What happens when everything you've built starts to fall apart? When motivation disappears. When the future feels uncertain. When you're exhausted, overwhelmed, and you don't know how to keep going. These are the moments when purpose matters most. Because motivation is temporary. Purpose is deeper. Motivation can inspire you to act when life is going well. But adversity changes the equation. When you're dealing with rejection, heartbreak, failure, uncertainty, or prolonged di

Pain is part of being human. At some point, every one of us will experience it. A broken heart. A failed relationship. Rejection. Grief. Failure. Physical injury. The loss of someone we love. The disappointment of watching something we worked for fall apart. We cannot eliminate pain from life. But there is an important distinction between pain and suffering. Pain is the experience itself. Suffering is what can happen when that pain becomes something we cannot accept, process,

The advantage of facing challenges voluntarily..

There's a moment right before you break. You know it. The deadline that won't move, the conversation you've been avoiding, the workout where your lungs are on fire and your legs are begging you to stop. In that moment, most people do one of two things: they panic, or they numb out. There is a third option. It's the one Spartan warriors trained for in the arena, the one monks build on cold stone floors, the one David Goggins found somewhere in the middle of a desert ultramarat

Imagine paying thousands of dollars for a luxury cruise. You expect fine dining, entertainment, comfortable rooms and spectacular views. Instead, the engines fail. The electricity disappears. The air conditioning stops working. The toilets stop functioning. Raw sewage begins backing up through the ship. Passengers are forced to sleep on deck, using sheets to create makeshift shelters. This was the reality faced by passengers aboard the Carnival Triumph in 2013, an incident th

There was a time when I struggled to make eye contact with people. As a child, I was so shy that on my first day of school, I hid under a chair. I remember sitting there quietly, watching the room and waiting until it felt safe enough to emerge. For years, I carried that fear with me. Crowded rooms made me uncomfortable. Speaking to strangers felt like a performance. I worried about saying the wrong thing, being judged, or somehow revealing that I wasn't confident enough. The

I was watching the kitchen clock tick down with a zoo full of butterflies threatening to burst out of my stomach at any minute. In truth, I had been looking forward to this expedition for months. Still, it was a mix of excitement and nervousness as I checked my passport for the eighth time. There is something terrifying and also liberating about travel. It is not only that you step out of your usual routine. You burst the bubble of your own reality and step bravely into a new

“The day began like all the rest, a frantic beating in my chest” - Vance Joy Whether it is an upcoming job interview, a first-date or even travelling to a new destination, stress and anxiety can impact everyone in different ways. The effect of stress and anxiety can be significant to our health. The main culprit is the cortisol hormone, which is released in times of high stress. This release is the body’s response to threat or danger as it prepares for action. This response w

There is nothing like a bit of adventure off the beaten path to remind us of the importance of having less. Just last night I was trekking through a dark, tropical backstreet of Seminyak. The light was fading when two mangy dogs let out an ominous howl. The threat came out of nowhere. Safe to say, I immediately did a 180 u-turn and walked a different route. Walking through construction sites, small shacks and streetside vendors, Bali is the most unlikely place where you would

“Life is Suffering. Suffering is real and almost universal. Suffering has many causes: loss, sickness, pain, failure, the impermanence of pleasure” - Four Noble Truths, Buddhist quote This Buddhist quote illuminates a universal truth that life is difficult, tough and transient. The quote reminds us to be grateful when we are not suffering. No doubt, a considerable amount of progress and modernisation occurred before this text. Is it possible that the convenience of modern wes

In my previous post, I discussed the book ’12 Rules for Life’ by Jordan Peterson and the meaning of Rule 1: ‘Standing up straight with your shoulders back’. Jordan Peterson has become a well-known household name across western society with his inspirational lectures that articulate uncomfortable but necessary truths. He is associated with one particularly famous phrase: “Clean up your bedroom” insists Peterson. It has become a popular meme across the internet. On the surface

I recently started reading Jordan Peterson’s 12 Rules for Life: An Antidote to Chaos and one rule particularly resonated with me: “Stand up straight with your shoulders back”. What does that mean exactly? How can that be the most important rule? It sounds so simplistic! Peterson provides the example of crustaceans, particularly crabs, and their patterns of behaviour. As with other animals, these creatures fight for territory, access to food and mating opportunities. Occasiona

In my previous post, I touched on the problems of social media and my resolution to use social media less and connect more in-person....

As 2020 has faded like a bad nightmare and 2021 has started, it is time to start implementing our New Year’s resolution. For myself, my goal is simple – fewer hours on social media and more face-to-face interaction. Throughout the second half of this year, I was transfixed with Instagram and Facebook. Even people I hadn’t seen in years became targets of interest. When lockdown started, it was difficult to talk to people due to mask wearing and social distancing laws, so socia

2020. What a year! As if the controversy of the US election wasn’t enough drama, a little event called the COVID-19 pandemic spread...

There is an old saying that “there is plenty more fish in the sea”. This saying clearly refers to dating, suggesting there are other options available. But what if the number of fish within our oceans was actually declining? Consider these two quotes, one from 1883 and one from 2012: “Any tendency to over-fishing will be meet with its natural check in the diminution of the supply… this check will always come into operation long before anything like permanent exhaustion has oc

There is much debate about what was the true start of the environmental movement. Was it Rachel Carson’s Silent Spring or was it the...

Let me start with a confession: beef and cow’s milk are delicious. Whether it is a steak on the barbecue, beef in a lasagne, pasta topped with mince, or milk blended into a smoothie, these foods have become staples of the Western diet. There is nothing inherently wrong with enjoying them. The problem, as with many things, is excess. Too much ice cream can expand the waistline. Too much beef can expand something less visible: our environmental footprint. Behind the food sittin

It is not surprising that Thailand is one of the most popular destinations in all of South-East Asia. Perfect beaches, friendly locals,...

One of the most unexpected and undiscovered travel destinations of South-East Asia is Vietnam. With it’s amazing street food, French...

With plans for international travel in 2020 looking doubtful (thanks to the COVID-19 pandemic), it may be the time to start planning your...

As fires burn in the Amazon rainforest in Pantanal, Brazil, many experts predict that history is bound to repeat itself, if not more...

As Hurricane Laura begins to impact Louisiana and Texas US, many thousands are facing the prospect of no water and electricity for weeks...

In July of 2018, I made a bold and highly uniformed decision – I decided to travel Japan in the peak of summertime. I had heard rumours of extreme heat and humidity, however looking at weather forecasts it seemed relatively mild. My first destination was Tokyo, a 10 hour flight. I will never forget exiting customs into the train station of Tokyo airport. Images of western products in a confusing font. The unfamiliarity of a non-English language blaring across the speaker sys

As the world struggles to contain coronavirus, a number of positive environmental benefits have emerged from a slowdown in international travel and human movement. Planes have been grounded, car usage has dropped, as staying at home becomes a weapon of reducing the spread of COVID-19 (along with facemasks, testing and good hygiene). A global reduction in travel patterns, not seen since World War 2, offers some interesting insights. Clear skies are appearing across traditiona