BLOG | The Lonely Diplomat

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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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.

Phil McAuliffe

May 25, 2019
8 min

The Lonely Diplomat: on mid-life crises

The thoughts and feelings that herald a mid-life crisis can strike you where you are, whoever you are. It's tempting to ignore them, but

The Lonely Diplomat: an invitation to our bosses

Phil McAuliffe

May 11, 2019
7 min

The Lonely Diplomat: an invitation to our bosses

I write these words because I'm worried. I write these words to you to start a kind and honest conversation about how we can work togeth

'Finally, I can eat garlic!'
Life as a diplomat's daughter

Phil McAuliffe

Apr 27, 2019
9 min

'Finally, I can eat garlic!' Life as a diplomat's daughter

How can growing up as the child of a diplomat affect how our children view themselves and their world?

The Lonely Diplomat: on resilience - part 2

Phil McAuliffe

Apr 13, 2019
10 min

The Lonely Diplomat: on resilience - part 2

Let's talk about the 'big' resilience and 'little' resilience we need to do our jobs, shall we?

Phil McAuliffe

Mar 30, 2019
10 min

The Lonely Diplomat: on fitness

We must have some physical movement in our days so we remain physically, emotionally and mentally healthy and connected to ourselves. Can we

Phil McAuliffe

Mar 16, 2019
9 min

The Lonely Diplomat: on home

Having many places to call home as a diplomat is both a blessing and a curse. It tests our resilience and our connection with others. Where,

The Lonely Diplomat: on the stories we tell ourselves

Phil McAuliffe

Mar 2, 2019
9 min

The Lonely Diplomat: on the stories we tell ourselves

We are all fantastic story creators. The stories we tell ourselves can become our truths. They are powerful. We accept them as fact. They ca

Phil McAuliffe

Feb 16, 2019
11 min

Diplomatic spouses of the world, unite!

Call me a trailing spouse and I will politely put you in a headlock and rearrange your pretty diplomat face to the point that you’ll need yo

The Lonely Diplomat: on being 'on' - part one

Phil McAuliffe

Feb 2, 2019
9 min

The Lonely Diplomat: on being 'on' - part one

We can never give our personal view. We can never trust that something said privately will stay private. We are always on. Always. What does

Phil McAuliffe

Jan 19, 2019
13 min

The Lonely Diplomat: on loneliness

Hi, my name's Phil and I'm the Lonely Diplomat.This is my story of loneliness and reconnecting with myself and the world around me.

Phil McAuliffe

Jan 5, 2019
8 min

The Lonely Diplomat: on language

We diplomats are great at language. We speak and write well. We learn them. We use language to our advantage. Can this also be a problem for

Phil McAuliffe

Dec 15, 2018
9 min

The Lonely Diplomat: on Christmas

It is the season of goodwill to all and a time to be with family and friends. What is it about the festive season that can have us feeling h

Phil McAuliffe

Dec 1, 2018
8 min

The Lonely Diplomat: on exhaustion

Might there be more to that exhaustion you're feeling? Recent studies show the strong link between exhaustion and burnout with lonelines

Phil McAuliffe

Nov 17, 2018
8 min

Are you a scared diplomat?

Are we scared because we fear not pleasing people? Are we so scared to be seen that we don't attempt anything that may not succeed? Who

The Lonely Diplomat: on competitive stories

Phil McAuliffe

Nov 3, 2018
6 min

The Lonely Diplomat: on competitive stories

The hyper-competitive environment in which we work, coupled with working in an environment which is ruled by diplomatic understatement and r

Phil McAuliffe

Oct 20, 2018
8 min

Love and diplomacy

We love what we do, but we don't do it alone. We bring our significant others and our families along for the ride - or not.

Phil McAuliffe

Oct 6, 2018
9 min

Are you the self-deprecating diplomat?

Self-deprecation is more than the impostor syndrome. It's the crushing disappointment when we don't meet, or exceed, the impossibly

Phil McAuliffe

Sep 29, 2018
8 min

Are you the 'yes' diplomat?

Nancy Reagan had it right. We just need to say no. But saying no is really difficult in the fiercely competitive environment in which we wor

Phil McAuliffe

Sep 22, 2018
8 min

Are you a resilient diplomat?

Resilience is so hot right now. What is a resilient diplomat anyway?

Phil McAuliffe

Sep 15, 2018
6 min

The price of being a diplomat

I am back in Australia visiting family and friends this week. I'm finally close enough to home to be able to do it. It's made me ref

Are you using social media, or is it using you?

Phil McAuliffe

Sep 8, 2018
7 min

Are you using social media, or is it using you?

This post is about diplomats who are busy and use social media as a primary tool to connect with friends and family with whom they may not h

Phil McAuliffe

Sep 1, 2018
3 min

Solve for 'x': 'I am a [x] diplomat'

In the great algebraic equation of

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