Category: Art of living

  • Use your B.R.A.I.N.

    Use your B.R.A.I.N.

    This video actually comes from the hypnobirthing online course that we took but it is a life hack for everybody, not just parents-to-be :).

    In short, the lesson is: whenever you are presented with a difficult decision, use your BRAIN. That means asking the following questions:

    Benefits – what are the benefits?
    Risks – what are the risks?
    Alternatives – what are the alternatives (if any)?
    Intuition – what does my intuition say?
    Nothing – what happens if we do nothing?

    Applying this routine brings insight, clarity and control, even in complex situations such as medical, judicial or technical emergencies where you might typically feel helpless in the hands of experts and their protocols.

  • Conscious activism

    Conscious activism

    An eye for an eye only ends up making the whole world blind.
    – Gandhi

    Conscious activism is enlightened activism. It is acting from love. As long as I sense hatred in my heart towards the people or system I am fighting, I need to heal myself first.

    What always helps me is The Work by Bryon Katie:

    First, list your thoughts about the issue (who do you resent and why, how do you suggest they should change).

    Then, for each thought, answer the following four questions:

    1. Is it true? Yes or no.
    2. Can you absolutely know that it’s true? Yes or no.
    3. How do you react, what happens, when you believe that thought?
    4. Who would you be without this that thought?

    Now, find three turnarounds for each of the thoughts. For example, state the opposite or state “I” in stead of “them”.

    What we see in the world is actually what is (unconsciously) alive in us. This is called projection. In order to really bring wholesome change, we need to first embody it. This is what is meant when we say ‘be the change you wish to see in the world’.

    I may find that some of my convictions could use some nuance, stem from a deeper pain within myself which needs to be addressed first, or that I need to be applying some of my own advice in my own life before judging others.

    And so after having done our own inner work, we are free to act strongly, from love.

    A good person will resist an evil system with his whole soul. Disobedience of the laws of an evil state is therefore a duty.
    – Gandhi

    Conscious activism acts from love. If you are serious about bringing real change, start with The Work. Then act. Or, in the words of Marianne Williamson: “Love hard, pray hard, kick ass.”

  • Bye bye coffee, thanks for everything!

    Bye bye coffee, thanks for everything!

    I have always loved my coffee (the smell of the ground beans, the brewing sounds, the heat coming from the cup…), but about three months ago I quit drinking coffee from one day to the next.

    As my mind and body have become more sensitive, over the years, to what I feed them, I started to notice how coffee actually affected my body and mood – for real.

    It is generally assumed that coffee (or rather: caffeine) increases our energy and makes us more awake, alert, and that is also what I believed and experienced for a long time. But when I started paying attention, I found that for me that is actually not the case anymore. 

    What really happens for me when I drink coffee, is this: my heart rate increases, my breathing quickens and becomes more shallow, and I get annoyed and frustrated more easily. The ‘higher energy’ actually turns out to be more of a rushed feeling. These effects may be subtle, and that is why I could so easily mistake them for something else!

    Also, I took them for granted for a long time because I also loved coffee so much, with an added bit morning craving.

    But it so happened that after one strong coffee, last January on an otherwise perfect morning in Brazil, I grunted impatiently (and over nothing) at my love. It may have been a small thing, but somehow it clicked in my mind and I made the switch.  

    And then and there in that moment, I decided not to drink coffee anymore. It wasn’t a big thing, more of a joyful realization.

    I haven’t missed it for a moment, even though I used to drink coffee daily. I love my teas and smoothies and for truly improved energy, I now use spirulina. And yes I still like to work from coffee bars, and thoroughly enjoy their smell of freshly ground beans :).

    Are you mindful of your coffee intake and how it affects you? Let us know in the comments!

  • You need a system (and so do I)

    You need a system (and so do I)

    Fun disclosure: my loved ones will laugh when they read this. As with most of my blogs, I am growing up in public, sharing what works – and doesn’t work – for me, hoping it may work for you as well.

    If you tend to regularly forget your phone, loose your keys and waste your own time, then this will help: automation.

    If you are like me, it may sound unappealing at first. After all, we’re not robots, right? But I gave it a try and by now, I have incorporated wholesome behaviors into my life, mostly things that are otherwise easy to forget or that just don’t get the priority they deserve.

    Automating parts of my life helps me stick to my priorities, frees up brain space for stuff that matters most and saves time. Plus it helps me feel great and grateful several times a day. I like to see it as some kind of ninja training.

    Behavior

    One trick is to hook desired behaviors into your daily routine by connecting them with other stuff that happens anyway, things like getting up, brushing your teeth, going to the toilet, leaving the house. This is called the Tiny Habits method and I wrote this article about it: On Tiny Habits (or: why pee wins where willpower fails).

    When you automate your behaviors, they become habits. Example: I have a habit of drinking healthy, medicinal drinks (sole, smoothie, green tea, turmeric) every single day, just because I built that into my system. Years ago, I used to have a habit of drinking alcoholic beverages because I built that into my system – the choice is up to you ;).

    Organization

    Creating a system that works is also about shaping the environment to support your intentions. Example: I love smoothies and have a ‘smoothie basket’ ready in my fridge. Every morning after I get up, all I have to to is slide out this one basket and all ingredients are right there. No need to go find them in five different cupboards.

    Another example: my keys have one place in my bag for when I’m on the road and one in my room for when I’m home. They are always in the same place and I can blindly point them out to someone. The reason: I used to leave them everywhere and always be looking for them. I would curse myself but didn’t see the simple solution for a long time.

    TED talk

    I didn’t come up with this automation/system thing all by myself. Some years ago I watched a TED talk by a programmer who was all about systems. If you loose your keys all the time, she said, then what you need is a system. And that made so much sense to me. (Please, if anyone of you knows which talk I am referring to, let me know in the comments, I’d love to watch it again and give the lady credit.)

    Mindfulness

    Also, mindfulness plays a big role here. As long as I’m mindful, I’ll keep track of my stuff, whether consciously or even unconsciously: the info is stored somewhere and available when it is needed. But if I get carried away in the heat of the moment by something like the joy of a social interaction, the my attention for the practical stuff gets… well, lost.

    What helps then, is to just sit down and meditate (I practice Vipassana). It can be quite revealing!

    (Article coming soon: What if the system keeps failing?)

    Bottom line

    If something repeatedly doesn’t work in your life, in computer terms it means your system is flawed. Simply identify what’s wrong in your approach, and change it. It will require some conscious effort at first. Using the Tiny Habits method may make things easier, depending on the issue. And organizing your life in a way that supports your intentions, is key.

  • Growing pains and the art of helping people

    Growing pains and the art of helping people

    Did you know that if you would witness a butterfly’s (re)birth and tried to ‘help’ her by opening her pupa, she might die as a result?

    It takes hours of hard work for the butterfly to tear open her shell. And this time is an essential part of her transformation: her ‘struggle’ helps her pump fluid from her caterpillar-turned-butterfly body through he veins all the way to the tips of her wings, filling them up, making them strong and flexible and ready for a new life.

    This is how she can eventually fly. 

    Knowing this about the journey of the graceful butterfly, inspires me when I think about the transformation of people:

    Can I sit with someone and let them fully live their experience in the moment, without the need to change it?
    Can I trust the person’s inner wisdom to unfold perfectly in its own time, place and way?
    Can I be present to whatever is there, without judgment and without pushing towards what I may think should be there?

    When another person is suffering, it is up to me (whether as a facilitator or as a friend) to support their journey by receiving them as they are, appealing to their own inner strength and resourcefulness and trusting the process.

    Sure, there certainly are times to speak up, reach out and even take over. Wisdom, however, is to recognize what is asked for in the moment and only comes when we can be open, present and fully receive the other (or ourselves!) as they (we) are in this moment.

    To truly help others is an art, a gift, and a lifelong practice.

  • Simple medicine: chamomile

    Simple medicine: chamomile

    After journeying through tropical Costa Rica and Brazil for months, I thoroughly enjoyed the late Winter snow and early Spring sun rays in Holland during the last couple of weeks. The cold Dutch ground and early flowering trees helped me integrate the intense travel experiences and reaffirm my career and life choices.

    Medicine for Mind, Body & Spirit

    You may have noticed the new tagline for this website: Medicine for Mind, Body and Spirit, because that is what all my work (be it writing, recipes, courses and workshops) aims to be.

    I have started to work more intensively with herbs, creating homemade remedies for ailments and cosmetic diy alternatives like rosemary clay shampoo, lavender massage oil, marigold lip balm, and much more.

    I also played around with super wholesome breakfast bowl recipes (one deep red, cleansing and warming, with beet, ginger and kurkuma, another bright green, energizing, with banana, spirulina and kale – just to name a few).

    Especially impactful has been my recent work with several spiritual plant medicines. The insights and teachings (there really is no better word) that they bring continue to amaze and humble me and strengthen my understanding of how we can responsibly prepare for and integrate any spiritual journey, such as an Ayahuasca ceremony.

    Algarve

    And today, I am writing to you from Portugal, the Algarve, which is the most southern part of the country with stunning rocky golden beaches and turquoise ocean views. We are celebrating a holiday with three generations of women in my family.

    Nature is abundant here and already in this early Spring time every field is filled with orange and tangerine trees, rosemary, lavender and lots & lots of chamomile plants. Over the last few days, I’ve foraged quite some flowers to use in a wholesome tea for my sore throat and some restless nights.

    Chamomile

    Chamomile has a special place in my heart, because of its many health benefits (WebMD Chamomile). As you may have heard, it has been known for ages for its anti-inflammatory and nerve calming properties, to name only a few. Yes, medicine can be as simple as drinking a cup of wonderful herbal tea.

    Mindfuck

    In my quest for a natural way to cure my sinusitis, I read about chamomile about a year ago. I remember going into town to find dried chamomile flowers.

    Unfortunately, our Western health system doesn’t seem too aware of or keen on natural remedies and they often are pushed over by heavily marketed synthetic products. I remember how I walked into the pharmacy and was faced with a huge image of a Vichy skin ‘care’ ad, the woman’s skin complexion unnaturally airbrushed into something incredibly fake and yet the slogan went like: “Finally I can show my true self again”. What??

    At the counter, I asked for chamomile and… they didn’t have it. It really struck me as a deep symptom of an ill healthcare system that yes, they offered over-the-top-marketing skin care rubbish, but not the herb that has been used for ages to soothe both inflammations of skin, mouth, sinuses, throat and intestines and an overactive nervous system. At the pharmacy!

    The good news

    Luckily, I did find my chamomile at the organic food store, and I also should note that the appreciation of natural remedies is rapidly returning back into our public awareness anyway, even if the pharmacies will be the last to catch up.

    That’s really great, and let’s all also keep a healthy, critical mind, a sharp eye and an open heart to all forms of medicine. Don’t get carried away by unrealistic health promises from superfoods marketers either and don’t think all natural remedies are safe. Check your sources. I get my info from trusted sources that live up to scientific and honest information standards such as those set by the Health On the Net Foundation (HON) and I promise not to make false claims or promises.

    Back to chamomile

    Honestly, I am still double-checking if the chamomile that I found here in the Algarve actually is real (Roman) chamomile. The tea tastes strongly like chamomile but also rather bitter. However I can already confirm its soothing effect on sore throat and nerves, so after this post I’ll take a nice cup of tea with extra honey and go to bed for a well-deserved night’s sleep. It’s already past 2 am…

    Some more tips:

    • To use chamomile for sinusitis and bronchitis, brew a strong tea and inhale the vapor through your nose.
    • To soothe mouth or throat sores, brew tea and flush through the mouth and throat.
    • To soothe stomach sores and problems with the intestines, simply drink the tea, a couple of cups per day.
    • After brewing the tea, fold the flowers in a paper towel to create an eye mask.
    • The tea calms you down when you feel nervous or anxious.
    • Rinse your hair with it to highlight blonde hair.
    • Also nice just to look at the sunny flower heads dancing in the fields – makes you happy.

    See, this little one brightens your day in so many ways.

    Recipe

    To brew chamomile tea, simply throw a small handful of fresh flowers or only one or two tablespoons of dried flowers into 1 liter of hot water. I love to drink this with honey.

    Enjoy and… be well!

  • Love hard. Pray hard. Kick ass.

    Love hard. Pray hard. Kick ass.

    “So if you are spiritual and your house is burning down, you yell “Fire!”. You don’t just say your mantra five times and trust the outcome to God. God needs to be able to trust the outcome to us.”

    – Marianne Williamson

    This is a post about activism. The healthy kind that will heal the world.

    Activism must come from a place of wholeness, or it wil only cause more suffering. If all you can do is point fingers or fight or otherwise divide, it’s better to keep silent for now and do your inner work first.

    But once the blaming has stopped and judgment has been seen for what it is, healthy action can come and the work of love can start moving you.

    Marianne Williamson

    I was greatly inspired by Marianne Williamson in her Buddha at the Gas Pump interview (video below). She rightfully points out that we have to do whatever we can to actively defend and promote the forces of good in the world, especially now:

    “This is an urgent moment in the history of the world. We now have holding the levers of power in the most powerful country of the world, [fusion_builder_container hundred_percent=”yes” overflow=”visible”][fusion_builder_row][fusion_builder_column type=”1_1″ background_position=”left top” background_color=”” border_size=”” border_color=”” border_style=”solid” spacing=”yes” background_image=”” background_repeat=”no-repeat” padding=”” margin_top=”0px” margin_bottom=”0px” class=”” id=”” animation_type=”” animation_speed=”0.3″ animation_direction=”left” hide_on_mobile=”no” center_content=”no” min_height=”none”][Donald Trump] whose mindset does not seem to promote a sustainable option, necessarily, even for life on Earth”.

    I share her view of the dangers that a policy of divisiveness poses for the world, as well as the chances it brings for transformation and unity and so I do whatever is in my power to stand up for what I believe is right.

    Holistic politics

    I advocate holistic politics. Politics that operate from an integrative world view and recognize we are all part of a larger whole. Where we take care of the Earth and no longer see ourselves as the center of everything, but recognize we come from (are!) nature and start treating her with the respect she deserves. Where happiness is more important than growth and love prevails over possession. Where we listen to each other with the intention to understand, in stead of make our own point.

    As Marianne Williamson wisely mentions in the interview, great activists don’t work AGAINST anything. They work in favor of what they want. Gandhi always said how he was not against the British government, but rather FOR a free, self governing India.

    We can work together in healing the climate, sharing our wealth and resolving our (inner) conflicts. And the work, of course, starts with ourselves.

    Love hard

    Love and forgive yourself. Love and forgive others. Take good care of yourself and others.

    Recognize that if we flourish at someone else’s cost, we can not fully flourish. Because we are all connected and as soon as we become aware of that, we can no longer hide for the fact that in this world, too many beings are suffering for the so-called welfare of a few.

    Also… if you love someone, let them know. And treat people how you would like to be treated. It really is that simple.

    Pray hard

    Meditate, walk in nature, play music, pray, whatever it is you can do to get out of your ordinary daily mind and connect with something greater than what you call ‘you’.

    Sometimes, action is prayer. ‘Karma yoga’ means you support the right people and causes to help create, sustain and spread the good stuff. Cleaning a beach can be incredibly liberating.

    Prayer, meditation and heartful action help us to let go of our mind-made self image and live from the deeper source within.

    Kick ass

    Acting from that place again, we are re-sourceful: we are creative, efficient and we effortlessly move mountains. That state is called flow and it happens when we stop creating barriers for ourselves.

    We are the grownups now. It is up to us to act. Somewhere in the interview, Marianne Williamson says: “You know how they say it’s a pity when people miss their childhood? Well it’s a pity when people miss their adulthood, too!”

    We are what we repeatedly do.
    – Aristotle

    My invitation: right now, kick some ass. Find one thing you can do to contribute to something you care about deeply. Even a comment on this article would be great! Do it right now, don’t stop with just reading this post. It can be small, but you will inspire yourself and others because you are one who acts.

    Some suggestions: sign up for Avaaz or SumOfUs to get involved (even if just by signing) with great people power causes. Change your bank to one with a high rating for social and environmental investments. Donate time or money to a great campaign, and share about it on social media. Write a weekly Facebook post on something you care about. Eat more plants and less meat. I could go on and on. More suggestions? Put them in the comments!

    Do this every day in the coming week and you’ll see that by the end of the week, you’re a different person.

    Here is Marianne Williamson’s interview with Buddha at the Gas Pump:

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  • Donald Trump: a moment of truth

    Donald Trump: a moment of truth

    I wrote this post the day after Donald Trump was elected president, watching many outraged and panicy reactions unfold on social media. That day, I decided to remain silent.

    Today I’d like to share how I think we can wisely and heartfully respond in any moment of (perceived) crisis, especially those of us who call ourselves ‘spiritual’.

    (Please also read my post on activism with Marianne Williamson: Love hard, pray hard, kick ass.)

    Moment of truth

    Isn’t it super-easy to love, to understand, to listen, to embrace, and take the right action, when you like the people you’re with and the situation you’re in?

    But what if a part of reality looks absolutely dismal to you, like is the case right now for many people? How much are you now really able to fully face what’s right in front of you, to open your heart and meet the world as yourself, even this reality that may be screaming, red-eyed, spitting in your face, making you shrivel with disgust and harden with resistance… are you still able to meet all that?

    This is what I am asking myself today. Donald Trump, for many of us, represents those aspects of humanity and of ourselves that we rather not face.

    And so this is a moment of truth: are you responding to yesterday’s (last week’s, last year’s..) events with an open heart or with a closed mind?

    (And I am choosing to use his full name, not just the last name we often use for adults, but the first name too so that we remember the more personal, the child, the ageless.)

    It is my invitation for those who today are screaming NOOOOOOOO, resisting this reality outwardly or in their hearts:

    Accept this reality as an invitation to stand tall and face, eyes wide open, heart wide open, the full reality of what’s happening.

    Do not give in to amazement. Do not give in to the craze of the ego-mind believing in ideas, separation, ‘them’ and ‘us’. Instead, be the silent observer of all that is happening within you as much as in the ‘outside world’. And start your work there where it is the most intimate, most scary, most beneficial: with yourself.

    Invitation to do The Work

    One of the best ways of dealing with our pain is to do The Work by Byron Katie (link opens in new tab). If you are not familiar with The Work, I highly recommend you do it. It’s free and as simple as it gets. Recommended by Eckart Tolle and Oprah, too ;).

    Doing The Work helps people recognize that all the suffering we blame on other people or our life’s circumstances, is caused by our own thinking. The Work helps you deal with your own shit before pointing fingers at others or wanting to control them.

    This is your inner work, and it is a necessary preparation for healthy activism. On this topic, please also read my post on activism with Marianne Williamson: Love hard, pray hard, kick ass.

    Only from a place of wholeness

    The waves I am feeling inside my belly, heart and mind today are enormous and nauseating. I am taking time to meet them fully and digest all the thoughts and emotions that are being stirred.

    Only from a place of wholeness can I write articles, lead workshops and live freely in a way that is beneficial and empowering and causes no further separation.
    Only from a place of wholeness can we find the space to truly listen and learn to understand.
    Only from a place of wholeness can we act without the need to harm or control.
    Only from a place of wholeness can we work together to help save the world.

    Please take this time to commit yourself to your inner work and unite in peace, so we can move into the healthy action that is needed to help protect our world and civilization – more so Now than ever before.

    The time really is Now.

  • Boom Festival 2016 (Summer in a VW campervan V)

    Boom Festival 2016 (Summer in a VW campervan V)

    [fusion_builder_container hundred_percent=”yes” overflow=”visible”][fusion_builder_row][fusion_builder_column type=”1_1″ background_position=”left top” background_color=”” border_size=”” border_color=”” border_style=”solid” spacing=”yes” background_image=”” background_repeat=”no-repeat” padding=”” margin_top=”0px” margin_bottom=”0px” class=”” id=”” animation_type=”” animation_speed=”0.3″ animation_direction=”left” hide_on_mobile=”no” center_content=”no” min_height=”none”][fusion_text]After Santiago de Compostela, we headed further down south to Portugal. The center of our journey was the amazingly beautiful Boom Festival, every second year in the month of August near Lisbon.

    We spent over a week on the Boomland, and met with so many old and new friends. Marco, Anna, Alexander (who made the lead photo of this article), Michael and Ann, Julia, Robin, Shari, Marijke, Mark, Dave, our neighborly Dutch co-campers, so many others and of course all the ones whose name I never got to know… I am so grateful to have met you.[/fusion_text][fusion_imageframe lightbox=”no” gallery_id=”” lightbox_image=”” style_type=”none” hover_type=”none” bordercolor=”” bordersize=”0px” borderradius=”0″ stylecolor=”” align=”none” link=”” linktarget=”_self” animation_type=”0″ animation_direction=”down” animation_speed=”0.1″ animation_offset=”” hide_on_mobile=”no” class=”” id=””] [/fusion_imageframe][fusion_separator style_type=”none” top_margin=”24px” bottom_margin=”” sep_color=”” border_size=”” icon=”” icon_circle=”” icon_circle_color=”” width=”” alignment=”center” class=”” id=””/][fusion_text]Boom is a psychedelic festival, meaning most people there will have some experience or another with consciousness expansion, opening up their minds to the unimaginable, the unspeakable.

    What often happens then, is you become aware of a connecting, infinite ‘force’ or source that unites everything and all of us. In my work with Ayahuasca and also speaking to many people from Boom, these experiences and the insights they bring, prove to have the potential to change lives.

    They inspire people to consume less and connect more to nature, to the silence within and to other people. To create artwork and make music. To let go of judgments or prejudice. And that is really just the beginning.

    [/fusion_text][fusion_imageframe lightbox=”no” gallery_id=”” lightbox_image=”” style_type=”none” hover_type=”none” bordercolor=”” bordersize=”0px” borderradius=”0″ stylecolor=”” align=”none” link=”” linktarget=”_self” animation_type=”0″ animation_direction=”down” animation_speed=”0.1″ animation_offset=”” hide_on_mobile=”no” class=”” id=””] [/fusion_imageframe][fusion_text](Artwork exhibited at Boom Festival 2016: “Pyroclastic Blow” by Keerych Luminokaya)[/fusion_text][fusion_separator style_type=”none” top_margin=”24px” bottom_margin=”” sep_color=”” border_size=”” icon=”” icon_circle=”” icon_circle_color=”” width=”” alignment=”center” class=”” id=””/][fusion_text]Boom is meant to be a tribal gathering of kindred spirits who wish to make a change for the better on this Earth. And truly, this spirit is felt throughout the festival, in (almost) every pair of eyes you meet.

    I left Boom again with a ton of inspiration, spiritual as well as super practical. New energy for work and health and loads of energy to get it all done.

    What struck me most this year, was the many spontaneous music jams. Just bring your guitar and people will come up and ask to play together. So many people, so many voices. It was always simply beautiful, and often amazing what happened when we just allowed the moment to create its own sound. It really helped me to open up with my own playing and singing as well.

    Thank you, wonderful brothers and sisters of Boom <3.

    [/fusion_text][fusion_imageframe lightbox=”no” gallery_id=”” lightbox_image=”” style_type=”none” hover_type=”none” bordercolor=”” bordersize=”0px” borderradius=”0″ stylecolor=”” align=”none” link=”” linktarget=”_self” animation_type=”0″ animation_direction=”down” animation_speed=”0.1″ animation_offset=”” hide_on_mobile=”no” class=”” id=””] [/fusion_imageframe][fusion_separator style_type=”none” top_margin=”24px” bottom_margin=”” sep_color=”” border_size=”” icon=”” icon_circle=”” icon_circle_color=”” width=”” alignment=”center” class=”” id=””/][/fusion_builder_column][/fusion_builder_row][/fusion_builder_container]

  • How to inspire people into action and start living the life of your dreams

    How to inspire people into action and start living the life of your dreams

    Update 2021: I wrote this post several years ago. By now, I have a much more nuanced view. Then, I was on a Thai island, surrounded with online entrepreneurs, ‘living the life’. I was into traditional online marketing then, and the whole post now sounds a bit grotesque and manipulative to me. Still, there is also a lot of truth to what I wrote: stories do inspire. Your story does matter. And ‘we’ who aim to have a positive, peaceful, wholesome impact, have important stories of transformation to share, especially in this time. So I decided to leave this post up. Take from it what is in line with your deepest intentions and highest aspirations.

    Are you an entrepreneur, or are you thinking of becoming one? Do you want to put your talents to work and make the world a shinier place? Does the PROMISE of your business make you feel energized, light, fulfilled, happy and strong?

    If you’re like many entrepreneurs i know, you may at times feel that the reality of your business is different. It may feel heavier. It is dragging you along, or you are dragging IT along. You’re putting IN more energy than you are getting out of it. You may feel like you’re only working to pay your bills, relieved with any client who says yes…

    If you believe it shouldn’t have to be that way, you are right. Here’s what I have found:
    There is a way to lead a life of inspiration and share it in such a way that people will be ASKING to do business with you. ASKING you to share your ideas on their issues. ASKING you to create a service for their needs that they are willing to pay for.

    The way, put very simply, is this: be authentic, unapologetic and compassionate. Act from your deepest values, and share you story.

    Imagine what your world will look like if you live your life and run your business like this!

    You will be living consciously, following your purpose.
    People will want to learn from you, because we naturally get drawn to those who live authentic lives.
    Your sales conversations will be informal, effortless and fun.
    You will be doing business touching lives,
    and you will be doing so with ease and in flow.

    In this blogpost, I will explain one way to make this happen.

    It takes courage, but I know from experience that if you apply this, it will TRANSFORM your business, your life and the way you feel about yourself and your work. It will impact how you walk this Earth, what you bring into it and how others will benefit. It’s true, because it’s TRUE.

    Let me tell you a personal story:

    Six years ago, I was going through a really rough time. I was working as a consultant for a well-known training company and although there were many parts of the work that I loved, I remember crying every morning in the car on my way to work. Until one day, I cracked. I panicked at work and went in fright mode. Heart racing, cold sweat, nausea, mind in overdrive, unstoppable tears. Exhausted.

    While I was at home, unable to go back to the work place, I slowly started doing things that I loved: cooking, writing, sharing recipes. I read many blogs and… started my own. I taught myself how to work with WordPress.

    I was thrilled by how fun and easy it was to create WordPress websites and by the time I had regained the energy and confidence to get back to work, I knew I wanted to start a business to show people how easily they could make themselves heard and seen online.

    My hardship had given me a tremendous present: a new skill I could use to help people shine.

    I brought a new concept into the market, launching peoples’ website within one intense day of 1-on-1 coaching and instruction. It was unique in its approach and soon it got copied by fellow website creators.

    In those five years I have worked with over 200 entrepreneurs.
    I invited clients to ask their questions freely and I would answer them on my blog, for everybody to benefit. This hugely improved the conversion of my sales conversations: people who called were already enthusiastic. They already knew me and knew what to expect from me.

    There are MANY website creators around, some working at ridiculously low rates, and in this very competitive market, I have built the business of my own dreams: a location independent business which enables me to work whenever, wherever.

    I have traveled all over Europe and to Malaysia, India, Thailand enjoying this life of freedom. I have found inspiration everywhere and have shared all about it on my blogs.
    Wherever I go, many people end up checking out my blog and magically… I get daily REQUESTS from people to work with THEM.

    Why am I telling you all this? To show you a few things. I’m sure you have seen them in your life already:

    1. Any life experience is an invitation for you to learn.
    You may resolve old patterns and make space for the lighter, healthier, more open and powerful you.
    2. Anything you have learned, any process you have lived through, can be of benefit to others.
    You can draw countless advices from your own experiences!

    And now here’s a big one which may really shift your mindset:
    3. Anything which is of benefit to others, has a value which can be expressed in money.

    You may share you life’s transformations and turn them into a mini-course, either in a video or a blog post or a worksheet or an ebook…
    You could then share it for money or in exchange for people’s email address, for example, so you can build a personal relationship. But I am jumping ahead of myself.

    Today I want to share with you one way of attracting the business and clients that are perfect for you, right now:

    Inspire people into action by sharing your story

    INSPIRE people into ACTION. Live by example and empower people to step into their own strength.

    How to do that?

    One thing that inspires people, is when you SHARE your STORY. People have been telling each other stories for ages. We all understand the concept of a journey. We are all the hero in our own story, or we want to be. We have all faced obstacles and overcome them. Stories are elegant ways of conveying a message.

    This is one super strong way in which you can inspire people: by sharing your story of personal transformation and growth.

    But don’t let it end there! Your next step is… to help people take the next step!
    You want to inspire people INTO ACTION. You can help people see that this change can happen for them, too. Paint the picture of where they are now and where they will be when they take the action you propose.

    How to inspire people into action

    1. Share your story in a lively way
    2. Distill your method
    3. Tell people their action
    4. Show them their transformation (use all of the senses)

    1. Share your story

    Old situation – something happened – new situation

    In colorful details, using all of the senses, describe where you were at the beginning of your story. Then, shortly describe what happened that made the difference. And finally, describe your transformation. Try to answer these questions:

    What were the results?
    How did you feel?
    What went differently from then on?

    2. Distill your method

    Take your “something happened” and distill it into actionable steps. Tell them that in a simplified way, this is what you did.

    3. Tell people their action

    Make it simple. Tell them: if you are in this situation, you need to take THESE STEPS.

    4. Show them their transformation

    Show exactly how happy, relieved, fulfilled, open, energized and/or grounded you felt having lived this transformation. Really bring it to life! And help them imagine how they would feel in your shoes.

    Bring it to life in a way that people get to see the real you. Use informal language. Imagine you are talking to your best friend or your family. Use the words you would be using with them. This way, you connect with people on a personal level.

    You will open people up to the possibility that they can have the same result as you… and they can! Have you ever seen the light that shines in people’s eyes when they feel inspired? This is the light that shines in each of us.

    It can be anything

    Now – you may feel you don’t have a lot to share. But remember that you can literally take the smallest successes in your life and draw from ANY life experience. There is always someone with the same problem.

    Search for the smallest bits of experience that you can find. When i work with clients, we use a structured process to find how THEY can inspire people into action and trust me, the options are countless.

    Over to you

    Want to share your story in the comments? Please do! Don’t forget to mention the transformation you saw in your life and which your clients may see in theirs. I’m looking forward!