Nieuwsgierigheid is het tegengif van angst. Angst maakt je kleiner; nieuwsgierigheid opent je blik en brengt je naar nieuwe ideeën, ervaringen, en mensen. De afgelopen maand vond ik weer een enorme bron van inspiratie op de Dynamite Circle-conferentie in Bangkok. In deze inspiratie shot deel ik een paar van de mooiste voorbeelden en experimenten waarmee je zelf aan de slag kunt gaan.
Curiosity is the antidote to fear. Fear makes you smaller; curiosity broadens your view and leads you to new ideas, experiences, and people. This past month, I found a huge source of inspiration at the yearly Dynamite Circle Conference in Bangkok. In this Inspiration shot, I’m sharing some of the best examples and experiments you can try yourself.
Afgelopen maand stond voor mij in het teken van plekken, mensen en gewoontes die steeds opnieuw een diepe impact hebben. Of het nu gaat om het herlezen van mijn favoriete boeken, het voor de derde keer kijken van Breaking Bad, de jaarlijkse vakantie met mijn jaarclub die ik al 35 jaar ken, of het terugkeren naar vertrouwde plekken zoals mijn TinyTrullo in Puglia en bij mijn vader in Miami; er zit kracht in herhaling. Door dezelfde plekken en mensen vaker te zien, en activiteiten regelmatig te herhalen, ontdek ik telkens nieuwe lagen en krijg ik een frisse blik op wat eerst zo vertrouwd leek. Het is juist door deze rituelen dat er meer diepgang ontstaat en ik me nog meer verbonden voel met mijn omgeving en ervaringen. Herhaling laat me dieper duiken, beter contact maken en dingen zien die ik eerder over het hoofd zag. Benieuwd hoe je zelf nieuwe diepgang kunt vinden in het vertrouwde? In deze Inspiratie Shot ontdek je hoe rituelen en herhaling je leven kunnen verrijken.
Writing a book in one week might sound like a daunting task, but with the right approach, it becomes more achievable than you'd think. I recently wrote a business book for a client in just seven days, using my Reverse Writing methodology and ChatGPT. Along the way, I learned some valuable lessons that anyone can benefit from—even if you're not writing a book.
A unique time is approaching; from December to June, I have nothing planned—except for my last writing week in Mallorca and, of course, my theater show! The first few months of 2025 feel like a kind of 'pre-retirement', where I can truly explore where I want to be and what I want to do, instead of following my usual (self-made) hectic travel schedule. Until then it seems like I am busier than ever. In the coming months, I will travel to Thailand, within Europe, and Peru, from conferences to retreats. And in between I will visit my father in Miami. Every month, I’ll be hosting one of my online workshops for the very last time. These moments can be quite emotional when participants share why they follow me or talk about how long they've been my fans. I know I will really miss this. Still, my decision is firm. This month, I will write someone's book in just one week for the first time with my new exclusive 'Rapid Ghostwriting' offer. From 2025 onward, this will be my sole focus. In this inspiration shot, I’m sharing some useful and inspiring insights I've come across, which you might find helpful—whether you're planning for retirement or still in full action mode.
Polarities have always fascinated me—the opposites that shape our lives. In my search for balance, I discovered that I was often in my masculine energy: focused on doing, control, and results. But deep down, I longed for a softer side, to embrace my feminine energy, which is all about surrender, presence, and connection. This desire led me on a path of self-discovery that led to tantra workshops and eventually to my first MDMA journey under the guidance of a psychologist. I expected this psychedelic experience to bring me closer to my feminine energy, but the journey took an unexpected turn. The harsh and dangerous reality of living as a witch in the Middle Ages gave me new insights into my distance from feminine energy. Being a woman is not always easy, and has often been dangerous. This time, I felt ready to move on and really delve into being a woman. My most recent MDMA journey brought surprising lessons about myself, my family, and the hidden stories that shape my feminine power. I’m excited to share my experiences and lessons with you, in the hopes that they will resonate with you too…
When a friend from a tantra workshop mentioned he was heading to the Sexibility Festival in Sweden, I was intrigued. The festival promised a unique mix of tantra, spirituality, and personal development, all set in the tranquil, remote surroundings of Ängsbacka - a place I'd only heard whispers about. Without knowing what to expect, I impulsively bought a ticket. Unlike the tantra retreats I was accustomed to, where the experience is carefully curated and shared by a tight-knit group, this festival offered a different approach: the freedom to choose your own path, selecting from a variety of workshops, or stepping back whenever you needed to. As the day of departure approached, I found myself filled with curiosity but also a touch of anxiety. I was going alone, with only a vague acquaintance to rely on, and I had no idea what awaited me. But everything about this festival was designed to break down those initial barriers, helping people connect quickly and deeply. In this blog, I'll share my impressions of the festival and some of the valuable lessons I learned along the way.
Inspiration and new ideas often arise from combining different elements that at first seem unrelated. A new environment, knowledge from different disciplines (interdisciplinary approach), and making connections between seemingly unrelated concepts form the basis for innovations. Curiosity is essential to be open to unexpected creative insights. During a recent Dynamite Circle conference in London, I immediately felt the creative energy of the event working on me. Surrounded by 100 innovative minds from the network of successful, location-independent entrepreneurs, and thanks to the setting, creative exercises and unexpected questions, small puzzle pieces slowly started to fall into place. It was fascinating to see an idea come to life when you are open to new experiences and collaborate with others who challenge you to think outside your usual box. In this Inspiration Shot I take you through my process and share the new idea that emerged from it, to show you how you can invite new ideas yourself.
Perhaps you are looking for shade under the sun during your vacation, perhaps you are confronted with your own dark sides now that the summer does not seem to be taking off in many places. Nowadays I actively seek out my own dark sides, during tantra retreats. And I do not avoid them in 'normal life' either. Shadow work is a type of self-development in which we focus on our dark sides: characteristics or parts of ourselves that we normally prefer not to face or share with others. Things that irritate you in others, your so-called 'triggers' are often indications of where your own 'shadow' is. Actively seeking out your shadow, exposing it and integrating it, is called shadow work. It is not therapy. So it is not a 'problem' that needs to be solved, it is discovering a part of you where some more development can be achieved. You get to know yourself even better by looking at your contradictions. In this inspiration shot I will go into this a little deeper. Dive into the dark with me, if you dare?
During the recent Workation in Italy it became painfully clear again: many entrepreneurs do not dare to step into the spotlight; whether they have 50 years of experience, have written a book, hold impressive titles and positions, or have an important message to help others… ‘Who am I?’, ‘What will others think?’ and ‘actually what I do is very normal’ are common phrases. Some overthink it or make it too big, while the magic is actually in the little things. I have been sharing everything I experience for almost 25 years, and I still continue to learn. In this Inspiration Shot I'll share some ideas and tips about visibility.
