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
- 6 min
On managing overwhelm
Let's explore why you and I feel so frequently overwhelmed. Our lives may depend on it.
Phil McAuliffe
- Dec 3, 2022
- 8 min
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, 2022
- 8 min
Why hit rock bottom?
Hitting rock bottom is messy. Why do you wait to hit it to make change?
Phil McAuliffe
- Aug 14, 2021
- 6 min
Checking our privilege
Words can mean different things in different contexts. Privilege is one of those words.
Phil McAuliffe
- Aug 7, 2021
- 10 min
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, 2021
- 10 min
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
- Nov 14, 2020
- 4 min
Being awed
Hey, office-dweller, how often are you left awestruck by nature?
Phil McAuliffe
- Oct 17, 2020
- 6 min
Becoming a happy diplomat
Here’s how to be a happy diplomat.
Phil McAuliffe
- Oct 3, 2020
- 9 min
7 tips for first postees
If you're getting ready to go on your first posting, I crowdsourced some wisdom for you.
Phil McAuliffe
- Sep 17, 2020
- 6 min
Why you're not getting the connection you need
What frequently passes for connection in this diplomatic life is weird and is not enough to feel connected.
Phil McAuliffe
- Aug 22, 2020
- 5 min
The Lonely Diplomat: on our soulgasms
Who, or what, in your life sparks joy? Who, or what, in your life gives you a soulgasm?
Phil McAuliffe
- Aug 1, 2020
- 7 min
The Lonely Diplomat: on our soulaches
I have an important question to ask you. Please, only read this if you’re prepared to be honest with your self.
Phil McAuliffe
- Jul 11, 2020
- 7 min
The Lonely Diplomat: Who gets lonelier: diplomat or spouse?
Who gets lonelier: the diplomat or the accompanying spouse? Let’s have a look at both cases.
Phil McAuliffe
- Jun 20, 2020
- 11 min
The Lonely Diplomat: lessons from my social media detox
It was time to take my own advice and use social media for good. Is it time for you to do the same?
Phil McAuliffe
- May 30, 2020
- 7 min
The Lonely Diplomat: a letter to myself about change
Change is scary for me too. I can doubt my own bravery.
Phil McAuliffe
- May 9, 2020
- 11 min
The Lonely Diplomat: on breaking up
This diplomatic life is tough on relationships. It's a fact that some don't survive.
Phil McAuliffe
- Apr 18, 2020
- 11 min
The Lonely Diplomat: on bullying, harassment and discrimination in diplomacy
Is bullying, harassment and discrimination rife in diplomacy?
Phil McAuliffe
- Mar 28, 2020
- 10 min
The Lonely Diplomat: supporting you through COVID-19
Advice to help those living their diplomatic life through these crazy times.
Phil McAuliffe
- Mar 7, 2020
- 6 min
The Lonely Diplomat: on minimalism
This diplomatic life is complicated enough without being worn down by things, beliefs and people that do not serve us. Let's declutter.
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- Feb 15, 2020
- 7 min
Mindfulness and you
Let's explore how mindfulness can help the stressed and busy diplomat with these words from my friend, Jase Te Patu.
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- Jan 25, 2020
- 9 min
On anxiety and being a diplomat
Let's have a kind and honest conversation about mental illness and mental health and well-being in diplomacy that moves beyond platitudes.
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- Jan 11, 2020
- 8 min
Setting up a portable business as a diplomatic spouse
Amel Derragui shares her reasons why setting up a globally portable business can help diplomatic spouses.
Phil McAuliffe
- Nov 30, 2019
- 9 min
The Lonely Diplomat: on competition
Our diplomatic lives can be dominated by competition. What can this do to us?
where to
now?
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