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Bitten by a dog…
Every time a story is retold, it comes alive and evolves like a feral creature. This slightly shocking, though intriguing, event I am about to recount taught me not only a few things about myself, but also highlighted what might happen at the intersection of systems....
Are you looking for honey?
Most of us probably have a friend, or know someone who has a friend, that is particularly dramatic. That friend always seems to be on a roller-coaster of emotions triggered by some fairly ordinary life events, such as doing your grocery shopping. I can actually recall...
La Madre Hipster
Introducing Madre Hipster"Have you ever thought you would live a life like this?", I ask my German flatmate, Jess, while sipping a cup of tea at midnight and gazing with awe at the Milky Way interwoven with the volcanic landscape of Lake Atitlan. She replies "No, but...
Your erotic hungers
Covid is exhausting in a number of ways. When many of my UK friends are grappling with more lockdowns and restrictions, we are blissfully immune to it in Guatemala through sheer ignorance. There is no reliable data and we can only roughly guess how good or how bad...
My therapist says…
When I did my counselling training I would occasionally meet up for a drink with some of my psychologically minded friends. We would have a good chat, exchange views on various aspects of theory and sometimes mention an interesting piece of insight from our...
Let’s have a Kiki
Guatemala has just emerged from a five month lockdown. We had to bear the excruciating limitations of the curfew. When rushing back home before 6PM, I often felt like Cinderella, wondering if I might turn into a pumpkin. It has been quite a while since the pandemic...
This is the new normal
You may be ever so slightly irritated by the title of this post. Yet another cliché added to the "We're all in this together", implying that everybody in the world is affected to the same extent by the Coronavirus pandemic. If you're reading this, chances are that you...
The Nigerian Method
Have you ever found yourself on the other side of the world and met someone who just embodied their values in every single breath they take? The sort of person who mostly knows THE WHY of whatever they were put on this Earth to do... experiences on the other side of...
You cannot escape The Shadow
It's almost the end of the rainy season in Guatemala. Almost! Many people are at the end of their tether and feeling rather hard done by as victims of the greater powers. That was, indeed, the argument of our Internet provider, who swiftly rejected my ruthless...
Living The Burn
Does it seem to you that the best things in life come your way without you asking for it? It certainly rings true for me, not sure whether it is because I am lucky or because there is some metaphysical order to the randomness of the Universe. Anyway, this was the case...
Painful existence
I have no idea why I tend to feel moved to write when I’m sick. The whole idea of this blog started after I spent several days banished to the confines of my bed through the weakness of my body. This time I got some bloody inflammation in my elbow, caused by a random...
Working for the universe
I have this Guatemalan friend, Enrique, and he is fabulous. His wardrobe is apparently the size of a master bedroom. He has outfits for every occasion. Rock concert? He’s got some proper rock’n’roll boots and a leather jacket. He loves jackets by the way. Techno...
Perceiving personal power
When I think of resilience I always imagine a sturdy little plant growing in the midst of a rocky and barren land. This is about thriving – not just surviving – in adversity. It’s the determination to maintain a sense of agency when external circumstances undermine...
Connecting interculturally
The world is becoming a melting pot, whether we like it or not. It may be a very glamourous arena of expats occupying high-end jobs in multinational corporations or a dehumanising reality of the many refugees who escape war torn countries. In any case, we are mingling...
Your body is a temple
It’s almost the end of March. By now our New Year’s resolutions tend to fade into oblivion and many people lose their determination to exercise. Some more willing folks start their spring walks as the world awakens after the winter months. Don’t worry, I am not going...
Flirts and social capital
This blog post explores the impact of individuals relationships on group performance.
Stop and be grateful
When was the last time you experienced a blackout, when everything stopped and you were left at the raw mercy of nature? I’m not even talking about not being able to boil water for a cup of tea. I’m talking about being cut off from the radio, TV or your phone, all of...
Running out of time?
Time management is a popular topic on seminars, coaching sessions and training programs for executives. I find it funny, as it implies that mere mortals do not need to reflect on their relationship with time. Perhaps The Powers That Be view people who are beyond the...
Let’s get rich!
Our self-belief is a result of critical eperiences that test our abilities. We can deliberately expose ourselves to challenges. We also need people who believe in us. Find out how others can support you in developing a sense of self-agency.
Power and privilege
Issues of diversity and inequality shape our relationships. You can consciously use your privileges to build communities. Find out how awareness of your rank can empower you and others.
Jetsetter’s paradise?
If people look externally at my life at the moment, it seems to be a stress-free paradise. My clients see my face on a computer screen in various time zones every other week. I work on international research projects that address educational psychology and...
Intoxicating beauty
Some places around the world are breathtakingly beautiful. Most of us must have had an experience of awe as we looked at a famous monument, a known landmark, an iconic view, an original piece of art or a stunning and picturesque landscape. There is no doubt that...
Because I’ve known you…
We all get impacted by people around us, whether we want it or not. Some influence us briefly but greatly, while others help us to forge a sense of self over weeks, months, years and decades. I don’t think that coaches or therapists are the only individuals on Earth...
The wisdom of Not-Knowing
How often are you put on the spot and asked a question…? How often do you feel that you should have all the answers? We know that it’s not even humanely possible to know everything and somehow this idea permeates our society. Sometimes at school we get penalised for...
The power of response
We have all seen a child throwing a tantrum at one point or another. We may have noticed the embarrassed parent, the demanding kid, our possible discomfort and perhaps pity or compassion of some bystanders. Recently, as I was leaving the swimming pool, I happened to...
Don’t interrupt me! I’m dreaming.
Recently my father told me a funny little story: I was roughly five years old and my mother walked into my room. I was lying on my foldable setee (or sofa if you’re posh!), looking very intently at the ceiling. While I was completely engrossed in my thoughts, my mum...
Mindful minds
mindfulness fills your mind with resources Everyone talks about mindfulness these days: your boss, your colleagues, your friends, your therapist, your coach and the poster at the local community centre advertises mindfulness-based stress reduction sessions. We are...
Sex, drugs and boundaries.
Counsellors love mentioning boundaries... a breach of boundaries, enforcing boundaries, expecting boundaries, violating boundaries and what not. But what do they really mean by that? What are boundaries and why do we need them as mere mortals who did not go through...
Teaching in flow
There is so much talk about student engagement - making sure that students are happy, entertained and totally engrossed in what they’re doing. But what about the teachers? How to ensure they’re happy and engaged in the process of teaching? The teaching, actually being...
Embracing disturbance through art
How come people differ so much in their talents? I’ve always wondered about this because I am absolutely hopeless when it comes to drawing, painting or any active forms of visual expression. On the other hand, Lucinda Metcalfe is one of those astute artists that not...
Autonomy and motivation
We all like autonomy. The feeling of freedom and being in control. The classroom is no different. Students are more engaged and have a greater sense of responsibility when given autonomy over their learning. They thrive when they are given opportunities to investigate...
A nudge of curiosity
I don’t think I am the only person in the world that finds it hard to change, to implement new projects, to venture into unchartered territories of creation and come back into a better version of myself. Some people say that I am quite driven and motivated… I must say...
Perspective is the key
We all know that our perspective changes our perception, however when we are in the midst of an annoying, difficult or sad conversation we tend to forget it. We start having tunnel vision tinted with our personal bias; our options seem to narrow down and our potential...
Investigating the nature of speed
“When you stopped me, you took me forward” was a phrase used by one of my coaching clients a few years ago. I had the privilege to work with a wonderfully wise woman who concluded that her incessant stream of words was really an attempt to avoid what was actually...
The act of creation
The first entry in my blog had to be about creativity. To me, it means exploring beginnings and roots, diving into the unknown with trust and anxiety all at the same time. Creativity was explored throughout human existence from a variety of perspectives. What is mine...
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