Love Your Expat Life: Recent Episodes
Caroline Giffon
Leading an expat life can seem so glamorous and exciting, and often it is! But what if you struggle with the language, your professional credentials aren't recognized, or you find it difficult to build new relationships? Crafting a meaningful, satisfying life takes work no matter where you are, but for expat partners, the challenges can be even greater. If you're looking to create meaningful change in your life, to have a lifestyle, relationships, and career that truly suit and fulfill you, but you're not sure how to start, don't worry. You don't have to figure it out on your own. Certified Life Coach Caroline Giffon helps global nomads get clear on what they want and equips them with the tools to get there. Join her every week for Loving Your Expat Life, her podcast full of ideas to help expats bridge the gap between the life they're leading...and the life they'll love. Available wherever you listen to podcasts. Find more from Caroline at https://girafecoaching.com.
Transitions often leave us feeling like our world has been turned upside down, intensifying our anxiety. In the last episode of Love Your Expat Life, we explored what anxiety is and debunked some common misconceptions about it (make sure to tune into part one first).
Today, I want to share a powerful tool that has helped me manage anxiety and regain control during transitions.
When you embrace the fact that certain aspects of life are beyond your control, you open the door to reducing anxiety. Anxiety doesn't stem from the transitions themselves; it arises from our thoughts and interpretations about these transitions. Recognizing this concept allows anxiety to lose its grip, providing the key to achieving calm in the face of uncertainty.
Here are 3 takeaways from this episode:
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The transition isn’t the source of your anxiety, but you’ll learn what is
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How to expand your sphere of control to find tranquility
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Powerful questions that’ll help you shift toward acceptance during your transition
Remember, by recognizing that we're not meant to have all the answers and letting go of the need for certainty, you can reduce anxiety and choose empowering thoughts.
If you'd like to explore this further, feel free to reach out for help with your transition anxiety (I am not a licensed mental health professional, but I am someone who has gone through this in hopes of helping you navigate it with a little less stress).
Resources:
- Couples Expat Summit (free resources): gain access here!
- Episode 118: Navigating Transitions and Understanding Anxiety Part I
For global nomads, change is the only constant. And, with the recent world events and constant flow of bad news this can make our anxiety levels rise.
Today, we're going to explore the intricate dance between navigating transitions and understanding anxiety, and how these two seemingly opposing forces can coexist harmoniously.
Transitions come in various shapes and sizes, sometimes overlapping, making life more complex. And as global nomads, we add another layer to these transitions – adjusting to new cultures, climates, and leaving behind the familiar. These changes impact every facet of our lives, from our daily routines to our social circles, making transitions a significant part of our journey.
Recognizing these changes and their impact is crucial because they often come hand in hand with stress and anxiety. The challenge is to navigate this anxiety without letting it hinder the benefits of our mobile lifestyle.
Anxiety is a natural human emotion that has evolved to keep us alert to potential dangers. Still, in today's world, we often experience anxiety when no immediate threat exists. It's vital to understand this and develop healthy coping strategies for our well-being.
Here are 3 takeaways from this episode:
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Learn to distinguish between anxiety and actual danger
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Discover how our typical responses to anxiety can actually magnify our anxiety and what to do instead
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Learn tools for navigating transitions with grace
In our next conversation, we'll delve deeper into how you can control your responses to these circumstances. Take some time this week to explore your own experiences with transition and anxiety. Listen to what your anxiety is trying to tell you and how it's impacting your journey. Most importantly, remember that anxiety is just an emotion – it may be uncomfortable, but it's harmless.
Resources:
- Couples Expat Summit (free resources): gain access here!
- Episode 3: The Rollercoaster of Emotions
- Episode 32: Children and Emotions- part I
Episode 33: Children and Emotions- part II
In this episode of Love Your Expat Life, I’m joined by the incredible Sundae Schneider Bean, a true Renaissance woman in the world of intercultural strategy, transformation facilitation, and solution-oriented coaching.
Join us as we delve into her journey of helping individuals and organizations not only survive but thrive through life quakes and significant shifts, no matter where they are in the world.
With a decade of experience running a location-independent business and working with clients from over 60 countries across six continents, Sundae's insights are sure to inspire and empower you to embrace change and find success in the face of challenges.
Don't miss out on the wisdom of this world-renowned host of the top-rated weekly podcast, IN TRANSIT, as we explore her secrets to embracing change and living life to the fullest.
Here are some key topics we discuss:
- (2”) Starting ‘The Happy Hour’ podcast and how it contributed to Sundae’s evolution
- How did you change to get to the next level?
- Personal journey transformation: letting go of limiting beliefs
- The most common form of resistance that expats experience & a tool to deal with that resistance
Sundae’s personal evolution is a testament that no matter how uncomfortable– we all have the ability and resilience within us to push through a little more, dig a little deeper, and tune into ourselves more to allow our own transformative journey to unfold.
Resources:
- Connect with Sundae on her website here
IN TRANSIT podcast with Sundae Schneider Bean
Transition is a vital skill for success in the 21st century, whether or not we live abroad. So, how can schools, educators, & parents better help our children grow up to be more resilient during times of transition?
I know I’m not alone as a parent when I say– we move abroad with the best intentions, but we often focus on the logistical aspects of transitions and neglect the emotional rollercoaster our children have to navigate.
In this episode I have the privilege of speaking with Valérie Besanceney; a TCK, executive director of Safe Passage Across Networks (SPAN), and an author of two childrens books– "B at Home: Emma Moves Again" and "My Moving Booklet”.
Through Valérie's experience at SPAN; an organization at the forefront of groundbreaking work in positive transitions-care, and through being a TCK herself– she opens up about gaps she sees in schools and families when it comes to transitioning. She proposes practical solutions for schools and families to prep and support children during these times.
We'll dive into the fantastic work she does with her organization and explore the skills needed to manage transitions well.
Other key topics discussed:
- How have your personal experiences shaped your work in helping families and schools manage transitions?
- How does unmanaged mobility impact the learning and overall well-being of children?
- (13”) The roller coaster of emotions that’s associated with the different stages of the transition cycle
- (17”) Effecrive tools to help children through transitions
- (19’44) What are some of the gaps and necessary skills you have identified in schools and parenting when it comes to equipping children for transitions?
- (25”) A well managed transition
- (29”) New social research around growing up as globally mobile and how transitions can make such a difference in an AI era.
- Could you tell us more about the transition-care program you've developed at SPAN and the results you have seen through its implementation?
Other key topics discussed:
6:57– Helping families transition easier by use of personal experiences
11:14– The impact of transtions on a childs wellbeing
17:31– The rollercoaster of emotions associated with different transition cycles
21:01– Effective tools to help children through transitions
25:35– Gaps where teachers and parents can better equip children
29:49– A well managed transition
34:33– Astounding new social research about transitions and globally mobile children
38:26– Transition care program purpose & results
Remember, transitions are not simply events to be endured but processes to be embraced. By equipping ourselves and our children with the necessary skills, understanding and embracing rather than resisting the emotional journey, and fostering a supportive environment, we can navigate transitions with resilience and thrive in an ever-changing world.
And, this goes without saying, one of the key ways you can help your children is to first help yourself. I encourage you to stop waiting for your perfect life to align, but to carefully craft the life you love– no matter the location or transition. If you need help, head to my website to see how we can work together!
Resources mentioned:
- Connect with Valérie Besanceney on LinkedIn
- Learn more about SPAN here
- Episode 108: Unresolved Grief and How to Overcome It: Part 1 with TCK Expert, Dr. Ruth Van Reken
- Episode 109: Unresolved Grief and How to Overcome It: Part 2 with TCK Expert, Dr. Ruth Van Reken
- Visible Learning book by John Hattie
There are 40 million global families who move to a new place, leave their neighbors, jobs, schools, and communities behind. They have to start all over again.
This is where international organizations need to step up and recreate that sense of a ‘village’ again so that those international children can thrive.
I’m joined by Former Co-founder at Expat Valley and Ombudsman for International Children co-founder, Matthijs de Rave. Together, we will delve into his inspiring vision for international children and what it means to make a real impact for these children.
Matthijs has been a pioneer in ‘thinking outside the box’ and successfully approaching corporate organizations in the mobility sphere. His abundant mindset has been instrumental during his startup journey, so we explore how it shapes his approach and leads to his remarkable achievements.
In this conversation, we cover key topics like:
6:00– The commonalities between international children
7:47– Support system changes for internationally mobile children & where Expat Valley fits in
17:40– How an abundance mindset can help you overcome challenges & how to cultivate one
25:52– Tools and resources for TCK parents
39:58– The future of Expat Valley
This conversation is packed with real life insights and solutions on how we can understand and think creatively about how to better serve internationally mobile children.
And, this goes without saying, one of the key ways you can help your children is to become an example of what is possible. I encourage you to stop waiting for your perfect life to align, but to carefully craft the life you love– no matter the location. If you need help, head to my website to see how I can support you and your family!
Resources mentioned:
- Learn more about Expat Valley on their website
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Episode 79: How to Help TCK Kids Build Resilience & Navigate their Emotions with Lauren Wells
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Episodes 107: Transitions and Changes of a TCK with author, Michael V. Pollock
- Episode 108: Unresolved Grief and How to Overcome It: Part 1 with TCK Expert, Dr. Ruth Van Reken
- Episode 109: Unresolved Grief and How to Overcome It: Part 2 with TCK Expert, Dr. Ruth Van Reken
Often, people undergo changes when they feel dissatisfied with their current circumstances. In such cases, there's a tendency to hastily seek something different in order to find relief.
However, change is often best when we pursue alignment rather than relief. When we already appreciate the life we have and still nurture a desire for growth, for new experiences beyond our current horizons and are aligned with our reasons, this is when magic happens.
Elizabeth Mina, who has made a dramatic career shift after 17 years in a senior position at a government agency, expands on why she decided to shake her beautiful island life in Hawaii all while being a new wife. Spoiler alert: she wanted alignment.
To me, alignment means that we are in agreement with oneself. There is no tension. What we think, feel, and do are harmonious. This is what I help clients do. Create alignment independently of location and circumstances so that they reap the full benefits of their life abroad.
Mina’s story is inspiring, insightful, and full of valuable lessons that we can all apply in our own lives. Below are some key points we unpack together:
- The inspiration behind a drastic life change
- How Mina clarified her vision
- Navigating risks and uncertainty
- Career decision obstacles
- Letting go as a means to succeed
Resources mentioned:
Episode 64: Relaxing & Slowing Down
3 Steps to Clarify What You Truly Want- FREE Challenge
At Girafe coaching I help global nomads make urgent decisions with ease. Be sure to schedule a Decision Accelerator Session here!
Clarity is a source of peace. It helps us feel focused and energized.
When there is clarity, there is no fog. When we are clear, we can move mountains. We can accomplish anything. We defy the odds, we don’t give up.
When we do not have clarity the opposite happens– we feel stressed and we do not take action.
Do you often wonder: how, where, is that right?
Clarity is not something that falls from the sky, it’s something you create. For this reason, creating clarity is at the core of Unlock Your Full Potential coaching program.
So, how are you approaching the months ahead? Are you moving through this new season with hope, excitement, confidence, and energy? Or is it rather with doubt, dread, indecision, and fatigue?
No matter your location or your career path, clarity is the key to propel you forward. If you’ve found yourself with plenty of ideas, but no action– something is still holding you back.
For instance you might wonder:
- Should I continue my pre-move career path or embark on a new professional journey?
- Should we embark on another adventure with the children or choose stability?
- How can we build fulfilling international careers while ensuring our family thrives?
There was a time in my life when I played it safe, thinking that was the only option. However, this approach only brought frustration. I found myself unfulfilled, unsure of what I truly wanted to pursue. It was only when I gained absolute clarity on my goals and aspirations that I became unstoppable. This clarity fueled the birth of Girafe Coaching.
In this episode you’ll learn:
- What clarity looks like in your life
- A key ingredient to creating clarity
- What happens after you find clarity
If you find yourself seeking clarity on an urgent decision you’re trying to make– be sure to sign up for the Decision Accelerator Session here! Make big decisions with ease.
Episode 112: Smooth Transition: How to Ease Repatriation with Repats, Wiebke Homborg, and Christina Kapaun
What, in your opinion, presents more challenges: moving abroad or repatriating to your home country?
In this conversation, we explore the stressors and challenges associated with repatriation, as well as solutions to minimize the transition's impact.
Wiebke Homborg, a Third Culture Kid (TCK), and founder of Chameleon Coaching is an Intercultural Trainer and Expat Coach. Having returned to Germany three times during her 22 years of expatriation, Wiebke understands that each repatriation experience can differ based on life phases and specific locations.
Christina Kapaun, is also an Intercultural Trainer who has lived in Brazil, the US, and is currently in Stuttgart, Germany.
Together, they support repats and their families throughout the various phases of expatriation. They believe in the power of collaboration during repatriation, which led to their group coaching collaboration called "Arriving," specifically designed for repatriates.
Experiencing culture shock, when returning to one’s passport country happens more often than we tend to talk about. All seems well upon reentry– loads of warm welcomes, a favorite home-cooked meal, and the sense of ‘being home’. However, unexpected differences start popping up and all of a sudden we feel we do not fit in.
For example, during a walk on the Potomac in Maryland with friends, my youngest son asked if there were crocodiles. In Zimbabwe, we were cautious about approaching water due to hippos and crocs. Naturally, he asked this question, but it was not something other children and parents were familiar with.
These instances occur frequently, even when we do not repatriate, making it more challenging.
In this conversation, we cover key topics like:
- What are the most painful aspects of repatriation that individuals face and how can those be navigated?
- What is culture shock and some ways to cope with it?
- Cultural dissonance and its significance during the repatriation process
- As parents, how can we support our children during the repatriation process?
- How can we view reentry as an opportunity to understand and know oneself deeper rather than a liability?
Are you struggling with the decision to move back home? I've got good news for you. Confident decision-making is a skill. Book your Decision Accelerator session and unlock this decision in just 60 minutes. Schedule your session here!
Resources mentioned:
- Learn more about Chameleon coaching
- Connect with Wiebke Homborg on Facebook, LinkedIn, and Instagram
Connect with Christina on Instagram, LinkedIn, or join the “Heimwärts“ Facebook group (for returnees in German)
Expatriate women often share a common feeling of loneliness. .
But guest Navine Eldesouki decided to take this shared feeling and create a community out of it. Navine is the founder of Coffee With an Expat, a female-centered space for meaningful connection and storytelling over a cup of coffee.
I asked Navine about how she grew her supportive global network for women. Here are her insights that you’ll learn in this episode:
- The story behind “Coffee With an Expat”
- The importance of stepping outside of your comfort zone as an expat
- Finding one’s purpose and achievement
- Lessons from creating a global community and living an expat lifestyle
It all started when Navine met her husband in Egypt and she found herself isolated and lacking independence after growing up in Australia. After living a nomadic life for over two decades, establishing homes across five continents, seven countries, and fourteen houses, and volunteering extensively with the Syrian refugee crisis she realized something– she was born to build a community. It gave her purpose!
Resources mentioned:
- Connect with Navine on Linkedin here
- Find community and become a member of Coffee with an Expat here
Developing a clear vision and game plan to take advantage of an expat lifestyle is what Girafe Coaching Signature program is about. This support helps you identify what you truly want and the actionable steps to get there, regardless of location. To learn more about this program or about how I can help, be sure to book a free 15-minute call here!
It’s well-documented that international assignments for dual-career couples can be both exhilarating and complicated at the same time.
Yet, many organizations with international talents, including foreign ministries, the United Nations, World Bank Groups, and others, have not fully grasped the complexities of dual international career couples within their workforce.
Maintaining important relationships for both partners, developing professional careers abroad, and feeling fully supported by both companies is a lot to navigate– both mentally and emotionally.
So if you’re a staff member from an international organization or a partner, this episode will help you better understand the keys to success for dual-career couples abroad.
Guests Jannie Aasted Skov-Hansen and Dr. Paul Vanderbroeck, are the co-authors of the groundbreaking book, "The International Career Couples Handbook”, which explores real-life challenges of dual career couples and expounds on the holistic approach necessary for the success of these couples. Based on their lived experiences and extensive research this book offers great insights for both ICCs and organizations.
Both are partners in an ICC ( International career couple) and parents. Jannie is also the Founder of Here We Are Global, a startup consultancy dedicated to supporting ICCs in their global careers. Paul is an Executive Coach and accomplished researcher in gender balance and leadership development.
As I’ve shared in the podcast before, I’ve worked more than 15 years with International Organizations and as many of you wanted to make it work for both of us. Except that at one point, I realized I had taken a back seat and was not ok with that. This handbook and Jannie’s and Paul’s knowledge would have helped us navigate some tough challenges and disappointments with more ease, so if you have not already, I highly recommend to read this handbook and so some of the powerful exercise they share.
Speaking of ease, this time of the year is filled with farewell parties, a rollercoaster of emotions, and lots of packing! Juggling the packing, decisions, and career moves can make one feel uneasy. Give yourself the gift of clarity, connection, and ease this season by signing up for the Girafe Coaching Newsletter. Here you’ll find actionable tips from top global experts.
Here are the top highlights you’ll learn in this episode:
- The difference between an international career couple and a dual-career couple
- Gaps that International Organizations overlook when it comes to ICC’s
- Four unique challenges that ICC’s face, how to overcome them, and create lasting success
Developing a clear vision and game plan to fit all these puzzle pieces together is what Girafe Coaching Signature program is about. This support helps integrate international mobility with a successful career for both partners. To learn more about this program or about how I can help, be sure to book a free 15-minute call here!
Resources mentioned:
- Read Here We Are: The International Career Couple Handbook (not an affiliate link)
- Find additional support on their website Here We Are Global, on Instagram, or on Facebook
- Connect with Jannie on Linkedin here
- Here We Are Global
As parents, we have the best of intentions and we want our children to thrive in the midst of transitions. However, we're also dealing with our own roller coaster of emotions and so many other things. In this episode, we help you reflect on what you can do to support your TCK (and yourself better).
For instance, as a TCK parent, you might ponder questions like:
How do you comfort your children who might be excited to move for the first time, but who also feel the deep loss for everything they’re leaving behind?
How do you prepare them emotionally to say goodbye to their friends?
In today's episode, we're exploring parenting tips for TCKs, and I have the pleasure of being joined by Dr. Ruth Van Reken. As a TCK, Dr. Ruth has had a rich life with numerous cultural experiences but it wasn’t until her thirties she realized the amount of loss that came with this lifestyle.
The loss of home, identity, and loved ones. This loss led to significant grief which we spoke about in depth in Part 1: Unresolved Grief and How to Overcome it. It is in part 1 that we learn Dr. Ruth’s tool for overcoming this unique, unspoken grief.
Dr. Ruth is a second-generation Third Culture Kid, a mother of three adult TCKs, co-author of Third Culture Kids: Growing Up Among Worlds, 3rd ed., and author of Letters Never Sent.
For over thirty-five years, Ruth has traveled extensively, speaking about the impact of global mobility on individuals, families, and societies, including what we now refer to as Cross-Cultural Kids (CCKs)—children who grow up cross-culturally for any reason. She is a co-founder and past chairperson of Families in Global Transition.
Ruth’s research and writing have given a voice to TCKs and helped all who support them make sense of their experiences and help them use it to their advantage.
As we approach the time of year I like to call the "great migration," when our TCKs say goodbye to their friends and move to new places, us parents are bound to feel a roller coaster of emotions.
As an adult TCK, raised by a TCK, and a parent to TCK’s Ruth has a plethora of knowledge we can all learn from.
Here are some highlights that Ruth shared with me:
- The biggest mistake parents make with their TCKs
- The best way to emotionally prepare your TCK to say goodbye
- Cultivating traditions as a way to help your TCK find identity
- Journaling as a way to process emotions
- Adapting to a new language as a TCK
If you know a family who is preparing to move, I encourage you to share this episode with them so that they can absorb the immense knowledge Dr. Ruth has on helping TCK’s make sense of their experiences.
Just remember, you are not alone in this experience. Whether you're traveling back home, relocating, or going through a reentry process, Girafe Coaching newsletter provides invaluable guidance to help you transition with ease. Gain the resources you need to fully support the well-being of yourself and your TCK this moving season. Make sure to sign up here!
Experience the joy of fulfillment, purpose, and more joy to reap all the benefits of the expat life. Take the first step here towards your best life no matter where the world takes you!
Resources mentioned:
- Cultures Magazine
- TCK’s of Asia online forum
- Learn more about Families in Global Transition and Cross Cultural Kids
- Connect with Ruth on Linkedin here and Facebook here
- Episode 107: Transitions and Changes of a TCK with author, Michael Pollock
Episode 108: Unresolved Grief and How to Overcome it with TCK Expert, Dr. Ruth Dan Reken
Imagine this: Bernard's family was enjoying a ski vacation in the Alps when news broke out about Russia's attack on Ukraine. Little did they know that this seemingly ordinary ski trip would mark the end of their familiar life in Moscow. Their house, their beloved pet, and for Bernard's teenage son, his serious girlfriend—everything would soon become memories.
Such scenarios are not uncommon for Third Culture Kids (TCKs), who often face sudden evacuations and uprooting from their familiar environments. As parents, we naturally focus on the positive aspects of this global lifestyle, which we discussed in last week's episode with Michael V. Pollock. However, it's equally important to support TCKs the best we can through these life-changing transitions.
In today's episode, we're exploring unresolved grief, and I have the pleasure of being joined by Dr. Ruth Van Reken. Ruth is a second-generation Third Culture Kid, a mother of three adult TCKs, co-author of Third Culture Kids: Growing Up Among Worlds, 3rd ed., and author of Letters Never Sent. For over thirty-five years, Ruth has traveled extensively, speaking about the impact of global mobility on individuals, families, and societies, including what we now refer to as Cross-Cultural Kids (CCKs)—children who grow up cross-culturally for any reason. She is a co-founder and past chairperson of Families in Global Transition.
Ruth’s research and writing have given a voice to TCKs and helped all who support them make sense of their experiences.
I myself discovered the term TCK (Third Culture Kid) while pregnant with my first child and I can attest to the profound impact David and Michael Pollock and Ruth Van Reken's research and writing has had on me.
When my family moved to Zimbabwe, I devoured their book "Third Culture Kids: Growing Up Among Worlds" during the flight and was moved to tears by some stories and her insights. Since then, I have made it a personal mission to validate the emotional journey that ‘living among worlds’ represents.
As we approach the time of year I like to call the "great migration," when our TCKs say goodbye to their friends and move to new places, us parents are bound to feel a roller coaster of emotions.
Just remember, you are not alone in this experience. Whether you're traveling back home, relocating, or going through a reentry process, Girafe Coaching newsletter provides invaluable guidance to help you transition with ease. Gain the resources you need to fully support the well-being of yourself and your TCK this moving season. Make sure to sign up here!
Here are some highlights that Ruth shared with me:
- How cross-cultures and high mobility adversely influences TCKs
- The impact a ‘home’ has on identity
- 3 types of responses TCKs can have from their experiences & how to better support them
- Hidden losses of TCKs
- Unique challenges that the pandemic presented to TCKs
Resources:
- Third Culture Kids: Growing up Among Worlds" 3rd edition (not an affiliate link)
- Letters Never Sent, a Global Nomads Journey from Hurt to Healing (not an affiliate link)
- Learn more about Families in Global Transition and Cross Cultural Kids
- Connect with Ruth on Linkedin here and Facebook here
- Episode 107: Transitions and Changes of a TCK with author, Michael Pollock
Discover the transformative power of Unlock Your Full Potential, Girafe coaching's flagship program. Say goodbye to indecision and create a life of clarity, where every aspect of your life thrives – your wellbeing, relationships, career and family.
Experience the joy of crafting a compelling vision for your future and design a strategic game plan to make it a reality. Take the first step towards your best life no matter where the world takes you at girafecoaching.com. Join us now and unlock your true potential!
P.S. Be sure to tune into part 2 next week where Ruth Van Reken expands on parenting TCKs.
A TCK, or third culture kid, is a person who spends a significant amount of developmental time outside of their passport country. This exposes them to some tremendous experiences they wouldn’t otherwise have.
Parenting or teaching a Third Culture Kid (TCK) is a one-of-a-kind experience, shaped by their extraordinary mobility. Join us in this enlightening episode as we delve into the distinctive advantages of raising TCKs. Discover powerful strategies to transform the challenges they encounter along their journey into opportunities that foster a profound sense of identity, belonging, and purpose. Get ready to unlock the secrets of nurturing exceptional TCKs and embarking on a remarkable parenting adventure.
After dedicating his career to the research and advocacy of TCKs, Michal Pollock unpacks the benefits of this lifestyle and some challenges that arise as well.
He is also an international educator, author, presenter, consultant, and coach, and is the founder and director of Daraja, a program focused on young adult TCK care and advocacy. He has presented globally on TCKs, cross-cultural education, parenting and transition.
And, as we approach the "great migration" time of the year, when we and our TCKs may be on the move once again, it's important to remember that feeling like a fish out of water is completely normal. Rest assured, you are not alone in this experience. Whether you're traveling back home, relocating, or going through a reentry process, Girafe Coaching newsletter provides invaluable guidance to help you make the most of this transition. Gain the mental space you need to fully support the well-being of your TCK during this moving season. Make sure to sign up here!
Here are some highlights that Michael shared with me:
- How common characteristics of TCKs develop and the impact they have on a their life/ identity
- How cross-cultural experiences enrich a TCKs life
- Key challenges that are important to note for parents and educators and how to help TCKs navigate them
- Parenting resources for TCKs
Resources:
- Third Culture Kids: Growing up Among Worlds" 3rd edition (not an affiliate link)
- Connect with Michael on his website here
- Episode 79: How to help TCKs build resilience & navigate their emotions with Lauren Wells
Discover the transformative power of Unlock Your Full Potential, Girafe coaching's flagship program. Say goodbye to indecision and create a life of clarity, where every aspect of your life thrives – yourself, your relationships, your career and family. Experience the joy of crafting a compelling vision for your future and design a strategic game plan to make it a reality. Take the first step towards your best life no matter where the world takes you at girafecoaching.com. Join us now and unlock your true potential! Join me over at girafecoaching.com!
P.S. Be sure to tune into next week’s episode where Michael's co-author, Ruth Van Reken, deep dives into one of the key challenges faced by TCKs: unresolved grief and how to overcome it.
After the pandemic, there’s been a tremendous increase in people moving abroad for personal decisions instead of mandated ones by a company. Sanelo is a company that serves those people.
After working in the moving industry for over 20 years, Josh Sims gives his advice for planning a seamless move abroad.
Josh first started out packing and moving homes up and down the West Coast of Australia in between school and university studies. In 2014 he moved to Singapore to work with Santa Fe as the GM and remained in Singapore for 6 years.
In early 2020 he re-joined Santa Fe this time in Hong Kong where he remained for two years before deciding to move home to Australia as the implications of the pandemic rolled on. Now settled in Sydney, Josh is the COO for Sanelo where he manages and builds out Sanelo's operations globally.
Whether you’re a seasoned traveler, or you’re doing it for the first time, John breaks down his best 3 tips for planning and executing your transition without all the stress.
Newsletter plug
Before we start, here are a couple of things to consider when relocating:
- The more organized your home is, the easier it’ll be for the packers and ultimately on you once your items arrive in your new location.
- Countries like Indonesia, parts of Africa, and a lot of countries in Latin America tend to be slower when it comes to shipping items.
- Even when you plan extensively, there will always be some things that are out of your control, so manage your expectations accordingly.
Managing your expectations will have a huge impact on your travel experience. A colleague of mine who, after moving to Kenya, found out her shipping container got lost. She got paid out by her insurance, and over a year later she got a call that her container had finally been found. Talk about a frustrating experience!
Here are some highlights that Josh shared with me:
- Common challenges during relocation and tips for overcoming them
- Factors that contribute to stress levels during a move and how they can be managed
- The different lines of communication that are necessary during a move
- Manage their expectations during a relocation, particularly when moving to a new culture or environment
- Things that are overlooked and things people do too much of when moving
- Balancing the practical aspects of a relocation (e.g. packing, paperwork, etc.) with the emotional and psychological aspects (e.g. leaving friends and family behind, adjusting to a new environment, etc.)
He also reminds us of 3 key tips when relocating:
- Be a part of the process and ask questions.
- Be prepared that there may be a delay.
- Know your moving budget, and prepare to pay unexpected fees.
Resources:
- Connect with Josh Sims on Linkedin
- Inquire about the services at Sanelo moving company
If you found this episode helpful, you’ll love my signature program, Unlock Your Full Potential. During this course, we take the resources discussed today and apply them to real-life situations. This is your chance to define the vision of what you truly want your life to be and gain clarity on the most efficient way to transform your vision into reality. Let's work together to cultivate momentum with confidence no matter what life brings. Join me over at giraffecoaching.com!
Welcome to Love Your Expat Life, a podcast that provides you with the tools and inspiring stories to live the life you love no matter your location! I'm excited to talk about the importance of decluttering this month and how it can help us lead an organized life, no matter where we are in the world.
I’d like to start with this message: “The more you organize your mind, the more your life will be organized.” If you’ve been with me for awhile or are just tuning in you’ll find out that a lot of what I teach pertains to managing your mind, your emotions, and creating true connection with yourself and others instead of being at the mercy of the circumstances that unfold in your life abroad.
Ultimately when you do this, you have space to develop a vision and live your best location independent life.
This episode is for you if you're moving into a new house, or country in a couple of months. If you just moved, if you have unpacked boxes at the bottom of a closet or even filling up a room, or if you’ve been in one place for a while and noticed all the clutter that’s piling up. I will share with you a three-step process tool to de-clutter your home and mind.
If you feel inspired with the tools I share and want to take your life abroad to the next level and wonder how coaching can help, let's have a chat about it!
P.S. Would you like a quick chat before committing to actual coaching? Makes sense! Feel free to schedule a 15-minute "Get Acquainted" call so I can answer any questions you might have. Can’t wait to get to know you :)
Resources:
Episode 1: Unpack Your Thoughts Before You Move
Episode 21: Keeping a Journal
Episode 104: The Unopened Boxes
Atomic Habits by James Clear (not an affiliate link)
Welcome to Love Your Expat Life, a podcast that provides you with the tools and inspiring stories to live the life you love no matter your location! I'm excited to talk about the importance of decluttering this month and how it can help us lead an organized life, no matter where we are in the world.
As someone who lives abroad, I know firsthand how challenging it can be to balance the demands of family, work, and travel, and it’s easy to move boxes around the world without knowing what’s really in it.
Instead of being random and overwhelmed, you want your thoughts to be organized, in order, and deliberate. This is exactly what Girafe Coaching helps you with. So you have room to imagine what you want and have the energy to create it.
In this episode you’ll learn:
-why decluttering & organization is critical for your success
-a metaphor that can help you make sense of organization for your mind & your environment
-powerful questions to ask yourself to understand exactly what to declutter
So, roll up your sleeves and clear out the clutter in those boxes, in order to create a nourishing space for growth. You want to make sure that every new thought you bring in is useful and purposeful!
P.S. Be sure to tune into next week’s episode for part two!
P.P.S. Would you like a quick chat before committing to actual coaching? Makes sense! Feel free to schedule a 15-minute "Get Acquainted" call so I can answer any questions you might have. Can’t wait to get to know you :)
Resources:
Netflix Documentary, The Minimalists
Welcome to Love Your Expat Life, a podcast that provides you with the tools and inspiring stories to live the life you love no matter your location!
In this episode Soraya King, non-executive vice chairperson of the Meikles Foundation and also the Chairperson at NYLESA, the New York Local Expatriate Spouse Association, expounds on common challenges for spouses including career sacrifices, loss of identity, and financial independence.
Our conversation also follows Soraya through her personal journey moving from Zimbabwe to NYC during the pandemic where she felt called to reach out to the UN spouse association and became the chairperson. We also uncover what she sees as critical for organizations to do more of in order to better support partners.
As someone who is also involved in supporting spouses through Girafe Coaching and the Executive Committee of the WBGFN, I’m especially excited to dig into this topic.
We also discuss:
3:27– an intro to Soraya– what led you to move to NYC?
5:36– what was your transition from Zimbabwe to NYC during the pandemic?
12:40– what are the biggest challenges you see expat spouses face?
15:18– helping spouses through NYLESA
19:51– are there special initiatives for male vs female spouses through NYLESA?
23:41– what innovations can be done through organizations to help spouses better?
29:02– lessons learned through NYLESA & being an expat in NYC
35:25– advice for expat spouses
38:20– floating in limbo
Inspired by Soraya’s story? Be sure to reach out to her on Linkedin!
Also, you may not know this, but reviews matter a great deal to streaming platforms. The more positive reviews my podcast receives, the more potential listeners they show it to, which means more people I can reach.
So if you haven't already, please consider leaving a review.
How to leave a review on iTunes:
- Download the app on your phone or computer
- Scroll down to the bottom & click ‘write a review’
How to leave a review on Spotify:
- Download the app on your phone or computer
- Click on the 3 dots at the top & click ‘rate show’
Your support is greatly appreciated :)
Resources:
Let’s Talk About It Podcast
Rainbow Children’s Village
Meikles Foundation
Welcome to Love Your Expat Life, a podcast that provides you with the tools and inspiring stories to live the life you love no matter your location!
In this episode National Oceanic senior scientist, Dian Seidel expounds on her transformative journey teaching english in Thailand during her third trimester.
After decades in a fulfilling career where her work contributed to the 2007 Nobel Peace Prize, Dian broke the mold by moving abroad and expanding her perspectives with her partner. She made one of her lifelong dream come true, and even after encountering many obstacles, she had the resilience to push through and make the most out of her experience in Thailand!
This trip inspired her book, Kindergarten at 60; a travel memoir story, it pushed her to become more adaptable, to strengthen her relationship with her spouse, and to truly appreciate all the bumps traveling sometimes throws at us.
We also discuss:
2:36– the beginning stages of a transition
8:50– a 60 year old vision
12:00– a change in perspective
14:10– when challenges arise abroad
16:38– living abroad as a couple
20:18– letting go of expectations
22:28– gratitude
27:33– you can have an enriching life in your third trimester!
32:33– takeaways from teaching in Thailand
Inspired by Dian’s story? Be sure to reach out to her on her website or on Twitter (@Dian_Seidel) and if you feel compelled check out her book here.
Also, you may not know this, but reviews matter a great deal to streaming platforms. The more positive reviews my podcast receives, the more potential listeners they show it to, which means more people I can reach.
So if you haven't already, please consider leaving a review.
How to leave a review on iTunes:
- Download the app on your phone or computer
- Scroll down to the bottom & click ‘write a review’
How to leave a review on Spotify:
- Download the app on your phone or computer
- Click on the 3 dots at the top & click ‘rate show’
Your support is greatly appreciated :)
Resources:
Kindergarten at 60: A Memior of Teaching in Thailand (not an affiliate link)
Welcome to Love Your Expat Life, a podcast that provides you with the tools to live the life you love no matter your location!
This episode is especially important to me as my in-laws from Norway, Matthias and Benedicte, share their journey of living abroad in many different countries including Oman, Taiwan, & Scotland.
This young couple, who is 20 years younger than me, are at the stage where they’re debating whether or not they should live abroad. Benedicte feels stuck and unsure about next moves while Matthias is very content.
With all the questions swirling about, join us as we explore their thoughts about next steps. They also expound on how travel helped them mold their life up until this point & how they have embraced different cultures to expand themselves.
We also discuss:
2:30– how has your travel shaped the way you want to live your life?
6:00– family ties
8:00– expanding through studying abroad
11:22– feeling trapped
15:03– expat life comes with challenges
18:00– takeaways from living abroad
22:16– growing as an expat couple
26:55– Covid & travel lifestyle impacts
You may not know this, but reviews matter a great deal to streaming platforms. The more positive reviews my podcast receives, the more potential listeners they show it to, which means more people I can reach.
So if you haven't already, please consider leaving a review.
How to leave a review on iTunes:
- Download the app on your phone or computer
- Scroll down to the bottom & click ‘write a review’
How to leave a review on Spotify:
- Download the app on your phone or computer
- Click on the 3 dots at the top & click ‘rate show’
Your support is greatly appreciated :)
Reaching 100 episodes in almost two years is no small feat, and I'm excited to celebrate it with you. By the end of this episode, I will share three valuable lessons that this adventure taught me to help you further in living a life you love.
But first, give yourself a pat on the back because without you this podcast wouldn’t be possible. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for discovering, listening to, & supporting my podcast!
I've had the pleasure of living in several places over the past 20 years, including Washington DC, Bologna, Harare, Nairobi, Lyon, and others. And today, I'm excited to celebrate with all of you fellow global nomads.
In this episode we’ll talk about:
- The behind the scenes of the top podcast episodes
- 3 lessons I’ve learned throughout this journey & how you can apply them to your life
And last but certainly not least, you may not know this, but reviews matter a great deal to streaming platforms. The more positive reviews my podcast receives, the more potential listeners they show it to, which means more people I can reach.
So if you haven't already, please consider leaving a review.
How to leave a review on iTunes:
- Download the app on your phone or computer
- Scroll down to the bottom & click ‘write a review’
How to leave a review on Spotify:
- Download the app on your phone or computer
- Click on the 3 dots at the top & click ‘rate show’
Your support is greatly appreciated :)
P.S. If you can take a couple more minutes, I'd love to know what topics you'd like to hear more of on this podcast. Please take this 5-minute survey!
Resources:
Episode 1: Unpack Your Thoughts Before You Move
Episode 72: Exactly How to Change Your Mindset While You're Transitioning Abroad With Gouri Mirpuri
Episode 93 The Process of Alignment through Career Change with Beth Mina
Episode 52: What You Can Accomplish in One Year
Episode 16: Baobab versus Bonzai
Episode 26: Perfectionism
Welcome to Love Your Expat Life, a podcast that explores the realms of expat life– and all the ups and downs it brings.
Today I want to share a tool with you for calming an anxious mind. Naturally, as an expat, anxiety may rise to high levels at certain moments throughout our journey.
For instance, “What if my kids are not accepted into the school we applied to next year? What if we are not able to live well without the perks and benefits in this expensive city we’re moving to?”
The problem is that those thought patterns torment you, creating daily worry, anxiety, fear, and even terror. It colors everything you do, preventing you from fully living in the present moment and leading you to live in your head with an unfavorable scenario that does not yet exist and that hopefully will never exist.
So this week I invite you to tune into this episode, soak in the tool I’ve presented, & start implementing it into your daily life.
P.S. If this episode (or any others) has been helpful in navigating the rollercoasters of your expat life, I’d appreciate a review from you. This will help spread the word to other expats just like you :)
Welcome to Love Your Expat Life, a podcast that explores the realms of expat life– and all the ups and downs it brings.
Today I want to share a tool with you for calming an anxious mind. Naturally, as an expat, anxiety may rise to high levels at certain moments throughout our journey.
For instance, “What if my kids are not accepted into the school we applied to next year? What if we are not able to live well without the perks and benefits in this expensive city we’re moving to?”
The problem is that those thought patterns torment you, creating daily worry, anxiety, fear, and even terror. It colors everything you do, preventing you from fully living in the present moment and leading you to live in your head with an unfavorable scenario that does not yet exist and that hopefully will never exist.
So this week I invite you to tune into this episode, soak in the tool I’ve presented, & start implementing it into your daily life.
P.S. If this episode (or any others) has been helpful in navigating the rollercoasters of your expat life, I’d appreciate a review from you. This will help spread the word to other expats just like you :)
Welcome to Love Your Expat Life, a podcast that provides you with the tools to live the life you love no matter your location!
In this episode, Mariam Navaid Ottimofiore, a talented expat author, writer, researcher, and economist shares her insights on her book, ‘Messy Mobile Life’-- a book that speaks to the complexities that many mobile families face.
At 19 years old Mariam left her home in Pakistan with a one-way ticket to Boston. After living in 10 different countries, marrying her husband from across the globe, & having three children born 3,000 miles apart– she’s learned a thing or two about navigating a complex, but joyous mobile life.
We also discuss:
2:54– The Messy Mobile Life
5:42– What makes mobile life messy?
9:08– How does this messy life contribute to your identity & parenting style?
14:40– Tips for navigating a mobile lifestyle
21:21– Settling down after living a mobile life, is it possible?
23:40– The meaning of expat success
27:40– Dealing with teenage complexities while abroad
36:52– What changes do you wish to see for mobile families?
Inspired by her story? Connect with Mariam on her website, Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn, or by checking out her book here!
Resources:
The Messy Mobile Life Book
Episode 97: Should I Keep Moving or Stay Put?
Brene Brown Ted Talks
Braving the Wilderness by Brene Brown (not an affiliate link)
Imagine yourself in a forest with only two paths. If you want to live a life of freedom, lightness, and impact, you need to be open to exploring other paths that may not be immediately visible to you.
The way you think about choices can be limiting and prevent you from achieving what you truly want for yourself and those you care about.
Welcome to Love Your Expat Life podcast, a space where you gain the tools necessary to live a life you love no matter your location!
Let me ask you a question…
Have you ever felt like you have no roots and are on a never-ending search for belonging?
Especially when kids are in the mix, the debate about, ‘should we keep moving for stay put?’ continues to pester like a wound that won’t heal.
But, the problem with this thinking is that we believe either we gain belonging while neglecting adventure, or the other way around.
So, in this episode, we’ll dive into how I too battled with this thought, how there’s a better way to approach this situation, & examples of how I’ve applied this new approach to my life.
Navigating an expat life isn’t easy. It’s full of complexities most people would not understand. So, if you’re exploring unchartered territories, a coach who has been in your shoes can offer a new perspective. As a life coach for global nomads, I can not only help you become aware of the new possibilities but also the resistances that might not be apparent to you.
Broaden your vision, gain clarity, and achieve the life you want by getting in touch & learning more about my services here!
Resources:
More information on how this topic relates to TCK’s
Welcome to Love Your Expat Life, where we explore transformational stories & tools to help you design a life you love no matter your location.
In this episode, Kate Dahl, founder of Career Denmark ApS & expat living in Denmark shares her evolution through travel.
After turning down a teaching career in China, she listened to her gut & found herself in her husband's home country. She quickly learned that navigating the job market there was no walk in the park. She used her own personal challenge to create a company to help other expats find jobs in Denmark.
Additionally, we discuss:
3:05- moving to Europe
7:54- family drama
9:23- internal changes & sacrifices
14:01- imposter syndrome
19:23- chasing freedom with clarity or not
25:30- advice to my younger self
30:01- becoming your own best advocate
26:35- the 3 mistakes people make when job hunting in a new country
Sharing your story is a personal & vulnerable experience, but it has the power to change someone else’s life! If you were inspired by Kate’s story be sure to connect with her at Career Denmark. And, to help support the creation of Love Your Expat Life Podcast I invite you to leave a review so I can continue sharing these inspirational stories!
Resources:
Career Denmark
How to Connect to Your Inner Truth Part 2 One of the questions we constantly try to answer throughout this global life is: How do I want to lead my life? Last week, in episode 94, I discussed why this is important to answer. If you have not already make sure to tune into that one!
There is a vague sense of floating and dissatisfaction that often comes from a lack of connection to our inner voice. Being a global nomad means disconnection from our roots, our culture, and our environment. So, it can be easy to get lost along the way.
If we feel that this connection is broken, it is important to restore it. Otherwise, we minimize our dreams and aspirations. And, what’s worse– we often end up living the life of someone else.
So, how can you tap into your intuition each day to live in alignment? This week, I propose a valuable tool that will allow you to gradually recognize the messages that your intuition sends you every day in order to take them into account better.
In this episode you’ll learn:
- What are pings? And how you can use them.
- How keeping a ping journal might be useful to strengthen your intuition
- How I’ve incorporated this tool into my life & the results I’ve seen from it
This episode provides such valuable insight that can change how you live your life. And, if you did find it helpful, make sure to leave me a review :) This is one of the best ways to help someone else discover it!
Resources:
Need help implementing the tools and teachings offered on Change ma vie? Helping you succeed is precisely our mission as coaches. To learn more about our coaching program, check out Unlock Your Full Potential!
Lacy Phillips' website: To Be Magnetic
Love Your Expat Life Episode 94: How to Connect to Your Intuition Part 1
On the podcast, I often say that the truth is inside of us and that to gain clarity, we need to look inside and not outside of us. If you’ve followed along for a while, you know that I help people navigate what I call serial expatriation and transitions, where one international move follows several more.
When we’re constantly adding new cultures, new faces, new schools, new identities, and new nationalities, we are evolving and changing. It is sometimes difficult to connect to the person we are becoming, and we might be under the impression that we don’t know who we really are and what we truly want.
Today, I’m starting a two-part series about accessing our truth and wisdom. In this episode you’ll learn:
- My experiences tapping into my intuition
- Ego vs intuition & how to decipher the two
- Why following your intuition is better than your ego
- A tool that will help you tap into your own intuition
After tuning into this episode, dedicate a few minutes each week for the practice… I promise it’s worth it! And, for more clarity, I have a free ‘clarity challenge’ for you to download right here.
Resources:
The Lively Show
Marie Kohler’s Instagram
Bella Jess Lively’s Instagram
3 Steps to Clarify What You Truly Want (free challenge)
Have you ever felt like something was missing in your life? Or maybe you’ve felt that you’re meant to do something more impactful?
Welcome to Love Your Expat Life, where we explore stories of extraordinary transformation and growth to create a location-independent life we love.
In this episode, Beth Mina shares her story about how she rearranged her life to live in a nourishing place, and how she changed careers, all the while also juggling being a new wife.
Although she had been promoted in her career, was living in a beach town in Hawaii, & was very much in love, she decided there was even more for her. After hiring a coach, she was able to harness her intuition and create a vision that represented the alignment she feels today.
In this episode, we talk further about how this alignment came to be, and how she embraced her fears and moved forward despite them.
Tune in to learn:
00:57– an intro to Beth
3:27– alignment in Hawaii
5:14- why were you inspired to make changes?
10:45– tuning in to gain clarity
11:17– how to move forward, fears and all
16:34– what does alignment mean to you?
17:45– how to take action
24:30– celebrating yourself
25:59– changing your belief system
30:20– how does it feel to shake the boat?
33:05– we’re all just figuring it out!
For more on gaining clarity as a global nomad join this free challenge: 3 Steps to Clarify What You Truly Want!
Resources:
Episode 64: Relaxing & Slowing Down
3 Steps to Clarify What You Truly Want- FREE Challenge
Have you ever felt a sense of disconnection when reuniting with friends and family back home? Personally, I know this struggle all too well, and that's why I want to help.
This disconnection is a common experience, so just know you’re not the only one experiencing it. Many of us have felt that disconnection and longing to belong when we return to our home country.
In this week's episode, we'll explore how to bridge the gap and reconnect with loved ones when living abroad.
We’ll start by looking at what we usually do when we feel people don’t get us and could care less about our lives. For instance:
- Judging
- Finding validations in other spheres
- Censoring or downplaying our experiences
- Making a fuss or complaining with others back at home
We tend to focus on the things that divide us and not on what unites us. This can be a painful experience and can lead to loneliness. So, instead of doing that, tune into this episode to learn the 3 steps you can take if you find yourself in this situation.
P.S. I've received many questions about finding clarity and purpose in life, and to help you with that, I've created a free challenge just for you! The Clarity Challenge is waiting for you at girafecoaching.com. All you have to do is sign up, and you'll receive the challenge in your inbox for FREE. Don't miss this opportunity to discover what you truly want regardless of where you live!
Resources:
3 Steps to Clarify What You Truly Want FREE Challenge
Episode 30- The Manual
Have you ever felt a sense of disconnection when reuniting with friends and family back home? Personally, I know this struggle all too well, and that's why I want to help.
This disconnection is a common experience, so just know you’re not the only one experiencing it. Many of us have felt that disconnection and longing to belong when we return to our home country.
In this week's episode, we'll explore how to bridge the gap and reconnect with loved ones when living abroad.
We’ll start by looking at what we usually do when we feel people don’t get us and could care less about our lives. For instance:
- Judging
- Finding validations in other spheres
- Censoring or downplaying our experiences
- Making a fuss or complaining with others back at home
We tend to focus on the things that divide us and not on what unites us. This can be a painful experience and can lead to loneliness. So, instead of doing that, tune into this episode to learn the 3 steps you can take if you find yourself in this situation.
P.S. I've received many questions about finding clarity and purpose in life, and to help you with that, I've created a free challenge just for you! The Clarity Challenge is waiting for you at girafecoaching.com. All you have to do is sign up, and you'll receive the challenge in your inbox for FREE. Don't miss this opportunity to discover what you truly want regardless of where you live!
Resources:
3 Steps to Clarify What You Truly Want FREE Challenge
Episode 30- The Manual
I was coaching a client who imagines a scenario in which she either has a high paid job in the US, or she can move to different country she dreams of living in which would cause her to take a lower paying job plus lose her status and identity.
We often do that. We put ourselves in a “ black and white” scenario.
In essence what my client was saying was: If I move, then I’ll lose out on all of this. If I don’t move, I’ll lose out on all that.
Last week we talked about how to know what we want and today we will discuss one of the major obstacles in developing your vision. By VISION, I mean the direction you want to give to your life.
Without vision, it's very easy for your mind to convince you that you have very few options and choices and that those choices could lead you to a terrible scenario.
So, in this episode we’ll dig into:
- How lack of vision can create challenging decisions
- 3 negative emotions that arise while formulating your vision & how to combat them
- How the question, “Am I allowed to want more?” specifically pertains to global nomads
And, before I invite you to tune into the full episode I’ll leave you with this:
Your desires and desires goals are an integral part of you as a human being, and they contribute to the joy you can create in your life. They also contribute to the impact you have on this planet. You are meant to grow & evolve, but will you allow yourself to?
P.S. Did this episode inspire you? Share it with a friend and leave a review! It will help other global nomads discover the podcast.
Resources:
Episode 90: How to Figure Out What you Actually Want
In this episode, I would like to discuss the significant obstacle to what you want for yourself in various areas of your life. For instance, in your professional or personal life. You might want to get even more specific & focus on your health, finances, romantic relationships, and other aspects of your life.
What you want is what I call your vision.
As humans, I believe our highest form of expression and evolvement comes from following what we want—our true desires and not what others do. It’s hard to uncover it sometimes, and many of us hide with food, social media, packed schedules, or plenty of vacations and adventures.
This is why I’d like to talk more about what I mean by vision.
So, in this episode you’ll learn:
- The 3 benefits of having a clear vision
- Obstacles that prevent us from figuring out what we really want
- Specific steps to take to find your vision
Let’s meet next Thursday for a new episode of Love Your Expat Life in which we will discuss another perspective on this topic.
P.S. Did you enjoy this episode or others you’ve listened to? I’d be so grateful if you spent a couple of moments reviewing this podcast. One review can go a long way! :)
Temis Tormo, a brilliant journalist, mom, & global nomad, shares her intimate details on her upcoming move with her diplomat husband & TCK’s.
In this episode, you’ll learn how to navigate the emotions of a move & how to move intentionally with TCK’s– helping them better acclimate to upcoming change.
We also talk about:
4:20– An intro to how Temis evolved into who she is today
6:41– A habit that makes its way around the world
8:40– Where is home?
9:40– The significance of this move
14:08– How downsizing can be a great lesson for kids
14:54– Setting an intention for the move
20:44– What would you like to tell yourself a year from now?
23:33– Letting kids flow with their emotions
26:00– It’s fun to be the new kid
28:36– The brutality of a move
34:18– These emotions are a gift
28:57– What are your takeaways?
To connect with Temis reach out to her via Linkedin or Twitter!
And, if you’re interested in gaining more clarity as you move through life as a global nomad check out Unlock Your Full Potential; a group coaching program where you’ll uncover your vision, transition with ease, simplify your life, & learn to balance your priorities!
Resources mentioned:
Your Word for 2023 free guide
Episode 81: How to Let Go of the Holiday Blues
Personal Coaching 101: Are You Taking Action on the Wrong Kind of Discomfort?
Discomfort is the currency we exchange for our dreams. But, are you taking action on the wrong type of discomfort?
It's important to understand that this level of discomfort is a natural part of the process, and it can manifest as feelings of doubt, fear, trepidation, frustration, and confusion. When we set big goals for ourselves and venture out of our comfort zone, our primitive brain – which is wired for safety and familiarity – goes into panic mode.
True growth requires effort and hard work, and it's important to put ourselves out there and set big goals for ourselves in order to truly move forward.
But, how do you know if you are in discomfort that serves you or if you’re in discomfort that doesn’t serve you? It’s an important question for you to ask yourself because the confusion between the two is the difference between success and failure long term.
And sometimes, asking yourself these questions can be uncomfortable or difficult on your own which is why in my program Unlock Your Full Potential we do it together. Not only can you be held accountable, and uncover self-beliefs that are holding you back, but you’ll also gain more clarity on what it is you want & how to actually get there.
After tuning into this episode to learn the types of discomfort, I invite you to join the waitlist for Unlock Your Full Potential. Explore your mind amongst other global nomads in this empowering work to change the course of your life. See you there!
The "new year, new you" narrative can be counter-productive and out of reach for many of us with constant lives to build elsewhere.
All the pressure to make resolutions and become a "new you” can be overwhelming. And the truth is, quick fixes don't work. In fact, most of them are ineffective in the long term.
The beginning of the year is like a breath of fresh air, a new start, a chance to write a new chapter. We often think about the things we want to start doing and the things we want to stop doing.
We believe that this time, it will be different. But then, halfway through the first month of the year, most of us give up.
After creating resolutions for many years, letting them dissipate, & getting frustrated I realized why they don’t work:
- Because of the self-judgment they implicitly contain,
- Because of the strength of our will that quickly runs out of steam,
- Because of the scattering that sabotages our efforts for change.
But this fresh wind that blows at the beginning of the year is precious and should be used to inflate the sails of our desires for growth and our projects.
In today’s episode you’ll learn:
- about the “perfect beach syndrome” & why this mindset is harmful
- examples of scenarios that may be holding you back
- how to adjust this so you can create lasting change
3 years ago I embarked on a journey with self-leadership which has helped me follow through on my goals and essentially helped transform my life.
So, in addition to using the tools in this episode, I also have a special invitation for you. I am hosting a masterclass in which I will share the 5 keys to self-leadership with you. Join me for a masterclass on January 18 or 19, whichever date fits your schedule best. This is not another fad, there is no trick here. Just simple skills that, when used correctly have the power to drive the change you desire for the year.
This small step to sign up could be just the change that drives your whole year. Are you willing to miss it?
Claim your spot here!
Resources:
episode 86, about the 4 stages of change
Self Leadership Masterclass (sign up here)
A few days ago, my family & I watched a brilliant documentary about Gerry Lopez, a world-famous surfer, and traveler. Gerry's life journey is inspirational, and as I watched the documentary, I couldn't help but think about the changes he made in order to achieve such mastery in surfing.
He tells the story of how he transformed and kept transforming. He’s well into his 70’s but still embodies change day in & day out. As I watched this documentary I was paying attention to the changes he made to acquire such surfing mastery.
In this episode, we will discuss the four stages of change, which is a topic that is central to the "Love Your Expat Life" podcast.
Change is something we’re used to as global nomads. Yet it can be difficult and even stressful for some people, as it often involves leaving behind the familiar and facing the unknown. But, change is inevitable whether or not we move around the world. In fact, I would argue that change is necessary for personal growth and evolution.
Like a surfer who chooses which waves to ride, we can choose the changes that are right for us and that align with our goals and values. Sometimes we may fall, and we learn from trying. This is why I believe that embracing change rather than simply resisting and reacting to it is always a better option.The steps mentioned in this episode are the foundation of the coaching program that I offer, which is designed to help you become aware of the changes you wish to make, observe and understand your current thought patterns that create your current habits and the results you see in your life, try new approaches, and practice deliberately, intentionally in order to create lasting change.
The program also includes a system of support, accountability, and guidance to help you stay committed to the process and make progress toward your goals. If you are curious about it and if you are ready to take your dreams and aspirations seriously, join the waiting list here. The program opens its doors at the end of the month and you can be the first one to know about it!
Resources:
Episode 84: My Anti-Resolution Strategy to Achieve Your Goals
The Ying & the Yang of Gerry Lopez Documentary
Unlock Your Full Potential Group Goaching waitlist
Why is it that we have such a hard time celebrating ourselves?
As we broadcast this episode, this is the last episode of this year. I want to talk about how to celebrate ourselves.
I bet there are so many things you showed up for this year. Maybe you settled in a new country and continued to show up at your kid’s practices and multiple birthday parties and school events while preparing the whole move, maybe you settled up a new home ( and possibly multiple homes), unpacked a full container, started a new project and found something that was meaningful for you.
There's a huge lack of celebration going around, not feeling good about our daily accomplishments, celebrating what we've done - the big or small, feeling like what we do isn’t good enough or worthy enough. Acknowledging all that we have put our hearts on the line for all the things we tried and created this year.
In this episode, we’ll talk about why it’s important to celebrate and how to build the muscle to do it. But first, let’s consider why we often don’t celebrate our accomplishments.
In this episode you’ll learn:
-
Why we don’t celebrate ourselves often
-
The 4 benefits to celebrating your wins & how doing this can help you achieve your goals
Because reaching your goals requires growth, transformation, and sometimes doing things people might not like.
“To be yourself in a world that’s constantly trying to make you something else is the greatest acconplishment.” -Ralph Waldo Emerson
When you have your own back no matter what, when you manage to do that, nothing can stop you. It’s one of the key ingredients to success that you master through the https://girafecoaching.com/unlock-your-full-potential/ (join the Girafe Coaching newsletter to learn more about upcoming programs here).
When you have your own back, you don’t let anything or anyone derail you.
What I’d like you to do this week is acknowledge yourself enough.
What are your best creations this year? How do you acknowledge yourself for that?
Celebrate the accomplishments, big and small.
And, if you want to be the first to know about free events scheduled for the upcoming weeks, about new podcast topics, & what’s going on in the community, join Girafe coaching newsletter. There are so many exciting things coming up in the new year!
Why is it that we have such a hard time celebrating ourselves?
As we broadcast this episode, this is the last episode of this year. I want to talk about how to celebrate ourselves.
I bet there are so many things you showed up for this year. Maybe you settled in a new country and continued to show up at your kid’s practices and multiple birthday parties and school events while preparing the whole move, maybe you settled up a new home ( and possibly multiple homes), unpacked a full container, started a new project and found something that was meaningful for you.
There's a huge lack of celebration going around, not feeling good about our daily accomplishments, celebrating what we've done - the big or small, feeling like what we do isn’t good enough or worthy enough. Acknowledging all that we have put our hearts on the line for all the things we tried and created this year.
In this episode, we’ll talk about why it’s important to celebrate and how to build the muscle to do it. But first, let’s consider why we often don’t celebrate our accomplishments.
In this episode you’ll learn:
-
Why we don’t celebrate ourselves often
-
The 4 benefits to celebrating your wins & how doing this can help you achieve your goals
Because reaching your goals requires growth, transformation, and sometimes doing things people might not like.
“To be yourself in a world that’s constantly trying to make you something else is the greatest acconplishment.” -Ralph Waldo Emerson
When you have your own back no matter what, when you manage to do that, nothing can stop you. It’s one of the key ingredients to success that you master through the https://girafecoaching.com/unlock-your-full-potential/ (join the Girafe Coaching newsletter to learn more about upcoming programs here).
When you have your own back, you don’t let anything or anyone derail you.
What I’d like you to do this week is acknowledge yourself enough.
What are your best creations this year? How do you acknowledge yourself for that?
Celebrate the accomplishments, big and small.
And, if you want to be the first to know about free events scheduled for the upcoming weeks, about new podcast topics, & what’s going on in the community, join Girafe coaching newsletter. There are so many exciting things coming up in the new year!
Let’s be honest here; for most of us, resolutions do not work.
Let me rephrase, it seems like sunshine & rainbows for a few weeks, and suddenly, it drops off.
If you want to know why I invite you to listen or re-listen to episode Episode 36: Resolutions.
This episode is a compliment to the Word of the Year tool. If you have not already, download it here. I trade resolutions for a game plan that has three parts. We will review those three parts; this becomes your strategy once you apply it.
I invite you to carve out a moment during the holidays to apply this tool. And if you think this is impossible to carve out time, you’re probably in most need of it because the holidays are probably not the only time in the year when you do not have time to strategize.
These three steps will help you to set direction with a clear mind & gain consistent momentum moving forward for 2023 :)
Happy strategizing global nomads!
Resources:
Word of the Year free download
Episode 36: Resolutions
Episode 1: Unpack Your Thoughts Before You Move
It's time to look back on the past year, take stock of what we liked or disliked and give us the means to approach the month of January with clear ideas on what we want to create and accomplish for this New Year.
This is a great segue to share with you a practice that I have adopted. Instead of resolutions, I prefer to adopt a word for my year. A word that represents my intention for this year, a journey, and a destination.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
- The benefits of adopting a word for the year vs creating new years resolutions
- How to find your word for the year
- How to use your word to stay on course for the duration of the year
If you are interested in this new approach, I have very good news, I have prepared a little guide for you to identify your intention and the word that will accompany you throughout your year.
With this free guide, you can reflect on the best parts of 2022 & how you can bring those pieces into 2023. It will not only help you clarify what you want for yourself in the new year, but it’ll help you identify how you want to take care of yourself and what you want to bring to others and the world.
In a few minutes, you can identify your word, and your intention, for the year. Download your guide here!
Once you have chosen your word, don't hesitate to tag us in @girafecoaching - can't wait to discover the word you choose.
Well-being is a state of being comfortable, healthy, and happy. It comes from within. On the other hand, false pleasure is a temporary or momentary feeling of comfort that comes from something external.
The podcast topics this month are all around this question: why bother to change if this is hard work?
Why bother seeing what we are capable of?
Why bother with pursuing a life that's free of all of these delicious false pleasures?
The holidays are an opportune time to eat without hunger, drink too much, procrastinate on social media, binge-watch Netflix, & overspend on gifts & vacations.
Do you know that false pleasures are actually emotional bumpers?
In this episode, we’ll explore the mechanism that pushes toward false pleasures, and we take a look at how to overcome them.
You’ll also learn the true essence of well-being & how to create more of it in your life.
There is so much pleasure available to us. Nothing is better than well-being. Being fully well inside & out.
So my passion is to teach you how to do that, so you live the expat life you love and make space to pursue your dreams. When you stop running away from discomfort and move towards it you will experience ultimate and true well-being. I invite you to join the Girafe Coaching newsletter to get more tips like these delivered straight to your inbox!
Resources:
episode 60: Your Energy is Just on the Other side of Discomfort
episode 67: The Importance of Pleasure
The holidays can be emotional. Sometimes it’s a joyous feeling of celebrations & traditions, but it can also be a time of sadness or homesickness.
Especially for ex-pats, traditions from home might be missed. Traditions are a way to feel connected to our family or tribe. They’re a way to feel connected to past generations. So when we aren’t able to celebrate certain holidays in a way that’s meaningful to us we feel disconnected.
In this episode you’ll learn:
- Why the holiday season can bring up uncomfortable feelings
- A mindset shift tool that’ll rewire the way you think about the holidays
- Real-life examples of how I’ve used this tool & how you can too
Understanding that we are not alone in struggling with these situations is precisely the big advantage of the group coaching that I offer. It is often challenging trying to solve your own problems.
However, having access to the issues of other people who are in similar situations to ours and witnessing how they propose to overcome these difficulties will nourish your own understanding and experience.
When we stop judging ourselves on our own experience, we free up powerful resources to overcome these difficulties. The group carries the momentum that carries each of the participants. If you’re interested in my next cohort of group ex-pat coaching, learn more here!
Resources mentioned:
Episode 62: Homesick
Gratitude is not something that depends on the situation you are in. It's something you create with your thoughts. The more you practice it, the easier it will be to feel it and let it drive your expat life.
In this episode we’ll discuss:
- How it helps connect you with others
- How it can help you cope with difficult times
- How it can help you be more self-compassionate
By choosing your thoughts on purpose & connecting to that gentle voice inside you, you’ll welcome a different perspective on life– one full of gratitude for yourself & others.
And if you find it difficult, this is exactly what I do with clients as an expat coach. Sign up for the Girafe Coaching newsletter for all the tools you need to live a life you love as a global nomad & stay tuned for future roundtable sessions or freebies that’ll help you build a life you love :)
Resources mentioned:
Episode 28; Gratitude
Episode 78; How to Put Out the Fire & Let Go of Anger
Lauren Wells is the founder and CEO of TCK Training and author of Raising Up a Generation of Healthy Third Culture Kids, The Grief Tower, and Unstacking Your Grief Tower.
She is an Adult TCK who spent her teenage years in Tanzania, East Africa.
She sits on the board of the TCK Care Accreditation as Vice Chair and is part of the TCK Training Research Team focusing on preventive care research in the TCK population.
In this episode of Love Your Expat Life, you’ll learn:
4:33– what is a tck?
7:30– the importance of tck to Lauren
11:36 —tck trends
17:05– the purpose of an ace score for tck kids
22:51– healthy coping strategies for tck kids
26:00– how to help your tck communicate better
30:29– how to teach your tck to become more resilient & compassionate
36:20– giving tcks the permission to grieve
To get more insights & resources for TCK kids, connect with Lauren on Instagram, Twitter, & Facebook at @tcktraining or on Linkedin here.
And, for more tools for living a life you love as a global nomad sign up for the Girafe Coaching newsletter at the bottom of my website here!
Lauren Wells is the founder and CEO of TCK Training and author of Raising Up a Generation of Healthy Third Culture Kids, The Grief Tower, and Unstacking Your Grief Tower.
She is an Adult TCK who spent her teenage years in Tanzania, East Africa.
She sits on the board of the TCK Care Accreditation as Vice Chair and is part of the TCK Training Research Team focusing on preventive care research in the TCK population.
In this episode of Love Your Expat Life, you’ll learn:
4:33– what is a tck?
7:30– the importance of tck to Lauren
11:36 —tck trends
17:05– the purpose of an ace score for tck kids
22:51– healthy coping strategies for tck kids
26:00– how to help your tck communicate better
30:29– how to teach your tck to become more resilient & compassionate
36:20– giving tcks the permission to grieve
To get more insights & resources for TCK kids, connect with Lauren on Instagram, Twitter, & Facebook at @tcktraining or on Linkedin here.
And, for more tools for living a life you love as a global nomad sign up for the Girafe Coaching newsletter at the bottom of my website here!
We are all hard-wired with anger because it’s related to the‘ fight, flight, & response’ of our sympathetic nervous system. We all feel some sort of high-intensity agitation that can turn into anger and even rage.
It’s often easy to recognize the sensation in our body…our hands tremble, our cheeks become beet red, and sweat emerges from our forehead. It usually carries a message that says something like this: “Someone is harming me, someone took something away from me.”
I invite you to clarify how anger manifests itself in your body.
When we are in a particular situation it’s hard to recognize where anger comes from. Usually, we think the situation itself is causing anger.
Anger helps us survive as a species and serves to protect us. Anger has purpose. It brings to us the idea that our survival within a tribe, family, or business is protected. Anger has its place. It’s an alert on a situation that we do not want.
In this episode, we’re going to look at when it becomes problematic & the steps you can take to deescalate the fire.
If you’re ready to put out fires in other areas of your life too, I invite you to book a complimentary session with me here which will only be valid from November 14th-18th. This session can be personalized to whatever challenges are occurring in your life right now!
Resources Mentioned:
Episode 10: The Carousel of Emotions
Episode 11: Modern Emotional Health
Bonnie Miller's professional experience spans five decades as a social worker, psychotherapist, educator, consultant, social activist, and trainer. She has extensive experience in countries experiencing war, genocide, and oppression of minorities.
Currently, as Oral Historian and Podcast Host, Bonnie interviewed 20 Foreign Service spouses in the Partners in Diplomacy project through the Association for Diplomatic Studies &Training (adst.org) and 16 Foreign Service family members for an AAFSW Oral History Project.
This episode is packed with knowledge, advice, & practical tips that you can apply to your life.
You’ll learn about:
9:00– her portable career as a psychotherapist
10:20– handling traumatic situations while overseas
17:20– working in the mental health sector in Bosnia
21:15– celebrating the lives of women who she helped get out of sexual abuse
26:30– how to get more involved in your community & find deeper purpose while abroad
30:30– her research on the evolution of society on EFM’s (eligible family members) & the support that’s now given to them to fulfill their purpose
37:20– new trends of accompanying partners & resources to help them
Resources mentioned:
Adst.org
Partners in Diplomacy
Her interviews for the AAFSW that will be available this fall
To gain further assistance as a global nomad transitioning through life, feel free to book a no-cost roundtable webinar this coming November 9th at 9 AM eastern time. Additionally, I’ll be offering complimentary sessions from November 14th-18th where you can gain personalized advice from me!
In this episode, you’ll learn how to create calm and peace and move away from anxiety.
Our sphere of control over our emotions is enormous and I would argue infinite: how we respond to what happens in our lives is going to change how we show up and what we create for ourselves.
Therefore, a shift from focusing our energy on what we can control and stopping wanting to control the world and other people will be the best way to live a life with less anxiety.
This shift happens when you start to ask your brain more constructive questions instead of negative & powerless ones. When you start to change the questions you’re asking yourself, you step into a position of control. And, when you step into a position of control, you feel strong & impactful.
Join me in this episode where I’ll walk you through the exact thought process it takes to start moving into a position of control & empowerment. Are you ready?
P.S. If you need help working through some tough decisions, I’m hosting a free webinar on November 2nd & 9th at 9 AM EST. Come get expert advice & connect with other globally-minded community members! Sign up here :)
This episode is a two-part series to describe a simple process to face uncertainty without anxiety. This episode is not for people who feel anxious to the point they cannot function properly. I would strongly advise you, if you are in that case, to seek medical help. Here we are going to discuss situations of low-grade chronic anxiety.
Uncertainty about what’s coming next is a real issue for this community of brilliant global nomads. We are a smart, resilient, flexible, and remarkably adaptable community of people that do have a lot of advantages because of our international mobility however, this doesn’t mean we don’t face anxiety too.
In fact, anxiety is something most of my clients struggle with, and they often feel powerless witnessing the anxiety of their children. Many of those children are third-culture kids, also known as TCKs, and anxiety is common among these youngsters.
In this two-episode series, I will describe a simple process that I use and can help you and your loved ones decrease the level of stress and anxiety they feel when uncertainty is on the horizon. It takes a little practice, so I invite you to get on my bus for this couple of episodes and try it at home and even as a family if you want.
In this episode you’ll learn:
- What is anxiety and where does it stem from?
- What our typical response to anxiety is & what happens when we resist it
- Other feelings that bubble up and are often attached to anxiety
- How to change your mindset around anxiety to help you create more peace
Let me leave you with this:
What is happening in your life that’s creating anxiety? Start by spending some time clarifying the thoughts creating anxiety.
Are you ready to accept the uncertainty that is part of our human condition and put all your energy into what you can control: how you think about your situation?
And if you feel anxiety regarding decisions that are on the line, I have good news for you. I’m facilitating a roundtable discussion on how to make decisions in times of transition on November 2nd & 9th at 9 am EST. Sign up for free here!
Resources mentioned:
Episode 3: the Roller Coaster of Emotions
Episode 5: Life is 50/50
Amel Derragui is a business and marketing coach and the founder of Tandem Nomads.
Since 2015, she’s been on a mission to help solo entrepreneurs and small business owners across the world launch and grow their portable businesses, while assisting them to align with their lifestyles and their families' needs.
She’s an international speaker, works with global organizations, and has been featured in various media such as Globally Living Magazine and Forbes magazine speaking on entrepreneurship, global lifestyle, social impact, and women empowerment.
She’s developed a proven methodology to help her clients build a successful portable business and adapt it to their needs.
Tune into this episode to learn about:
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How entrepreneurship is an excellent solution to dual career challenges & her personal journey of creating sustainable money through her portable business
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Where her business idea came from & the philosophy she embraced; “start first”
-
Her transition from being a marketing consultant to expanding through her online courses like her Portable Business Accelerator
-
Her mindset shift that created more alignment in her life & her business
-
How shifting from a scarcity money mindset to an abundance & positive energy-driven mindset will unlock new opportunities
To learn more about Tandem Nomads and connect with Amel visit her website here!
Resources mentioned:
- The Big Leap by Gay Hendricks (not an affiliate)
- Portable Business Accelerator
Priorities shift as we go through life.
As we go through life, we start prioritizing differently. And, this is true whether or not we move around the world.
However, the complexities and challenges we face are more regular, and thus, it takes a lot of energy to make sure that everyone is OK and also find the courage and strength to pursue our purpose.
Careers give us a sense of purpose and identity as well as a sense of accomplishment and financial independence, and security. Therefore when this career is halted, paused, or interrupted, it is no wonder that we struggle with what is essential to human beings: our sense of purpose.
If you’ve figured it out, that’s wonderful, and in that case, I invite you to celebrate where you are.
This episode is for you if you have:
- left family and friends behind
- started a new career
- Haven’t had a career in a while as you’ve been taking care of family
Pursuing purpose is essential, for unless you do, you never find lasting happiness. Step out on faith that these things are true. Go live a life worth living where, in the end, you’ll be able to say, “ I’m glad I did”, “not I wish I had”
So in this episode, we’ll look at one major obstacle to finding YOUR Purpose. And by doing so, my intent is not to blame or find excuses for where we are but to think about the most efficient way to get where we want to go. And this always starts by looking at why we do what we do.
Speaking of, this month you can join a free and virtual roundtable on transforming your ideas into reality.
We’ll look at what I just discussed in much more detail so that you can identify YOUR obstacles and then I’ll share three keys to help you take action. There are a few spots left so to participate it’s easy, go to https://girafecoaching.com/ideas
Priorities shift as we go through life.
As we go through life, we start prioritizing differently. And, this is true whether or not we move around the world.
However, the complexities and challenges we face are more regular, and thus, it takes a lot of energy to make sure that everyone is OK and also find the courage and strength to pursue our purpose.
Careers give us a sense of purpose and identity as well as a sense of accomplishment and financial independence, and security. Therefore when this career is halted, paused, or interrupted, it is no wonder that we struggle with what is essential to human beings: our sense of purpose.
If you’ve figured it out, that’s wonderful, and in that case, I invite you to celebrate where you are.
This episode is for you if you have:
- left family and friends behind
- started a new career
- Haven’t had a career in a while as you’ve been taking care of family
Pursuing purpose is essential, for unless you do, you never find lasting happiness. Step out on faith that these things are true. Go live a life worth living where, in the end, you’ll be able to say, “ I’m glad I did”, “not I wish I had”
So in this episode, we’ll look at one major obstacle to finding YOUR Purpose. And by doing so, my intent is not to blame or find excuses for where we are but to think about the most efficient way to get where we want to go. And this always starts by looking at why we do what we do.
Speaking of, this month you can join a free and virtual roundtable on transforming your ideas into reality.
We’ll look at what I just discussed in much more detail so that you can identify YOUR obstacles and then I’ll share three keys to help you take action. There are a few spots left so to participate it’s easy, go to https://girafecoaching.com/ideas
Gouri Mirpuri is passionate about social entrepreneurship, youth empowerment, and environmental sustainability.
She combined these interests to set up the award-winning Learning Farm in Indonesia sixteen years ago, a residential farm working to give vulnerable youth and refugees a second chance in life through organic farming.
Gouri also founded the first ever co-working space for social entrepreneurs in South East Asia, Impact HUB Singapore, and continues to support Social Impact Businesses globally. She is a TEDx and INK speaker, a columnist on environmental issues, and the author of several published books. She worked to create the first-ever alumni network at the International Finance Corporation (IFC) in Washington DC.
In this episode we touch on:
- Saying yes to opportunities & mindset while pivoting
- Transitioning with kids to a new country
- Transitioning as an empty nester
- The importance of finding & nourishing a network
To connect with Gouri further, reach out to her via The Learning Farm.
And, if you’re ready to transform your ideas into reality like Gouri, be sure to sign up for my free roundtable on October 5, 2022 9AM-10AM. Simply click here to sign up!
Gouri Mirpuri is passionate about social entrepreneurship, youth empowerment, and environmental sustainability.
She combined these interests to set up the award-winning Learning Farm in Indonesia sixteen years ago, a residential farm working to give vulnerable youth and refugees a second chance in life through organic farming.
Gouri also founded the first ever co-working space for social entrepreneurs in South East Asia, Impact HUB Singapore, and continues to support Social Impact Businesses globally. She is a TEDx and INK speaker, a columnist on environmental issues, and the author of several published books. She worked to create the first-ever alumni network at the International Finance Corporation (IFC) in Washington DC.
In this episode we touch on:
- Saying yes to opportunities & mindset while pivoting
- Transitioning with kids to a new country
- Transitioning as an empty nester
- The importance of finding & nourishing a network
To connect with Gouri further, reach out to her via The Learning Farm.
And, if you’re ready to transform your ideas into reality like Gouri, be sure to sign up for my free roundtable on October 5, 2022 9AM-10AM. Simply click here to sign up!
Eps. Title: 3 reasons you aren’t finding your life purpose as a global nomad
In this episode, we’re going to talk about a common obstacle many global nomads face:
how to find out what we want to do when we move around the globe every few years.
For most of us, we have to “ invent” a type of global career or something that creates purpose.
This episode is for you if you tell yourself:
*I don’t think I have a calling or a passion.
*I have not found what I want to do yet.
This episode is for you also if you tell yourself that what you do depends on where you are and that sometimes you get lucky and sometimes not.
Some of the most common reasons we feel stuck are:
*we put too much pressure on ourselves to ‘find the right’ thing for us
*ignoring our true desires or not being silent enough to tap into our internal wisdom
*minimizing or discounting our past achievements, reminding ourselves that we aren’t where we should be by now
*we lack self-confidence to find our purpose, but really it’s not purpose we need (it’s something else)
When we want to find this calling of ours, some of us take various tests, or quizzes to find out what we want - we’re chasing a sort of hidden treasure - it’s hiding somewhere inside a chest. We imagine that when we find it: it will say: your life mission is : xxx .
We keep searching and never find the answer.
No matter the reason why you are still searching, you can make a choice to find clarity right now. By downloading my free Clarity workbook you’ll get question prompts that will dig into your greatest desires so you can craft an action plan around them.
It’s a guided and step-by-step tool to help craft the path of where you want to go. I invite you to try it and see where it leads you.
That’s my gift to you and that’s how much I want you to start figuring out what you want to do. Enjoy, and of course, if you have any questions, reach out.
Resources–
Episode 35: Letting go of a career you love
Episode 20: what do you do here?
La rentree in French is a term equivalent to going back to school or back to work, but it’s more than that, it’s a little bit like January 1st, where you have a fresh start in your personal and professional life.
And, that’s what I like to think about this season as where school is in full swing and people are back at work.
But, with all these changes, the juggling of new activities, and going back to work can cause worry, stress, and less time to plan out the rest of the year. We spend so much time in the summer months curating new ideas and relaxing that when this time hits it's like a whirlwind of events and as soon as we know it, it’s New Year.
So, in this episode, I invite you to pause for a moment in the chaos to think about what you imagine for the rest of the year.
I will describe four steps to make this time of the year a moment where you easily choose what makes sense for you.
Some of these steps include:
- Observing what you tell yourself about this time of the year
- Thinking about how you’d like to feel and what you’d like to invite in around this time
- How to craft a plan around how you feel and what you want
- Identify what you truly need and how to prioritize your needs
I’d like to offer this perspective: creating a life that is a perfect balance of your needs is not a luxury, it is your right. And, this is what I help you to achieve through Girafe Coaching.
So, if you’ve found yourself anxious about these steps or getting stuck on one of them, Unlock Your Full Potential group coaching might be the right solution for you to craft a vision of the changes you want to put in place, clarify all the steps to make it a reality and finally help you keep momentum no matter the moves and what’s uncertain.
The best gift you can give yourself is to love your life no matter whether you are traveling and moving around or when you are home. Join this courageous group of ex-pats and create a life you’re excited about! Doors close September 24th!
Clayton Bond is the spouse of Ted Osius, former U.S. Ambassador to Vietnam, and a cousin of the late civil rights leader Julian Bond, Clayton Bond is an attorney, small business co-owner, and activist/philanthropist dedicated to ensuring that all people can participate fully in society
without regard to race, sexual orientation, or gender identity.
Bond earlier served for 16 years as a U.S. Foreign Service Officer, with assignments in or concerning the Middle East, Africa, Latin America, and Asia, in a variety of functions including Management Affairs, Public Diplomacy, and Consular Affairs.
As an accompanying partner, he explains his walk through finding purpose in various countries and positions.
As it stands today, 77% of accompanying partners worked prior to the assignment… yet 57% are not working while on an international assignment. Behind those numbers are the lives of people like you with remarkable education, knowledge, experiences, aspirations, and dreams.
Work is part of our identity as adults and removing it from the equation when this is not a choice can be devastating as well as losing financial independence.
Join us to explore:
- Advocating for marginalized communities 3:44
- Navigating being an accompanying partner 4:47
- Stereotypes of an accompanying partner 7:50
- Being a caretaker 10:10
- Finding purpose through faith 12:15
- Perfectionism & self-worth 13:50
- Choosing to be present even in tough moments 15:20
- Following your values to let your purpose unfold 19:05
- Organizations to help the needs of accompanying partners especially when it comes to living in a foreign country as an LGBTQ+ partner 21:49
- Asking for what you want is sometimes the key to what you desire most 31:10
To connect further with Clayton Bond you can find him on Linkedin, Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram.
And if you yourself are an accompanying partner struggling to find purpose– I have something special for you! This Tuesday, September 7th at 9 am EST I’m offering a free roundtable to discuss creating purpose & money. Often money is the surrounding topic when it comes to moving around the world.
Because for many, the consequences of talking about money, our careers, and our purpose can bring up difficult feelings: worry, suffering self-esteem, a lack of confidence, and even shame.
In this conversation, we’ll go beyond the logistical hustle that is real yet often only the tip of the iceberg when we want to reconcile and balance purpose and money. There are only a few spots left, so I encourage you to sign up! Can’t wait to see you there :)
Clarity is a source of joy and also a source of peace or serenity.
When we are clear we do not need external validation.
When there is clarity, there is no fog. When we are clear, we can move mountains. We can accomplish anything. We defy the odds, we don’t give up.
Clarity is not something that falls from the sky, it’s something you create. And this is why it’s at the core of Unlock Your Full Potential Coaching program.
So, how are you approaching the months ahead? Are you moving through this new season with hope, excitement, confidence, and energy? Or is it rather with doubt, dread, indecision, and fatigue?
No matter where you are in the world and what you want in your life reinvention & clarity is the key to moving forward. You might have new ideas, and an entire plan, yet something is holding you back.
Maybe you feel:
- Nothing is permanent, you’re never really settled;
- Everything is in the air now, you’re not sure where you will be in a year;
- There are so many important decisions to make all the time that it leaves you no time to focus on yourself
- Every time you move you have to start over, and maybe even get a new work permit authorization, so you think to yourself, “why bother?”
- The kids need you right now, so it would be super selfish to start something for yourself.
At once in my life, I couldn’t seem to make this equation work either: coaching, moving, making money, being there for the family…. I strongly believed something had to give…. And when I finally became clear on what I really wanted, then nothing could stand in the way. This is how I created Girafe Coaching.
In this episode you’ll learn:
- What is clarity & what does it look like in your life?
- A key component to creating clarity (that you may not have thought of before)
- What you’ll invite in once you find clarity
If you find yourself seeking clarity for your purpose and how money can fit into that equation after listening to this episode– I have something special for you. I’m hosting a free Purpose & Money roundtable on September 7th at 9 am EST.
In this conversation, we’ll go beyond the logistical hustle that is real yet often only the tip of the iceberg when we want to reconcile and balance purpose and money. There are only a few spots left, so I encourage you to sign up https://girafecoaching.com/roundtable-money/
3-year-olds might have it the best amongst all us humans.
Think about it… a continuous stream of naps, getting delicious meals served up to you, making a mess then watching someone else clean it up, and alas a bit of playtime to top it all off.
What’s at the root of a 3-year-old’s existence you ask?
Pleasure.
In fact, pleasure is the driving force for why anyone does anything.
Why you bought that mouth-watering strawberry cheesecake, the reason behind planning a vacation, or the purpose behind attending concerts…
It’s all for pleasure in some way or another.
But, if it’s the life force behind us all, why is it that most of us put it on the back burner?
Let me ask you a question–
In the last 24 hours: what amount of space have you carved out for physical or emotional pleasure? If your pleasure space is nonexistent, I want to tell you that you are not alone.
In this episode, we’ll discuss some of the main obstacles that stand in your way like considering pleasure a luxury or only allowing pleasure once a huge accomplishment is reached.
To add– humans often succumb to ‘false pleasure’ which we’ll dig into too.
If you want to transform your life and implement changes to create a wildly fulfilling life then pleasure needs to be at the center of what you do.
The truth is when pleasure is absent, we give up. For our actions to be sustainable, pleasure and satisfaction must be the driving force and the reward for everything.
Tune in to see how you can start cultivating pleasure right at this very moment and if you need help creating sustainable pleasure for years to come– join the Unlock Your Full Potential waitlist (for free)!
So, you're on a quest to find purpose and pleasure again? It’s always easier said than done, right? Maybe you are not sure how to make it all work for the family, for your partner’s career, and for you.
There are so many unknowns — constant decisions about where to live, which school to choose, and how to establish a sense of rootedness while living abroad. It can wear you down!
I invite you to step out of your comfort zone and into one of the most rewarding experiences of your life with Unlock Your Full Potential.
What’s holding you back?
When my kids left for Norway, my eldest son told me: I hope you laugh a lot and have a lot of fun and play. He is eight years old, and like children his age, his capacity to create joy and playfulness is extraordinary.
I promised him I would try my best to laugh a lot, play a lot, and report back.
I have a question for you global nomads, in the last 24 hours:
- How much joy did you feel, and when?
- When did you feel light-hearted?
- When did you last feel playful?
- Do you remember why?
We live in societies that prioritize accomplishments and performance over joy and lightness. Priceless joyous moments certainly cannot be measured, controlled, and or bought, but we need them to counteract and cope with hard situations.
If you haven’t stopped to smell the roses in a bit here are three things that might be in your way:
- Seriousness or gravity
- The mental load of our responsibilities or concerns
- Guilt
Today take a moment for yourself to listen to this episode to uncover exactly why you haven’t been cherishing moments as much as you could be so that you can start inviting more joy into your everyday life!
Speaking of joy and playfulness, these bright emotions are at the core of the Unlock Your Full Potential program.
If you’re wondering why you can’t seem to get excited about your life in a new country or feel frustrated seeing your partner fulfilled in their career — look no further than this course. It’s the single biggest reason why you haven’t been able to fully enjoy your experience abroad.
Join the waitlist (for free) to gain these 3 benefits:
- Be the first one notified when doors open (limited spots available)
- Get bonus questions to help you get the most out of the program
- Skyrocket your confidence through 20 powerful thoughts to adopt
Claim your spot amongst other change-seeking global nomads here!
Julianne Bosch is a CEO to moms as a life, career coach, and as of recently– an author of How a Mother Took Her First Step On The Moon- A Mother’s Keepsake Journal of Advice to My Children.
In this episode, Julianne speaks about:
- How traveling to 13 countries shaped her growth mindset
- The period of change that occurs between the ages of your 40s and 50s
- How her new book came to fruition, the purpose behind it, & how it can help other mothers think about what they want their legacy to be
- Celebrating motherhood in all its ups and downs instead of thinking about some of the unglamorous tasks that come with it
- Using journaling as a means to self-reflect and grow
For more information about her or her book check out her site!
And, for more on curating a life you love while abroad and unlocking your potential– be sure to join the Unlock Your Full Potential waitlist (for free) to receive confidence statements, be the first notified when doors open, and obtain exclusive material to prepare you for your best life yet!
Can’t wait to see you there :)
Do you squirm at the idea of ‘doing nothing all day’? Or is this your cup of tea?
Personally, I would not describe myself as someone that’s very good at relaxing. My husband is the ultimate chillaxer.
When people describe him they say he is relaxed and cool– the exact emotions I want to cultivate this summer.
If you are more like me, you might be priding yourself on being able to accomplish a lot. It’s incredible how much stuff I can get done when I put my mind to it. The thing is, my husband is also incredible at getting things done too.
So relaxing has nothing to do with the ability to get things done or not. Relaxing is the ability to be less tense. In other words, to go slow, to do less, and enjoy being in the moment.
Some obstacles to relaxing include:
- Thinking we’re wasting our time
- Perceiving relaxing as nothing important
- Worrying about what others think if we’re seemingly, ‘doing nothing’
- Having FOMO
- Boredom
So, if you’re ‘anti-relaxation’ or just need some tips on winding down to enjoy the rest of your summer this episode will:
- Help you uncover negative thought patterns that pertain to relaxing and how you can rework them
- Discover rituals that might help you to fully unwind
Tapping back into fun, playfulness, and relaxation to gain your energy back is the heartbeat of the Unlock Your Full Potential Course. So, if you haven’t already jumped on the waitlist (for free!) to obtain these 3 benefits:
- I will send you 3 bonus questions that I have specially prepared to best prepare you for the success of the Unlock Your Full Potential group coaching program, to start your process, and be ready when the time comes.
- You will be notified of the registration in advance and therefore you can immediately get into action and join so that you can discover the first module of the course in the program without waiting for the program to officially start.
- Gain access to an exclusive tool called: Creating Confidence to Thrive Abroad: the 20 powerful thoughts to adopt”, which reveals to you the 20 powerful thoughts that will make you grow wings. And since it is not enough to read a powerful thought, I give you the keys to make it your own.
Can't wait to see you unlock your full potential!
What’s the cost of not getting what you want?
This is what sometimes few of us think about when we postpone taking the detour and stay on the highway of our lives, recycling the same old habits, patterns, and behaviors that we so desperately wish we could change.
Yet, often, those detours are worth enjoying… sometimes even life-changing if we’re open to it.
So, if you find yourself on a detour at this moment in your life, where it feels a little bit like a dead end, a place you would not necessarily have picked or chosen– how can you enjoy and make the most of this time?
To answer this question, you’ll need to pay attention to your desires and make room for them.
So, today I invite you tune in and navigate your detour in a different light.
And, if you haven’t signed up for the free Unlock Your Full Potential waiting list… well, what are you waiting for?
Obtain these 3 benefits by joining the waitlist:
- Be the first notified once the doors open
- Gain exclusive access to exploratory work, that’ll set you up for success in the program
- Level up your confidence with 20 powerful thoughts to adopt
ONCE YOU ARE ON THE WAITING LIST, YOU WILL BENEFIT FROM 3 ADVANTAGES:
Between now and the opening of registrations, I will send you by e-mail bonus questions and exploratory work that I have specially designed to best prepare you for your success in the Unlock Your Full Potential coaching program;
You will be notified in advance of the reopening of registrations;
And since confidence is THE major key to succeeding in what you do, I have prepared a tool for you called “Creating Confidence to Thrive Abroad: the 20 powerful thoughts to adopt”, that you will receive as soon as you register on the waiting list.
To benefit from these advantages, register now on the waiting list at:
Girafecoaching.com/unlock. Just click on the button below to access it.
This week, I invite you to craft your own definition of home, especially if you feel homesick.
Start by saying this affirmation:
Being homesick is not a problem to fix, but an emotion to allow.
And, I’m sure this question pops up sparingly throughout many conversations you have with your friends or new acquaintances:
- Where is home for you?
You might be rolling your eyes even reading that sentence.
Because it’s summer and many are on holiday, this might trigger feeling homesick for some of us. So, today we’ll explore the definition we give to home, why we feel homesick, and what we can start doing when this happens.
And, if you’re still feeling a bit homesick, lost, or just stuck in your current situation– I urge you to sign up for the Unlock Your Full Potential waitlist (for free). In doing so you’ll:
- Be the first one notified when doors open
- Obtain exclusive exploratory work that’ll set you up for success with the program
- Gain access to: ‘Creating Confidence to Thrive Abroad– 20 powerful thoughts to adopt’
Today, we’re going to focus on how to gain our energy back by connecting with the people we love the most.
But, let’s be honest… when we think of summertime we think of vacations. And, when we think of vacations, a not-so-fond memory of a vacation that went wrong may pop up. You know, the one where Aunt Sally won’t stop complaining and the youngest kid broke their shoulder bone?
Vacations are supposed to be a time of relaxing, unwinding, and being fully present. So, instead of arriving in September and feeling totally exhausted from your summer, how can you make the most out of it to recharge your batteries?
The problem is the gap between our expectations and reality.
But before we can meet our expectations, we have to define them! If your expectations are not clearly formulated, you will be in the dark... and it is precisely this vagueness that will leave you with a bitter taste of frustration at the end of the summer.
Clearly defining your expectations is the No. 1 strategy to put in place to ensure a successful summer (and not "perfect" since summer perfection does not exist :). It's as simple as entering a destination in your GPS: there's nothing like knowing where you're going, to be able to get there;)
To paint a clear picture, I’ll walk you through a set of questions to ensure you’re fully charged up at the end of your summer instead of having the life sucked out of you. Are you ready?
Oh, and if you feel stuck and without energy throughout more than just the summer, I invite you to join the Unlock Your Full Potential waitlist.
When you join the waiting list you receive a powerful tool to help you cultivate confidence with 20 powerful thoughts you can use to help you create the results you want in your life. In addition, you’ll be notified as soon as the program registration opens up, and you get to receive a few exploratory questions to help you clarify what you most want.
And there is more! Don’t miss out on unlocking your full potential.
Recently I spoke to a friend that had managed to stay fit through his Iraq posting…
He told me that he saw three types of habits developing among people he shared the compound with:
1- becoming a hunk,
2- a drunk or
3- a chunk.
I saw this over and over with me and with others moving around the world.
It’s easy to go to extremes and wait for 6 pm to start opening the first bottle of wine. We all know people who exercise three times a day to get steam off, work late nights and weekends, take no breaks because the needs of people are so great, or spend late nights playing poker.
I’m not judging. Not at all. I’ve seen how easy it is to jump on the social wagon and tell oneself it’s fun, everyone is doing it. I love wine. But I notice as I get older that when I drink, I steal a little bit more of tomorrow every time.
I want to show you that you can stop these compounding bad habits before they become large ones. And, how you can replace them with new habits that align with the life you want.
Today, I’ll share my 3 step process of intentionally creating new habits, and I’ll share my personal ‘get my energy back’ protocol. I’ll invite you to design yours and will show you how to follow through.
Who knows, maybe your very first step in changing your habits is to simply listen to this episode.
And, after listening if you feel compelled– please leave a review, it would help encourage me to continue creating content for you!
When we talk about energy levels we’re talking about the physical aspect of it:
- how much you sleep
- what you eat
- you’re lifestyle
But we’re also talking about the mindset aspect too.
How do you get your groove back? How do you spring back when you feel your energy is depleted? What thought process do you embark on to get yourself re-energized?
Our society and culture rewards being a busy bee and obtaining many accomplishments.
If you grew up in the western world, and over the last 20 years we’ve noticed a rapid change of pace. We can do more, add more.
In fact, it is possible to work in the newsroom, be at every soccer game, organize dinner parties or even book summer holidays. Just check your friend's Instagram. This is what social media and other media platforms tell us we should aspire to.
Except that if you’re human like me there is a moment where your body and mind will go to burnout mode unless you give it what it needs.
What I’ve learned over the last year is that I was running at full speed not recognizing that I had a marathon to run. It was probably not the best use of my energy capital to spend it all like this.
I realized I wasn’t running with the right mindset.
Over the next couple of weeks, we’re going to talk about how to change habits even when life is hectic and not as predictable as we wish it would be.
I’ll share with you the tools I am using and how you can apply them on your own. I’ll be traveling over the summer months. And I imagine many of you will too. I wanted to share my journey to arriving back from vacations completely rested and not exhausted by all the socializing and trips.
In this episode, I’ll share with you the first tool we often dismiss.
For more additional guidance in visualizing your goals, gaining clarity, and taking confident action– save your seat in my upcoming round of Unlock Your Full Potential Course.
And, if you feel compelled, please leave a review on your Apple Podcast app!
Resources mentioned: Younger written by Sara Gottfried, M.D. (not an affiliate link)
What if we were just dragging things and relationships along with us because we don't want to say goodbye?
In this episode, I'm going to give you a three-step process to say goodbye to the people and things in your life. This is to add to the grief discussion we had last week with Wendy. If you have not already, I encourage you to listen to that episode first.
The first step is to give yourself a lot of self-love and compassion to feel the sadness to leave the country you live in, the house, the friends, the people, and maybe other things like pets.
This second step of the process is called the inventory phase.
Think about it like this: It’s so much better to have one gorgeous dress that fits perfectly than 10 that is fine. It’s so much better to have one great friend to stay in touch with than 6 good friends.
By focusing your energy on great friendships, and on great things– you can make the most out of your energy.
Ask yourself these questions:
Are you making conscious decisions on who you truly want in your life?
What do you truly want in your life? or are you dragging with “just fine” things and “just fine” people unconsciously?
Tune in to the full episode to uncover the last step!
And, if you feel compelled, please leave a review on your Apple Podcast app!
Wendy Sloneker, an advanced grief recovery specialist and coach, helps teens and adults learn to confidently and proactively navigate the difficult feelings of loss, pain, isolation, heartbreak, and grief.
When we think of grief, the word death appears, but this doesn’t always mean the end of a physical life. This could pertain to an intense breakup, a loss of identity, or even a change in careers.
It’s true that grieving is a process most of us shy away from, but if we’re taught how to intentionally work through it and face it head on– our lives would be a lot more healthy.
Join us today to explore:
- What is grief?
- How to process grief
- What it feels like after grief has been processed
For more guidance on saying goodbye to versions of your past self and embracing your new identity, sign up for my free virtual roundtable– Creating Your Purpose While Living Abroad on June 23rd at 9am EST. Can’t wait to see you there :)
And, if you feel compelled, please leave a review on your Apple Podcast app!
Resources mentioned: Heart Healing from Loss Podcast
It’s the end of the school year, the summer is approaching, and some of you might be moving. Your mind can easily be overwhelmed, like when you leave your phone in the heat for an hour and it shuts down and you see the red temperature sign appear.
But in reality, being stressed and overwhelmed does not happen to us. It’s a feeling that comes up when we think:
- I’ve all those things to do and this is a problem
- I’ll never have the time to do all this and this is a problem
- I do not know where to start and this is a problem
These are all really toxic thought patterns that our minds feast on. So, how can you change these thoughts?
Here the skill to have is to be able to decide and stick to what we decided.
When there are many things we want to get done, we need to start one step at a time. And get things done one by one. Being in the moment and taking just that one action and not thinking about all the other future actions is the fastest and most efficient way to get things done.
Today your first step is to listen to this episode. You’ll know which step to take afterward.
For more guidance, sign up for my free virtual roundtable– Creating Your Purpose While Living Abroad on June 23rd at 9 am EST. Can’t wait to see you there :)
References: The One Thing by Gary Keller (not an affiliate link)
Re-entry could be a difficult process, so today I invite you to make use of a powerful tool to make for a more seamless transition. The re-entry map tool is a visualization tactic used to help you reimagine your next step.
In this episode, I’ll guide you through this practice by comparing the different rooms in your house to the thoughts in your mind. Some might be dark, some bright. At the end of the episode, you’ll be asked to think about how you can change your habits to spend time in a more vibrant room.
This exercise will help you to recognize that transitions require deeper work than just logistics. It takes self-regulation. It takes habit-building.
The very first step is becoming aware and then seeking the help you need to guide you through this process. Tune in to visualize habits and patterns that don’t serve you– so that you can make room for more aligned ones.
As always, you’re invited to my website, GirafeCoaching.com, where you can sign up for a monthly newsletter. In addition to finding out about free events within the Girafe Community, you can also download the new free workbook to help you find clarity.
If you feel compelled, please leave a review! It would be very appreciated.
Re-entry is the art of returning from a new home back to an old home. It can be a really difficult and fraught process. You may feel marginalized, exhausted, even angry. You’re not alone.
In this episode, we’re diving into the four big challenges of repatriation, and how we can better manage this experience.
Learn more about:
- Defining home
- Reverse culture shock
- Reconnecting with your country of origin
- Mindset shifts
As always, you’re invited to my website, GirafeCoaching.com, where you can sign up for a monthly newsletter. In addition to finding out about free events within the Girafe Community, you can also download the new free workbook to help you find clarity.
Mentions:
https://www.craigstorti.com/book3.html
Coralie Thomas-Besong has always been an explorer at heart. And with her one precious life, she’s living as big as possible. Her adventures span continents and cultures, adrenaline addiction to motherhood, and her outside world to her own inner world. Today, we have the pleasure of hearing her wise and wonderful story. Learn more about:
- Life as an adventure
- Being the protagonist in your own story
- Revealing potential
- Finding purpose
- Finding your own advice for yourself
As always, you’re invited to my website, GirafeCoaching.com, where you can sign up for a monthly newsletter. In addition to finding out about free events within the Girafe Community, you can also download a free workbook to help you through tough times.
It’s the one year anniversary of Love Your Expat Life! What an incredible journey it's been. There has been lots of learning and growing, exciting achievements, and some truly powerful community building. We’re so grateful to you, fellow global nomads, for coming on this adventure. We absolutely love creating and sharing this content with you! To celebrate, we look back on one year to bring you key insights for starting something new, embracing failure, and growing a life you'll love. Learn more about:
- Goal setting
- Growth mindset
- How to stay motivated
- Enjoying the journey and embracing failure
As always, you’re invited to my website, GirafeCoaching.com, where you can sign up for a monthly newsletter. In addition to finding out about free events within the Girafe Community, you can also download a free workbook to help you through tough times.
The doors are open, fellow global nomads! Register now for our 12 week program, Unlock Your Full Potential, and you’ll gain the tools to become the hero of your own life. Things are going to get real. We’re going to go deep. And you’re going to see major transformations in your life. On this week’s episode, you’re invited to a sneak peek of the kind of incredible work we do in the program. Come for a nibble and stay for a meal!
Learn more about:
- Making decisions
- Re-inventing ourselves
- Developing the four skills you need to build the future you want
As always, you’re invited to my website, GirafeCoaching.com, where you can sign up for a monthly newsletter. In addition to finding out about free events within the Girafe Community, you can also download a free workbook to help you through tough times.
PS. Did you know that Feedspot recently selected Love Your Expat Life as one of the top 35 podcasts for expatriates? We’re among many incredible shows, and feel deeply honored. Check out the full list here.
Sometimes we crash. Sometimes Literally. On this week’s episode, Caroline shares a recent accident that landed her in the hospital. It’s been a challenging time, with physical and emotional suffering. And, it’s been an opportunity for transformation, because there are ways to frame experiences like these to feel empowered, rather than victimized. So, how do we become the hero of our own story, instead of the passenger?
Learn more about:
- Embracing your flaws
- Slowing down and practicing patience
- Finding courage
- The hero’s journey
A great companion episode to this one is 11 Modern Emotional Health.
As always, you’re invited to my website, GirafeCoaching.com, where you can sign up for a monthly newsletter. In addition to finding out about free events within the Girafe Community, you can also download a free workbook to help you through tough times.
Life can often feel like a storm. Things blow in left and right – the chores, the caretaking, the careers, the moving – and we get pummeled. On today’s episode, we’re continuing our discussion around removing your mental load by managing overwhelm. What is overwhelm, and how do we deal with it? I break it down, and then share a powerful tool to ease the burden and help you sharpen your purpose.
Learn more about:
- Why and how overwhelm happen
- Making decisions during transitions
- Cultivating discipline when there are too many choices
- There’s math, and there’s drama
As always, you’re invited to my website, GirafeCoaching.com, where you can sign up for a monthly newsletter. In addition to finding out about free events within the Girafe Community, you can also download a free workbook to help you through tough times.
I need to pack, I have to make sure the dogs have had their shots, I must get the kids ready for school, did I remember to register for a new driving license?
And on and on and on. Life can be overwhelming — especially during times of transition, as every expat knows.
But what if all those "I need to" and "I have to" and "I must" statements were instead "I choose to"? How much more empowering is it when your actions are controlled by your choices, to get you closer to the life you'll love, rather than by external forces?
In this episode, I'll discuss what it means to be carrying a "mental load" or "mental burden," and how you can lift it off your shoulders.
Learn more about:
- What is a "mental load"?
- Why we overload ourselves with cr*p!
- Why keeping lists really isn't a solution.
- How to get your finger off the "overwhelm" button.
- What you can gain by losing that mental load.
As always, you’re invited to my website, GirafeCoaching.com, where you can sign up for a monthly newsletter. In addition to finding out about free events within the Girafe Community, you can also download a free workbook to help you through tough times.
Murugayan Tirukumar ("Tiru" to his friends) has lived many lives. He was born in India, raised in Singapore, and now resides all over the world as a diplomat’s husband.
Tiru transitioned from a career in engineering to stay-at-home parenting, raising the next generation of third culture kids.
Along his circuitous and rich life path, he’s challenged gender stereotypes and antiquated ideas, developed wonderful relationships with his daughters, and carved out his own version of life purpose. His story is an incredible example of modern masculinity.
Highlights:
- Defying cultural expectations
- Redefining gender roles
- Third culture kids
- Finding your passion outside a career
As always, you’re invited to my website, GirafeCoaching.com, where you can sign up for a monthly newsletter. In addition to finding out about free events within the Girafe Community, you can also download a free workbook to help you through tough times.
Many of us can relate to this idea of being our own worst enemy. We bully ourselves, minimize our value, and relentlessly compare ourselves to others. The path to self-defeat is well-worn.
So on today’s episode, I walk you through the different types of negative self-talk, and share how you can build healthier, more energizing conceptions of yourself. This will help your dreams flourish.
Highlights
- Exploring the 3 types of negative self-talk
- Recognizing how negative self-talk holds you back
- Replacing self-judgment with curiosity
If you’re experiencing negative self-talk, let’s chat. Together, we can go deeper on this journey of self-discovery and self-love.
And be sure to listen to Episode 21 Keeping a Journal. It’s a great companion to this one.
As always, you’re invited to my website, GirafeCoaching.com, where you can sign up for a monthly newsletter. In addition to finding out about free events within the Girafe Community, you can also download a free workbook to help you through tough times.
Dr Sophie Haspeslagh has, like many expats, led a very unconventional life. And, like many expats, she made it look easy — when it really wasn't.
She finished her PhD while on maternity leave, met with armed leaders in countries in conflict, moved around the globe with babies, all the while pursuing her interest in counterterrorism education.
She's an assistant professor at the University of Cairo and has recently published a new book, Proscribed Peace: How Listing Armed Groups as Terrorists Hurts Negotiations.
Highlights:
Sophie's unconventional path
Finding the courage to tread your own path
Where is "home" and what does that word mean to you?
Embracing the unknown and challenging yourself
Surviving trauma and finding your passion
The importance of trusting yourself
Hear Sophie's amazing, inspiring story of pushing on and pursuing her dreams, despite a truly terrifying experience. If you're dealing with past traumas that seem to have stopped your dreams in their tracks, let's talk.
Once you've heard the episode, be sure to visit my website, GirafeCoaching.com, and sign up for the monthly newsletter. In addition to finding out about free events within the Girafe Community, you can also download a free workbook to help you through tough times.
In this series, I've been talking about the choices we have, even in the face of unthinkable situations like a pandemic or a war.
In Episode 42, I shared with you the first choice we all have which is to direct your thoughts on purpose to create calm if you wish to do so. In Episode 43, I shared with you the second choice to accept and even process your anxiety if you wish to do so.
Today I would like to offer that we have the choice to move between despair and hope.
Here are the highlights:
Why our brains naturally focus on worst-case scenarios
What it means to be a "hopeful" person
Is despair written in your DNA?
Why cultivating hope is important — and possible
The three axes of optimism
Once you've heard the episode, be sure to visit my website, GirafeCoaching.com, and sign up for the monthly newsletter. In addition to finding out about free events within the Girafe Community, you can also download a free workbook to help you through tough times.
The war in Ukraine continues, and our newsfeeds are full of terrible images of suffering people. It's heartbreaking to watch and feel so powerless to help.
These are awful, uncomfortable emotions, and of course we want to avoid them. I'd like to suggest we acknowledge them instead.
In this episode, I share how acknowledging our emotions, allowing ourselves to sit with them, can help us to avoid "buffering" behavior that won't help the problem and will only make us feel worse later.
Highlights:
- How global events are affecting us.
- What are numbing or buffering behaviors?
- How can we avoid the shame, guilt, and regret of buffering behaviors?
- How and why do you "hold space" for your feelings?
- What is the "eventhough" tool?
- Other episodes that can help with this emotional work.
This is a truly scary and difficult time, but feelings of overwhelm and panic help no one. Learn the skills to resist emotional overload.
For more on this, come see me at GirafeCoaching.com. Have a great week.
Just now, much of the world's attention is focused on Ukraine. It's a terrifying time for those under attack but also for those of us watching and wishing there were more we could do.
In this episode and mini-series, I want to break down for you some of the choices you have - now, watching world events unfold, but also when unthinkable situations happen in your own life.
Highlights:
- Why circumstances can cause us to focus on the worst-case scenario
- What choices do we actually have?
- Using the right language to trigger the right emotions and actions
- Embracing what is so you can help move towards what should be
- Power questions to help you act from a place of calm and resolve
If you want to receive the workbook I discussed in the episode, you'll find it at Girafecoaching.com. Simply sign up for the monthly newsletter.
Is change happening to you? Or with you?
In this episode, my guest, Ania Krasniewska Shahidi, asks us these important and powerful questions. Because there is a real difference between them, isn't there?
Are you frustrated with being assumed to be “along for the ride” with your expat spouse? Are you frustrated with how difficult it can be to carve out an identity of your own, earn your own money, be in control of your circumstances?
While dealing with the challenges of being an accompanying spouse, Ania has made a success of her own life. She’s a Group Vice President at Gartner and is the Global Co-Chair of Women@Gartner, helping drive recruitment of women and make the workplace more inclusive.
She shared with me how she managed to navigate both a high-powered career and the many changes, transitions, and challenges of being an expat spouse and mother of two.
Highlights:
About Ania: immigration and preparation for an expat life
Where (or what) is home for you?
What is one fun habit you bring with you everywhere?
Making decisions and embracing the outcomes
When being an expat gets harder, not easier
Career clarity and communication
The power of the “neutral circumstance” revelation
Living in discomfort as expats and parents
Changing the narrative around “defining” expat spouses
If you're ready to start living life to YOUR full potential, make an appointment now for a free consultation. You'll find me at GirafeCoaching.com.
Many of us knew from a young age that we wanted a life that was different - one full of travel, adventure, exploration, and challenge. And an expat life fits all those qualifications, for sure!
But if you're like me, and you've been living this life for a while, you may be discovering that you don't feel like that fearless, adventurous person you were at the beginning. What happened?
Suddenly your inner censor is questioning your every decision, making you feel insecure, possibly even greedy and ungrateful, for wanting more than you already have.
In this episode, I talk you through many of the reasons expats stop dreaming of more for themselves:
Are you too comfortable with "what is"?
Do you have "the right" to want more?
Guilt versus gratitude and giving yourself permission
Where does that inner censorship come from?
What is your big dream?
What do you think of people with big dreams?
How to give yourself space to take your shot
If you're ready to reach your full potential, get in touch! Schedule a free consultation at GirafeCoaching.com.
When you’re the “accompanying spouse” in an expat life, your choices may feel quite limited. You may not be able to work, earn your own money, or have your own professional identity. For some, this feels very limiting.
Is it possible to turn these seeming obstacles into opportunity? My guest, Life Coach Kim Ramirez, and I think so. Obstacles are only obstacles when we allow them to get in our way, after all! In this conversation, Kim and I talk about how the dream of living the expat life can sometimes be derailed by the realities, and how coaching helped her transform her life. Highlights (with time stamp) 3:30 Living in a multicultural family / the expatriate dream is born 5:00 The importance of elephant poo 8:00 The impact of expatriation on the life and career of the “trailing spouse” 10:00 The confidence to ask for pay for work 12:30 Finding or creating purpose 13:30 Gratitude, guilt, and “getting lost” 15:00 Defining “home” 16:30 When “coming back” feels like failure 22:03 Tools for learning from Unlock Your Full Potential program 25:00 Privilege and permission to dream bigger 30:00 Advice for a new “nomad” 33:20 Coaching and “decluttering” your inner life 37:30 The power of knowing you can create what you want Find Kim at kimramirezcoaching.com. And get more information about me and how YOU can unlock your full potential like Kim at GirafeCoaching.com.
You've arrived to the new country where your spouse has a position. The boxes are unpacked, the children are enrolled in school — it's time for you to tackle that paperwork and get your work permit.
Then you're told this country doesn't allow accompanying spouses to get work permits. WHAT?!
This may feel like a complete disaster. Your career has been derailed, you're stuck professionally, and you can see the future you dreamed of going up in smoke. But is it really a disaster? Or are your emotions simply racing ahead, sirens blaring, ready to declare an emergency?
I had exactly this experience myself. And as you can see, I survived. It wasn't the end. I wasn't stuck. If you'd like to learn how I saved myself by evaluating and taking control of my emotions, then listen up!
If you'd like to learn more about how you can also gain control of your emotions and use them to move forward, visit my website, GirafeCoaching.com.
Are you someone who is thinking about launching a business, but are worried about the complexities of doing so as an expatriate? This week’s episode is the perfect one to listen to.
Just as I help people through times of transition, so does Augustin Bonniol, CEO of ABC Expat — though the kind of help we offer is very different!
As a "trailing spouse," Augustin did what many accompanying partners do: he handled all the "life" arrangements in the new country. Housing, work permit, car, banking — when you build a life in a new country, the beginning can be complicated and quite stressful! Especially when you're confronted with a new system, a new culture, perhaps even a new language.
He saw the opportunity and turned these logistical challenges into a business — ABC Expat.
How did he make the leap from "trailing spouse" to successful entrepreneur? Well, for one thing, he ignored the nay-sayers and critics and listened instead to his own heart.
Join me to hear this amazing story, then let's work together to create YOUR amazing story! Find me at GirafeCoaching.com
As anyone who's ever made a New Year's resolution will tell you, real and lasting change is HARD.
Despite our intentions, resolutions rarely "stick," and in this episode, I'll share the reasons why the gym crowd starts to thin starting about now.
I'll also share how you can shift your mindset to have more realistic expectations — and a much greater chance of success.
Please have a listen, then visit me at GirafeCoaching.com for even more ways to start leading a life you'll love.
When moving means letting go of a career you love, are you simply stuck with the loss?
Definitely not! Of course, letting go of something you love isn’t easy, but it can also be a wonderful opportunity to take a step back, gain some perspective, and explore a new path — if you approach it with that mindset.
In this episode, I interview Sarah Little, who reinvented herself and her career. She struggled with the change in identity when she moved to Africa to support her husband’s career and couldn’t practice as an OB/GYN as she had in the US.
Sarah completed the Clarify Your Potential program with Girafe Coaching, which helped take her career to the next level.
For most (if not all) of us, there's a gap between the life we're living and the life we want to live; between the person we are and the person we want to be. And we see that as a problem.
But the gap isn't the problem. The problem is the feelings we have that drive us to do things, to take actions that move us away from our dreams.
How do we change so that the actions we take move us closer to our goals instead?
In this episode, I give you four competencies that will help you close the gap between where you are and where you want to be.
Come learn more and take my 28-day challenge at girafecoaching.com/clarity-challenge/!
What does it mean to have "emotional agency"?
Emotional agency means knowing that the only emotions I have control over are my own. This is an important lesson for children, because then they understand they are not responsible for making their parents happy or sad.
This is not the same as giving them permission to misbehave! Instead, it is giving them empowerment — when they see you choosing to think thoughts and feel emotions that serve YOU, they'll be able to do the same.
Listen to how to give your child this important gift, then come visit me at GirafeCoaching.com to learn more.
For many of us, it's the season of gift-giving. This week I invite you to give your children a truly beautiful gift: their emotions.
Too often, we're taught to swallow our feelings, and that, if we're feeling negative emotions such as shame and disappointment, we're doing something wrong.
Adults struggle with accepting their emotions rather than seeing them as something to be "fixed" — children do too! But hiding or avoiding feelings can lead children to find comfort another way; through playing video games, diving into social channels, eating comfort foods, and even more self-destructive behavior when they get older.
In this episode and the next, I talk about how to help children identify their emotions, feel them fully, and move forward with confidence.
For more, find me at GirafeCoaching.com.
Setting boundaries can feel terribly uncomfortable. Asking a friend not to use certain language in your home or in front of your children, for example, can seem like an imposition.
But if this is truly important to you, pretending the behavior is acceptable can make you feel worse.
I believe setting boundaries is a form of self-care. In this episode, I discuss why boundaries are really important and how you can learn not only to set them but to follow through.
Please have a listen, then work through the exercise I give you at the end. You may surprise yourself with how much better you'll feel when your boundaries are set and respected. Find me at GirafeCoaching.com.
Your partner, your children, your colleagues and friends: do they know about The Manual you have for them?
We have a set of expectations for everyone in our lives, and when they "fall short" of our expectations, we can get angry or frustrated or feel disrespected.
Why is it that when THEY break the rules, WE feel punished? Because we choose to.
This is the first of my short series on relationships, so stay tuned! And be sure to visit GirafeCoaching.com for more information.
We all think we'll be happy when we achieve our goals and have "success."
If that's true, why do so many successful people crash and burn?
In this episode, I'll talk about having the capacity for success, and why, when our dreams come true, so many of us self-sabotage.
Enjoy the episode, then come learn more about how to Unlock Your Full Potential at girafecoaching.com!
Here in the USA, it's Thanksgiving, a day where we traditionally practice gratitude for the many good things in our lives.
I'd like to suggest that we all learn a practice of gratitude — even when we're not sitting down to a table of good food, surrounded by friends and family.
In this episode, I'd like to share with you why and how you can feel gratitude, even when life doesn't seem to be giving you much to be grateful for.
Have a listen, then join the conversation on Facebook and schedule a consultation with me at GirafeCoaching.com.
The last in this series on "dream stealers" is indecision. This one can be really tricky, because while you may think you're simply prolonging a difficult decision, what you're really doing is deciding ... by default.
Not doing something is a decision all on its own — and often not the best one.
In this episode, I'll talk about the three ways indecision stops you from making progress towards your dreams. I'll help you identify why you hesitate — and give you tools to help you move forward.
Stay tuned for a webinar coming soon, and be sure to visit me at GirafeCoaching.com for more information!
"Perfect is the enemy of good," said Voltaire.
What happens when we strive for perfection? We're doomed to failure; "perfect" just isn't possible.
And those who push for perfect are more likely to suffer from disappointment, anxiety, and depression.
In this episode, I show you all the flaws of perfectionism and how you can still set your sights high without setting yourself up to fail.
Do you need help overcoming perfectionism? Make an appointment with me at Girafe Coaching, and let's get you back on track to achieve your dreams.
Another thing that steals our dreams is our fear of failure. We can be so afraid of failing that we don't even try — making that fear a self-fulfilling prophecy.
But what is failure, really? "Failure" simply means not achieving the expected result.
In this episode I talk about the three reasons most of us let this fear steal our dreams. I also give you some ways to reframe "failure" so we all can understand that this "achieving different results" is nothing to be afraid of.
Join me at Girafe Coaching on Facebook or my website, https://girafecoaching.com to learn more!
NOTE: Listening to this episode is NOT a form of procrastination.
That thing you really don't want to do (or maybe you DO) — how many times have you put it off? You can probably name all the deadlines you've set for yourself ... and missed.
But do you know WHY you keep putting it off? Understanding our urge to wait until the last minute or not do things at all is the first step to stopping it.
In this episode, I talk about how to keep this powerful dream stealer from poaching our energy and our enthusiasm. What's the magic wand? Let's find out.
If procrastination is a problem for you, reach out to me at girafecoaching.com. Let's talk about how to keep moving forward to a life you'll love.
In the next few episodes, I plan to talk about "dream stealers" — those thieves that steal our hopes and plans for our futures and the lives we want to lead.
This week, I focus on one of the most insidious stealers of dreams: "I don't know."
It's such a simple sentence, but the words can become a trap. Perhaps you want to focus more on your career, but you quickly become tangled in so many I don't knows — I don't know what to do without a work permit, I don't know how long we'll be in this country, I don't know who will take care of my kids — that very quickly, your dream is smothered in uncertainty and overwhelm.
When you are trapped and spinning in a labyrinth of I don't knows, there are ways to find the right path. I want to share some tools with you that will help you steer clear of the labyrinth.
Listen, then join me at girafecoaching.com to learn more about how I empower expat partners to live a life they'll love.
A lot of expats really dislike the term "trailing spouse," as it can make the expat partner seem like an after-thought. The one whose job is in a foreign country is the "leader" — the rest of us just follow along.
And life as the partner of an expat, while it may seem exciting and glamorous, means putting your career on hold, and being dependent upon your partner for your financial security, even your identity.
None of this has to be this way.
In this podcast, I talk about why your sense of self-worth, your identity, and your career are truly all in YOUR hands — and how you can leverage special tools to live the life you want, wherever you are.
Listen, then join me at girafecoaching.com to learn about my Unlock Your Full Potential course. Let's get started!
Journaling is like a daily meeting with yourself — a chance to check in on what's going on in your everyday life, set intentions, track progress towards your goals, and hear those inner voices of wisdom that often get shouted down by the urgency of day-to-day life.
Expats know how chaotic life can be: so much change and inconsistency, it can be hard to make steady progress on goals when there's so much to do.
Checking in with yourself not only gives you awareness about what's going on but also helps you shape the results you want.
Take the 7-day journal challenge, and let me know how it's going on Facebook: facebook.com/girafecoaching.
Beliefs are just thoughts we've told ourselves over and over until they become our reality.
That can be good, like when we tell ourselves we CAN run that marathon, write that novel, start that business.
Or they can be negative and limiting, like when we say, "I can't manage that," or "This is too difficult for me."
Beliefs can be very powerful, which is why we need to be careful about telling ourselves beliefs that limit us instead of serving us.
In this episode, I talk about the power of belief, and how you can put that power to work for you, instead of letting it work against you.
Come join the conversation on Instagram at instagram.com/girafe_coaching.
The disconnect between our expectations and our reality can often cause real disappointment.
We had such big dreams for our new house, our new business, our new project, only to find that the reality falls far short of our hopes.
So what do we do? We turn to anger (and blame) or resignation — I should have known this would never work.
In this episode, we learn that we have a magic wand that gives us a third, much healthier path.
Join me for the podcast, then learn more about my coaching at GirafeCoaching.com.
Remember that I set a goal to be settled in my new home and my new office by the first day of my kids' school?
That involved having the house set up (mostly), the container unpacked (pretty much), and my office ready to go. I envisioned exactly what I wanted and kept moving toward it.
Do you think I made it? You'll have to listen to the podcast to find out!
This week I am discussing goals: how to set them and keep them clearly in your sights, even when you think life is just too complicated to accomplish them.
Give yourself the gift of clarity around the life you truly want and the challenges that are holding you back — visit me at Girafe Coaching to learn more.
Isn't it funny how you never outgrow that September feeling of change and excitement and possibility?
Even though most of us adults aren't heading back to school, the fall still feels like a time of renewal.
As I watch my boys climbing the stairs to their new school, ready to make friends and learn and grow, I am so proud of their "Let's do this! Let's go!" attitudes.
Where does that feeling go when we become adults? I argue that adults face four key obstacles when trying to accept change and do something that makes us uncomfortable.
Learn how to quiet the part of your brain that craves comfort and familiarity, even if that comfort isn't truly making you happy. Get motivated, and keep that momentum.
Listen to this episode, then join me at GirafeCoaching.com to learn about my Unlock Your Full Potential program. Go where YOU want to go — not just where life takes you.
What kind of life do you prefer?
Perhaps you're more of a bonsai — you want a life that is orderly, purposeful, and beautiful. Or maybe you're a baobab, wanting a life that is big, messy, a little chaotic, and beautiful? Or you might be a bit of both.
No matter what, be sure you're living the life you choose, the life you design, not the one created for you by circumstance.
In this episode, I talk about how our emotions can limit our choices and cancel our dreams, if we let them. And I give you some tools to help you see your dreams clearly and begin forming the life that suits you best.
Come visit me at girafecoaching.com to find out more about my Unlock Your Full Potential program and other ways to begin living a life you'll love.
What do you do when things are hard?
- Do you identify as the victim and blame your circumstances?
- Do you spin and spin in helplessness?
- Do you "catastrophize"?
Or do you step back, ask yourself some powerful questions, and navigate these difficult events from a place of strength and love?
Your life is a canvas and you are its artist. What colors will you choose to represent your life? How big and varied is your palette?
Listen to my podcast to hear the three powerful questions that can help you have a rich and beautiful life, even when times are very tough. Then come visit me at GirafeCoaching.com to download my "Powerful Practice for Facing Tough Times" booklet, free!
Riding the second level of a double-decker bus is fun — if you're a tourist on holiday in London.
It's a lot less fun if that second level is actually all the bad emotions you pile on top of a particular problem in your life.
In this episode, I talk about a very useful tool for reducing guilt, anxiety, overwhelm, and feelings of inadequacy: solve the problem, don't bury it under a layer of unnecessary emotion.
If you're on your own double-decker bus, going around and around but not getting anywhere, I invite you to listen to this episode of my podcast, then visit me at Girafe Coaching to learn more about how to live a life you'll love.
When you decide not to reach for a goal, what are you most afraid of? Is it failing?
That's true of many of us. But "failure" is only in our own minds. What if we could reframe failure as a way of making progress towards ultimately achieving that goal?
In this episode, I talk about how our fear of failure traps us into recycling the same old life over and over. We want to change, but our brains tell us, "it's too hard, you can't do it, you've never been able to do this in the past," so we fall into old behaviours instead.
Learn to "fail well" instead — listen to the episode, answer the questions, watch your thoughts, and choose instead to strategize for success. Then come visit me at Girafe Coaching for more information and help to live a life you'll love.
Music by Ben Hobbs
Voice Actor David S Dear
What is your "emotional nutrient"? We want to do things in order to feel a certain way — we want to learn languages to feel more connected. We want to complete a marathon to feel strong and confident. I wanted to launch a podcast to feel bold and audacious!
Connected, strong, confident, audacious — those feelings are our "emotional nutrients."
That feeling you want to feel is part of what drives you to accomplish your goal. But your emotional nutrient has to be strong enough to help you stay committed when achieving the goal gets tough or feels impossible.
In this podcast, I talk about the three essential ingredients to achieving goals. Having a compelling emotional nutrient is one; what else do we need to unlock our full potential?
You can do this. You can live a life you love. Have a listen to the episode, then learn more on my website, GirafeCoaching.com.
Music by Ben Hobbs
Voice Actor David S Dear
Our thoughts happen so quickly that it may seem we're not in control of them. But we are — or we should be.
When we react too quickly to circumstances, we often make things worse: we lash out in anger, we blame, we accuse. None of those reactions is likely to solve the problem, but all of them can make us feel worse when we've calmed down.
Modern Emotional Health comes from slowing down our responses, observing ourselves, then acting in a way that serves us instead of shames us. And, I would argue, that's when we are truly free and alive.
Music by Ben Hobbs
Voice Actor David S Dear
Listen to the podcast on learning to have authority over our minds, our feelings, and our responses. Then come visit me at Girafe Coaching for more information.
Sometimes our brain is like a carousel, spinning around and around, following the same old track and going nowhere.
We let the events of our past define our futures, following the same patterns again and again, and assuming this is our truth because it happens over and over, just like we “knew” it would. The truth is that only we can take ourselves off the carousel. In this episode, I talk about how we get stuck on the carousel, replaying thoughts that perhaps served us once upon a time but don’t serve us any more. Learn how to stop spinning in place and start moving forward again, towards the life that will truly fulfill you. Find out more at girafecoaching.com. Music by Ben Hobbs
Voice Actor David S Dear
What resource is in shortest supply in your life? Money? Energy?
For most of us, it's time. There's never enough of it.
Life Coach Caroline Giffon says it's not a matter of "too much" or "too little" — it's how you use the time you have. Are you allocating your time in a way that moves you forward on your goals?
In this episode, Caroline talks about cairns, those stone structures people build to say, "I've been here!" To build one that stands the test of time, you need to pile the stones properly, understanding how the ones above will rest on the ones beneath.
Have a listen as Caroline teaches you to build your cairn, choosing and stacking stones for a structure that will last. Visit her website, Girafe Coaching, to learn more and book a consultation.
Music by Ben Hobbs
Voice Actor David S Dear
According to Life Coach Caroline Giffon of Girafe Coaching, in order to live the life you truly want, you need to have a clear vision of what you want.
That clear vision, those big dreams, put you back in the driver's seat of your own life. Your ideas may change and evolve, and that's OK. No matter how old you are, you're never "stuck" unless you allow yourself to be.
In this podcast, Caroline defines the Rooftop Vision — the clearest view of what you want from life — the four obstacles that can stop you from getting there, and how to reframe your thinking to get to the rooftop.
Music by Ben Hobbs
Voice Actor David S Dear
"We’ve learned that what we think about ourselves is who we are, a bit like having blue eyes or brown eyes. Either we are someone who follows through, or we are not; either we have blue eyes or brown, and none of these things can change."
But that's not true, says Caroline Giffon of Girafe Coaching. The brain is remarkably plastic, and we can train it to think thoughts that serve us better.
How can you feel better in almost any circumstance? We are not at the mercy of our circumstances, says Life Coach Caroline Giffon of Girafe Coaching. The key is to become deliberate about your thinking around the events you cannot control.
In this episode, Caroline discussing the simple but very powerful coaching tool, the Self-Coaching Model.
Listen to the episode, practice the Self-Coaching Model yourself, and visit Girafe Coaching for more information on how to lead a life you'll love.
Unintentional Model
C: Insurance call to confirm container is lost
T: It’s a nightmare to lose a full container with all our things in it F: Despair
A: Yell at the person on the phone, hang up and cry, write an email of complaint, raise my voice with my partner, lose temper with the kids, complain to a co-worker, blame myself for picking this company among other shipping companies. Do not find a solution for the lost items
R: I make my life a nightmare
Intentional Model
C: Shipping company declares container lostT: This is what it is
F: AcceptanceA: file for a lost container with the insurance company to get compensation, ask employer for an advance paycheck in order to buy pieces of furniture, ask for a couple of days of admin leave to organize everything and do not complain about this at homeR: Take full control of what is
It's a tough truth to accept: Life usually balances out to 50% positive and 50% negative.
According to Life Coach Caroline Giffon, that's how it should be, and chasing 100% happiness is a recipe for discontent.
Have a listen, then visit her website, Girafe Coaching, to learn more about the 50/50 tool and filling the gap between the life you lead ... and the life you'll love.
"Constant happiness is not the goal, and seeking it is doomed to failure. What if I told you a richer, fuller, more satisfying life is one that includes the full range of human feelings, including plenty of unhappiness?"
If you're chasing happiness, chances are you're falling short. Especially if you're in difficult circumstances, like a major life transition. And maybe what you're really doing is "self-medicating" to escape unhappiness.
Certified Life Coach and Global Nomad Caroline Giffon doesn't think a life of unbroken happiness is achievable — or healthy. Hear her thoughts in this podcast, then check out her website, Girafe Coaching, for more information on how to live a truly rich, fulfilling life.
Music by Ben Hobbs
Voice Actor David S Dear
Transitions include loss, no matter how big the gains.
Whether you are a Third Culture Kid (TCK) who is saying goodbye to friends, a house, and memories; or an adult global nomad who is changing jobs and colleagues and countries of focus; or a partner who found the home, created a whole life there and needs to do it again in a different place - you will most likely experience a mix of negative and positive emotions.
Certified Life Coach Caroline Giffon helps you understand why feeling negative emotions is optional and how you can understand and change what you feel.
Have a listen and learn to be happier about the big transitions you face as a global nomad. Then visit Caroline's website, Girafe Coaching, to learn more about leading a life you'll love!
Music by Ben Hobbs
Voice Actor David S Dear
Have you noticed that some people thrive in transitions, while others agonize over it, and some people barely notice? Why does our tolerance for transition vary so much?
The challenge is in distinguishing facts from interpretations of facts: transitions, like a move, are facts. How we think about that move (excitement over a new adventure or resentment over having to say goodbye to friends again or worry about having to find a new job) depends entirely on our interpretation of our circumstances.
And that, according to Life Coach Caroline Giffon of Girafe Coaching, is great news.
You have a lot more power than you may think you have, even when the circumstances seem stacked against you.
Caroline offers help to reframe the conversation in your head so the emotions you're feeling and the thoughts you're having serve you better.
Music: Ben Hobbs
Voice actor: David S. Dear
Caroline Giffon has been a global nomad for more than 20 years, and she is now preparing herself and her family for their seventh transition: moving from Zimbabwe to Washington, D.C.
Any move is hard, but moving from one country to another, one culture to another, one language to another, comes with a special set of challenges, as every expat knows.
When you face a major transition, what happens in your brain? Do you notice all the negative thoughts that naturally pop up? When you realize you are not your thoughts but the “spotter” of your thoughts—that observer—you do not have to believe everything your brain is telling you. You get to decide what to think.
In Loving Your Expat Life, Life Coach Caroline shares tools to help you find perspective as you face any major change in your life.
Have a listen, then find Caroline at Girafe Coaching to learn more about bridging the gap between the life you lead and a life you'll love.
Music by Ben Hobbs
Voice actor David S. Dear
Leading an expat life can seem so glamorous and exciting, and often it is! But what if your professional credentials aren't recognized, you find it difficult to build new relationships, or you struggle with the language? Crafting a meaningful, satisfying life takes work no matter where you are, but for expat partners, the challenges can be even greater. If you're looking to create meaningful change in your life, to have a lifestyle, relationships, and career that truly suit and fulfill you, but you're not sure how to start, don't worry. You don't have to figure it out on your own. Certified Life Coach Caroline Giffon helps global nomads get clear on what they want and equips them with the tools to get there. Join her every week for Loving Your Expat Life, her podcast full of ideas to help expats bridge the gap between the life they're leading...and the life they'll love.
Music by Ben Hobbs
Voice actor David S. Dear