Personal Change

One Year On. How Fatherhood Has Changed My Life.

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It is hard to believe that a year has passed since the most nerve-wracking, yet exciting and wonderful, moment in my life. It was a moment that seemed to take forever to arrive (in addition to the standard 9 months, Kathryn went 2 weeks overdue), but when it did I knew that my life would never be the same again. And I couldn’t have been happier….

In this article I want to share with you how fatherhood has changed my life. Although this is a very personal article, I believe there are many lessons that anyone can take away from my story. The realization that I was to be a father was a catalyst for change in my life, but I am sure there are a number of different paths people can take to the outlook I have today.

50 Tips From My Year of Change

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year of change

This has been a major year of change in my life – I became a father for the first time in February, I began blogging in April, I relocated from Australia to Canada in July, and I started a new job in November. Along the way I have picked up a variety of tips that I have incorporated into my daily routine to make life happier, healthier, and more productive. Here are 50 of my favourites:

1. Start with the fundamentals: if you want to live a great life, start by getting the fundamentals right. Examples of what I consider the “fundamentals” include an open mind and a willingness to change. If you would like to read more, check out my article 30 Fundamentals of a Wonderful Life (it was one of my most popular in 2007).

The Importance of Setting Life Reminders

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If I could kick myself in the ass right now, I would. Last night on my way home from the driving range I was caught for speeding and issued a nasty fine (like golf isn’t expensive enough already…). Unlike my experience in If You Want To Change, Tell the Truth, I was never in any doubt that this was anything but my own fault. I strongly agree with the principle that people should drive within the speed limits, and I put this down to a lapse in concentration. What really annoys me, though, is the fact that this is something I vowed I would never do again after the last time.

The last time was a few years ago, but I still remember it very clearly. I also distinctly remember the following weeks where the care I took driving could have had me nominated for a “Driver of the Year” award. But as these weeks turned into months, I slowly returned to a more “normal” way of driving (still predominantly safe – just more relaxed and, therefore, prone to occasional lapses in concentration).

If You Want to Change, Tell The Truth

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tell the truth

So I went to a job interview last week and, to be honest, it didn’t go well. What I found interesting, though, was in the aftermath of the interview my mind was on overdrive. And by paying particular attention to these thoughts rushing through my head I noticed something: I wanted so badly to blame external factors for the way the interview went. I wanted to blame the public transport for making me 5 minutes late. I wanted to blame the interviewer’s wooden demeanor for the uncomfortable atmosphere in the interview. I wanted to blame the unusual interview questions that had me on the back foot trying desperately to recall some specific example from past.

By the time I got home from the interview my mind had settled somewhat. Whilst in the bathroom, I paused for a moment and stared at my reflection in the mirror. It was then that I said to myself: you sucked. That was it. That was the brutal, honest truth. I went to the interview under-prepared and the famous Benjamin Franklin quote came true: “By failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail.”

Wake Up Calls

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Every so often an event occurs that drops-kicks us into consciousness and forces us to reflect on the way we are living our lives. These events may occur on the world stage – September 11, Hurricane Katrina, the Tsunami in Southeast Asia – or they may occur on a more personal level – health problems, the death of a loved one, trouble with the law.

It can be very hard, if not impossible, to look at wake up calls in a positive light. Many people died in the tragedies of September 11, Hurricane Katrina and the Southeast Asian Tsunami leaving behind thousands of distraught loved ones. Personal wake up calls, such as health problems and trouble with the law, typically cause us immense pain and difficulty.

50 Ways to Change Your Life

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This article is based on the idea that one change – whether it be a new idea, decision or habit – can be enough to completely change your life. That’s because small changes, with time, can snowball into something much, much greater.

In this article I have drawn from both my own experience and the many personal development books I have read to give you 50 of the best ways to change your life.

How Becoming a Dad Changed My Life

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I found out I was going to be a dad on my 24th birthday. At the time this is the last thing in the world that I wanted. Despite being in a loving relationship, I did not want a kid because I felt too young, I didn’t want the financial burden and I wanted to do more travel.

At the time of writing this, my son Xavier is 8 weeks old. I can honestly say there has not been a bigger moment in my life than seeing my son for the first time. He is an absolute joy, and seeing his smiling face can wipe away the worries of the world in an instant.

Changing Your Life: An Introduction

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I must admit, as I begin the creation of this site I have a million and one ideas rushing around my head. So where to start? Well I guess a good place would be to look a bit closer at the idea of “changing your life”.

Peoples lives change constantly. They change in ways big and small. They change in ways good and bad. If there is one certainty in life, its the fact that you will change in numerous ways throughout your life. In short, change is unavoidable.

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