Week 34: Teens, Tools and New Opportunities
Here we go again with newsletter number 4! This week is filled with moments, tools, tips, insights, slip ups, and most importantly things you can use to create a more joyful and fulfilling life.
This week was about my son stepping into the teen phase (sort of), ladders leaning against the wrong walls, and a digital tool that finally brings some peace to my chaotic mind. So let’s GO!
1) My mission: help, my ladder is leaning against the wrong mountain!
In case you’re wondering what I actually do (I always think it is obvious 😉): I help people who have focused on external success, but either do not reach it and feel frustrated because others always seem to have more, or realize that once they have it, it feels empty. I guide them to refocus on inner growth.
We are conditioned to believe happiness lies somewhere else in that job, that relationship, that house, the number on your bank account. But the happiest people are not defined by what they own, but by who they have become.
Inner growth is no hippie bs. It is the only form of growth that is truly sustainable. And that is what I help people with. Did I mention I have the best job in the world? Well, now I have!
2) Jimmy turned 10: on being a far from perfect mom
As of Sunday, I officially have a teen in the house! Jimmy turned 10. TEN! 🥹 (Okay, not a real teenager yet, but that is how it feels.)
I organized a treasure hunt, collected photos from 10 years of Jimmy and discovered that I am not the kind of mom who keeps everything neatly in yearly photo albums. But hey: the first five years are now in a book, the rest will follow. Someday. 😅
With balloons, a gnome forest, the zoo, and a treasure hunt through the Wilhelminapark, it was a real celebration. And I am grateful that his father and I can still create a beautiful birthday party together, even though we are no longer a couple.
3) Martijn Aslander’s book launch: ready fire aim works
Last month I had a private session with Martijn Aslander. I felt the call to share my story, and Martijn said: “Practice at my book launch.”
So there I was, giving a mini talk about Obsidian, and how you can actually organize and retrieve all the knowledge you collect instead of letting it gather dust in 72 notebooks.
It wasn’t perfect, but the impact was huge. Coaches came up to me afterward. I signed up for the monthly meetup at Wonders of Work, and on Monday September 1st I will be speaking there. Yay!
4) Tool of the week = also book of the week: Start with Obsidian
Okay, honestly? How many times did I think: “I know I wrote something great about this… but where is it?” Since March, I have been working with Obsidian, and those days are over.
“A sense of purpose does not come from just thinking about it. It comes from taking action that moves you toward the future…” – paraphrase of Phil Stutz
With this tool you can connect everything you learn. You find it back, you see patterns, and new ideas emerge. You can also track vacation ideas, podcasts, or favorite restaurants, basically anything you find interesting.
5) Coaching season is back
Want to learn it properly? Then Martijn Aslander’s book is a must. I was honored to write a recommendation for it, and he also gives free classes at Wonders of Work in Utrecht. But seriously, the book is the best place to start.
Schools are back in session, and so am I. And I still have space in my practice. Do you know someone who could use a loving kick in the butt? 😉
Schedule a free introduction session here.
Someone did last week and left a wonderful review. Thank you, Kevin Murphy 🙏
Where you can see me live soon:
September 1 – Wonders of Work, Utrecht (16–17h): interactive talk on procrastination and self doubt. Free entry
September 12 – Workshop Move Forward with Confidence in Meppel (13–17h)
November 11 – Network full of Magic with Liesbeth Kingma (details soon)
Looking for a speaker with energy, substance, and humor? I’m available!
To wrap up
If you take only one thing from this newsletter, let it be this: check where your ladder is leaning.
Is it the mountain of meaning, or the mountain of always needing more? Place your ladder against the right mountain. Your life will be so much richer. Bring it on!
Thank you for reading! Did you find this valuable? I would love it if you respond, subscribe, or share it with someone who might benefit. 💌
With Active Love, Syl
PS: Next week I will talk about Inner Excellence by Jim Murphy. Get ready! 📚
