Connection

From 8 September 2020, all blog posts written by The Lonely Diplomat can only be read after becoming a paid member of

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Loneliness
Diplomacy
Connection
Competition
Resilience
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Phil McAuliffe

Oct 16
7 min

Becoming a happy diplomat

Here’s how to be a happy diplomat.

Phil McAuliffe

Oct 2
10 min

7 tips for first postees

If you're getting ready to go on your first posting, I crowdsourced some wisdom for you.

Why you're not getting the connection you need

Phil McAuliffe

Sep 16
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 21
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

Jul 31
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.

The Lonely Diplomat: Who gets lonelier: diplomat or spouse?

Phil McAuliffe

Jul 10
6 min

The Lonely Diplomat: Who gets lonelier: diplomat or spouse?

I often get asked the question about who gets lonelier: the diplomat or the accompanying spouse? Let’s have a look at both cases.

The Lonely Diplomat: lessons from my social media detox

Phil McAuliffe

Jun 19
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?

The Lonely Diplomat: a letter to myself about change

Phil McAuliffe

May 29
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 8
12 min

The Lonely Diplomat: on breaking up

This diplomatic life is tough on relationships. It's a fact that some don't survive.

The Lonely Diplomat: on bullying, harassment and discrimination in diplomacy

Phil McAuliffe

Apr 17
11 min

The Lonely Diplomat: on bullying, harassment and discrimination in diplomacy

Is bullying, harassment and discrimination rife in diplomacy?

The Lonely Diplomat: supporting you through COVID-19

Phil McAuliffe

Mar 27
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 6
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.

The Lonely Diplomat

Feb 14
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.

The Lonely Diplomat

Jan 24
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.

Setting up a portable business as a diplomatic spouse

The Lonely Diplomat

Jan 10
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 29, 2019
9 min

The Lonely Diplomat: on competition

Our diplomatic lives can be dominated by competition. What can this do to us?

On being gay and living a diplomatic life

Phil McAuliffe

Nov 1, 2019
11 min

On being gay and living a diplomatic life

Let's explore what can it mean to be a same-sex couple who is living their diplomatic life.

Loneliness and the absence of real connection

Phil McAuliffe

Oct 4, 2019
8 min

Loneliness and the absence of real connection

Loneliness often gets confused with being alone, but they're very different. Read Vaughan Carder's reflections on loneliness he shar

The Lonely Diplomat: on what people think

Phil McAuliffe

Sep 6, 2019
8 min

The Lonely Diplomat: on what people think

'What will people think?' Few questions have stopped as many good ideas and suggestions. Let's explore this some more.

Phil McAuliffe

Aug 9, 2019
11 min

The Lonely Diplomat: on burnout

Stories of burnout are ubiquitous. Let's explore how burnout can affect diplomats and those living the diplomatic life.

The Lonely Diplomat: on being interesting

Phil McAuliffe

Jul 19, 2019
6 min

The Lonely Diplomat: on being interesting

Let's explore how we diplomats and those living the diplomatic life cope with being interesting to other governments and how these copin

Phil McAuliffe

Jul 5, 2019
8 min

On leaving diplomacy

You may be feeling that it's time to leave the diplomatic world and try something else. But what could you do? Where do you start? Read

Phil McAuliffe

Jun 22, 2019
9 min

The Lonely Diplomat: on friendship

Friendships are a vital source of human connection. This post explores the challenges of making and keeping friends when living the diplomat

Phil McAuliffe

Jun 8, 2019
10 min

On being a male diplomatic spouse

This post explores issues of disconnection, loss of career progression and the isolation experienced by some male diplomatic spouses.

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