During my travels around the world, I’ve drawn inspiration from unexpected encounters with people and nature that I love sharing with you. Sometimes you have to go far away to get closer to the heart of things. This time: ‘If Trees Could Speak’. It made it so clear to me how everything is interconnected, offering a new way of working and living. Just take a look...
Some places and moments offer deeper insights than others. I experienced a moment of crystal-clear inspiration during a stay in California, USA, in 2014. Sitting silently admist the trees for a while, a valuable new connection came to life—one I hadn’t seen before. It made it so clear to me how everything is interconnected, offering a new way of working and living. Just take a look...
I found myself wanting to step into the tree’s skin—or rather, its bark. Imagining myself in that position, I wondered what I would have witnessed over all those days, months, and years if I had eyes. The sun, the rain, people sitting against me with genuine care, or walking past carelessly as if I were just another plant. Perhaps someone even carved a declaration of love into my bark. Or saw my brothers and sisters being cut down—and felt the pain of that. Or embraced me.
What would I have heard if I had ears? The wind, raindrops on my leaves and branches, the birds that spent time with me as their host and home. The people around me—some kind, others arguing. Would they realize someone was listening in? And if there were always something watching and listening, how would they behave?
People being friendly or arguing around me as a tree. Imagine if, instead of just being listened to neutrally and without judgment, I—as a tree—were to speak up and point out the consequences of their ‘own’ behavior: Would they listen to me, learn something, and change their actions to something better or more pleasant? What might I, as a tree, have heard from my ancestors about how my surroundings have changed over the centuries? Who even notices me anymore, now that more and more buildings have sprung up around me? What would I say to people today about how they treat us trees?
This is not a story about sustainability.
It is about a deeper connection—one we have become cut off from—that nature offers us if we open ourselves to it.
Everything is connected. The forms simply differ; the senses and languages of all beings—trees included—vary, which is why we do not always understand one another. The same applies to the people you live or work with.
“Everything is connected with everything"
What would happen if we stepped into each other’s skins more often, even if only for a while? Just as I did with the tree. If we asked questions to better understand one another, engaged in dialogue, and learned a little about each other’s histories, fostering greater understanding of one another’s choices and behavior? At work, with colleagues, clients, and suppliers. At home, with partners, children, family, and neighbors. With one another, across differences in skin color, culture, or religion. What would happen then?
For at our core, we are all the same—equal human beings, each with our own unique school of life and work. From the perspective of universal consciousness (or spirit), there is no difference; in essence, we are all connected.
Try stepping into someone else’s shoes—or the perspective of something else—for longer periods; ask questions and listen with neutral curiosity. I predict you will grow closer and collaborate and live together much more ‘in spirit,’ with all the benefits that brings.
Want to know more about deep listening and finding common ground instead of polarization? Take a look here: Article on Deep Listening: https://martinthoolen.com/en/hoe-diep-luisteren-je-werkelijk-harmonie-brengt/
I wish you wonderful journeys of discovery and a sense of closeness as you get under each other's skin.
Warmly, Martin
Want to see more short inspirations from around the world? Take a look here: https://martinthoolen.com/en/inspiratie/?_categorie_knoppen=wereldinspiraties
© 2026: Martin Thoolen
#wereldinspiraties #worldinspirations #reisverhalenmartinthoolen #travelstoriesmartinthoolen #spirit #synchroniciteit #synchronicity #firstnations #persoonlijkinspirerendleiderschap #persoonlijkleiderschap #leadership #leadershipdevelopment #personalleadership #leiderschap #spiritueelleiderschap #spiritedleadership #executivecoaching #leiderschap #leiderschapsontwikkeling #teamcoaching #collectiefleiderschap #professionalcoaching #coaching #businesscoaching #psychologyofselves #voicedialogue #egozielspirit #egosoulspirit #healer #healing #shaman #awarenessatwork #martinthoolen
"If Everything Comes and Goes, Why Hold on to It?"
© 2026: Martin Thoolen
Executives, Professors, Secretaries-Generals, as well as Physicians, PhDs, Advocates Generals, Managers, Assistent-Managers and Captains.
Working at a national or international level.
As a Business Psychologist and Senior Trainer/Coach, I have had the privilege of guiding literally thousands of leaders over the past 35 years. Across a wide range of sectors: Professional Services, Healthcare, Education, Industry, Logistics, Central Government, Provincial and Municipal Authorities, and more.
What do they have in common?
They are Human.
And, that they bear a great responsibility.
Working and living at the helm of teams and organizations can be demanding at times, raising questions such as:
These are just a few of the many questions leaders bring to me.
Sometimes, a neutral, experienced and professional sparring partner provides you with new perspectives and enables you to make considered, well-balanced choices.
Would you like to have a mutual discovery meeting—entirely without any obligation or cost?
You can.
Call, email, or message me, and you will receive a response within one day.
+31- 6 – 1562 0111
Want to know a bit more about me first?
Take a look at: https://martinthoolen.com/en/over-martin/
Maybe we’ll meet up later. Beste Regards, Martin
In Alphen aan de Rijn, The Netherlands (close to The Hague)— where I currently live and work from—I established a special connection with Harold Koelemij, chairman of the ‘Help Differently’ Foundation.
I was, and remain, deeply moved by the wonderful work he and his volunteers do in Alphen aan de Rijn. Providing care for children and adults in the neighborhood who are not in the current postion to spend much. Such as financial advice, giving children a day out, helping lonely elderly people, and much more. Read more about the foundation here: https://www.helpanders.nl/over-ons/
To strengthen collaboration among the volunteers, I have developed a custom-made workshop titled ‘Help Each Other,’ which I will be facilitating on a pro bono basis this coming September 17th.
INTERESTED PARTIES WELCOME
Anyone wishing to learn more about the activities of Foundation ‘Help Anders’ or interested in the (free!) workshop is welcome to contact the foundation at [email protected]You are more than welcome to attend!
More information can be found here: https://ap.lc/DyAdM
Date: Thursday, September 17, 2026
Time: 7:00 PM – 9:00 PM
Location: Briljantstraat 64A, 2403 AE Alphen aan den Rijn, The Netherlands.
Warm regards, and perhaps I’ll see you there! Martin
Life and death are often mentioned in the same breath. How can you view this and use it to enrich your life and work? How can you grow into a person and professional who lives and works with greater satisfaction and positive energy, and where your talents truly come into their own?
Here is a perspective...
Death is nothing more than the destruction of a form. Birth is nothing more than the emergence of a form. Both are part of the timeless cycle of creation.
But what, then, is life? What do we work and live for, and what is its meaning?
If you view life linearly, it has only a beginning and an end point: ‘that’s it’. Life would then simply be over—or shattered—in an instant. But is that really the case?
If you view life cyclically, it is an infinite flow that constantly changes form—like the ebb and flow of the tides, the seasons, or the birth and death of a day. From a linear perspective, life ends definitively with the destruction of the form: the death of a leaf on a tree, of a day when the sun sets, or of the body when you die.
Yet that is a limited perspective—comparable to the old idea that the Earth was flat. That image provided a useful frame of reference for topography and travel at the time, but it was only part of the truth. It was only when our perception expanded that we discovered the Earth is round: the flat Earth turned out to be a two-dimensional projection of a three-dimensional reality.
It is the same with life. Beyond linear thinking, life is something cyclical that constantly returns in a different form. Most of us, with our limited perception, cannot yet see this—but that does not mean it does not exist.
If you take this line of reasoning further, the same applies to the body as to the flat earth: it is a temporary, three-dimensional projection from a higher dimension that exists beyond time and space. Upon death, this form is cast off, and life—divested of the body—simply continues. It is possible that each dimension is, in turn, a projection from an even higher dimension, extending infinitely. In any case, it is heartening that science and human consciousness are capable of perceiving ever more, allowing our perspective to keep expanding. And above all: life simply goes on, albeit in a different form.
The death of a form creates new space and experiences from which to learn through newly born forms. Sometimes, we let go of the old to give ourselves the chance to experience or create something new—whether it involves a thought, a belief, a job, a project, a day, a year, a friend, or a family member. So: thank you, death… and birth…
Death certainly does not mean the end of life. How hopeful that is! You are not ‘finished’ when you die—in fact, life has always existed: before your birth, after your birth, and after your death. It has never gone away.
This raises the question: where, or for what purpose, do you live and work? Or perhaps more accurately: *how* do you live and work, right now?
I am convinced that life here is simply a temporary school—a place of painful, traumatic, and joyful experiences intended for the growth of the soul. Our body is merely a temporary vehicle for gaining earthly experiences and learning from them as human beings and as souls.
From the cradle to the grave, we gain deeply felt experiences in work and life that can teach us to become better people. Alternatively, we may fail to learn from them, stagnate in our development, or even become worse people. You reap what you sow.
The beauty of it is that an infinite life gives us the chance to realize this, time and again. Every year, every day, every hour, and every minute offers an opportunity to grow in *how* you live and work—allowing you to give shape to your talents with greater contentment, positive energy and inner peace.
Do you want to discover how to make your work and life more meaningful, and what might be holding you back?
Then take a look at this book: Spirited Personal Leadership
To life!
Martin
Took a little break. Wonderful! Really recharged. And now...?
Before you know it, you've forgotten all about your vacation. Right?
Your calendar and inbox are overflowing, deadlines are looming, and before you know it, you're back in the thick of it.
Would you like to avoid the trap of excessive workload this time and continue working with enjoyment and positive energy?
Coming from a background of 35 years’ experience in training and coaching, including in the areas of workload, sustainable employability, and reintegration, I'd like to share my best tips with you.
Back to work: from relaxed to overloaded?
And boom! You're feeling worn out again after just three weeks. So you wonder:
Where has my energy gone? How can I keep that candle burning?
Everything is energy. You are energy, too. Your body is just a temporary energy container. The more energy you expend, the more you will need to replenish it. Just like a car. It can't run without fuel, and without regular maintenance it’ll rust stuck.
"Everything is energy"
So you simply must refuel every now and then. You usually do that on vacation. By not thinking, but simply being. Your energy is completely replenished without you even realizing it.
Back at work, all that often fades into the background. Work is like running a marathon and vacations are the finish line. Exhausted, you go on another vacation to recover, only to do the same thing all over again. And sometimes you work until you are ready to collapse. And your "thinking cap” is always on. Like how you worry about your work in the evenings.
You can maintain a healthy work-life balance on three levels:
From © 2022: Spirited Personal Leadership (Martin Thoolen): Spirited Personal Leadership Model TM
You'll find relief if you work more effectively and efficiently by managing time and stress. Try the following tips:
TIP 1: SET THE RIGHT PRIORITIES
Before you do something you feel obliged ask yourself the following four questions and maybe try to do things differently for a change:
1. Why does this need to be done?
2. Why me?
3. Why now?
4. Why like this?
TIP 2: PLAN BREAKTIME AND TAKE REGULAR BREAKS
Incorporate at least 20% of free time into your schedule. Spontaneous events and regular breaks ensure your schedule doesn't blow up. Make sure you take a short break every 1.5 hours and actually step away from your workstation. This distance often provides more breathing room and relaxation. You'll recharge without even realizing it.
TIP 3: DELEGATE
Ask someone else to take over a task. Don't be afraid to challenge someone if the work is becoming too much for you.
TIP 4: LISTEN AND ACT IN ACCORDANCE WITH YOUR BODY
Your body is a brilliant stress scanner. It accurately tells you whether you're heading towards stress or burnout: chronic fatigue, worrying, poor sleep, physical complaints and much more. The question isn't so much whether your body registers it, but rather whether you recognize your body's signals. Once you do, dare to set healthy boundaries for what your body demands of you.
"Your body is a brilliant stress scanner"
TIP 5: EXERCISE
Give yourself a healthy kick in the butt. Research shows that exercise reduces the negative effects of stress and contributes to a positive mood and better mental health. A half-hour walk every day or doing yoga or going to the gym—it all helps.
One way to look at your ego is to imagine you're a bus with various ego passengers, some of whom may decide to take the wheel, unbeknownst to you. When pleaser the pleaser takes over, you will try to do everything you can to meet someone else’s needs. When the pusher When the pusher is driving, feel compelled doing everything you you’re doing without allowing yourself a break. The perfectionist generates top quality work and beauty in form, but can also waste a lot of extra time, which can leave you in a crunch.
These three ego powerhouses (pleaser, pusher, and perfectionist) are favorites with employers because what they do for them is significant and valuable, in return for reward and appreciation. There's nothing wrong with that, but these three Ps are also the biggest causes of exhaustion.
TIP 6: DOSE YOUR INNER PLEASER, PUSHER, AND PERFECTIONIST
Dose the three ego passengers by allowing their opposites at the wheel.
1. Dare to set healthy boundaries and, therefore, be seen as unfriendly.
2. Take more time to relax during the day to recharge.
3. Let go of your perfectionism and, if necessary, ask someone else to monitor the quality of your work.
The foundation of your vital energy is your inspiration. Because when you do what inspires you, you are connected to a much larger source of inexhaustible energy: consciousness or spirit. Sometimes you can tweak the external aspects (with your behavior, time, and stress management), but a structural energy leak remains. The nagging feeling of not being completely comfortable in your work continues.
Sometimes you work on fertile ground for a while, sometimes on arid, or even toxic soil. When arid, you lack challenge and inspiration. When toxic, work gets under your skin, and it keeps you occupied at night more than you'd like. It’s important to be aware of this, because any systems and relationships that don't allow space for the existence and the unique expression of the soul, imprison your soul and can make your body seriously ill.
“All systems and relationships that do not give space to the existence and the unique expression of the soul, imprison the soul and can make your body seriously ill”.
Therefore, it is sensible to occasionally examine and recalibrate your own career and your current performance.
TIP 7: RE-CALIBRATE YOUR INSPIRED CAREER
Ask yourself the following questions and answer sincerely from your heart and soul:
1. Am I currently doing what I want to and can do?
2. Am I my best self here?
3. Am I happy with my work?
4. Do I get energy from my work?
5. What do my dreams tell me? [insert link] (New tips for this in the blog: https://martinthoolen.com/en/nieuwe-loopbaanstap-gebruik-je-dromen/)
6. What would I do differently if my spirit had more breathing room?
When your soul is speaking, you often recognize it by the following words that may pop into your mind: actually, preferably, really, truly, essentially. Sneak up on what's wérkelijk truly going on inside you and dare to make new, well-considered choices. Because sometimes it's cowardly to leave, but sometimes it's cowardly to stay (Peter Delahay).
"Because sometimes it's cowardly to leave, but sometimes it's cowardly to stay."
(Peter Delahay)
What can you do to continue working with vitality after your vacation?
Don't wait until the next vacation to recharge.
Build in recharge moments, every week and every day, so you can continue working with pleasure, energy, and focus.
Want to know more about what you can do? Check out coaching for burnout and sustainable employability here: https://martinthoolen.com/en/service/coaching-vitaliteit-duurzame-inzetbaarheid/
I wish you an energetic and positive remainder of your working year.
© 2026: Martin Thoolen
#werkdruk #burnout #overspannen #stressmanagement #timemanagment #duurzameinzetbaarheid #re-integratie #leadership #leadershipdevelopment #leiderschap #spiritueelleiderschap #spiritedleadership #executivecoaching #leiderschap #leiderschapsontwikkeling #loopbaanontwikkeling #loopbaancoaching #teamcoaching #collectiefleiderschap #professionalcoaching #coaching #businesscoaching #psychologyofselves #voicedialogue #persoonlijkinspirerendleiderschap #persoonlijkleiderschap
How is it that personal leadership—and the leadership of others—often remainsmany times unchanged, despite costly personal development and management training or coaching?
This is a question that has occupied my mind for decades.
I vividly recall working in the 1990s for a renowned training and consultancy firm staffed by psychologists, when this very question arose.
Why did participants in communication or management training courses so often revert to their old behaviors after just a few weeks—or sometimes even days? A colleague literally said: “That’s just the way people are, their personality; you can’t change that.”
The answer intrigued me.
Hmm, is that really true?* I wondered.
Is there something else—beyond behavior and skills—that shapes our actions, our choices, and our (personal) leadership? Is there something we all share—transcending culture and religion—that determines all our behaviors and choices? Something universal?
Driven by that question, I spent years as a spiritual explorer searching for answers. After years of experience with thousands of clients, along with studies, training courses, seminars, conferences, visits to (spiritual) gurus, and numerous journeys to indigenous peoples around the world, things began to fall into place.
What emerged was remarkable.
On the one hand, it didn't seem like anything new, yet I had never before encountered the ‘interplay of three these hidden forces’ quite the way it was revealed to me—literally—in a dream during the summer of 2007.
While in Sweden, I woke up around 3:00 a.m. and felt a compelling need to write down what I had dreamt. In that dream, it suddenly became clear to me that everything takes on a different color and meaning depending on whether the ‘ego’ holds sway, the ‘soul’ reigns, or consciousness/‘spirit’ exerts a dominant influence. Everything would change as a result: your view of the world, your values and norms, your thoughts, your feelings, your language, your choices, and your behavior. Truly everything!
I was euphoric about this revelation, which sparked a thought: what would it be like to use these three concepts as a starting point for a new consciousness model? I woke up buzzing with energy and went downstairs to jot down these insights. This later became the core philosophy reflected in my book: *Spirited Personal Leadership* – for working more effectively, meaningful living, and creating a better world.
DO YOU WANT TO KNOW HOW THESE THREE HIDDEN FORCES SHAPE YOUR BEHAVIOR?
And how you can experience greater joy, vitality, and a sense of purpose at work and living?
THEN DOWNLOAD A FREE PDF SAMPLE (containing one-third of the content) HERE, or BUY THE BOOK HERE: https://martinthoolen.com/en/publicaties/
I hope it brings you great clarity, inspiration, and enjoyment.
Warm regards, Martin
“Either you linger in victimhood or complaints, and poison your own soul, or you go to work and tackle the arrows of pain that once struck your heart”. © 2026: Martin Thoolen
© 2026: Martin Thoolen
“There is always light; we just don’t always see it”
Both literally and figuratively.
What do I mean by literally? Just step out into space beyond our atmosphere, and it is infinitely pitch-black.
But is that really the case?
After all, what if our eyes were Hubble telescopes?
Because of our limitations (or our limited senses), we mostly see darkness.
We miss the infinite field of light emanating from all those trillions of galaxies.
Invisible to “our” eyes.
However, if our eyes were as sensitive as Hubble telescopes—or even more powerful—space wouldn't look black; it would be filled with light! Space wouldn't be dark, but rather an infinite ocean of light.
You could view the stars we see with our own eyes as pinpricks concealing an infinite energy field of white light!
“Stars are like pinpricks concealing an infinite energy field of white light”
So, behind every darkness lies an infinite field of light.
And not just literally, but figuratively too—something you can tap into in your work and life to make them lighter and more beautiful.
But how?
In essence, there is always Light in our lives and work.
Working and living from a place of ‘spiritual light’ means, in concrete terms: working and living peacefully, kindly, compassionately, lovingly, tolerantly, curiously, and with a willingness to learn.
In my book “Spirited Personal Leadership”, I refer to this as working and living from ‘Spirit’—an infinite and all-encompassing consciousness. It offers concrete definitions, case studies, and exercises that you can apply immediately to your work and life.
But why is it, then, that we often fail to experience life or work as light or beautiful?
It has everything to do with the fact that—both individually and collectively—we remain stuck in our soul wounds and keep wearing our ‘ego-tinted glasses,’ thereby keeping ourselves in the darkness.
At most, we occasionally glimpse a point of light or a star in our work and life, but we fail to see the infinite field of light hidden behind those pinpricks of light.
So, how do you ensure your work and life become lighter and more beautiful?
1. PERMANENT SELF-REFLECTION
It begins by showing the courage to look—and look “only”—at yourself, constantly. Your consciousness expands the moment you can view yourself from a distance; when you become more aware of which of your own behaviors and choices lead (or have led) to specific consequences.
2. REFLECTING ON YOUR EGO AND SOUL
Your behavior is driven from within by factors such as your ego and your soul. Since an ego that is too small—but above all, one that is too large—leads to polarization, a lighter and more beautiful way of working and living remains out of reach. Furthermore, holding onto unresolved soul pain leads to choices and behaviors that do not make life lighter or more beautiful.
3. LEARNING TO MODERATE THE EGO
The ego can be a magnificent vehicle for giving tangible form to your healthy soul expression and spirit—especially in a world where the density of the ego is so high. Without an ego, you can easily become a victim here if you fail to develop a healthy one.
That is why it is so valuable to develop a balanced ego that comes to your aid.
4. HEALING SOUL PAIN AND GIVING YOUR SOUL SPACE
According to the renowned trauma expert Peter Levine, we all carry traumas—whether small or large—with us. There is nothing to be ashamed of here. However, if you allow that soul pain to persist and do not choose to heal, you continue to move through life as a wounded soul. The choices and behaviors stemming from this state can be extremely destructive—to yourself and others.
In doing so, you keep a beautiful, lighter life in the shadows.
Once you engage in the healthy processing of grief and trauma, you can leave that old, heavy emotional baggage behind. This releases an existential energy that allows your soul to feel freer and lighter. Your choices align much more closely with your true self, your desires, and your talents, making both work and life feel lighter and more beautiful.
5. CHOOSING, WORKING, AND LIVING FROM ‘SPIRIT’
When you act from a place of spirit in your career, your daily work interactions, and your life in general, your behavior changes. You begin to operate from a place of peace, kindness, compassion, love, tolerance, curiosity, and a genuine desire to become a better person yourself. It makes for a much more enjoyable experience—give it a try.
Do you want to make your work and life feel lighter?
Houdt dan niet je ego-bril op, maar verruim je bewustzijn. Kijk voorbij je ego- of oogkleppen en ga aan de slag met de vijf suggesties.
I predict that your work and life will become significantly more beautiful and lighter as a result.
Warm regards, Martin
© 2026: Martin Thoolen
#spirit #soul #ziel #ego #synchroniciteit #synchronicity #persoonlijkinspirerendleiderschap #spiritedpersonalleadership #persoonlijkleiderschap #leadership #leadershipdevelopment #personalleadership #leiderschap #spiritueelleiderschap #spiritedleadership #executivecoaching #leiderschap #leiderschapsontwikkeling #teamcoaching #collectiefleiderschap #professionalcoaching #coaching #businesscoaching #psychologyofselves #voicedialogue #egozielspirit #egosoulspirit #awarenessatwork #martinthoolen
“The more pain we are willing to acknowledge and feel, the more the desire grows to change from within”
© 2026: Martin Thoolen
