1. The Seven Stages of Coping: A Map for Moving Forward There are moments in life when we don’t just experience change - we are cracked open by it. Seperation from a life partner, loss, career upheavals, identity shifts, you name it. Whatever the form, these moments demand something from us. They require us to deal with it, whether we want to or not. Recently, I found myself mapping out the ways we deal with these challenges. I didn’t intend to. It was more of a way to make sense of the chaos. What emerged were seven stages of coping that I kept observing. Maybe you’ll find yourself in them too? 1. Simmering in Victimhood At first, there’s the feeling of why me? A raw, disoriented space where everything feels unfair. We replay conversations, analyze details, try to assign blame. We believe that if things had gone differently, we wouldn’t be here. 2. Numbing or Distracting Sitting in the pain feels unbearable, so we look for escape. Work, social media, alcohol, travel, mindless entertai

Dear friend, when I reflect on the years of having 80 employees, a decent paycheck, status, company shares and things like that, compared to what I have today and who I am today, there is one measure that has completely changed: its pride. Although I received a lot of respect and admiration, I wasnt proud of anything I was doing. Today, especially reflecting on the past year, I feel immensly proud. For the recent achievements and the person I have become and that I am ever-becoming. I know, I know. We dont want to come across arrogant or self-absorbed. So sometimes there is a hesitation to say I am proud of my achievements (at least for me). But what pride really is to me today is understanding, if I am on my “Path to Presence” or not. I invite you to share things that you are proud of, even if it can be weird. And I will go first: taking care of myself, even if its hard (as a natural pleaser and giver) saying no to many temptations this year that werent aligned with my values people s

My personal tool box for generic interventions when I am feeling stressed, depressed or anxious, overwhelmed, numb or frustrated…. 1.1. Shakti-Mat This is a spiky mat, that you can lay on top to regulate your nervous system. It’s perfect to use below the back before sleeping. No, I am not on their payroll (yet), but I should be! I have send this as a gift to several friends and I use it on a daily basis myself, for years. 1.2. Breathwork Since I am dedicated to a sober life, I am longing more and more for moments where my brain shuts down for a while. Breathwork is one of the very few things that give me that incredible feeling. Reliably. 1.3. Hot / Cold Exposure You have heard about this a million times. Now its a million and one. It deserves the spotlight. Because its so efficient and available. No need for expensive Wim Hof sessions, as well. 1.4. Movement Taking my dog for a longer walk than usual, leaving the phone home. You can do it anytime, it’s for free, and almost guaranteed

"Less is more" has been one of my guiding mantras on my path to presence. Back in the days I was so busy that I could not hear what either I or the world around me truly needed. I was blinded. Today, everytime I feel that I cannot see the forest for all the trees, I try to listen deeply and reduce or remove: Noise Things to take care of Toys Input Meetings Possession Distractions For the same purpose I like to organise, clean, repair, cancel, redirect or delegate things that block me. Nothing reminds me more of that principle than the italian way of living. An espresso, Spaghetti Aglio e Olio. A lemon that you can eat directly from the tree with peel. Life isn't complicated. We just like to make it complicated at times.

For most parts of my life everything went very smooth and natural. Until - it didn't. It felt like my inner compass broke. When searching for guidance I had always sought for role models, external success. As a result I became a successful Tech Executive. I grew many organisations in the Startup Space of Berlin. And as much as that looked great from the outside, it felt wrong on the inside. I was navigating with outer signals and ignored my inner instincts. It tore me apart. My soul and my body had taken different paths. That caused me to burn out. I had head pressure, never ending dizziness, fatigue and chronic pain. I lost the language that my body speaks. And needed to learn it all over again. Even after years of personal growth the path isn't always clear. Life is full of temptations and distractions. That is why it is so important for me to have tools to find my way back on track. Some Practical tips What has helped me to stay on track or find my way back? Time and space The best

How do you avoid life? In my case it was (amongst other things) alcohol. Isnt it funny, how we endure pain and suffering, humiliation and violation of our deepest values just so we can afford some time off where we can not think, not live, for a moment? Sometimes it feels to me like our soul is pulling us back or toward whatver lies beyond life isself. I remember, when I was smoking cigarettes, it was like claiming a break that no-one could take from me. A rebellious act of independence. I used alcohol in order to shut down thoughts and „claim back“ my brain by making it foggy. To stop the thought-carrousel. Curiously, all this avoidance of life made me fear death even more. On the peak of it all I had anxiety and even some panic attacks. Then this quote hit me hard: It made so much sense. Because I was wasting my life with things that (secretly) don’t matter to me, I felt more and more anxious and fearful of death. Nowadays I still catch myself browsing through social media in a never