Kom je niet vooruit? Duik diep en luister oprecht. Naar jezelf.

July 28, 2021

‘Kun je bij me zijn zonder dat het fixen wordt? Zonder dat jouw aanwezigheid bij mij een middel is tot een doel?’

Klare taal. Gesproken door een bang deel in mij. Ai. Haar woorden komen aan. Want natuurlijk wil ik er zijn voor dit deel van mij wat zich zo bang voelt en ook eenzaam. Natuurlijk wil ik haar mijn volle aanwezigheid geven en open en zonder oordeel naar haar luisteren. Als een volwassene die oprecht luistert naar een kind dat verdriet heeft.

Maar dat lukt dus niet zo goed. Dit bange deel in mij voelt dat ik een agenda heb. Dat ik iets van haar wil. ‘No fixing, please’, zegt ze. Niets aan duidelijkheid te wensen overlatend. Ze heeft verdomme nog gelijk ook.

Een verzameling groene puntjes

July 6, 2021

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| From Judgement To Joy

“Beetje impulsieve vraag.. Ben je toevallig thuis? Ik ben bij Object Rotterdam met drie kids en kan als het uitkomt en je het leuk vindt even langs waaien voor een hoi en doei.”

Berichtje van Belinda. Ik kreeg het gisteren van haar aan het einde van de middag. Belinda is een oud-collega van mij en ook oud-coachee. Ze heeft haar eigen tassenlabel Macnas opgezet. Intussen ben ik ook klant van haar. Ze heeft voor mij prachtige leren etuis ontworpen. Een voor mijn pennen, een andere voor mijn make-up. Eerder deze week is daar een knijp etuitje voor mijn oordopjes bijgekomen. Ben ermee in mijn nopjes.

Heerlijk natuurlijk, zo’n spontaan appje. Past het? Ja, het is einde middag. Ik heb geen afspraken meer. Zit te werken aan mijn opdrachten voor Story School, een coaching programma waaraan ik deelneem.

What Gives You The Sparks?

June 23, 2021

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| Doing What You Love

What is this! My slow solo walk through the big rooms of Tate Modern suddenly came to a halt. I held my breath. No movement. Just a little tremble on the inside.

A huge red canvas dominated the entire room. Radiant colors. Deep red on another red. Vague at the edges. I let it all in.

“Mark Rothko, Number…,” read the little white label next to the painting. I was fifteen years old and had never heard his name before. But something within me got touched. I knew I had to stay where I was. Me and the painting.

Doing What You Love Is Here! With a Special Introduction Offer

May 30, 2021

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| Doing What You Love

The paperback edition of my book Doing What You Love has just arrived. I am loving it! I felt a bit self-conscious to put my portrait in full on the cover. But as my intuition whispered in my ear to do so, I went for it. I’m happy I did. Intuition never lies.

Let me share with you what readers have said about the book:

‘Doing What You Love
has touched my heart. It’s so spot on! I now follow my joy, I trust
myself and I have found myself a place where I can create. Blissful!
Living a meaningful life is easier than you think.’

– Renate

More Than Hot Baths and Champaign: the Truth About Self-Love (video)

May 14, 2021

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| Carolien TV

#Self-love: it’s everywhere on the social media. Including pictures of hot baths and nail appointments. It’s absolutely magnificent that more and more men and women are paying attention to their own well-being and happiness. They are looking for ways to nurture themselves and to end exhaustion. Wonderful! It’s not the whole story though.

Showing up for yourself

True self-love is bringing to life what is inside of me. Creating what I want to create. And yes, that includes work, mainly inner work. Self-love is showing up for myself and dealing with my self-doubt so that I have the courage to write another 500 words of my second book. Self-love is dedicating myself to my morning routine, as I know that it will help me to be a powerful creator during the rest of the day.

The English Translation Of My Book Will Be Out Very Soon (video)

April 28, 2021

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| Doing What You Love

I am very happy to announce that the English translation of my book is ready to go to print. Yes! It has been quite a project. Without the help of Jeroen (design), Mietze (illustrations), Marc (printing), Emma (translation), Joanne (edits) and Mireille (photography), this would have never happened. I am super grateful for all of their support.

The literal translation of the Dutch title would have been: When a Hot Air Balloon Hits a Ferris Wheel. Guide to a Meandingful Life. As I wasn’t sure how that would go, I opted for an entirely different one – and changed it several times in the process, but that’s another story.

And the title is – drum roll:

Doing What You Love. Discover Your Unique Contribution and Change the World.

The Four Elements Of A Powerful Morning Routine (video)

March 27, 2021

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| Carolien TV

‘I know I am in there somewhere, but I don’t seem to be able to get in touch with myself. I work on many projects, but I wonder whether they are the right ones for me.’

I hear it all the time from my clients – smart, hardworking professionals who know how to get results. But they have lost touch with their bodies and therewith with their inner knowing. They cannot find that inner connection anymore that makes it oh so easy and fun and beautiful to navigate life.

I get it. I have been there myself. It wasn’t until I started to do all sorts of transformation work, that I created the breakthroughs that enabled me to inhabit my inner world. And I want you to experience that too.

Happy Women’s Day (video)

March 8, 2021

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| Carolien TV

Let’s celebrate International Women’s Day together today. My suggestion? Reach out to one other woman whom you know will benefit from your attention today. Sharing your presence with her is all that is needed.

I have two inspired actions on my list today:

1. I will call my eleven-year old niece Marieke. I haven’t celebrated International Women’s Day with here before, but now that she has turned eleven, I feel it is a good moment to start.

2. I am sending a copy of my book ‘Als een luchtballon op een reuzenrad botst’* to Ellen. I haven’t been in touch with Ellen for quite some time, but I feel she might feel inspired by the content of the book. It’s an intuitive call; I’ll just go for it.

The Courage To Lead

February 22, 2021

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| From Judgement To Joy

Who is the first person that comes to mind when you think about leadership? Nelson Mandela immediately pops up in my head. Richard Branson. Brene Brown. Beyonce. And Obama, of course.

Nothing wrong with having these rolemodels. I let myself gladly be inspired by the power, independency and freedom of Beyonce. What might easily get overlooked however, is the importance of self-leadership.

Leaders of our own lives

There’s a few things that I have learned from this pandemic.

Dealing With Resistance

January 29, 2021

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| From Judgement To Joy

Let’s talk about resistance. More relevant than ever, as we are all experiencing it these days with a lockdown that takes longer than we could ever imagine. Possibly you are also trying to combine your work with home-schooling your children. Not an easy job.

Feeling resistant in itself is not a problem. It is part of life: where there is change, resistance will show up. As long as you are willing to let the feeling flow through you, you are perfectly fine.