The 2nd Half: Your guide to a more fulfilling career (and life).

Everything is possible. We can achieve anything we want. That dream life that seems impossible, that career we can not believe we could have. There is a way to get there where you end saying to yourself "I can't believe this is my life, this is what I am doing every day". I have a very practical approach on how to make it, without risk and with success. There is of course a number of things we need to do for it, but if we do, that thought, that idea, that dream, that intention is all attainable.

Are you at your best? On every aspect of your life, how are you showing up? To your work, to your relationships? If we are not showing up, every day, at everything we do at our best or at least trying to do so, then there is work to do and some changes might be needed. Showing up at our best some times might be not showing up at all to events, social engagements we don’t want to go to. It is not good for us but more importantly for the other. Working on an improved version of ourselves in a constant basis is not a selfish act, but rather an act or responsibility, accountability, respect and love to ourselves and those around us. For me that is taking time off, on my own, far away from my daily reality to do some personal work. My “going inward annual reset”. For you it might look completely different. Let’s give it a thought.

Dealing with difficult situations: a complaint, unexpected harsh feedback, being at the receiving end of negativity from someone else. What do we do? Very commonly, we freeze, we get blocked, we take it personal, we question ourselves, we doubt our skills, we react emotionally, we take it to our side of the court. And we jump into fixing mode. But is that really necessary? Is it our responsibility? Does it belong to us? How can we identify what is actually going on? And more importantly, what is the appropriate response before we make it our issue? A tool that helps? Something I call “The theatre technique”. Music Production by Jarl Hector at Clear Music Amsterdam Podcast Editing by Jorge Pastrana Artwork by Laszlito Kovacs

Documenting has proven to be the key to success to transition into doing something you truly love 100% of the time, even turning it into your living or as the way to naturally grow your own business. Without forcing or having to do anything difficult. We underestimate the power of showing what we do to the world even if we believe it is not important or valuable to anybody. If no one has a clue that you do that one thing nobody will think of you. But if you give them the thought, provoke the idea, show yourself in a different way you would be surprised what kind of avenues, opportunities, sources of income and new directions are "suddenly" generated. 

During a recent dinner I was asked what was the biggest shift I experienced in the last few years. My answer was: Getting rid of attachments. This truly has been a big change. Not only the obvious bad attachments, often linked to addiction but also the “positive” ones: obsessively meditating, extreme exercising daily. Any kind of attachment, anything that rules your life, those things we believe we can’t live without. Any time we start our sentences with “I need to…” and “I have to” we need to pay attention. On this episode I share how I got rid of attachments, from plant medicine to willpower. And what happens when you actually change habits and you realise that you actually don’t need what you think you need.

Imagine a piece of furniture standing outside for a long period of time, the dirt, the water, the environment gets on top of it and at a certain moment you can’t see what that wood was originally like. You can clean it, you can wash it, but the layers are too thick to be removed with simply some soap. So we might need to sand it, get a machine and peel all the layers, so we can come back to its original beauty. And that however we don’t do with our own bodies, carrying all the emotions since the moment we were born piling up, layer after layer, after layer… On the latest episode of The 2nd Half podcast I look at the body and how we can create some true self care, so that we can start removing and releasing stuck emotions in our in our bodies as a regular practice, as part of our regular ongoing work. Body care that is not necessarily going to the gym, kicking, boxing cycling, having a facial and a pedicure. This year my theme is the body and I have gone deeper into different practices. Here are some of the things I covered during this episode as part of my own journey of exploration: Breath - Wim Hof and Hollotropic breathwork Movement - Ecstatic dance, 5 rhythms Sound - Any kind of Sound Healing sessions Yoga - Yin, Kundalini Massage - Nurturing, healing massages  Books: Breath by James Nestor Training the Mind, Healing the Body by Deepak Chopra and David Simon Why We Sleep by Matthew Walker ------------------------  Music Production by Jarl Hector at Clear Music Amsterdam Podcast Editing by Jorge Pastrana Artwork by Lazslito Kovaks

If you get triggered there is work to do. Not easy to go inward when emotions are flying. If we get annoyed, disturbed, if we run into conflict, we have work to do, even though we might not be willing to accept it. That is our responsibility. Because the word says it already, it is our ability to respond. Therefore it is our call to decide how we will deal with whatever comes our way. We always have a choice and the possibility to be in the driver seat. 

The beauty of having nothing to say. Zero opinion. If we really want to help, the most considerate gesture might actually be to keep our mouth shut. Is it really your concern? Is it really your business? Why are we busy with Meghan and Harry? Why do keep giving people advice they haven't asked us for? When we have conversations, are we really listening to understand or to respond? One of the hardest things to do, because it is much easier put the focus on others than to look at ourselves. Because then suddenly it becomes quiet and what do we do then?

How can we play the political game to our advantage? Before we bring all our emotions to the work floor, think of quitting or even worse collapse...how can be savvier, with open cards on the table, without having to stab anyone in the back and still get our way and progress in our career? On this episode I cover two tips on how to conduct ourselves in order for us to reach our goals. And the fact that there is no difference between life and work, personal and office. If in your private life you are not the negative person that only brings issues to your friendships and relationships, why are we doing that at work? Music Production by Jarl Hector at Clear Music Amsterdam Podcast Editing by Jorge Pastrana

A few days ago I had a long walk in nature and a wonderful conversation which proved to be extremely revealing with regards to my vocation and what I am meant to be doing. I was always a bit envious of those people who knew very early on that they were going to be a singer, or a dancer, or a designer... something that I never had (or I didn’t know I had). But I realised it was always there from the beginning. The more we can tap into that passion, if we can come closer to that which we were consumed with when we were little, the happier we will be and the more authentic our endeavors will be. It might not seem very apparent, but it is there, if we know where to look at. And...I have a specially composed music/tune for The 2nd Half Podcast! From this episode onwards. Music Production by Jarl Hector at Clear Music Amsterdam. Podcast Editing by Jorge Pastrana