I believe there is room for joy, connection and wisdom, even under the most difficult circumstances. I have deep faith in the possibility of mindfulness and transformation, individually and collectively. Our innate capacity for self-awareness and spirituality can be cultivated, and then gives us great resilience.

 

I love the process of learning. I love personal growth. I am a psychologist and a teacher in heart and soul. I teach mindfulness and, at De Mindfulness Academie, I train people to become mindfulness teachers themselves.

 

I also love writing … the craft, and the opportunity it offers to dive deeply. I write books about what it’s like to be a trainer, translated in English and other languages. And books for the general public.

 

I am convinced of our deep social nature, and the sense of our connectedness can serve as a source of happiness.

 

What today’s world needs is more care. Key to this is enhancing our natural capacity for compassion. I teach compassion trainings. As a teacher-trainer I am affiliated with the Center for Mindful Self Compassion.

 

For years I was struggling to find clarity and peace in the midst of the reality of the worldwide ecological crisis. I found a path towards realistic hope and transferred it into a brand new training: Mindfulness for the World. 

 

Practice of meditation is my base. It helps me to cope with the difficulties of life, to  find more joy, and realize again and again that, after all, the here and now is almost always the best place to be.

 

I realize that I am blessed to be in the position that I can for my livelihood by offering contemplative practices to the world. To my teachers, to my students: thank you.