Have you ever entered the doldrums? Not the literal doldrums—the tedious places at sea where winds are few and sailors struggled to escape. I mean those times in life when nothing at all feels interesting.
Death Anxiety & Change in Life
During my regular comedy talk about anxiety there’s an important moment: the first time I mention my experience of suicidality.
A hush usually falls on the room, in sharp contrast to the earlier laughter.
BOOK SALE: 16 March – 22 March
Both Walking on Custard and The Shop Before Life are on sale between Monday 16 March and Sunday 22 March.
During this time the UK/US Kindle versions are available for just £0.99 / $0.99
Click here to get Walking on Custard for just 0.99
and click here to get The Shop…
Making Good Choices
Making good choices is hard. In fact, there’s only one thing I hate more than not having any choice, and that’s having to make one at all.
How to Be Happy By Understanding Instrumental Values
You could make a strong argument that the universe is poorly designed.
Don’t get me wrong, I doubt I could do a better job. But, due to what appears to be a mistake in the grand universal design, nothing is purely, unequivocally good. There’s always a trade-off.
Be Careful What You Wish For: Lessons from an Unusual Opportunity
Wishes are dangerous. So every fairy tale tells us. The genie will grant your desires… but too literally. The monkey paw will give you what you want… but with an evil twist. And, just when you think you’re safe, the magic lemming steals your fruit in the night.
It’s Okay to Be Bad at Things
“If a thing is worth doing, it is worth doing badly.” – G. K. Chesterton
Last week I was overcome with paralyzing guilt after slightly miscooking a sausage sandwich.
Don’t worry—the sandwich was delicious. But even as I was putting it together, a critical internal voice was opining that the pan had…
Doing Things The Stupidest Possible Way
Earlier this year an email newsletter inspired me with a new motto:
“I’m only doing easy things from now on”.
How to Have No Regrets
Once upon a time, my parents took me to the zoo. This day is full of memories which have stuck with me ever since—the sunshine, the excitement, the ice cream… even holding hands with my dad, watching eagerly as he unfolded the map.
One of the sharpest and most vivid memories is of…
When Every Day Is The Same… Make Each Day A Little Better
Last year, life was tedious. It was like my own personal Groundhog Day, except I actually got older and I barely learned anything. Each day was the same: I awoke, I worked in my little office, I slept.
And repeat.