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Last Sunday night, I lay awake for a while. I had gotten up to use the bathroom at 3:17 a.m., and I was really looking forward to crawling back into my warm bed and falling asleep again. And then the ...

It can happen in a coaching conversation just like that.

I ask, “What does it ask of you to take the step toward self‑employment?”

She looks up, falls silent, and whispers, “I don’t know. I really just ...

'How can I make a plan for the coming year while still staying flexible?' This question recently came up in a group conversation. And what emerged? Nearly everyone recognized the dilemma.

And then the coachee was completely stuck—utterly stuck.

Not long ago, during a partner coaching session in the Transformational Presence Leadership and Coaching Program, the coachee felt completely “s...

Coaching: What an Incredible Profession!

One of the greatest privileges of being a coach is witnessing those powerful moments of transformation—whether in my training programs or in one-on-one sessions...

Last Saturday, our son Thijs was sitting on the couch at home. Out of nowhere, a little laugh escaped—just a quick “uhhuh.” Then it grew: “uhhuhuhu.” Before we knew it, his laughter was bubbling over,...

What Makes an Afternoon with the Transformational Presence Community So Special?

On November 5th, more than 30 of us gathered for an afternoon of interaction, experience, and exploration—and I loved ev...

Sometimes it just happens to me out of the blue. I’ll be watching the news, and suddenly it’s there — a feeling of powerlessness, or even discouragement.

“What’s the opportunity that this is?”

I first heard this question at a seminar with Jack Canfield in August 2009. It immediately intrigued me.

“I’m not one to complain, but…”

And then follows a detailed account of everything my conversation partner is struggling with. Whenever this happened, I noticed my tolerance for “the complaining fellow...

In my last blog, I shared my new daily work routines—made possible by a conscious choice: letting what I want take the lead, instead of what seems possible in my schedule. That story resonated with ma...

In the spring, before I went on sabbatical, I sensed that after the summer I would relate to my work differently. I wasn’t sure how or what exactly would change, but I trusted that it would become cle...

Monday morning, after a 3-month sabbatical, I sit down at my computer to start working again. I open my inbox.

My eye is immediately drawn to a disturbing message.

A while ago, I stumbled upon the English verb "to coddiwomple" somewhere in a text. I had never heard of it before. When I looked up its meaning, I was surprised:

"How do you ensure that you keep your energy level as high as possible?" One of the participants in the Transformational Presence Leadership in Coaching program recently asked me this question.

Since the Covid-period, I have been walking every day; around lunchtime, I go out, in the absence of having a dog, to "walk myself," as I call it.

Transformational Presence's approach, concepts, and tools help you align with life. At its core, it is based on a simple 3-step process guided by three questions: 

You may have heard the phrase "everything is energy in motion" or words to that effect. But what is its relevance to everyday life?

Why did this happen?’ ‘I should have seen this coming!’ ‘How did this all come about?’

I just have a small question," begins Marieke*, a participant in the Dutch Transformational Presence Leadership in Coaching training program, during the monthly Q&A session a while ago.

Do you ever worry? Recent events in world politics give plenty of reason to. Worrying about something is human, but is it desirable, especially if it weighs heavily on your mind? Let's take a closer l...

I am experiencing this winter very differently from previous winters—lighter, more natural, and effortless. From a young age, I have always preferred spring and summer, and over time, I have come to a...

Everything happens in the 'here and now'. Alan Seale, founder of Transformational Presence, expands these words to the 'bigger here and the longer now.'

The polarization in society seems to be increasing. X and other social media are overflowing with opinions. Many are busy judging, wanting to be right, convincing, and opposing. With what result?

How are your New Year's resolutions going? About two weeks into the new year, there often comes a decisive moment: Do you persevere or let them go?

Last week, a new word caught my attention: 'war mindset'. According to NATO chief Mark Rutte, it is time to mentally prepare for a possible war. Banks have also called for having enough cash at home i...

This question often comes up in the coaching sessions I lead. Exploring this question often leads to the insight that, however subtle, fear is often the driving force.

As 2024 slowly comes to an end and the days get shorter, with so much still to be done before the year is over, the fatigue around me seems to be increasing. "Just one more month to hold on, and then ...

It is Wednesday morning, November 6th. I read the news in disbelief. The American people have re-elected Donald Trump as their president. If the history of his first term repeats itself, we will face ...

This tree (see above) caught my attention last weekend while hiking the Müllerthal Trail in Luxembourg. For me, this tree, the place where it planted itself, and the way it found its path through the ...

"It can be different." Four seemingly simple words, spoken by one of the participants in the  ‘Transformational Presence Intensive Course’ training. It was her response to my question: what is the mos...

I often hear people say things like, ‘I could slow down a bit and take more time for myself.’ I hear this sentiment frequently, whether in coaching conversations, during my programs as a reflection af...

How do you position yourself as a coach during a coaching conversation? Where does your attention go? Do you have a specific result in mind, and are you working towards achieving it, or are you guidin...

‘I get stuck in my own thoughts. The more I think, the more I start to doubt. And the more I doubt, the more I hesitate to take action. The more I hesitate, the more I procrastinate. And eventually, I...

“I feel completely sidelined and not taken seriously,” says Eric*, a manager of a large operational department, with anger still in his voice during a coaching session last month.

Do you ever worry? Perhaps a strange question. "Of course, doesn't everyone?" might be your first response. Worrying about something is human, but is it desirable?

Floods in Germany and Austria, war in Ukraine, a prolonged government formation process, conflict in Gaza, student protests, the nitrogen crisis, climate change, European elections... A lot has been h...

In my previous blog, I wrote, "Being here is the most important thing; everything that happens is a bonus." The next morning, one of my readers asked, "How?

In April, I flew to Arkansas for nine days, the state where I had lived for a year as an 18-year-old exchange student. When I landed in Memphis after a smooth journey, something remarkable happened.

One of the books that has inspired me the most is the trilogy "Conversations with God" by Neale Donald Walsch. I first read it about 15 years ago, and I remember being immediately drawn in.

"I feel a sense of restlessness inside, and I don't know where it's coming from. I don't understand it at all." Last week, I had a coaching session with Peter*, who works as an internal coach at a lar...

On 30 March, my father-in-law would have turned 83. Standing around the memorial plaque in the nearby graveyard, we remind ourselves not so much of his life in terms of the events that were memorable,...

About two months ago, I noticed I was in a bit of a funk. I had less energy, less motivation, and a sense of discontent circled within me. Generally, my mood is pretty stable, positive, and cheerful, ...

During my meditation sessions, I regularly ask myself: What can I be more aware of? Or what is the most important thing I could focus on right now?

"What I notice the most is that my experience is more intense; I'm more present in the moment itself." Ingrid, one of the participants who completed the Transformational Presence Intensive Course last...

"I'm curious!" I find myself saying these words often throughout the day. And upon closer examination, even more frequently. Curiosity isn't just a great skill, as movie director Paul Verhoeven sugges...

In many of the coaching sessions I lead, I've noticed that "fear" takes center stage. Often, the word "fear" isn't directly used, but it lurks in the form of worrying about what's to come or feeling i...

The new year has just begun. Traditionally, this is a time for setting goals and making plans.

Reflecting on the past year, how do you view it? Is there something you're particularly proud of? Perhaps you fondly reminisce about a special journey or find satisfaction in achieving a milestone, li...

Recently, I had a coaching session with a team coach named Eric*, who works within a large educational organization. He is relatively new to this role, and the primary question he wanted to explore

Fundamentally speaking, there are only two emotions: love and its counterpart, often referred to as 'fear' by many.

Every situation holds an invitation to learn and grow. I first encountered this concept in 2009 during a seminar by Jack Canfield.

The Hermetic principle of Polarity teaches us that everything is dual, that everything has poles in the sense of a pair of opposites. And these opposites are of the same nature, differing only in degr...

Everything is energy in motion, constantly evolving, and yet, as human beings, we crave stability and certainty. We largely create that sense of stability through the establishment of fixed habits and...

The second perspective that can support you in living "the good life" (see the blog from August 27, 2023) is to view everything as energy in motion.

The 1st perspective: everything is information If you view everything happening in your life as 'information,' you let go of the struggle in your life.

This summer, in a rare deviation from a two-decade-long pattern, allowed Maartje and me to vacation outside the customary peak season. The initial two weeks after our return engaged me in coaching com...

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