Manifesto Musings

Over recent months, I’ve become increasingly interested in what it means to develop a more compassionate relationship with time. Not time as a resource to manage or a puzzle to optimise, but time as something deeply human – a rhythm we live within, a companion in our search for meaning, wisdom, and balance. This curiosity… Read More

We have just completed a webinar series with a primary school principal’s cohort in NSW. What an experience! Justin and I are like the Cheshire Cat with grins from ear to ear. The reason is simply this: in this series, we have fulfilled an instance of our jointly held vision of servant leadership. We have… Read More

In Blog #177, we explored the simple but powerful habit of asking yourself, “Am I sure?” Since then, several of our manifesto mates have shared how valuable they’ve found this question – while others have asked for a deeper dive into its purpose. So, let’s revisit the idea and unpack why it can be such… Read More

I have had occasion to reflect upon my Signature Character Strengths again this week. When I joined Toastmasters International over two years ago – to retain my confidence in the public arena after retiring from classroom teaching — I decided to deliver my Ice Breaker speech focusing on my Signature Character Strengths. I entitled it,… Read More

Altruism is a big word for a simple, very human impulse: helping someone else without expecting anything in return. It’s a cousin of kindness and caring, but not quite the same. Kindness is often about warmth in action – offering a smile, holding the door, sharing a meal. Caring can be ongoing – tending to… Read More

I allow myself the right to construct the meanings by which I live – Sue’s personal manifesto. To some, this statement might be alarming. What do I mean? Am I seriously suggesting we open the floodgates to everyone – including the ‘crackpots’, the seriously misguided and the narcissists – to construct and act upon their… Read More

Once a month I attend a Peace Meditation group with some neighbours whose mission is, at its most simple and profound, to meditate on the notion of world peace. It is a group without any other agenda and is secular and inclusive. We each are invited to lead the reflection in turn. My turn is… Read More

I confess that I was an ardent adherent of Jane Fonda in the days of her workout tapes – so much so that my first-born son reckons they were the soundtrack of his childhood! All silliness aside, she was one of the strong women in my young womanhood, who stood for something, and ‘Hanoi Jane’… Read More

Even though with your copy of our book, My Manifesto: a compassionate guide to reveal your best life, you are self-coaching, I propose asking yourself these additional questions along the way. A word of caution though: do not ask them of yourself when you are feeling low-spirited. It is important as a coach, with a… Read More