I’m Back
When Micheal Jordan returned from the NBA after an extended hiatus his publicity manager was unsure how they should announce the news. So, he wrote a number of press releases for Micheal to choose from. But Jordan didn’t like any of them. He said, “I’ll do it myself.” before picking up a pen and writing … Read more I’m Back
The Ghosts of My Past
My emotions come at me in waves. Often I’m strong enough to withstand them – to hold the ship steady – but every now and then they catch me with my shields down. I’m swept away. That happened the other day when the movers came in to pack everything up. Seeing my whole life packed … Read more The Ghosts of My Past
The Hand We’ve Been Dealt
I want to finish this series of posts on personality I’ve put together over the past couple of months by giving you an analogy. To first recap, there are five major personality traits: extraversion, neuroticism, conscientiousness, openness and agreeableness. Wherever you lie on the spectrum of each trait – whatever the circumstances that shaped you … Read more The Hand We’ve Been Dealt
Agreeableness: The Sacrifice of Self
Agreeableness breaks down into Compassion and Politeness. Compassionate people are the caring, loving types. They are sympathetic towards other people’s feelings and take an active interest in their friends and families lives. Polite people are very careful with their words. They have a deep respect for authority and hate to seem pushy or impose their … Read more Agreeableness: The Sacrifice of Self
Openness: The Gates of Mind
“Openness is seen in the breadth, depth and permeability of consciousness, and in the recurrent need to enlarge and examine experience.” – McCrae & Costa, 1997, p. 826 Openness (which is actually Openness to experience) breaks down into Intellect and Openness. Intellects like grappling with ideas. They love to solve complex problems and debate philosophical … Read more Openness: The Gates of Mind
Conscientiousness: The Ruthless Pursuit of Order.
Of all the interplay between character traits, I find the relationship between conscientiousness and openness the most interesting. The lines are blurred, of course, especially when you break these traits down into their respective aspects, but it appears there is an inverse correlation. This makes sense when you consider that lateral thinking requires taking an … Read more Conscientiousness: The Ruthless Pursuit of Order.
Neuroticism: The Cost of Consciousness
Neuroticism is the trait associated with negative emotions. Of course, it’s probably the one trait you don’t want to score high on because it sucks to feel bad. Naturally, I score moderately high in neuroticism… It’s worth pointing out that all of us are more sensitive to negative emotions. Human beings are neurotic creatures. This is … Read more Neuroticism: The Cost of Consciousness
3-2-1 Flying Fridays
Hello lovely readers and welcome back to 3-2-1 Flying Fridays! The only weekly post that never gives up – even when all hope is lost! Following a 3-2-1 approach, it contains 3 thoughts from me (that you should ignore), 2 quotes from others (that you should read), and 1 joke that’s so bad, it’s good! … Read more 3-2-1 Flying Fridays
Extraversion: The Price of Now
What Is Extraversion? Extraversion breaks down into the following two fundamental aspects: assertiveness and enthusiasm. Those high in assertiveness are the take-charge types. The so-called natural-born leaders. The game-changing alphas. (A valuable trait for a pilot, I might add.) Those high in enthusiasm are talkative and charismatic. They’re the life of the party. The ones who make … Read more Extraversion: The Price of Now
The Big Five Personality Model: An Empirical Tool for Understanding Yourself
The Story of Personality Theory Some 80-plus years ago, researchers embarked on one of the longest (and most boring) projects in human psychology. It started with the idea that people are born with different character traits that remain relatively stable throughout one’s lifetime. Welcome to the idea of personality. To test its validity one researcher – … Read more The Big Five Personality Model: An Empirical Tool for Understanding Yourself
Why Understanding Personality Is Key to Increasing Potential
I recently completed a course on personality theory that I found infinitely fascinating. Today I want to share some thoughts about how this understanding can help us better navigate in the world. You can think of personality as the lens through which we view the world. It functions by filtering the world so we only … Read more Why Understanding Personality Is Key to Increasing Potential
3-2-1 Flying Fridays
Hello lovely readers and welcome back to 3-2-1 Flying Fridays! The only weekly post that has a personality disorder… Following a 3-2-1 approach, it contains 3 thoughts from me (that you should ignore), 2 quotes from others (that you should read), and 1 something special (maybe). As a bonus I’ve finished with one joke that’s … Read more 3-2-1 Flying Fridays
Where We Are Meant To Be
We’re all looking for that Goldilocks position in life. That ultimate purpose specifically suited to our own unique talents and values. Of course, we want to maximise our potential to do the most possible good. This is why many of us have this gnawing sense that the job we’re in isn’t quite right. We feel … Read more Where We Are Meant To Be
3-2-1 Flying Fridays
Hello lovely readers and welcome back to 3-2-1 Flying Fridays! The only weekly post that takes an extended break without telling anyone… (I missed you all too!) Following a 3-2-1 approach, it contains 3 thoughts from me (that you should ignore), 2 quotes from others (that you should read), and 1 something special (maybe). As … Read more 3-2-1 Flying Fridays
A Creative Leave of Absence
So my muse decided to take a holiday recently. He packed his bags and went to Hawaii or somewhere. And I know he’s been sitting in the sun drinking Pina Coladas the whole time. That smug bastard. Now, I should say I told him to take a break. The problem is, I’ve found it hard … Read more A Creative Leave of Absence
Fear-Setting: A powerful exercise for making major life decisions.
Beware Fear Disguised As Optimism. “There’s no difference between a pessimist who says, ‘Oh, it’s hopeless, so don’t bother doing anything,’ and an optimist who says, ‘Don’t bother doing anything, it’s going to turn out fine any way.’ Either way, nothing happens.” — Yvon Chouinard Most of us don’t call fear out for what it … Read more Fear-Setting: A powerful exercise for making major life decisions.
3-2-1 Flying Fridays
Hello lovely readers and welcome back to 3-2-1 Flying Fridays! The only weekly post that believes embracing uncertainty is the only sure way to live… Following a 3-2-1 approach, it contains 3 thoughts from me (that you should ignore), 2 quotes from others (that you should read), and 1 something special (maybe). As a bonus … Read more 3-2-1 Flying Fridays
Why It’s Wrong To Be Right
If you think back to the Middle Ages and compare what we know now to what we thought we knew then, you’ll probably come to the conclusion that we weren’t terribly smart. That most of what we thought we knew about the world was patently wrong. It seems obvious to us now that the earth … Read more Why It’s Wrong To Be Right
3-2-1 Flying Fridays
Hello lovely readers and welcome back to 3-2-1 Flying Fridays! The only weekly post that believes you have to write your thoughts down in order to see them. Following a 3-2-1 approach, it contains 3 thoughts from me (that you should ignore), 2 quotes from others (that you should read), and 1 something special (maybe). … Read more 3-2-1 Flying Fridays
Must We Not Fight for Peace?
“War would end if the dead could return.” — Stanley Baldwin. Just imagine you wake up the following morning to the sound of bombs exploding and artillery firing. The enemy has invaded. You didn’t think it would ever happen, but there you are. Suddenly you’ve been thrown back into the 1940s. Now, what do you do? Do … Read more Must We Not Fight for Peace?
3-2-1 Flying Fridays
Hello lovely readers and welcome back to 3-2-1 Flying Fridays! The only weekly post that believes we must fight for peace. Following a 3-2-1 approach, it contains 3 thoughts from me (that you should ignore), 2 quotes from others (that you should read), and 1 something special (maybe). As a bonus I’ve finished with one … Read more 3-2-1 Flying Fridays
The Two Paths to Wealth
I have two images of wealth in my mind. One looks like what most people envision. A lavish lifestyle, a big plastic mansion, a luxury yacht, 8 sports cars… You get it. Then there is this second image. In this picture, there is a place called home. It’s quaint, rustic. Filled with messy, silly, somewhat annoying … Read more The Two Paths to Wealth
How To Gain a Clear Picture of Your Future Self
I haven’t been myself lately. The unrelenting madness at work over the past couple of years has taken a toll. I decided I needed some time to clear the storm clouds that had gathered inside my mind. I realised I’d been too close to everything at work. So, I called the doc and went on … Read more How To Gain a Clear Picture of Your Future Self
3-2-1 Flying Fridays
Hello lovely readers and welcome back to 3-2-1 Flying Fridays! The only weekly post that is completely unaware of how awesome it is. Following a 3-2-1 approach, it contains 3 thoughts from me (that you should ignore), 2 quotes from others (that you should read), and 1 something special (maybe). As a bonus I’ve finished … Read more 3-2-1 Flying Fridays
3-2-1 Flying Fridays
Hello lovely readers and welcome back to 3-2-1 Flying Fridays! The only weekly post that likes to lift you up before bringing you back down to earth. Following a 3-2-1 approach, it contains 3 thoughts from me (that you should ignore), 2 quotes from others (that you should read), and 1 something special (maybe). As … Read more 3-2-1 Flying Fridays
3-2-1 Flying Fridays
Hello lovely readers and welcome back to 3-2-1 Flying Fridays! The only weekly post that doesn’t know where it’s going. Following a 3-2-1 approach, it contains 3 thoughts from me (that you should ignore), 2 quotes from others (that you should read), and 1 something special (maybe). As a bonus I’ve finished with one joke … Read more 3-2-1 Flying Fridays
Diversion
We don’t always end up where we intended in life. Sometimes, we are made to divert long before reaching our final destination. Other times we may complete the journey only to find the airport is closed on arrival, forcing us to divert at the last moment. Whether it’s some kind of emergency or our own … Read more Diversion
3-2-1 Flying Fridays
Hello lovely readers and welcome back to 3-2-1 Flying Fridays! The only weekly post that believes a meaningless existence is the whole point. Following a 3-2-1 approach, it contains 3 thoughts from me (that you should ignore), 2 quotes from others (that you should read), and 1 something special (maybe). As a bonus I’ve finished … Read more 3-2-1 Flying Fridays
Is This the Meaning of a Meaningless Existence?
Nihilism is a dangerous belief. The inability to make sense of it all leads many to conclude that life is entirely pointless. This, in turn, can lead to the belief that there is little point in trying at anything. Now, I’m not here to debate the existence of a grand creator. (Thank God, I hear you … Read more Is This the Meaning of a Meaningless Existence?
3-2-1 Flying Fridays
Hello lovely readers and welcome back to 3-2-1 Flying Fridays! The only weekly post that enjoys having its head stuck in the clouds… Following a 3-2-1 approach, it contains 3 thoughts from me (that you should ignore), 2 quotes from others (that you should read), and 1 something special (maybe). As a bonus I’ve finished … Read more 3-2-1 Flying Fridays
Stuck in the Clouds: An Aviator’s Guide to Pointless Overthinking
I have a love-hate relationship with thinking. Sometimes, I get in these kinds of flow states where I follow my train of thought – connecting the dots along the way – to an exciting, unexpected destination. When I follow my thoughts in this way, I find it euphoric. I often derive my best writing doing … Read more Stuck in the Clouds: An Aviator’s Guide to Pointless Overthinking
3-2-1 Flying Fridays
Hello lovely readers and welcome back to the Flying Fridays newsletter! The only weekly newsletter that starts the year a week later than everyone else. Following a 3-2-1 approach, it contains 3 thoughts from me (that you should ignore), 2 quotes from others (that you should read), and 1 something special (maybe). As a bonus … Read more 3-2-1 Flying Fridays
A Few of My Favourite Things
I’m curious to know what some of your favourite things are? But also, why are they your favourite things? For example, why is your favourite colour blue? Or why is your favourite band, say, the Beatles? Why is your favourite food strawberry ice cream? Is it just because, or is there a deeper meaning behind those things? … Read more A Few of My Favourite Things
3-2-1 Flying Fridays
Hello lovely readers and welcome back to the Flying Fridays newsletter! The only weekly newsletter that believes wearing a seatbelt is a matter of freedom. Following a 3-2-1 approach, it contains 3 thoughts from me (that you should ignore), 2 quotes from others (that you should read), and 1 something special (maybe). As a bonus … Read more 3-2-1 Flying Fridays
The Sweetie Draw
When I was about 8 years old, my family and I went over to our next-door neighbour’s house for dinner. After dinner, their daughter offered me a sweet for dessert. So, she led me into her room and opened up her “sweetie draw.” What she had done was save her sweets over months and months … Read more The Sweetie Draw
3-2-1 Flying Fridays
Following a 3-2-1 approach, it contains 3 thoughts from me (that you should ignore), 2 quotes from others (that you should read), and 1 something special (maybe). Read more 3-2-1 Flying Fridays
Are You Playing To Win or To Avoid Losing?
Let me ask you a question. When you play a game, when you embark on a project, when you go to work, when you get up in the morning, when you sit down to write, when you make a presentation, when you have to do anything, Are you playing to win or to avoid losing? … Read more Are You Playing To Win or To Avoid Losing?
3-2-1 Flying Fridays!
Hello lovely readers and welcome back to the Flying Fridays newsletter! The only weekly newsletter that laughs when you fall over before helping you back up… Following a 3-2-1 approach, it contains 3 thoughts from me (that you should ignore), 2 quotes from others (that you should read), and 1 something special (maybe). As a … Read more 3-2-1 Flying Fridays!
Escaping the Emotional Rabbit Hole
The Parable of the Second Arrow According to the Buddha, any time we suffer misfortune, two arrows fly our way. The first arrow is the bad event itself, which certainly can (and often does) cause pain. The second arrow is our reaction to the bad event, the suffering we attach to our pain. This secondary pain, he tells us, is … Read more Escaping the Emotional Rabbit Hole
3-2-1 Flying Fridays!
My weekly newsletter! Following a 3-2-1 approach, it contains 3 thoughts from me (that you should ignore), 2 quotes from others (that you should read), and 1 something special (maybe). Read more 3-2-1 Flying Fridays!
The 3-2-1 Friday Flyer
Hello lovely readers and welcome back to my weekly newsletter! The only newsletter that reminds which direction earth is whenever you’re up looking at the stars… Following a 3-2-1 approach, it contains 3 thoughts from me (that you should ignore), 2 quotes from others (that you should read), and 1 something special (maybe). Let’s begin! … Read more The 3-2-1 Friday Flyer
The Friday Flyer
My weekly Friday Flyer! Following a 3-2-1 approach, it contains 3 thoughts from me (that you should ignore), 2 quotes from others (that you should read), and 1 something extra special (maybe)…Read more The Friday Flyer
Grounded
In aviation we have a term called AOG that means Aircraft on Ground. It refers to a plane that can’t fly because of a technical issue. We might also say a pilot is grounded because of a disciplinary issue, or that passengers are grounded because of weather. In all cases, the term indicates an inability to fly. … Read more Grounded
Why I Write
The seeds of doubt were planted at a young age. I can’t tell you exactly when, but I know it started in childhood. I was lead to believe I wasn’t capable, that I would struggle in this life. In particular, concerns surrounded my abilities in English. At first, my parents worried that I had a … Read more Why I Write
4 Ways To Practise Safe Sex Blogging
I’m afraid that the time has come. Now that I’ve been blogging for over a year – now I’ve officially entered my blogging adolescence – it’s imperative we have “that chat.” You see, one’s blogging adolescence is a perilous time. It’s a time when you think you know everything there is, when you think you’re God’s greatest gift on … Read more 4 Ways To Practise Safe Sex Blogging
3-2-1 Mindset Mondays
My weekly newsletter! Following a 3-2-1 approach, it contains 3 thoughts from me (that you should ignore), 2 quotes from others (that you should read), and 1 thing I’ve been reading, watching or listening to this week that has helped me grow!Read more 3-2-1 Mindset Mondays
Finding Life Balance Using the Four Forces of Flight
What the laws of aerodynamics can teach us about maintaining life balance.Read more Finding Life Balance Using the Four Forces of Flight
3-2-1 Mindset Mondays
Following a 3-2-1 approach, it contains 3 thoughts from me (that you should ignore), 2 quotes from others (that you should read), and 1 thing I’ve been reading, watching or listening to this week that has helped me grow.Read more 3-2-1 Mindset Mondays
Why You Shouldn’t Hope for the Best
“Misfortune weighs most heavily on those who expect nothing but good fortune.” – SENECA Have you ever noticed how we’re taught that our wants and desires have everything to do with our suffering, yet we’re also taught to “live in hope”? Have you ever stopped to consider how these messages might muddy the waters? You … Read more Why You Shouldn’t Hope for the Best
3-2-1 Mindset Mondays
Hello lovely readers and welcome back to Mindset Mondays! The only weekly post that believes balance can only be found in outer space… Following a 3-2-1 approach, it contains 3 thoughts from me (that you should ignore), 2 quotes from others (that you should read), and 1 thing I’ve been reading, watching or listening to … Read more 3-2-1 Mindset Mondays
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Clear Air Turbulence 