Rethinking potential conflict Your thoughts about conflict may conflict with the truth! When I ask people to think of conflict, they often conjure up negative images and sounds; Altercations and shouting Sulking Crying Avoidance Abusive language Even physical fighting and war! Thinking about conflict in any ..read more

From Caravan Chaos to Tiny House Triumph This blog post is an update and follow-on from my Out Of The Loop post a year ago. Please read that post first, otherwise this post won’t make much sense — and you’ll think I’m even crazier than I really am! With the assumption that you’ve read that post, I’ll carry on from where I left off. Apologies It’s been a genuine struggle to get this information into just one post! Once I’d crossed the 8,000 word threshold (don’t worry it’s not that long!), I decided to turn the blog into an eBook instead! Thing is, there’s an entire year to cover. However, I st ..read more

What is perception? Perception is different for everyone, even though reality might be identical. Our perception (the way we interpret and make sense of the world around us) is a fascinating dance between reality and our own mental constructs. Reality — or your external exposure to reality — is the same for everyone. But each person’s perception can be vastly different: Let’s imagine you’re watching people on a roller-coaster at a fairground. In reality, the roller-coaster is a big solid thing (hopefully!), that comprises a light railway track which has many sharp twists, tight turns, and stee ..read more

‘Time is a great healer.’  Or so we’re told. It seems we mostly accept it as true, without really thinking through what it means, or how we might use time to speed up healing. I mean, to start with, what is time? Well, physicists are still scratching their heads and philosophers still waxing lyrical. And the rest of us are scampering to not be late for our next appointment! One thing they seem to agree on is that time is an illusion. And that’s true. There is no time! Time is simply a concept that gives us a way to measure change  You can easily recall significant events in your life ..read more

Tackling and Triumphing Over the Christmas Blues Not every Christmas is a merry symphony of jingle bells and laughter. If you find yourself in a festive funk, humming the Christmas blues instead of the usual holiday tunes, welcome to the club! Fret not! We’re going to unwrap the mysteries and deliver some useful strategies for feeling better — with no tinsel or sticky tape. While Christmas is usually associated with the red and green of holly and snow white (not THE Snow White — come on, you know what I mean!)  for a lot of people Christmas has another colour associated with it, blue. And ..read more