Shot of inspiration

My month in Argentina was not just about dancing tango in Buenos Aires... I also did a tantra retreat. Many people think that tantra is only about s*x, but I learn essential life lessons every time; more about that later. The result: I feel more 'alive' than ever. I am more in my feminine energy, I look better, I experience more connection with others, my business is booming and I have more fun in life! In this Inspiration shot I would like to share my insights, so that you too can live life more lightly.

For a few months now I have felt a deep inner peace. I am at peace and relaxed. Something that I had been actively looking for for years just suddenly appeared. And it seems like it's not going away. I am no longer in 'survival mode'. I am much more in the moment and can enjoy it more. It feels great. In this inspiration shot I will share what I did to achieve this; hopefully it will also bring you one step closer to your inner peace; and give you hope that it is really possible, even if - like me - you have to come a long way...

Many people make a 'to do list' of their new year resolutions. However, just like this 'alternative Christmas to do list', we can also make a 'not-to-do list' for 2024. Or a list of things that make you happy; that you don't have to do, but with which you can just be. The preparations for my theater show are an example of this; it gives me so much energy! While I will continue to offer my workshops, writing retreats and coaching this year, it feels like I have already started just being and doing fun creative things, without planning. What does your (not) to do list for 2024 look like?

For years the greatest desire that appeared in my meditations was to feel more 'space'. After more than 50 years of extreme productivity and 'no excuses', I long for space to be. No more to-do lists, appointments, or obligations. More room for spontaneous adventure and creativity. On my 55th birthday, on June 28th, 2025, I will say goodbye to this productive phase of life with a one-off 'No excuses!' Theater show in Amsterdam. From then on I have decided to turn everything around. Instead of trying to work less and create islands of being in a life of doing, I want to switch to being with at most a few small islands of doing on it. The most precious moments in my life happened spontaneously when I had nothing planned. I want more of that! So I'm not going to plan anything after my 'retirement'. I don't want to fill the space that is created, although there are hundreds of courses and trips I could plan. That would be continuing in the same way, only with different 'do' things. Strangely enough, that empty agenda after my 55th birthday does not feel 'empty', it is not a 'lack of actions'. It feels actually full; full of possibilities! In this inspiration shot I will take you through my plans (plus how you can still work with me on your dream over the next 1.5 years). I'll also show how you can find your balance between 'doing' and 'being'. Because the magic is hidden in the latter…

People often ask me: how do you do it? How do you turn seemingly irrelevant experiences such as raising money for charities, a relationship with a playboy, being fired from the Netherlands, dancing tango or picking olives into a successful workshop, book or retreat? The secret is: use what presents itself. Don't resist new developments, but be curious, try to find 'the present in the shit'. Some people have been following me for 15-20 years. They say they get inspired because I keep reinventing myself. Nice to hear, of course, but for me it is just different aspects of myself that suddenly become visible in a certain context. In this inspiration shot I'll give you some great examples and tips on how you too can continue to reinvent yourself.

I cannot express how excited I am about ChatGPT and all the developments related to AI. I'm definitely not a 'techie', but since a friend explained to me how it works in 5 minutes a few months ago, every day has been a journey of discovery. I pass on some of that knowledge to everyone I coach or meet and I myself learn from other entrepreneurs. In this inspiration shot I share some of my most important eye openers. Hopefully you will also be (even more!) inspired.

You can take a Digital Nomad off the plane but you can't take the travel out of a Digital Nomad… I was planning to be in The Netherlands for the whole month of August, but… I wanted to go see my dad in Miami, and also to Puglia for a few days, to arrange everything there for the 3 Airbnbs. From September I will be 'on the road' all winter anyway, so this seemed like a perfect time for another Inspiration Shot with tips about location-independence and entrepreneurship.

"Busy"; it seems to have become our new natural state of being. Doing less is difficult, especially if you approach it like another task on your full to-do list. But what if you turn it around? What if you could design your schedule, to-do list and priorities all over again, from scratch? Almost ten years ago it happened to me out of necessity, when a car accident and whiplash forced me to slow down; this time was voluntary and less invasive, but just as effective: an MDMA retreat under the guidance of a psychologist. The preparation, the psychedelic journey, the aftermath and the 'digital detox' were a natural moment for a complete reset. I got off social media for a while, now leave my phone on 'do not disturb' at all time. More 'being' instead of 'doing'. In short: a better work-life balance. In this inspiration shot you can read about the 'trip', the experience of a 'fresh start', productivity tips from the DC entrepreneurs conference in London that tie in nicely with that, praise to Amsterdam and the importance of dancing.

This month, two special people who were father figures to me passed away within a week. I was able to say goodbye to one of them by sneaking into the hospital outside visiting hours. For the other, I cancelled a trip with 40 girlfriends to Valencia to speak at his funeral. Fortunately, my father is still 'here', but - due to his Alzheimer's - not the way he used to be. Father's Day, therefore, became an emotional day with a lot of reflection this year. This inspiration shot pays homage to all fathers, father figures, and other loved ones and gives some great tips on how to capture your time together while they're still here. I hope that the stories and suggestions in this inspiration shot will touch and inspire you, whether you are a father, want(ed) to be, still have your father or have to miss it.