Productivity just added more to my to-do list, paradoxically pushing me further from what I truly cared about. This reminds me of Oliver Burkeman. I first encountered his work years ago through The Antidote, a self-help book that, in a counterintuitive twist, argues we’ve been pursuing happiness all wrong. Burkeman’s latest book, Meditations for Mortals, dives right into the question many of us wrestle with: How can we get everything done? And in such a limited timeframe? His answer? We can’t. And that’s exactly the point. His philosophy, 'Imperfectionism,' is about embracing the impossibility of doing it all.

Carl Jung said it best: 'Where your fear is, there is your task.' Over the years, I’ve done plenty of things that scared me—some understandable (skydiving), others less so (taking on higher-paying clients). But with each scary task came growth, as I learned to navigate fear differently. Fear isn’t the enemy; it’s a signal that you’re on the right track.

Change isn’t just about shifting circumstances; it’s about navigating the emotional loss that comes with it. We often feel the pain before we fully process it, which is why transitions can be so challenging. But when we sit with the discomfort, we create space for real growth. As William Bridges says, true change requires mourning the end of what we’re moving on from. Only then can we start something new.

Even when things are going well—your career is stable, relationships are good, and you’re financially secure—there’s often a nagging sense that something is bound to go wrong. This fear is rooted in our survival instincts, causing us to anticipate threats even when they don’t exist, leading to chronic unease and professional burnout.

We often buy into the myth that our “real” life exists somewhere in the future—a place where everything works out once we’ve completed every task, achieved every goal, or solved every problem. This mindset creates a gap between the life we imagine and the life we’re actually living, fostering frustration. The truth is, the interruptions we encounter aren’t distractions from life—they are life. When we stop viewing these moments as obstacles and start seeing them as opportunities, we create a richer, more connected experience.

Don’t assume anything about how it will turn out. When we can be more tentative about the likely outcomes of challenging situations, we start to approach them as opportunities, rather than simply as sources of strife.

The start of a new season is the perfect time to reassess our goals. Many use models like OKRs, KPIs, HARD Goals, and SMART Goals to set clear objectives. But research by Raymond Prior, Ph.D., shows that overemphasis on goals can lead to irrational risk-taking and a loss of motivation. Instead, values-based goal setting fosters longevity, consistency, and healthier behavior.

By focusing on intrinsic motivation through values, you can break down large goals into manageable steps. This approach not only improves mental health but also keeps you motivated by balancing outcomes with present actions. Marry your values and goals to stay consistent and guide your career growth.

Mentorship is a powerful, often misunderstood concept that extends far beyond formalities and rigid structures. It’s about the dynamic exchange of knowledge, support, and growth between two people. True mentorship challenges the notion that it needs to look or function any particular way, emphasizing the importance of building authentic, two-way relationships where both mentor and mentee benefit.

In life, we often search for answers in familiar, comfortable places, even when they might not hold the solutions we need. This is known as the "Streetlight Effect," where we look for answers where it's easiest, not where they’re most likely to be found. To find our true calling, we must explore the darker, uncertain areas of our lives—the places we avoid because they force us to confront uncomfortable truths. As Carl Jung said, “One does not become enlightened by imagining figures of light, but by making the darkness conscious.” Are you ready to look beyond the light?

As we gain more knowledge and experience, we become more aware of the complexities involved, often leading to more humility and a more accurate self-assessment. This paradox—the more we learn, the less confident we become—highlights the importance of self-awareness in building a stable and grounded sense of confidence.

The Netflix Dilemma, also known as choice paralysis, refers to the difficulty in making a decision when faced with numerous options. It’s a modern struggle where an abundance of choices can lead to anxiety, indecision, and dissatisfaction. By clarifying priorities, setting boundaries, embracing satisficing, seeking advice, and trusting instincts, we can navigate our professional options with greater clarity and confidence.

In a recent episode of the Being Well Podcast, Dr. Rick Hanson and his son Forrest Hanson discussed the feeling of being stuck when you want to make a change but aren't sure what that change should be or why you need to make it. They used the metaphor of crabs in a bucket—when one crab tries to escape, the others pull it back. These "crabs" can be external circumstances like friends who don't want us to leave or our own internal doubts. Recognizing these influences is the first step to overcoming them and making necessary changes in our lives.

In Søren Kierkegaard’s 1849 “Sickness Unto Death” (yes, I know - a truly uplifting title), he describes a man who reads his own obituary in the newspaper and is shocked because he did not know he had died. This, of course, can’t actually happen in real life. Not yet, anyhow. But, even so, what does the story invite us to consider? It’s said that Kierkegaard uses this story to challenge individuals to wake up from their metaphorical death and start living genuinely, making conscious and deliberate choices that reflect their true selves.

They suffer from the desire to be infallible. Defined as “the incapability of making mistakes or being wrong”, infallibility projects the power to be relied on, to be trusted, and to be better than the competition. But, the demands of infallibility have significant negative effects, impacting mental health, job satisfaction, and overall effectiveness. Striving for infallibility is exhausting.

Each book we read can act as a mentor, guiding us through life's challenges and opportunities.

The Differences, Why One is Sometimes Better than the Other, and How to Know Which Way to Go.