Silence as a gift
Inspiration shot september 2025
On rest, emptiness, and trusting
that something new will emerge
If life gives you lemons… we all know what to do 🍹 But what if life suddenly gives you silence? Stillness, rest, space. Everything you try stalls and brings you back to the here and now. Maybe that’s life’s way of telling you to slow down, to be present, and, for the first time, to simply be.
That’s what I’m experiencing right now. When I try to be productive, I feel overwhelmed by the tasks my assistant used to do for me. Everything goes slowly, feels heavy, and comes to a halt again. More and more, I’m learning to surrender to it.
And then something shifts. There’s a strange kind of joy in simply accepting what is, and letting go of what no longer is. It’s actually very simple: it is what it is, and I cannot change that. Deep down, everything tells me this is how it’s meant to be, that this is good, and that I need to be patient. In the emptiness, new things will start to take shape – but I don’t need to worry about that just yet.
Be with what is. That’s the theme of this Inspiration Shot. Perhaps it will also help you to pause, take a breath, and trust that something new is on its way.
📸 Photography: Ellen van Bennekom, Make-up artist: Severine van Donkelaar, Art direction: Leonie Berkenbosch, for @saarmagazine
12 Things you never have to do
again thanks to ChatGPT
Space doesn’t just come from silence, but also from making smart use of new tools. ChatGPT helps me do things faster and easier, freeing up energy for what really matters.
Every month I write a column with AI tips for Dutch career platform Intermediair. This time I’ve listed 12 practical things you no longer have to do yourself-or that you can now do much faster, easier, and better. Which ones are you already using? Which will you try?
🏝️ A week to write, create, and grow
your business in Thailand
From November 8–15 I’m hosting my very last writing retreat on the magical island of Koh Phangan. In a tropical villa overlooking the sea, you’ll leave distractions behind and gain the focus and support to finally make real progress.
Whether you want to finish your book, strengthen your online presence, or simply experience life as a digital nomad for a week, this is your opportunity!
✨ Daily workshops, one-on-one guidance, and feedback
✨ Learn how to use ChatGPT and AI smartly for your book and your business
✨ Work on your book, website, blogs, columns, or social media
✨ Use storytelling and book structure to express your authentic voice and brand
✨ Enjoy an all-inclusive stay: your own room in the writers’ villa, scooter, delicious meals, a Thai cooking class, and other adventures
✨ Share the experience with a small, supportive group of like-minded people
An unforgettable week where focus, creativity, and joy come together.
👉 Watch the highlight video from last year and see if this is your moment.
Are you in?
🎁 This month only: 55% off all
my workshop bundles
My intention was to slowly scale back my business, but after my assistant left unexpectedly, much of it came to a stop. Still, I want to continue sharing my knowledge and experience with you.
As a belated birthday gift for my 55th, I’m offering you 55% off all my workshop bundles until the end of September!
Each package bundles my workshops, books, recordings, and inspiration by theme. Whether you want to become a digital nomad, write your book, manage your energy, or turn your passion into a business, there’s something for everyone. Now for less than half the usual price!
👉 Check out all the packages and claim your discount with code ESTHER55.
Valid until the end of September.
Inspiration bites
ADVENTURE
Sailing with a chicken
Need a moment to drift away? Read the story of Guirec, who has been sailing around the world with his chicken Monique. I’ve been following them on Instagram for a while.
DANCE VIDEO
Age doesn’t matter
This video of an older couple winning a dance competition will put a smile on your face.
Truly heartwarming!
MINI STORY
Kindness corner
A small gesture can have a huge impact. This story shows the power of kindness. Pay it forward..
SPACE ODDITY
The power of together
Space Oddity by David Bowie as you’ve never heard it before. A choir and the audience create a dreamlike performance.
Did you know...?
… that lately I’ve been recognizing people from past lives?
Since meeting my twin flame, something extraordinary has been happening: with both people I already know and new encounters, I sometimes see vivid images of a past life we shared. Maybe I’m imagining it. Maybe it’s a memory. Either way, it brings a new dimension to my connections and that feels magical. A recent dream with a message from my dad only reinforces the idea that love is forever and that we’ll always meet again.
It could be part of this life stage, or perhaps it’s the calm I feel now that allows me to notice more subtle signals.
Have you ever experienced something like this?
Where is Esther?
After the turbulence of the past weeks, I’m finding peace again in my little paradise in Puglia. Every morning I pick fresh figs and almonds for breakfast. I often have lunch with an elderly neighbor who cooks amazing meals with local ingredients and recipes. Every day, friends of his join, each bringing their own homemade delicacies. This is the real Puglia, just as it has been for hundreds of years, invisible to most tourists.
Did you know that October, November, and December are the best late-summer months here, but hardly anyone visits at that time? Would you like to spend a few weeks in my house, for example to work remotely? From September 25 it is available for rent. Check out the TinyTrullo info and photos on Airbnb and send me a message for a special deal.
My last weeks in Amsterdam turned out busier than expected. I was featured in De Telegraaf, invited to events connected to Mindvalley, like the Amsterdam Founders Club Growth Night. There I met several young Dutch entrepreneurs who told me they had been inspired years ago by me and my books to start their entrepreneurial and digital nomad journeys. By now, they’ve built successful networks of their own, and invite me to inspire others. I almost felt like a celebrity and met some fascinating people, including Michelle Maree, a professional connector, who invited me to speak at her Nomad Island Fest in Madeira, December 4-10. It promises to be an inspiring celebration with extraordinary participants. Want to join? I can offer you a €100 discount with code: NOEXCUSESLADY2025.
After all that social interaction, and the emotional weeks before, I caught a cold and even lost my voice for a few days. Still, I managed to visit the Dutch island of Terschelling for the birthday of my dear ‘stepmom Do (which felt like an anthropological experience: an entire campsite packed in the summer holidays!), catch a glimpse of the spectacular SAIL parade, prepare an Amsterdam apartment for short or long-term rental, and to see my mom and some friends.
This coming month I’ll be visiting two new countries, something that doesn’t happen often anymore after already traveling to over 100. At the end of September I’ll be in Madeira with 10 university friends (and later this year again for Nomad Island Fest ). In early October I’ll stop in Kuwait on my way to Bangkok for the annual Dynamite Circle conference, where I’ll co-host a local event with a DC friend who is originally from there. It’s a super fun way to experience a country I might not have visited otherwise. I’ll tell you more about it in my next Inspiration Shot.
And if you’re longing for an adventure yourself, consider joining my very last Writing Retreat in Thailand (Koh Phangan, November 8–15).
Together we’ll create the space for what wants to emerge.
Inspiration in your mailbox
Join 14,ooo people in 42 countries and receive inspiration and surprises every month. You can sign up for my free ‘inspiration shots’ in the footer of my website.