Paths
Your Paths
A Guide For Your Deep Life Journey
Every life journey is unique. No two paths are exactly alike, as each of us lives through a distinct set of experiences. Recognising this, it’s not possible—or even desirable—to prescribe a one-size-fits-all approach. What works for someone, may not work for another.
Instead, what’s offered here is an approach, or guide, you can tailor to your own life. This guide comprises three core elements:
A Philosophy: Principles to intentionally seek a deeper life.
A Framework: Fundamentals for a balanced journey.
Strategies: Tools to cultivate and sustain your path.
Begin your search for a deeper life here, shaping your journey in the way that means the most to you.
A Philosophy Of A Deep Life
Principles to Intentionally Seek a Deeper Life
Philosophy
The quest for a deep life isn't new. Over two thousand years ago, the Ancient Greeks began this journey of contemplation. As we start our journey, we can look to the wisdom of the past, specifically the ancient philosophy of Stoicism, for guidance. Stoicism is defined as a tool for self-mastery, perseverance, and wisdom.
At its core, Stoicism advocates for action to meet life’s challenges through four virtues: Courage, Temperance, Justice (now also understood as Ethics), and Wisdom. Adding Compassion to these classical virtues broadens our approach towards living a more meaningful life.
Courage
One of the great Stoics, Seneca, pitied those who never faced adversity in life. You have passed through life without an opponent. No-one can ever know what you are capable of, not even you.”
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Stoicism recognises that suffering is unavoidable in life. It teaches us that life’s inevitable hardships are opportunities for learning and growth. The courage to confront and reinterpret a challenge or setback is an essential skill in developing the resiliency and adaptability to navigate life.
Temperance
Temperance, or moderation, ensures that courage doesn't veer into recklessness.
We can also think of temperance as balance and discipline in all actions, with Aristotle’s famous words being relevant here.
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“We are what we repeatedly do; excellence, then, is not an act but a habit,”
Temperance calls for good habits and well-structured daily routines, laying the groundwork for a life of substance.
Justice
Justice—or Ethics, in contemporary terms—embodies moral integrity;
doing the right thing. Roman emperor, Marcus Aurelius, saw it as foundational to virtue, saying
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“Justice is the source of all the other virtues.”
In today's context, Ethics requires combining the other three virtues of courage, temperance, and wisdom, guiding us to speak up, act thoughtfully, and take the right kinds of risks in a complex world.
Wisdom
Wisdom is the knowing and learning, accumulated over a lifetime. It’s also about the right knowledge; urging us to remain open-minded and discerning in our quest for knowledge. As Epictetus, born into slavery,
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said:
“You cannot learn that which you think you already know.”
The world is complex and nuanced. Stoics challenge us to embrace this complexity, seek different viewpoints, and apply our learnings wisely.
Compassion
Compassion expands the inward-focused virtues of Stoicism outward, bridging the self with the broader community. It involves not just feeling empathy towards others’ suffering but also actively seeking
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to alleviate it, recognising the importance of contribution and service to enhance the lives of others.
Compassion acknowledges our interconnectedness and the fulfillment derived from contributing to the wellbeing of the community and the practice of self-compassion—accepting what cannot be changed, letting go of past grievances or worries about the future, and being present in the here and now to experience the joy of life.
Our Path
Our journey towards a deeper life is illuminated by wisdom from the past to the present, encouraging us to live with purpose and insight. These principles or virtues are not prescriptive but a starting
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point for personalisation. Adapt and adopt these guiding principles as you create your own path toward a life of depth and meaning.
With these in place, we can explore a framework for living a deep life in a balanced way.
A Framework For Living A Deep Life
Fundamentals for a Balanced Journey.
Framework
Foundation
Intention, Balance, and Cultivation are the foundations of a deep life, and indeed, they are the foundations of Deep Life Journey. Let’s look at each:
Intention
Definition: a thing intended; an aim, plan or purpose.
In practice: Life’s richness begins with purposeful choices. Every choice is a building block of your future. Live deliberately, making decisions that resonate with your deepest values, guiding your journey with intention.
Balance
Definition: a state of equilibrium; harmony in the parts of a whole.
In practice: Harmony across life’s domains is essential. Nurture all aspects of your being—personal, professional, and spiritual—for a well-rounded and fulfilling existence.
Cultivation
Definition: the process of trying to acquire or develop a quality or skill.
In practice: Like the ancients who built lasting monuments, invest in growing your talents,relationships, and passions. Patience and persistence produce a life rich in meaning and achievement.
With these three crucial foundations in place—Intention, Balance, and Cultivation—we can build five specific pillars on top. We call these the Five Cs.
Framework
Pillars The Five Cs
Community | Craft | Constitution | Contemplation | Celebration
Introducing the Five Cs, a framework for a deeper life inspired by the work of Cal Newport, author of Slow Productivity, Deep Work and Digital Minimalism. Combined with Identity Habits and a lifestyle-centric approach, they offer a powerful approach to living with purpose and possibility.
These five pillars provide a path to a fulfilling life by focusing on meaningful relationships, personal growth, wellbeing, self-reflection, and moments of joy. Experience the transformative power of the Five Cs for yourself by creating your version of them.
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![Community]()
Community
Nurture meaningful relationships with those who matter most. Support and inspire others through genuine connections in your community. Volunteer and give your time to help others.
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![Craft]()
Craft
Continuously develop your skills and expertise in your chosen field or passions. Strive for autonomy and mastery.
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![Constitution]()
Constitution
Prioritise your physical, mental, and financial wellbeing. Make choices that maximise your overall health for a sound mind and body.
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![Contemplation]()
Contemplation
Embrace lifelong learning and personal growth. Cultivate deep thinking, reflection, and exploration to broaden your worldview.
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Celebration
Do the activities that bring you joy simply for the love of doing them. Practice gratitude and appreciation as you cherish life’s precious moments.
Strive For Balance Across All Five Pillars
In the pursuit of a fulfilling life, it’s important to find balance across all five pillars. Focusing solely on one pillar, especially the career aspect within the Craft pillar, often leads to regret.
The key lies in recognising the importance of each pillar and resisting the lure of worldly desires for power, material possessions, and fame. These external motivations rarely bring lasting satisfaction. While it may be challenging to overcome our evolutionary instincts, self-awareness serves as a vital starting point.
As social psychologist Arthur C. Brooks aptly puts it, "Happy people love people and use things; unhappy people use people and love things."
Build Identity Habits Across The Pillars
With our Five Cs in place, we can construct what I like to call 'identity habits.' Unlike typical habits, which are about doing, identity habits are about becoming. They’re deeply ingrained routines that align with and reinforce the person you want to be.
Begin with small, manageable actions. Take, for example, the habit of reading for 15 minutes each day. This seemingly simple act not only promotes the habit of reading but also strengthens your identity as a reader.
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Think of identity habits as the compound interest of self-improvement. Their effects might not be immediately apparent, but just like compound interest, their impact can be profound over time. This is why your focus should be on creating a robust system to enable these habits, rather than simply chasing the end goals. The adage holds true: you don't rise to the level of your goals; you fall to the level of your systems.
To build effective identity habits, make them obvious, attractive, easy, and satisfying. See the running example below. Each of these elements contributes to the overall impact and longevity of the habit. The ultimate objective is to get satisfaction from the habit itself, as this reinforces your commitment and leads to long-lasting change.
The great thing about habits is they don’t restrict freedom, they create it. Habits help make the fundamentals of life easier so you can create the mental space for free thinking and creativity.
An Example: Building Identity Habits For Running
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Make It Obvious
Don’t hide your running gear in your wardrobe, leave it out before you go to bed.
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Make It Attractive
Run in an area you enjoy, like a local park or by the beach.
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Make It Easy
Don’t create needless friction by getting caught up in complex programs or goals, just run!
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Make It Satisfying
If you liked the area where you ran, you’ll enjoy the experience of running there and you’ll feel healthier as a result.
Dedicate A Month To One Of The Pillars
True insights are gained through actions. Too often we read things in a book without doing the action itself. By dedicating a month to focus on one pillar at a time, you gather valuable data that reveals what truly matters and what doesn’t.
In this process, you become a life designer, constantly iterating, reshaping, talking to people, and taking tangible steps forward. This approach fosters a more comprehensive understanding of yourself, while building knowledge and self-awareness.
Repeat this practice for each pillar, consistently embracing the power of action to uncover the insights of self-discovery and personal growth.
Strategies For Cultivating A Deep Life
Tools to Build and Sustain Your Path.
Strategy
Vision
Embrace A Lifestyle-Centric Approach
Begin with the future in mind. Imagine your ideal version of a Deep Life and reverse-engineer your path by embracing a lifestyle-centric approach.
Envision your life five or ten years from now. Explore this from every perspective.
Where do you see yourself living?
What kind of work brings you fulfillment?
What kind of pace do you want to work at?
Who are the significant people in your life?
Cultivate a genuine sense of the life you desire—one that is rich in meaning and fulfillment. This is the essence of lifestyle-centric planning.
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To help you, tap into the wisdom of Ikigai, the Japanese concept of “reason for being,” to illuminate your path. Ikigai lies at the intersection of four quadrants:
What you love.
What you are good at.
What the world needs.
What you can be rewarded for.
Ikigai is found when these elements harmoniously converge, leading to a life of fulfillment, purpose, and meaning. Find your ikigai.
Then, once you have a clear vision, work backward from there, harnessing the pillars and identity habits. This systematic approach empowers you to make significant, transformative changes. It's a deliberate journey towards a Deep Life, where each step is intentional and purposeful.
Strategy
Strengths
Identify And Use Your Unique Talents
Conventional wisdom suggests that growth comes from addressing our weaknesses. However, focusing on our strengths can lead to faster growth, greater happiness, reduced stress, increased confidence, and more meaningful work.
Many people don’t use their strengths daily, missing out on significant benefits. Understanding and using your strengths involves recognising the equation:
Strengths = Talent x Investment
Talent is innate, formed early in life, while Investment involves deliberate practice, developing skills and knowledge. Talents, often misunderstood as static gifts, require nurturing to transform into strengths.
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In my coaching practice, clients take the Gallup CliftonStrengths test to identify their top five strengths among 34 themes. This proven method helps clients understand and harness their natural talents for breakthroughs in thinking and decision-making, leading to new insights and sustained growth.
Here are five additional ways to further develop your strengths:
Find a Mentor: Seek guidance from experienced individuals in your field.
Take a Class: Online courses are available on almost any subject.
Network: Build contacts and learn from those who excel in your areas of strength.
Teach Others: Teaching reinforces your own learning.
Develop Related Skills: Complementary skills can enhance your primary strengths.
Once you’ve identified your strengths, own them. Use them consistently across your work and life to cultivate a more fulfilling experience.
Strategy
Life
Adopt Slow Productivity For a Meaningful Life
Coined by Cal Newport in his book Slow Productivity: The Lost Art of Accomplishment Without Burnout, slow productivity encourages a deliberate and mindful approach to work-life balance.
In a world dominated by hustle culture and speed, many feel drained and on the brink of burnout. Common advice to “do less” often falls short. Slow productivity offers a more nuanced solution.
We can challenge the notion that productivity equals constant activity and rapid output. Instead, we can shift our mindset to a ‘slower’ approach, emphasising three core principles:
Do Fewer Things.
Work At Your Natural Pace.
Obsess Over Quality.
By embracing these principles, we can cultivate calm, clarity, and creativity in our work and lives, tapping into our natural rhythms. Slow productivity still acknowledges our inherent desire to do meaningful work, which brings deep satisfaction.
Slow productivity aligns with our evolutionary biology, mirroring our ancestors’ focus on one task at a time, in sync with nature’s cycles. It realigns our work rhythm with cognitive and psychological needs, shifting focus from short-term gains to long-term success.
Adopting slow productivity elevates work quality and leads to a deeper, less frenetic life, achieving more of what truly matters. This path inspired me to create Deep Life Journey.
As you reflect on your journey so far, and the many paths ahead of you, consider if now is the time to embrace a slower, yet still meaningful, way of living and working.
