What's going well?
What do you enjoy, appreciate and want to keep in your life?
Martin Rothery · Living
How Living works
You might have something you want to change, an idea you'd love to pursue, or a feeling that it's time to take another look at your life. Living gives you somewhere to begin, and practical ways to carry on.
You can begin without an account.
Before we get into the details
What would you like more of in your life?
I've spent nearly four decades working with people. One thing I've learned is that everyone has their own ideas about what makes life worth living.
You might want to improve a relationship, find different work, make more time for something you enjoy, or think seriously about the years ahead.
Living gives you questions, practical ways to examine your circumstances, and somewhere to keep your own thinking. You can begin for free and decide how much further you want to go.
What's getting in the way?
Is there something making life harder than it needs to be?
What would you love to do?
Something you've been putting off, talking yourself out of or waiting to find time for?
Wondering whether Living is for you?
There are all sorts of reasons to take a look.
You could be facing a difficult decision, feeling stuck with something, trying to improve a relationship or looking for ways to enjoy life more.
We've put together some examples of the situations, ambitions and everyday questions Living can help you explore.
See what Living can help with
A good place to begin
Let's do a Stock Take.
The Stock Take gives you a chance to look properly at the different things that make up your life.
There are seventeen areas covering work, relationships, health, money, enjoyment, confidence and much more. You choose what you want to explore.
Answer in your own words, consider a couple of practical possibilities and decide whether there's something you'd like to try.
You can print your results and keep them. No registration, email or payment is required.
Begin your free Stock TakeYour answers. Your decisions. No scores or grades.
If you want to keep going
Come back to what you've learned.
You might finish your Stock Take and decide that's given you plenty to think about. Or you might want to go further.
A free Living account gives you somewhere private to save and revisit your work.
You can also undertake a self-guided Life Audit, examining four areas of your choice from the seventeen available.
Free Living includes one lifetime introductory individual Life Council consultation as well.
See what Free Living includes
An example of how Living can help
You've always fancied learning the piano. Why haven't you?
You keep saying you haven't got the time. But have you actually looked at how much time you'd need, whether lessons are affordable or whether you'd enjoy practising?
A personal working example
"I'd love to learn. I never seem to get around to it."
What I want
To find out whether I enjoy learning. I don't need to become brilliant at it.
What's stopping me
I'm worried about the time and cost, and whether I'd give up.
What I'll try
Book an introductory lesson or borrow a keyboard for a month.
Then I'll see
Did I enjoy it? Could I find the time? Do I want to carry on?
It's a simple example, but the same approach can help with far more complicated decisions. Work out what you want, examine the real obstacles, try something sensible and see what you learn.
When you want to explore further
Some things need more than a quick answer.
Sometimes you're dealing with a difficult decision, a complicated relationship or a change that affects other people.
Paid Living gives you more substantial ways to examine what is happening, compare your options and work through what you might do.
You'll also find original Living Editions, practical exercises and additional Life Council allowances, according to your level.
Explore Living membershipBefore a difficult conversation
Work out what you want to say, what you need to ask and what you'd like to achieve.
When you're facing a decision
Examine the alternatives, weigh the consequences and identify what you still need to know.
When you want something to change
Plan a manageable action, consider what may get in the way and decide how you'll review it.
When you want to look back
Return to earlier thoughts, see what happened and work out what you want to do next.
Choose what suits you
Three ways to continue with Living.
You can stay with Free Living or choose a paid level when you'd like more tools, original material and Council consultations.
Silver
Practical work with everyday concerns, conversations, assumptions and manageable changes. Includes three individual Council consultations per allowance period.
Gold
More detailed examination of decisions, alternatives, obstacles and consequences. Includes ten individual and one Full Council consultation per allowance period.
Platinum
The fullest working tools, longer-term direction and structured reviews. Includes twenty individual and three Full Council consultations per allowance period.
Personal assessments by Martin Rothery
A Reckoning
Sometimes you'd like someone experienced to take a proper look at your circumstances and tell you what they make of them.
A Reckoning is a confidential personal examination of a particular concern or your life as a whole.
I'll read what you've chosen to share, consider your history, circumstances, strengths, difficulties and choices, and look for things that might not be obvious when you're in the middle of living them.
I'll prepare my own considered assessment, with observations, questions and practical possibilities that I believe deserve your attention.
This is work I undertake personally. It is a separate commission from Living membership and the Life Council.
Three ways to undertake A Reckoning
Examine one concern, commission a complete assessment across all seventeen areas, or work with me personally through a fuller process.
Each Reckoning is a separate commission. There are no upgrades between services. Further personal or therapeutic work, where appropriate, can be discussed and agreed separately. It isn't included in these prices. You do not need a paid Living membership to commission A Reckoning.
What happens next
I need to understand your circumstances before I can assess them.
You'll explain what is happening in your life, what you want me to examine and anything you believe I should know.
If you've already worked through parts of Living, you may choose to share relevant material. Your private records are never transferred to me automatically.
Your personal intake
Tell me about your circumstances and the questions you want examined.
Your choice of what to share
Give explicit permission for any existing Living material you'd like me to consider.
My examination
I'll review the material, consider what stands out and seek clarification where appropriate.
Your written report
I prepare the assessment personally. The finished PDF is delivered privately through your Living account.
Personal contact where included
A Personal Reckoning includes two video consultations and agreed follow-up work.
Another way to examine a question
The Life Council
Sometimes you want another perspective before making up your mind.
The Life Council brings nine different AI-supported perspectives to a question you choose. It may help you notice possibilities, assumptions or consequences you hadn't considered.
A registered Free Living account includes one lifetime introductory individual consultation.
Further consultations are available through membership allowances or separate purchases where offered.
The Council is distinct from A Reckoning. It doesn't replace my personally undertaken written assessment.
Meet the Life Council
Your private work
What you write stays yours.
Some of the things you explore may be personal. You should be able to write honestly without worrying that your thoughts will be passed around.
Work saved in Living stays private to your account. Earlier dated originals are preserved where the tools provide that history.
Your private records aren't automatically shared with the Life Council, Nine Realms Institute, The Continuance or A Reckoning.
If you commission A Reckoning, you choose what I may examine and consent explicitly before information is shared.
Before you get started
A few questions you might have
Choose a question to see the answer, or visit our full Frequently Asked Questions page for more details.
Do I have to sign up?
No. You can complete the public Stock Take without creating an account or providing an email address. A free account is needed if you want to save work privately within Living.
What do I get for free?
The public Stock Take is free. A registered Free Living account also gives you a self-guided Life Audit covering four areas of your choice from the seventeen available, along with one lifetime introductory individual Life Council consultation.
What does paid membership add?
Silver, Gold and Platinum provide additional practical working tools, original Living material and different Council consultation allowances. You can see the benefits, monthly and annual prices on the membership page .
What happens to my work if I cancel membership?
Paid access and allowances change with your membership status. Your previously saved private Life Work remains available for review, subject to the account's record and retention controls.
Is the Life Council made up of people?
No. The Council uses AI-supported perspectives and a dedicated set of instructions. It helps you explore a question from different angles. It is not a panel of human advisers or a personal assessment written by me.
Is A Reckoning included in membership?
No. A Reckoning is a separate personal commission undertaken by me. The three services are Focused at £195, Complete at £895 and Personal at £1,495.
You don't need a paid Living membership to commission one. Explore the full A Reckoning service.
Do all Reckonings include video calls?
No. Focused and Complete Reckonings are written assessments. A Personal Reckoning includes two private 75-minute video consultations, written follow-up and an agreed action review.
Who can see my Living work?
Your saved work is private to your account. It isn't automatically passed to the Life Council, other projects or A Reckoning.
If you want me to examine existing records for a Reckoning, you choose what to share and give explicit consent.
Is Living a replacement for professional advice?
No. Living helps with reflection, personal decisions and practical thinking. It doesn't replace appropriate medical, legal, financial or other professional support.
Looking for something we haven't covered here?
Read all Frequently Asked Questions
A good place to begin
So, what's going on in your life?
There may be something you'd like to change, something you want more of or something you've been thinking about for years.
Start with a proper look. The Stock Take is free, and you can take away your own copy.
Begin your free Stock Take