How It Works

My approach to expat support combines three key elements:

- Clarity. As Paul Arden put it: “Your vision of where or who you want to be is the greatest asset you have. Without having a goal, it’s difficult to score.” Without a clear purpose, clear goals, and a clear understanding of who you are, you can waste a whole lot of time, energy and effort – and still not get where you want to be.

Or you could end up going nowhere at all, paralysed by indecision, uncertainty and lack of self-knowledge.

So the first step is to clarify, clarify and clarify some more – until we have such a crisp, vivid picture of what you want and how to get there that you cannot wait to get going.

- Emotions. As you may have noticed since you moved overseas, it’s hard to accomplish much of anything when you are emotionally overwhelmed. How can you possibly enjoy life and go after your goals when you’re feeling worried, homesick and lonely?

This is why clarity and knowledge alone are not enough – in order to move forward, you need to work on those pesky, negative, limiting emotions and learn how to get out of your own way.

- Focus. Funny how everything seems to take more time, more energy and more effort when you’re abroad. No wonder you end up scatterbrained, feeling drained and losing sight of what matters most to you. I call this the Expat Drift and it happens to all of us.

What you need to overcome these hurdles is a plan, a structure to guide you, and an accountability system to make sure that you stick to the plan. In other words, you need focus.

If you’re missing even one of these pieces, it’s hard to get moving in the right direction.
But when you bring these three elements together, you begin to feel more relaxed, grounded and confident, and you’re well on your way to start thriving in your life abroad.

If this makes sense to you – and more importantly, if it sounds like it would help you in your life overseas – start by subscribing to the free newsletter for practical expat tips and resources, delivered straight to your inbox.

Not sure if expat support is what you need? Click here to find out more.