Dear Reader, In January, I declared 2025 my year of healing. Since then, there has definitely been progress, but lately, I feel stuck, struggling with infections and worsening eczema. So, I've turned again to manifesting as a complementary tool in my healing toolkit (don't worry, I take antibiotics against those infections). Let's return to have another look at manifesting, which I have only started to understand now. Manifesting What is manifesting again? Best-selling author Gabby Bernstein...
11 days ago • 2 min read
Dear Reader, It's a lovely autumn this weekend - nice sunny weather but not too hot. Yesterday, I went for a coastal walk with the kids, and we had a great time. So, I decided not to complain about our society and write about happiness. Here are 3 ingredients for happiness: Prerequisite Before we can talk about being happy, it's important to acknowledge who is responsible for our own happiness. Spoiler: it's not your mum, the government, your partner or the weather. Nobody can make you happy...
18 days ago • 3 min read
Dear Reader, Yeah, yeah, I'm supposed to grade papers right now. I've graded half already, so I can allow myself some procrastination. But this is on my mind and I want to share: Cost of Living I'm getting super annoyed with everyone complaining about the cost of living. I know that might be you and I understand. But I'm still very annoyed. Interestingly, I, as a low-income earner living in just a room, don't complain. Of course, this is a happiness thing and I'd therefore like to unpack...
about 1 month ago • 3 min read
Dear Reader, Some years ago, a friend told me that she wouldn't give advice anymore because that makes people unhappy. She had participated in a course around spirituality and self-improvement. I love giving (usually unsolicited) advice. While I could understand her reasons, I totally disagreed and still do. I think advice is great, and we should give and listen to it way more. But of course there are a few requirements to consider. So, let's get to it! Why can advice be really good? It's...
about 2 months ago • 3 min read
Dear Reader, My friend had her first baby a few weeks ago. She tells me that the baby cries a lot and that gas is probably the trouble. She's exhausted (although the baby sleeps a lot at night) and worried. Not our job What I'm trying to tell her is that it's not our job to make our babies/children happy. NOT OUR JOB. It's actually their job. Of course, here I am talking when I absolutely tried to make my baby happy when little Nima was born. I was very unhappy when she cried because she...
about 2 months ago • 2 min read
Dear Reader, Today, I decided to avoid world improvement rants. Since I also decided to let my local pub cook my dinner (steak night!), today's newsletter was all set: community. Community is very important in the happiness field! Our locals There is something nice and comforting about our local places, isn't there? It's the sense of belonging to a community and it makes us happy! Right now, I'm enjoying a glass of bubbly after my steak, appreciating the balmy late summer evening and the...
2 months ago • 2 min read
Hello Reader, Are you settled well into the new year? I hope so because we're now already half through January. While I am focussing on writing this last submittable draft of my PhD for the next 2 to 3 months - it's going really well! - I'm starting to think beyond PhD. Currently, it takes all of my energy dedicated to income generation and career (I also have some dedicated to family, health and friends). But since it looks promising that I will submit in the first half of 2024, it's time to...
over 1 year ago • 1 min read
Hello Reader, Have you tried some grounding? Probably not but maybe it will be useful one day. I've reflected on the idea that only happiness should be used for life evaluation (not success, health, wealth, growth etc.). This reflection was triggered when reading about Amartya Sen who is an influential scholar in the field of economic and humanitarian development. His capability approach suggests offering so-called freedoms so that people can live their lives to the fullest. In the...
over 1 year ago • 1 min read
Hello Reader, Hope you are well and happy! You might have noticed that I'm slipping into a new routine of sending newsletters every second week. I might return to weekly at some point but currently, the PhD stuff is absorbing my energy. Talking about energy, I'm really getting into energy healing. After years of health mismanagement (hello super drunken sleepless nights, binge eating, smoking and believing that I can do 'it all'), I have a number of health issues. The worst ones are looked...
over 1 year ago • 1 min read