Hey there Reader,
When I was a teenager, my dad used to say, “Just wait until you get into the real world.” He meant it as a kind of correction: that sooner or later, life would prove itself harsh, complicated, and not nearly as accommodating as I seemed to think. The “real world,” in his eyes, was something you had to toughen up for.
But lately, I’ve been wondering if that definition still holds.
Because if the “real world” once meant resistance and limits, it’s starting to look very different.
In an article called What Can Artificial Intelligence Teach Us About Human Love? by Sahar Habib Ghazi, it describes how in 17 out of 23 studies, people formed emotionally rich and psychologically meaningful relationships with AI companions even though they knew the connection wasn’t authentic or reciprocated. The reason? Their digital partners were always available, always consistent, and never judgmental.
It made me wonder: has the “real world” actually shifted too far in the opposite direction? So much of modern life — our phones, our feeds, our algorithms, our new AI tools — is built around availability and accommodation. We no longer meet much friction. Even loneliness can now be met by something endlessly patient on a screen.
And that has me thinking about coaching. Because a coaching conversation isn’t like an algorithmic one. It’s not there to agree or soothe. It’s not relentlessly available. Coaching is real because it involves two people showing up, uncertain, curious, and willing to be changed. It’s not frictionless. It’s alive.
So maybe the “real world” my dad warned me about hasn’t disappeared, but it’s changing shape. Maybe the challenge now isn’t hardness, but softness — not scarcity, but excess.
And the work is to find meaning inside that abundance.
🔬Tiny experiment
Notice the moments this week when you reach for something simply because it’s available — a screen, a message, a habit of scrolling — and pause instead. Ask yourself: What am I actually looking for right now? See what happens if you stay with the question instead of filling the space.
đź“ť Journal prompt
When has resistance or friction taught you something essential about yourself?
And where might too much ease be dulling your growth?
đź’Ś Reader reflections: Your experiments, your insights
Did anything surprise you when you paused before reaching for the easiest option? Hit reply and tell me about it.
I may share your reflection (anonymously if you prefer) in a future newsletter so we can keep learning together.
đź“š Club corner
This month in The Good Life Book Club we’re reading The Book of Alchemy by Suleika Jaouad — a reminder that transformation begins with active engagement.
👉 Click to join the book club here - You’ll get a reading guide, weekly prompts and end of month tiny experiment challenge to help you dive in.
Note: November is our final book before the club takes its scheduled seasonal break and returns in February 2026.
🌱 Step into more
If you’re ready to work with real, human growth — not automation or autopilot — coaching can help you do that.
🌱 Flourish— 6 sessions to work on one pillar of wellbeing — Positive Emotions, Engagement, Relationships, Meaning, or Accomplishment — with practical tools and sustainable habits.
🌱 Life Beyond the Checkbox: Self Discovery — a 9-week journey to reconnect with your identity, values, and purpose.
🌱 Life Beyond the Checkbox: Life by Design — a 6-month coaching partnership to help you create a sustainable, joy-filled life aligned with what matters most.
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🌱 Not sure what you need yet? → Start with a free 30 minute conversation.