Ep. 40 - Reflecting on COVID times

This is a bittersweet episode, because – well – after 72 episodes over 4.5 years and with 30,000 listens in almost 200 countries, this is the final episode of The Lonely Diplomat podcast. But don’t despair! The podcast, the blog and the products and services for you and all those who live the diplomatic life will still be available to support you. My team and I have started something wonderful called HUMANS:Connecting, and we’d like to invite you to be a part of it. Website: https://www.thelonelydiplomat.com Be supported through your loneliness: https://www.thelonelydiplomat.com/products Buy me a coffee to say thanks for the episode: https://bit.ly/3nDMrZm See you at HUMANS:Connecting: https://www.humansconnecting.org

What do you do when you’re experiencing one of life’s challenges? Do you acknowledge it and work through it or do you just push through? When it comes to loneliness, just pushing through comes at a terrible cost and you’re paying it blindly. Let’s talk about the pitfalls of your all-too-common strategy in this final episode of this season of The Lonely Diplomat podcast. Website: https://www.thelonelydiplomat.com Get my help through your loneliness: https://www.thelonelydiplomat.com/services Buy me a coffee to say thanks for the episode: https://bit.ly/3nDMrZm Join the mailing list: https://www.thelonelydiplomat.com/subscribe

If it’s not already clear: I’m Phil. I’m gay and I get lonely. I come out as gay all the time. I also come out as lonely all the time. Coming out as lonely is tough. It’s often far easier for me to come out as gay than it is to come out as lonely. Let’s talk about coming out as lonely as the only way to break loneliness’ hold on your thoughts and behaviours. Website: https://www.thelonelydiplomat.com Get my help through your loneliness: https://www.thelonelydiplomat.com/services Buy me a coffee to say thanks for the episode: https://bit.ly/3nDMrZm Join the mailing list: https://www.thelonelydiplomat.com/subscribe

This sounds a bit weird, but the connection you need and deserve: the soul-nourishing, toe-curling connection you need and deserve is waiting for you. All you need to do is to accept your loneliness and learn from it. Let’s talk about how you can do that. Website: https://www.thelonelydiplomat.com Get my help through your loneliness: https://www.thelonelydiplomat.com/services Buy me a coffee to say thanks for the episode: https://bit.ly/3nDMrZm Join the mailing list: https://www.thelonelydiplomat.com/subscribe

Stop competing against other people’s loneliness. Or, in other words, stop comparing your loneliness to anyone else’s. All you’re doing is manufacturing evidence that the loneliness you’re experiencing isn’t THAT bad and you can go on figuring it out by yourself. My friend: this episode can change your life. Website: https://www.thelonelydiplomat.com Get my help through your loneliness: https://www.thelonelydiplomat.com/services Buy me a coffee to say thanks for the episode: https://bit.ly/3nDMrZm Join the mailing list: https://www.thelonelydiplomat.com/subscribe

The thoughts and feelings of loneliness can make you feel like you’re a broken human. But I know this to be true: loneliness doesn’t make you a broken, failed human. It makes you gloriously human. Let’s talk about that in this short episode that’s designed to give your mind, your heart and your soul a quick connection boost as you – a human who’s a diplomat or lives the diplomatic life – go about your day. Website: https://www.thelonelydiplomat.com Get my help through your loneliness: https://www.thelonelydiplomat.com/services Buy me a coffee to say thanks for the episode: https://bit.ly/3nDMrZm Join the mailing list: https://www.thelonelydiplomat.com/subscribe

We’re exploring a tough topic in this episode: we’re exploring that awful kind of loneliness we humans can get when we’re in an abusive relationship. In any relationship that’s abusive. At home, at work. Join me for episode 66 of The Lonely Diplomat podcast and let’s talk about the hidden abuse in diplomacy. Website: https://www.thelonelydiplomat.com Get my help through your loneliness: https://www.thelonelydiplomat.com/services Buy me a coffee to say thanks for the episode: https://bit.ly/3nDMrZm Articles mentioned in this episode: Sydney Morning Herald: https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/end-slavery-in-canberra-embassies-salvation-army-20180803-p4zvfc.html 4 Corners: https://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-02-12/domestic-staff-inside-canberra-embassies-being-exploited/9418920 Australian Human Rights Commission: https://humanrights.gov.au/our-work/employers/workplace-discrimination-harassment-and-bullying Join the mailing list: https://www.thelonelydiplomat.com/subscribe

I’m very visual, so I often think of loneliness as a pool. There are many ways to enter the pool, but once you’re in, you’re in. How did you enter the loneliness pool? How did you find yourself experiencing loneliness? Let’s have a quick chat about that. Join me now for episode 65 of The Lonely Diplomat podcast and let’s talk about your loneliness as you live your diplomatic life. Website: https://www.thelonelydiplomat.com Get my help through your loneliness: https://www.thelonelydiplomat.com/services Buy me a coffee to say thanks for the episode: https://bit.ly/3nDMrZm Join the mailing list: https://www.thelonelydiplomat.com/subscribe

Grown-ups, it’s time to listen. It’s time to listen to those smart, engaged and observant young people in our lives like 16-year-old Toby who also live the diplomatic life. Listen to what the young people are saying. Listen to what they’re not saying. Listen to what they’re trying to say without getting anyone in trouble. Listen to those who witness and live everything but have no voice. Simply listen. Join me and the wonderful Toby for episode 64 of The Lonely Diplomat podcast and let’s talk about the highs and lows of being a diplobrat. Website: https://www.thelonelydiplomat.com Get my help through your loneliness: https://www.thelonelydiplomat.com/services Buy me a coffee to say thanks for the episode: https://bit.ly/3nDMrZm Toby’s Discord for teenage diplobrats: https://discord.gg/Sk2BH8vN Join the mailing list: https://www.thelonelydiplomat.com/subscribe

During your diplomatic life, you’ve likely encountered the demands of diplomacy on your relationships, be those relationships those with your family, your friends OR your significant others. Let’s talk about how these demands can feed your loneliness. Join me now for episode 64 of The Lonely Diplomat podcast and let’s talk about your loneliness as you live your diplomatic life. Website: https://www.thelonelydiplomat.com Get my help through your loneliness: https://www.thelonelydiplomat.com/services Buy me a coffee to say thanks for the episode: https://bit.ly/3nDMrZm Join the mailing list: https://www.thelonelydiplomat.com/subscribe