The Middle Passage by James Hollis is a profound exploration of midlife and identity shifts. Hollis describes it as 'a summons from within to move from the provisional life to true adulthood—from the false self to authenticity.' This transition is unsettling, sometimes painful, but ultimately a path toward a truer self. If you’ve ever felt restless in your career or life, this book might just reveal why.

Burnout isn’t failure - it’s a recalibration. It’s a chance to examine your systems - personal, professional, and societal—and realign with what truly matters.

Retirement isn’t just an ending - it’s also a beginning. Sure, it marks the close of a career, but it opens doors to possibilities. By embracing intentionality and leaning into frameworks like RECIPE, retirees can transform this phase into a vibrant period of growth, fulfillment, and reinvention.

Curiosity shifts our focus from rigid problem-solving and habitual thought patterns to an open-minded exploration of possibilities. For example, Steve Jobs famously spoke about his fascination with calligraphy during a college course. Though unrelated to his initial career goals, this curiosity profoundly influenced the typography and design of Apple’s products, showcasing how exploring unrelated interests can lead to groundbreaking innovations.

New Year’s resolutions often fail because they’re too big and rooted in societal ‘shoulds.’ Instead, reflect on what worked last year, ditch the expectations that don’t excite you, and take one small, meaningful step toward what truly matters.

Making decisions is tough, especially when the stakes are high—like career transitions or major life changes. Understanding your decision-making style can add clarity and confidence, whether you're rational, intuitive, or rely on your gut. In this article, explore 3 lessons to navigate tough decisions, create momentum, and align your choices with your values.

Feeling stuck? Nietzsche’s idea of life as a bridge reminds us: you’re not a finished product, and that’s okay. Every wobble is just the next step forward.

Ambition thrives on external achievements, while purpose is rooted in deeper meaning and fulfillment. When ambition overpowers purpose, we risk chasing hollow goals. Learn how to differentiate the two, align them, and make time for what truly matters.

"Comfort might feel safe, but staying stuck is actually exhausting. The mental gymnastics it takes to convince ourselves we’re incapable of change, to silence the nagging ‘What if you could?’ voice, is draining. It’s like running on a treadmill while insisting you’re too tired to move forward.

So, what can we do about it? First, recognize that the inner critic—the voice saying ‘That’s not realistic’—isn’t an all-knowing oracle. It’s just fear talking. Fear isn’t the boss of you, and it doesn’t have to control your decisions.

Instead, ask yourself, ‘What’s the smallest step I could take?’ Then take that step. Not because it’s guaranteed to lead somewhere amazing, but because movement is liberating in itself."

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.