Integrally Alive podcast (Sparkling life!)

What superpower do you use most? We are taught that we need to be super at all times, to perform at our best, exponential growth, etc. And yes, this approach allows us to make things happen, and big things. But it is also imbalanced, and as much as I love it, and I actually use it myself at times. But we also have to recognize this is just one side of the story, and we often forget the other side. This other side is not so much taught and talked about as the other super active side. So I think the "super" approach is great, and it's also unbalanced. And in the long run, this is completely counterproductive, because it works until it doesn't. So this week is all about * superpowers * How much can you push the limits? * being human versus "super" * performance * multiple intellligence * rational mind and somatic mind * ... ⚠ ⇒ click here for the SHOWNOTES: https://www.integrallyalive.com/you-dont-need-superpowers-to-succeed-integrally-alive-podcast And hop on my socials to share your thoughts, discoveries... Let's make this a conversation rather than a one-way sharing!

Is knowledge, knowing that you need to change, enough to actually change? Spoiler alert: Not in my experience! Listen/read this episode if you want to know * the difference between knowledge and embodied awareness * learn how to make motivation last and bullet-proof * a counter-intuitive but very effective approach to quitting smoking * can change happen fast? * what is generative change * ... ⚠ ⇒ click here for the SHOWNOTES: https://www.integrallyalive.com/you-know-you-want-to-change-this-hack-will-get-you-finally-moving-integrally-alive-podcast/(opens in a new tab) And hop on my socials to share your thoughts, discoveries... Let's make this a conversation rather than a one-way sharing!

When we mention flow, we usually think about a peak experience moment. But then we see it as something that we would want at any time and always. I think it is setting ourselves up for failure, but also not helping us having more of these flow state experience. This week I'm sharing an ongoing exploration * the distinction between peak flow state vs long-term flow * how it relies on nervous system regulation * a simple exploration to start playing with bringing more flow in our daily life ... Life gets easier when we accept that we are humans. Not super-heroes, not super-humans... Just humans. That is already a lot. ⚠ ⇒ click here for the SHOWNOTES: https://www.integrallyalive.com/from-peak-flow-state-into-long-term-balance-integrally-alive-podcast And hop on my socials to share your thoughts, discoveries... Let's make this a conversation rather than a one-way sharing!

"I'm not stressed, but it takes me two hours to fall asleep every night." Doesn't it sound contradictory? That person was very puzzled by the contrast:”I'm not stressed, I know that. But then why does it take me so long to fall asleep?” In this episode, we'll see why. * the difference between stress, anxiety * what means having an activated nervous system * basic sleep hygiene * a simple distinction about how the nervous system works * and how we can use to fall asleep quicker And if you know me, you guessed it: There is going to be some simple and effective embodied process to help with that. I love how we can use our somatic intelligence to help us calm down the intellect and basically live a more peaceful yet more energised life. ⚠ ⇒ click here for the SHOWNOTES: https://www.integrallyalive.com/im-not-stressed-but-it-takes-me-two-hours-to-fall-asleep-every-night-integrally-alive-podcast And hop on my socials to share your thoughts, discoveries... Let's make this a conversation rather than a one-way sharing!

A very common image we use to describe finding balance in life is juggling. And I just don't think it's helpful. I don't know if you ever tried to juggle, but even if you eventually master the skill, it is still a lot of effort and concentration to do it. And even the best juggler can't go forever. Sooner or later the balls will fall, or he will need to rest. What is the main problem with the juggling image? All the balls compete for your attention. And using this image leads to using the same behavior that put us in trouble in the first place. But even the best juggler can't go forever. Sooner or later the balls will fall, or he will need to put them down. So what if the balls weren't competing? That's why I explore this week, with a new, much more helpful, image for balance. Also, a super fancy word to use in cocktail parties.

What is the worst advice you ever got? I'm going to bet that it was probably unsolicited advice. Want to know a funny story? How about people trying to "help" me with my computer, not realising I worked as a web developer, so I used to be the one helping people with that. It is a bit less funny when it comes to more personal challenges. Like, don't get me started on the “Everything happens for a reason” lecture. Check the episode to know why I think this is spiritual BS. And also: * Why is it so upsetting to get unsolicited advice? * How can I still help? * And also find a way to telling someone to stop! ⚠ ⇒ click here for the SHOWNOTES: https://www.integrallyalive.com/why-unsolicited-advice-is-not-helpful-what-to-do-instead-integrally-alive-podcast And hop on my socials to share your thoughts, discoveries... Let's make this a conversation rather than a one-way sharing!

What is your weird? Do you keep it for yourself like something you'd rather people not see about you? Or do you proudly show it for everyone to admire? I have many, which I share more or less privately. But a few years ago I met someone who litterally had it on her head... And it turned out great for her. Whatever we do, we will always be weird for someone else, so... Maybe her solution is not so crazy after all? I am a big advocate for playful curiosity, which I have experienced, leads to both being more compassionate, and more unapologetic. And that is why it is one of the main pillars in the “Deep connection, real fun!” meetups and my work in general. Join me this week as I share about ladybugs, being weird, asking questions, dancing (no way!

Do you enjoy chit-chat? I never did! But I'm proud to say I'm now fluent in small talk. Years ago, not only I didn't like small talk, I didn't understand it, and as a result, it felt like it was difficult to have real conversations, to really get to a deeper level of connection. Small talk can feel boring, or draining, but it has a very important purpose. Have you heard about the levels of communication? This week, we look into them, and: * why small talk is important * how to navigate the levels of communication * how to actually enjoy small talk! The kind of stuff we play with in the Deep connection, real fun! meetups. We had the first edition yesterday and it was great! ⚠ ⇒ click here for the SHOWNOTES: https://www.integrallyalive.com/s-authentic-small-talk-possible-a-surprising-solution-to-deep-connection-integrally-alive-podcast And hop on my socials to share your thoughts, discoveries... Let's make this a conversation rather than a one-way sharing!

A weekly casual social meetup created with meaningful connections in mind. It's free, and you're welcome.

What are you too old for? ... Where is your mind going when you read that question? Things that you feel you cannot do anymore and you kind of miss them, things that you won't tolerate anymore in your life? We all react differently to ageing. Certain aspects feel liberating, other limiting… I'm always puzzled by people who explain anything that they cannot do by their age. Maybe because very early on I had positive example of older people being in really good shape and with a dynamic mindset. Depending on where we are born, we look at elderly as nice but slightly crazy people going back to childhood, or wise and experienced humans. So I would say, choose for yourself. Whatever society tells you about what is appropriate for your age, you're the one living your life. And I have some models for you in case you're wondering. See you in the comments. ⚠ ⇒ click here for the SHOWNOTES: https://www.integrallyalive.com/dont-cage-yourself-in-your-age-integrally-alive-podcast And hop on my socials to share your thoughts, discoveries... Let's make this a conversation rather than a one-way sharing!

On sailing, dreams, inspiration, courage, blogs and strangers ... What are you the living example for? When I was a teenager, I had a dream, a very precise and persistent dream, to travel and live on a sailing-boat. It took years, but I eventually did it. If you have a dream and feel discouraged, this episode is for you. It is the kind of message I would have loved to hear when my own dream was just a crazy idea in my heart. It is so much easier to connect the dots looking backwards, but I can already tell you, in my eyes, you already made it. And you don't even know exactly what it is, because you might end up living a different equally of even better dream, but this will only happen if you try. In my heart, you are the leader you need. ⚠ ⇒ click here for the SHOWNOTES: https://www.integrallyalive.com/you-are-the-inspiration-you-are-looking-for-integrally-alive-podcast And hop on my socials to share your thoughts, discoveries... Let's make this a conversation rather than a one-way sharing!

Is stress your enemy or your ally? Stress is usually the bad guy, something to get rid of and overcome. But in the same time I know people —and maybe that's you too?— who will tell me that stress is their motor for action. So where's the line? Do we get rid of stress, or do we use it? On stress, regulation, adrenaline, taking action Stress is an evolutionary necessity. If it wasn't for stress, none of us would be here. But what happens when our physiology stays pretty much the same as our prehistoric ancestors', but the world around looks nothing like it? We need knew solutions! In today's episode, I dive into our relationship with stress and how we can make an ally of it. ⚠ ⇒ click here for the SHOWNOTES: https://www.integrallyalive.com/stress-is-saving-your-life-overcome-stress-integrally-alive-podcast And hop on my socials to share your thoughts, discoveries... Let's make this a conversation rather than a one-way sharing!

On too much, too little, ecosystems and balance… One thing that, if I would resolve it right now, would make everything else easier, is having a richer social life again; you know, like, kind of before covid, when you could go out and just meet and talk to people freely. I've got other struggles, but this one I feel really is undermining my overall energy. Can you relate? Do you have something that you feel would make things easier for everything else in my life? It is very common to identify something as a problem and when we focus on it to find a solution… we end up exploring something else, that is indeed the solution, even though it looks like something else entirely. This week, discover how the Kyo/Jitsu principle form Zen shiatsu can help you go straight to the point and balance out your system so that the problem actually disappears by itself. We are living ecosystems, and if we know where to poke, we can do magic. ⚠ ⇒ click here for the SHOWNOTES: https://www.integrallyalive.com/wanna-thrive-balance-your-ecosystem-integrally-alive-podcast And hop on my socials to share your thoughts, discoveries... Let's make this a conversation rather than a one-way sharing!

Have you ever had something that you thought it was just impossible to do, and then somehow you looked at it with new eyes and you found another way to do it anyway? When you feel stuck, how do you take a decision, and move on? The problem many times is that there is a blind spot, something we are missing that would give a new meaning to the whole situation. Let's explore how to shift our point of view and get us to clarity and action in an instant. There is a pretty groovy way to do this somatically, but this week I'm going with a simple question for the rational mind instead. ⚠ ⇒ click here for the SHOWNOTES: https://www.integrallyalive.com/a-simple-question-to-see-differently-get-clarity-and-take-decisions-integrally-alive-podcast And hop on my socials to share your thoughts, discoveries... Let's make this a conversation rather than a one-way sharing!

On effectiveness, getting unstuck, the beauty of simple, action and habits… Years ago, when I was still training for my Body-Mind-Centering* certification, at some point we were asked to participate in an exercise, that when my teachers explained, it, I felt like:”Duh, is it really why I’m paying you hundreds of Euros a day?” Because it was so simple. It sounded just stupid and ineffective. (*Body-Mind centering is a somatic movement and touch practice) It turns out this exercise gave me a major breakthrough, and I was shocked afterwards about how simple and quick it was, versus the value that I got from it in terms of what I learned. I guess that day I got the same look on my face that I see now and then on the face of my coaching clients, when they give me the “too good to be true” look. Our rational minds love complex solutions, because they look somehow more serious, more legit. Seeing all these steps, the logical progression, it looks reassuring. But reassuring for the mind doesn't mean that we will act on it more easily. Again, and again, and again, both in my personal life and in my professional life in coaching sessions with my clients, I am reminded that simple it what is what helps us move. And that's exactly what we are exploring in this episode. ⚠ ⇒ click here for the SHOWNOTES: https://www.integrallyalive.com/stuck-use-the-simple-is-effective-solution-integrally-alive-podcast And hop on my socials to share your thoughts, discoveries... Let's make this a conversation rather than a one-way sharing!

We are only beginning to talk more openly about psychological struggles, and there are still many, many misconceptions about it. And often it results in people with the best intentions making the situation worse, by trying to help. So here are a few do s and don't s, and my one principle I've seen be the most effective, so you can be there for your loved ones when they need you the most... And you can better ask for help when you need it. This is for you if you're struggling and want to help people around you help you better, and be there for you; and it is for you if you know someone who is struggling and want to be there for them and support them in the best way you can. ⚠ ⇒ click here for the SHOWNOTES: https://www.integrallyalive.com/what-to-say-to-a-friend-whos-struggling-and-how-to-ask-for-help-if-you-are-integrally-alive-podcast And hop on my socials to share your thoughts, discoveries... Let's make this a conversation rather than a one-way sharing!

When life gets in the way, what do you do to stay calm and keep going? To be honest, to my French brain, it always sounded a bit wrong that “life” would get in the way of anything. But yes, nowadays, with things being cancelled left and right, decisions being made, then changed, then put back on, then modified… It sure feels like something is getting in the way of life! But is it really? Here is another way to look at it, and a simple guided exploration to shift your perspective and actions from chaos to relaxing into creative mess. What I love about these somatic explorations, is by disconnecting the rational mind, we instantaneously step into a much more creative space. See you in the comments. ✨ ⇒ click here for the extended version of the exploration (part of the Sparkling life toolkit): https://explore.integrallyalive.com/products/units/view/132/?lesson=227 ⚠ ⇒ click here for the SHOWNOTES: https://www.integrallyalive.com/from-chaos-to-creative-mess-how-to-stay-calm-and-keep-going-in-times-of-uncertainty-integrally-alive-podcast ⚠ ⇒ click here for the SHOWNOTES: https://www.integrallyalive.com/from-chaos-to-creative-mess-how-to-stay-calm-and-keep-going-in-times-of-uncertainty-integrally-alive-podcast

What is the difference between coaching and therapy, and how do you choose one or the other? This is a question I get a lot, so here is my two cents, the way I view this and how I apply this in my changework practice. The image I find talks the most about it in a simple way is hiking. The way you prepare yourself, and your things, the actual hike... All of these offer a metaphor that everyone gets for the general distinction between therapy and coaching, and also the main two approaches to do changework. If you yourself, or someone you know, needs help, and you like my style, I’ve got slots for one on one sessions opening right now:

Do you ever have gut feelings, sometime? Or a tiny voice in your head, or butterflies in the tummy, or.... Whatever form it takes: How do you know it's instinct or intuition? How do you know when it is a good idea to follow it? That's what we dive into this week: On instinct, intuition, gut feeling, embodiment, and broccoli latte... Why I believe the statement:"If I listen to my intuition I would be eating ice cream / pizza / broccoli latte all the time." is wrong. What is instinct and how to recognise it. What is intuition and how to recognise it. Why is intuition better for taking decisions. A simple exploration to train and use your intuition. See you in the comments. ⚠ ⇒ click here for the SHOWNOTES: https://www.integrallyalive.com/is-it-your-instinct-or-your-intuition-integrally-alive-podcast

One of the most common phrase I hear during my sessions, is:”I know I should…” We often know what we want to change, but knowing is not enough to actually do the changes. Whether we want to avoid bad consequences, or yearn for something great, we resist to change. There are many solutions to finally start, and I'm giving one in this week's episode, along with something to help with motivation. See you in the comments. ⚠ ⇒ click here for the SHOWNOTES: https://www.integrallyalive.com/you-can-change-today-integrally-alive-podcast/

Did you ever had a quick fix that turned out to be the worst idea in the end? In this episode you'll learn how I got absolute confidence that slowing down is the surest way to solve problems quicker. Quick fixes are appealing, and here and there I still fall for them. It usually doesn't end well though. So here are two things to keep in mind when problem solving, to make sure we go the distance and work efficiently and faster. See you in the comments. ⚠ ⇒ click here for the SHOWNOTES: https://www.integrallyalive.com/a-counter-intuitive-way-to-solve-problem-quicker-integrally-alive-podcast

On meditation, being present, crazy thoughts, wellness, and enlightenment… I love meditating because it trains me to be more present. What about you? Why do you meditate? The Western world took meditation and transformed it into a tool for wellness. I think this is like looking the finger when the master points at the moon. Peace of mind does come from meditation, but it is a side-effect, not the final aim. That is how we end up giving up with feelings like:”Meditation is not for me, I can’t sit still.”. But when we know the real purpose of meditation, then come good news. It becomes easier to meditate, and to use it in our daily life. If you’re struggling with meditation, you're going to love this episode. See you in the comments. ⚠ ⇒ click here for the SHOWNOTES: https://www.integrallyalive.com/meditation-is-not-a-wellness-tool-but-you-need-it-more-than-ever-integrally-alive-podcast

If there was one thing you would do to create more balance in your life, what would it be? Each year I take time to reflect on my business: What did happen, where I want to take it… This year I felt the need to take a longer pause, to really take time to reflect on the direction I want to give it, to show up best both for myself and for you. Because, I don’t know if you noticed, but the world is kind of a giant mess these days. Especially if like me you are in Europe, or other place with lockdown, curfew, and other restrictions, right now the world is completely out of balance. So in these conditions, feeling alive from the inside out feels both challenging and absolutely more than ever needed. And something that helps a lot in feeling alive is balance in our life. So in this episode, we'll see the two main misconceptions about balance that I believe if we turn them around, are big game-changers. See you in the comments on FB, IG, Linkedin, Youtube. ⚠ ⇒ click here for the SHOWNOTES: https://www.integrallyalive.com/balance-is-a-movement-from-within-integrally-alive-podcast

On multitasking, focus, cognitive abilities, and getting things done… Would you rather multitask or focus, to get things done faster? Like many of you I have a to do list that’s never ending. And the other day, on top of this, I realised that one of my email addresses had a problem, and I “discovered” about 200 mails that I never saw before. Important mails. You know, from serious people, like my bank, and so on. So suddenly I had my normal to-do list and… Many other things that needed attendance like, yesterday, or even last month. Temptation to multitask on a scale of one to ten at that time? One thousand! Was it a good idea? Why not multitask? It gets things done faster, right? Computers do that, right? Or don't they? Is multitasking a scam? What about the cognitive consequences of multitasking? And so how can we multitask efficiently? It’s really simple. And it is in this podcast episode. Enjoy your new productivity and efficiency. Check the show-notes here: https://www.integrallyalive.com/how-to-multitask-efficiently-integrally-alive-podcast

On being embodied, mindfulness, making coffee and riding bikes… Taking what we touched upon in the last two episodes: Embodiment is not about what body you sculpt, but rather how present you are, not only to your thoughts, but also your body, your emotions, etc. ... Which can sound like a lot of work, BUT... As Your practice is whatever you are doing on a daily basis. Well, you already are having thoughts, emotions, using your body… You already are embodied! But the real question is how? Is it conscious, intentional embodiment? Or is it giving your thoughts away? There are many ways embodiment is useful in our lives. But the first step to do anything intentionally, is to recognise what we are already doing. How present are you in your body? ⚠ ⇒ click here for the SHOWNOTES: https://www.integrallyalive.com/already-embodied

What is your practice? Do you have a yoga practice? A meditation practice? A mindfulness practice? ... What else do you practice? How does that change your days? why is it important to you? In a call with friends earlier this week, we were doing a round of check in: "How are you doing?" I had (like many of us these days), quite a challenging week, with bad news every day. So I joked saying that I would be happy with just a day without bad news. But then, I had to be honest: Even with this situation, I am grateful for the practices I began years ago, and integrated into my life so much, that they are now a part of who I am. Because a few years ago, in the same situation, I might have practiced frustration, anger, sadness... Whereas today, I practice noticing what is happening, making space, hugging my elephants (in the room), making friends and partnering with them to find solutions, turning problems into learning and solutions... And I stay fine: My external circumstance don't dictate my internal experience. Whether you do it intentionally or not, your practice is what you do every day. Whatever you do on a daily basis, that becomes the default you turn back to in challenging times. As my Shiatsu trainer Sasaki Sensei used to say: "Dojo is life". You come to the gym, to the yoga studio, to the dojo, to practice; but the real practice starts when you step out, into the world, your daily life. Do you have an intentional, conscious practice? What is your practice? And if you don't have one, start noticing: What is your practice? Shownotes on the blog: https://www.integrallyalive.com/why-you-need-a-daily-practice-integrally-alive-podcast

On embodiment, experience, coaching, and "where do you feel this in your body?"... Reading that embodiment was a buzz-word the other day on internet, felt so wrong, it had me do something I resisted doing: Talking about what embodiment means. Embodiment is such a diverse field, with many different voices! That said, yes, it annoys me but it has become a buzz-word. And many people use it without knowing what they are talking about. One question has become emblematic of this for me in the world of coaching: I heard many ask, from a totally disembodied state "Where do you feel this in your body?". As if it was step 2 of the 10 step process for X. It's like explaining someone the taste of chocolate vs facilitating the experience of tasting chocolate for him/her. Embodiment is not a process, it is an experience, from the inside out. It is a way of being, from the inside out. ⚠ ⇒ click here for the SHOWNOTES

— On being and feeling ready, imposter syndrome, and getting started… “How will you know when you are ready?” That is in essence one question that arose in a recent coaching call, when I heard my client say: “I’m not experienced enough, I’m not ready.” Sadly these doubts is wide-spread, and it’s getting us to stop before even getting started. Welcome imposter syndrome, bye-bye action! Tune in to learn why being an expert is not always the best place to serve, and why you feeling you are not ready is far from you actually being not ready. ⚠ ⇒ click here for the SHOWNOTES: https://www.integrallyalive.com/how-to-be-ready-to-start-integrally-alive-podcast

Its FOMO happening in your mind, or your body? On FOMO, nervous sytem regulation, parasympathetic vs sympathetic... Did you hear about The Embodiment Conference? OK, I might have told you about it. When we participate in such exciting events, it is easy to get our head buzzing with all the options, which all look interesting! Too many presentation to attend them all, yet all interesting. Oh, the excitement of reading the program, the joyful anticipation for the sessions… The dilemma of having to choose. Whenever we notice ourself entering this loop, we know it’s time to take a break. What incidence does it have on our nervous system? An hyper-arousal of our sympathetic nervous system. We’re sooo ready for action! Here comes FOMO, and a tendency to over-do, without listening signals from the body to rest and digest (parasympathetic nervous system). How to self-regulate our nervous system when feeling FOMO or overwhelm? And what is self-regulation anyway? First notice: The level of mental excitement, the thoughts rushing and/or running in circles in your head. The level of physical excitement: muscle tone like you were ready for a run?, heartbeat, breathing pattern (holding your breath?) Then self-regulate STOP! Make a pause and let the thoughts tire themselves of running in circle. Integrate the sessions you already attended 1. write 2. draw 3. dance 4. … Express it out to take it in. Do some calming activities (Be a cat for some time) Caressing a cat (That is, if it lets you

This summer I was at a speaking event, and heard the story of a woman, who shared how she overcame depression and wanting to kill herself. A very brave thing to do, especially on stage; and so needed, too, because the stigma on these topics is literally killing people, who otherwise would speak up and ask for help. So when she sat back, right next to me, I turned to her and thank her for her courage, expressing that I know how difficult it can be to talk about suicide. She looked at me with surprise, and answered that she never thought about her story as "suicide". Now I was surprised. You would think that "killing yourself" and "suicide" mean the same thing, isn't it? Well apparently it is not that obvious! This is quite a dramatic example, but we do this in a lot in our life: We use words to make the situation sounds more acceptable. There is a sentence I hear many variations of in my coaching practice: "I'm fine, I'm just very very busy." Well OK then, it sounds like you don't need much help; everything is under control... Or the illusion of control? A word I used a lot was "tired". And I came to realise that sometimes, I was tired and I needed some rest. And sometimes, something was wrong; and my tiredness was a sign that I needed to change something. Basically it meant that I was bored and uninspired by what I was doing, and needed to reconnect to, you know... What makes me feel alive! My passion and joy, things like doing this podcast for example. I had this elephant in the room, and it was hiding behind "tired" The thing is, until I called it by its real name, nothing I would do would change the situation. Of course! Because nothing I could do to resolve "being tired", would solve "being uninspired". Quite the opposite, even, as resting is not super inspiring for me. I learned to recognise it. Now I know that when I feel that kind of "tired", I need to look at the elephant behind. And I can do it before it has grown so big I can't ignore it, the sooner the better! Does it ring a bell to you? What I'm really talking about here is awareness. Awareness is THE key & first step to any transformation Unless you say hello to the elephant in the room, it's not going anywhere. It wants love and attention, like everyone. I will talk more about elephants, and how to hug them, in later episodes. But for now, tell me: Can you recognise this in your life? And maybe it is not you, but it was before, or you know someone... Can you see a word any elephant is hiding behind? Your weekly dose of fierce love A mix of love and brutal honesty! Boom, life just got easier! You like this, and you want more? subscribe, so you get your weekly dose. You want even more? Hop on my socials, and share your thoughts and comments. I love to read them, and reply... with fierce love. Stay tuned for the next episode, à bientôt. ;-)

Who is inspiring you? Who are you inspiring? When I learned Shiatsu (a Japanese bodywork), we used to call my top teacher "Sasaki Sensei". Sensei wasn't part of his name, but the Japanese word for "teacher". This word actually has a more complex meaning than that. Sensei: The person who has walked this path before you. It doesn't mean s/he is an enlightened master; or a better, or a worse person than you. You might even have walked other path that s/he doesn't know. But that one, s/he knows; From experience. Not just from books and theory. S/he walked all the way. S/he stumbled on the tiny rock that no-one sees and everybody stumble on. S/he might as well red books and learned the theory, but the most important part is, their teaching comes from experience. S/he cannot walks the path FOR you, or instead of you, but can help you navigate through the journey. Sensei and role-model This description is pretty close to what a role-model is for me. Except that a Sensei might teach you, a role-mode probably won't. Yet it is someone who has done it before. Someone you can observe and learn from. Someone that, just because they did this thing you want to do, is the living proof that it is possible. When I dreamed to buy a sailing-boat and go travel on it, I knew no-one who had done it. The day I found a "personal website" (pre-google age guys ) of a family living and traveling on a catamaran, it mainly made two things for me, that a role-model, even unknowingly, provide: A role-model gives you permission Just because they are doing your dream, their experience says: "You are not crazy for wanting this, even if no-one else around you understands, or even believe you can do it." A role-model shows you the way In the end you have to find your own version of your dream. But isn't it nice to have inspirations and examples of way to get there? Will you be my role-model? You might not be a teacher, or consider yourself as a leader, but you have walked a few paths in your life. You've learned things, from "just" living your life. And if nothing comes to mind right now, I have a question: Could that be because you've learned those lessons so well that you don't even remember you were struggling in the first place. It has become "duh", just something you do. But there was a "first time" you heard / read / realized it, and at that moment, it like was a giant light-bulb; A bit like me when I saw the story of this family. So now it might sound so obvious for you that you forgot that some people might still need to hear it. What are you the sensei for, and who are you the sensei to? Everyday, you are inspiring people. If you've got kids, that is pretty obvious. Beyond this, you are inspiring your family, your friends, your neighbors, people you meet in the street, etc. You are inspiring everyone you meet... Want it or not. So what path have you walked, that you can and want to help people navigate? Your weekly dose of fierce love A mix of love and brutal honesty! Boom, life just got easier! You like this, and you want more? subscribe, so you get your weekly dose. You want even more? Hop on my socials,

What leader do you choose to be? (and, by the way: Do you feel like you are a leader?) Is a question that emerged this summer, when I was offered to write a chapter in the book "Ignite for conscious leaders". To celebrate the publishing of the book, I'm gifting a 1 on 1 session with me: Answer that question in the FB group, and I'll pick one. I know you can inspire us, and you can be inspired by the tribe... so it might be you, winning the 1 on 1 session and creating your vision in the world. Leaders neither push nor pull, they allow.Their experience inspires, and gives permission to walk in their steps.Claire Wild My first reaction was:"Conscious? Leader? Me?" My idea of "leader" was quite grandiose: Dalai Lama, mother Teresa, Aung San Suu Ki... Yes, those are leaders And I've heard enough people labeling themselves "conscious" where, -hum- I was struggling to see why or how they were "conscious"... to be extra cautious about auto-labeling myself anything. In the writing of my chapter, the meaning of being a leader emerged and changed a few times. I won't spoil the book, but something about being unapologetic emerged very strongly. One big aspect about being a leader, is: You are leading... DUH! (I know, thanks you Claire for this magnificent piece of wisdom; you're welcome ) But think about it: If you are leading, it means that you are not following. You are not changing your behavior to please or ease anyone. And it doesn't mean you are doing your thing, not caring about anyone else but you... Quite the opposite. But you are not going down to the level of fear, criticism, expectations. You are taking everyone up with you, to the level of self-acceptance, and unconditional love. You don't need a following to be a leader It is about who you are. It isn't defined by the situation, it is a mindset. It is about going out in the world, and instead of asking:"Do you like me? Am I OK to belong to your tribe? Please?".You are going into the world boldly declaring: "This is me. I love you, whether you do like me or not; so I don't need to change who I am, or my story, for you to accept me." The magic side-effect in that, is you give everyone else permission to do the same thing: Be unapologetically themselves. Isn't that a way of leading? You bet it is! And I want to bring it to more people, so you will hear more about these "I own my story declarations" in the weeks to come. If you've been following me for a while, you heard at least two already; and more of these interviews / declarations are to come. One of these could be yours, and it would be my absolute pleasure to facilitate you into declaring yourself boldly in the wold. If you were unapologetic, what would it change for you? What would you do? Who would you be?If you knew someone was watching, and was going to be inspired by your actions... How would you live? I am very curious to know the answer to that question: What leader do you choose to be? Win a 1 on 1 session If you want to go the extra mile, join the FB group IAm connected (click here), and post your vision. I am gifting a 1 on 1 session to help you create your unapologetic vision. Resources

How often do you do what makes you come alive? I like to try new things. But some things are so good that I like to repeat them again and again. Like my favorite questions:"What makes you feel alive?" What makes you feel alive? If you're familiar with the podcast, you will recognize this question: I love it so much, that I used to end every interview of season one with it. And it was beautiful to hear the answers, always different, always inspiring (so much so that I dedicated the last episode of the season to this question alone). The answers were very diverse, showing the uniqueness of my guests, and had all something in common: they were simple things. Like feeling the warm touch of sun on the skin, singing, smelling the morning breakfast, cooking for the family or friends, cooking for oneself, swimming in the sea, reading a book on a rainy day... Isn't beautiful how the best things in life are the simplest? We often ask ourselves big and somewhat complicated questions, like: I need to find my passion, I need to figure out my audience, how can I trust again, where I want to settle, with who would I want to settle, is s/he the right one to spend the rest of my life with, how can I connect with myself... These are BIG questions, and we think we need BIG answers, so they must come in BIG ways: We need to go on a two weeks retreat in the desert, or use the fifteen-step process to transform, or go through the six month course on finding my inner child... And then... when we have done the process, then, we will have THE answer. The thing is, what do we do until then? We just hold our breath, half living? Not a very nice feeling, right? (I know, I've tried ;-) ) Behind all of these questions, is the same need to connect to our Self Though these questions sound grandiose, they hide the same need to remember who we are, at the core, behind the identity we build for living in society. Possibly my favorite quote sums it up very elegantly: Don’t ask what the world needs. Ask what makes you come alive, and go do it. Because what the world needs is people who have come alive.~ Howard Thurman And as we get caught up in our agendas and to-do lists, we tend to forget the simple things that makes us come alive. There is an easy and effective way to remember it: make a list of what makes you come alive. Duh!, is it that simple? Well, yes! On mine, there is dancing (of course, what did you expect ;-) ), traveling, singing, being in nature, seeing friends, meeting people, laughing, smiling to random people, lying in the sun, watching the rain pouring down from a cosy place with a cup of tea warming my hands, recording a video for you... Some require some set up in advance, some are super easy and always available. Most of the time, we just do it, and don't need this reminder. But the day we feel like we need a 10-step plan to happiness, or THE super strategy to find our place in the world, that's when the list helps to keep it simple. These days, we can pick the easiest thing available to us right now and do it. Because these days, we might not even have the energy to think about those things, they might be out of sight. And often, just doing an item of the list will be all we need to remember: "Hey,

Have you ever found yourself frustrated in a conversation, because it didn't go as planned, or as it was "supposed" to? Probably the most important thing for having an effective communication was missing... Can we let the intention structure the interaction, instead of letting our agenda limit it? Last week I went to a dancing evening. (I know, how surprising of me, right? ;-) ) The facilitator was talking lots, like they sometimes do in the beginning, to get people moving. Half an hour in, he was still talking, and people were dancing. And he stopped the music. And he had us make a circle, and started to talk about why he was doing this, and what this event was about... Which felt so off to me, as we were already doing it; a bit late to say: "Hey, this is what we are going to do." Looking around me, I could see eyes rolling, people slowly become more and more still, and I could feel the atmosphere of the room changing. He finally started the music again, we went on dancing, and he continued to give a lot of cues towards what he wanted to see happening... but still disconnected from what was happening in the room.He wasn't listening to what was there, and responding to that; he had an agenda and was going to make THAT happen, no matter what; Like if we were there FOR HIM, instead of him facilitating the experience FOR US. And maybe you're thinking:"Claire, you're sweet and it's great you love dance so much, but I'm not a dance facilitator, so..." I get it, but the above applies to every conversation, and every interaction, we have. We often engage into a conversation with an agenda? With an idea of the outcome we would like from the interaction: that person could become a friend, my romantic partner, a client, a work partner... What if we shifted to having an agenda, to setting an intention? Can we let the intention structure the interaction, instead of letting our agenda limit it? And maybe you're a freelance, a coach (totally random example), or any other situation where you need to have "enrollment conversation". So you need to have an agenda, right? What is the worst case scenario? (To me that would always be that I didn't connected to that person on a human to human level) Let's say it is that this person wouldn't become a client after this conversation; it would be a fail, right? Well, no matter what happened, s/he would respect you for not forcing anything on her/him. And maybe that person would: recommend you to someone else; become your client later; experience a shift, and not need to be your client anymore, and become one of your biggest fans... We never know what is going to come up from a conversation. Setting an intention instead of having an agenda lets room for whatever needs to happen, to actually happen. Of course, it only applies to you if you believe that forcing things on people never work (at least in the long-term), and can trust into building the relationship instead. Can we have more than one intention for the interaction? And while we are at it, let's have more than one intention for the interaction! Mine usually are * connect to that person, human to human (versus coach to client or whatever the case)* make him/her come (even) more alive* empower her/him in regards to whatever they struggle with And another might be, if the way the conversation goes makes it relevant: offer to work with me. Why have more than one? First, it is possible because intention is flexible,

Bonjour life sparklers! The Integrally alive podcast is back for season two: practical wisdom and tools for the bodyMind every week... For unconventional humans to embody their unapologetic Self and create a life of freedom & joy. How sweet, isn't it? Yeah, I know, can't help it. ;-) I'm super excited to begin this new season for you, and with a new format: There will be some interviews, but most of the podcast will be me sharing practical wisdom and tools to make your life easier & more enjoyable. And in a minute I'm going to tell you what to expect. The big why But first, I hear you: unapologetic?! Yeah, another trendy word that's been so used it has lost all power and meaning. Sadly, we still miss it in our life. Just a few years ago, Bonnie Ware, a nurse working with people at the end of their life, published a book: The Top Five Regrets of the Dying. Do you know what the first of these regrets was? "I wish I'd had the courage to live a life true to myself, not the life others expected of me." So, YES TO UNAPOLOGETIC! I unapologetically wish more people to be unapologetic and enjoy a life that is true to themselves. (And I secretly hope that I will pronounce the word "unapologetically" right very soon! Until then, I unapologetically pronounce it in my own way.) Here goes for my big why, but What to expect? Practical wisdom and tools for the bodyMind to make life easier and more enjoyable! Basically, I will touch on everything body & mind related that makes us come more alive. And especially: Shifting from stress to resilience Stress, whatever we name it: overwhelm, decision fatigue, FOMO, anxiety, burn out... This word has become like the tree that hides the forest. What is it really? And what is resilience, and how to grow it? I've got the first good news for you: You were born, and you are alive, right? So you are already resilient! Yep, you just need to grow it. Mastering private speaking Public speaking is great, but what about communicating more effectively with yourself and others, in daily life? That is what private speaking is about. I believe this is something that should be taught in school, to everyone! Owning our stories & the power of storytelling We all have stories, and until we own them, they own us. Hey, sharing stories has been around for thousand years... There must be a reason! Bringing awareness to, & embodying all of your intelligences You read correctly, intelligences, plural: This is the only podcast that makes you 6 times more intelligent. Most of the time, when we talk about intelligence, we think about rational thinking. But we have much more resource than that, in our emotions, in our physical body, in our relationships... So, instead of unconsciously being controlled by them... How would it be to access these resources and intentionally use them in daily life? Welcome to being multidimensional. It is going to be... Simple Because complex is beautiful, but simple is more effective! Practical, and experiential Because much more than from what we read or think, we learn from what we do.

This has been the ritual ending question of the podcast for this last year. And wow, it has been inspiring, touching in many ways, and so diverse! So for the last episode of this season of the podcast, I decided to gather all the answers (Unfortunately some I couldn't put in, due to a too big discrepancy in the quality of the sound). From great sex, to cooking, traveling, enjoying every moment, connecting with others, living the question... There is a lot of wise and even poetic inspiration in this special episode; one to come back to whenever we struggle to answer this "simple" question: What makes you feel alive? In this episode, you hear the answer from: * Rick Sharpe: Healing is mindfully feeling, Part one and Part two [2:02]* Sydney Lander : I am not my thoughts, vibrant life on the other side of suicidal thoughts [4:10]* Monique Debose: Expressing your authentic self [5:31]* Martyn Sibley: Everything is possible and Supporting world changers [6:17]* Ortal Pelleg: Healing with sound vibrations [7:36]* Estela Kun: Location independent lifestyle & creating a life of freedom [8:22]* Alyse Speyer: Creative writing, the book inside you, Part one and Part two [10:51]* Amrit Sandhu: Inspired evolution and finding health through purpose [13:12]* Nicole Gibson: Love Out Loud [14:19]* Sue Martin: Out of the whirlpool [17:05]* Charly Jaffe: Turning crises into sucess, Part one and Part two [19:02]* Jonny Miller: Radical curiosity in the face of the suicide of a loved one [21:24] Go and check their interviews for even more inspiration! See you soon for the next season :-D

If I told you I know a woman who almost killed herself intentionally and thirty years later is one of the funniest and joyful person I know... Would you believe me? This episode might be one of the most "serious" of this season, by the subject. It is also one of those we laughed the most. And i couldn't be happier about that; because only when it will become easier to talk about these "serious" and tough topics, will it also become easier to tackle these issues. So get ready for an incredible story, with an incredible woman! "I didn't think I could ask for help. I know today that if I would have asked for it, I would have gotten it. But at the time, I felt I was unique. [...] So stay alive, even if it's minute to minute, hour to hour, stay alive, and seek the resources that can give you the resilience and the strength to move forward." Sue Martin On depression, suicide, blindness, joy and laughter, mountains, the beauty of life… In this episode, you will learn about: * How Sue came to contemplate suicide. [3:30] * "Every bit of joy and accomplishment vanished, as soon as I was on the ground, and I thought I never would be happy again." Sue Martin* I was just going through the motions. I found no joy in life, I found no happiness, no purpose. * Suicide is NOT wanting to die... It is about wanting to end the pain. [9:29] * "And I finally arrived at a place where the only thing I could think of to end the pain was ending my life." Sue Martin * "I didn't think I could ask for help. I know today that if I would have ask for it, I would have gotten it. But at the time, I felt I was unique. [...] So stay alive, even if it's minute to minute, hour to hour, stay alive, and seek the resources that can give you the resilience and the strength to move forward." Sue Martin * The "positivity" trap (No struggles on Facebook and Instagram). * In a sense, depression and suicidal tendencies are invisible disability, so we have to get out of our way to admit it is happening. * Life after suicide: What could have been the drop too much, was actually the way out! [20:19] * "Down inside there was a spark, that said: "Look, you have two choices here: You can either give up, or learn what you have to learn, and see where life takes you." And that's the route I chose: To learn what I needed to learn, to live independently... And where it's taken me is pretty darn great!" Sue Martin * "It was the feeling of competence that led to a feeling of confidence, and it started a cycle." Sue Martin * "It was not easy, it was a long process, but every day that I added a skill was a victory. And I learned to savor those victories." Sue martin * "It wasn't just the challenge, it was accepting and embracing the challenge of learning a new way of living that made all the difference." Sue Martin * A long road to go... Finding support is crucial! [27:31] * "There were times were I found myself not considering suicide, but knowing that I was in trouble again [...] But I have always ensured that I had people I could go to to say out loud How I'm feeling, what I'm thinking." Sue Martin * "It is not only OK to say "I'm not in a good place", it's good to say out loud to another person: "I think I need some help." Sue Martin * "Every time I've reached out, I've gotten the support I needed. It's almost the greatest gift you can give another person, to listen, and give support." Sue Martin * You don't need to be a psychologist to help! What is the best way to help a friends having suicidal ideation? [31:26] * "If somebody had said to me: "Are you suicidal?" I think it would have been a wake-up call. And I would maybe not have been able to say yes right away, but I do think saying that word out loud is not the closing of a door,

Last episode Charly shared how eventually her biggest challenges became her greatest teachers. And if you missed it, you probably want to go and listen to it before jumping on that one. You use storytelling all the time, whether you are aware of it or not. So how can you use it for healing? we talk about it a lot in this episode... Could owning our story, and sharing it to the world (or at least not be afraid anymore to share it), be a key for healing, and even peace on earth? You already know I'm a strong advocate of using storytelling as an empowerment tool, now it is Charly's turn to tell us... "When we can own and understand how stories are created in our head and start to shift them, we can shift the reality that we experience." Charly Jaffe On turning our pain into power, owning our story, learning from our crisis, enjoying life, writing books... * Sharing our stories is healing... And the timing has to be right, and some people are just not ready to hear you. [0:53]* Can we grow from our struggles? Growing versus fixing ourselves. [6:26] * "Sometimes it is about learning how to sit with our dark places." Charly Jaffe* The delicate balance between being acknowledging and staying present with the darkness, while being open to the lightness.* "Hope doesn't exist without challenge." Charly Jaffe * The importance of staying with, as care-givers. It is not so much what we do, rather than how we show up. [14:04]* The writing of the book Charly with her dad. [15:14] * "The way I was able to write in his voice was by really understanding his mental and emotional patterns and how he sees the world." Charly Jaffe * The process of giving birth to the story. [20:12] * "When we can own and understand how stories are created in our head and start to shift them, we can shift the reality that we experience. [...] Then when we can decide how she share that, how do we extract the lessons from it, then it kinds of amplify the power of that story in such a big way." Charly Jaffe* The power of stories to enhance empathy. * Using storytelling for coaching. [24:45] * Making it a partnership, where everyone takes responsibility for the process.* Going into life with curiosity. * Entrepreneurship is more of a mindset than a situation. [31:24] * "A lot of the entrepreneurial mindset is not necessarily taking life like "this is how things work", it is very much challenging how things work." Charly Jaffe* And you can get curious regarding of your professional situation, in every aspect of your life. * What makes you feel alive? [37:40] Who is Charly Jaffe Charly is a crisis counselor, best-selling author and captivating advocate for emotional health. With a background spanning industries and continents, she produced stories for BBC News, co-ran an Australian yoga school and was an award-winning Google strategist. However, her greatest teachers have come from her gravest challenges – losing her dignity, her mind and nearly her life. Now, she guides people through the conversations we often run from, uncovering the treasures on the other side. She is currently a graduate student at Columbia University’s Department of Counseling and Clinical Psychology. And she just wrote her first book together with her dad: Turning Crisis Into Success: A serial entrepreneur's lessons on overcoming challenge while keeping your sh*t together (it is available on Amazon) Where can you find Charly Jaffe? * http://www.charlyjaffe.

What is the gift in this situation? Sounds familiar? If, like me, you heard it so much that you kind of can't hear it anymore, you're going to love what Charly brings on the topic! Yes, she went through some crises that not one of us would like to experience. And yes, over time, these same challenges became her greatest teachers. And... It didn't happen overnight. So if you are up for some spiritual bullshit busting, and resilience tool, jump on this episode! Stay tuned for next week's episode, with Charly. Beyond her story, she shares more about her experience in writing the book with her father. "Doing that healing work, owning my story, and then sharing my story; and then being able to be the support for other people... That brought so much power into my life." Charly Jaffe On fear, turning our pain into power, owning our story, learning from our crisis, enjoying life... * Charly had a few challenging moments in her life... That turned out to be her greatest teachers. [2:16] * "The things we try to run away from don't just disappear, they come back in different ways; and often times we can't tell, these things that are coming back, why they are there." Charly Jaffe* Finally "I used them as teachers and sign-posts to look at different parts of myself. [...] It gave me the tools to live a life so full, that at the end of it I can look back and say: "Yeah I did that well." Charly Jaffe * Taking care of our health... Physical AND mental health.[5:58] * The very special sense of flow we have during times of crises: "Those moments were so demanding that I was actually totally present." Charly Jaffe* But what happens when the peak of the crises is over? "No one said [I should mentally struggle after my time in the hospital], so I shouldn't be having this." Charly Jaffe* "I didn't know that post traumatic stress experiences can actually show up months later." Charly Jaffe* We prepare ourselves for running a marathon months in advance, but unfortunately in mental health often we don't look into it until we are in a place of crisis.* "A lot of time, we don't know how to show up to support people who are supporting the people. And it's those care-givers that can be the make-or-break." Charly Jaffe * Changing our view on what "crises" is, to better deal with it. [11:20] * "How are we able to dance with fear? " Charly Jaffe* We tend to see health as binary: I'm healthy / unhealthy… But it is more of a spectrum. And recognizing the signs early on is a game changer to going into the full crises. [16:20]* So many people don't recognize they have a problem, until the signs are so big they can't ignore them anymore."The biggest obstacle for asking for help was my own ego; was me thinking: I'm strong, I don't need help." Charly Jaffe* Seeing our mental and emotional patterns, and accepting them, instead of pushing away... That is strength!* "It doens't mean that the storm gets easier, but our toolbox becomes wider." Charly Jaffe* "If you're only looking at these really hard things, and then how I came out of it, and you don't see [the low moments], then I'm part of the problem; because then that creates false expectation." Charly Jaffe* Resilience and post traumatic growth: The more that we are shaken (to a certain degree), it shakes our view of the world. [23:32] * The key to growth is that uncomfortable period.* Resilience is all the time: When you are in the low, that is when you need and are doing resilience. * What was the shift from these times of crisis, to who Charly is today? [25:24] * The long process to stepping away from her life, and enquiring: Without all these things, Who am I?

This is the last part of the interview, so if you missed the first part, you probably want to listen to it here. In this episode, we go on deeper on how and why the real strength is to be vulnerable. And especially how it serves our relationships; because, surprisingly, men and women communicate differently and it takes a bit of vulnerability and willingness to meet our partner where s/he is, and improve our communication to improve our relationships. And do you wonder how Rick went from journaling to writing a book (soon followed by another)? Yeah, I was curious too! " There is so much substance to opening your heart up. That creates a pathway for personal growth and better mental well-being." Rick Sharpe On men / women communication, relationships, emotional intelligence, vulnerability, journaling... * Men / women way of communicating... Men need to figure things out before talking, while women talk to figure things out. [01:34] * The lost art of listening: So many people think they are listening while they are just waiting for the right moment to say their line. * Vulnerability as a strength... Sadly we often see it as a weakness. [06:35] * "There is so much substance to opening your heart up. That creates a pathway for personal growth and better mental well-being." Rick Sharpe * Not everything works for everyone, but there is a solution for everyone. [09:14] * The problem with "fake positivity".* How to deal with pain; not only ours, but how to help someone who is struggling. * "No matter what you are going through, depression, anxiety, suicide ideation, all these kinds of things... You are not alone." Rick Sharpe [14:12] * The importance of talking, and journaling if talking to someone isn't an option. * From journaling to writing the book "The price of a heartbreak". [17:56] * It is more about sharing an experience than giving advice: "The only advice I could give would be based on my experience, which has nothing to do with them." Rick Sharpe * The more we share our story, the more we learn from it. [26:40]* The next book: collecting stories to help people move their life. [29:00]* The struggle on top of "mental health" issues: How do we accept the pain, when it is not visible? [32:11]* If stories are so important to share, how do we make sure they respect their boundaries without sharing too much, while staying authentic. [35:00]* What makes Rick feel alive? You've got to listen! ;-) [39:00] Who is Rick Sharpe? Rick worked as an air traffic controller for 20 years, and is a Master Life Coach and an Emotional Intelligence and Mindfulness Facilitator. He wrote a book called “The Price of Heartbreak”, inspired from what he calls his “year from hell”; that was also the beginning of a new chapter in his life, where he has learnt from experience how getting out his comfort zone was a key element of growth and becoming comfortable with being uncomfortable most days. He developed a method called the A.U.R.A method (Acknowledge, Understand, Responsibility, Action) that helps people who struggle emotionally. Today he is committed to sharing his journey of growth with others to inspire and connect. Where can you find Rick Sharpe * http://www.rick-sharpe.com* https://www.facebook.com/RickSharpeAuthor/ Rick's book "The Price of Heartbreak" (Healing is mindfully feeling) https://read.amazon.com/kp/embed?asin=B074T168K7&preview=newtab&linkCode=kp...

Do you have your personal version of a "year from Hell"? Rick does, and that is what he shares in his book "The price of Heartbreak". On the podcast, he shares his story and how getting comfortable with the uncomfortable got him to place he didn't dare to go, like vulnerability. Discover why it is even more difficult for men than women to open up to it, and how Rick discovered and used emotional intelligence to heal. This is only the first part of the interview, stay tuned for next week's episode with the end, and more on emotional intelligence, relationship and how men and women can communicate better, and much more. " It was a cycle of getting to the rim of the hole I was in, and not quite getting out of it. It was a conscious decision I had to make (... that ...) I had to do something." Rick Sharpe On depression, heartbreak, relationships, emotional intelligence, vulnerability, storytelling, journaling... I just woke up one morning and looked up at myself in the mirror and it is almost as if I didn't recognize that person I was looking at anymore. We have this deep rooted thing inside us around survival, and I just kind of came to the surface, and I had to do something.Rick Sharpe * The story behind the book "The price of a Heartbreak" and the healing power of journaling: "It is something I had to get out of my head, then it took a life on its own." Rick Sharpe [02:06] * The value of having a historical path to reflect on: "I could see a tangible growth experience unfolding." Rick Sharpe* And a great tools to recognize what is going on: "That is the kind of moments when you have to look at yourself in the mirror and accept who you are. And to do that you got to understand how you got there." Rick Sharpe * The three phases Rick went through for healing [12:17] * Sometimes we get caught into a downward spiral without realizing it: "I had to accept that where I was was not acceptable for me." Rick Sharpe* Understanding how did I got here and accepting responsibility for you life.* Take action. * Embarking on the life-long journey of "presenting a better version of myself tomorrow than today". [15:20] * The importance of being kind to our-self. * The difference between self-love and self-complacency. [19:10] * Especially in depression for example, some days there is no will to get out of bed, and we need to allow what is happening and feel into it without adding guilt or shame. And some times, it is just an excuse for not doing what would be best for ourselves, but feels difficult.* "It was a cycle of getting to the rim of the hole you were in and not quite getting out of it. It was a conscious decision I had to make (... that ...) I had to do something." Rick Sharpe* Having people around you who can see what is going on can help to get out of the tunnel vision we get caught into. * What speaking out changes: Everything! [23:05] * We fear rejection when we talk about our struggles and choose vulnerability. Yet "The more you do it the easier it becomes. There is nobody who is going to come back at you saying that you are doing something that is not helpful for yourself." Rick Sharpe * "We are so good at hiding how we feel, and the torment." Rick Sharpe [26:03] * Sometimes we do so to keep people around us comfortable.* It is like we all are waiting for someone to understand us, but we cannot be understood unless we speak out. And the first who speaks, allows all the others to do so. * We have these expectations, ingrained by our society and our education, about what a man should be, and it makes it even more difficult for men to talk about emotions. [31:03] * "When we get into a relationship, because we've been pigeonholed in being that tough guy; we are the provider, and the mentor, and the guardian, and the protector,