Being frank...

Reflecting on my journey, I’ve come to see how my path—though unconventional—has shaped a life fueled by freedom, curiosity, and joy.

Yes, I came into this world as a free spirit—a curious, independent thinker who naturally saw the world through a different lens. This wasn’t an act of rebellion or a need to stand out; it simply felt instinctive as part of my DNA. Creativity in interpreting the rules of life has always been second nature to me.

This might sound liberating—and, to be honest, it is. Especially now that I’ve learned to fully accept and embrace my nature as a free spirit, and recognise that this is entirely okay. But the journey to this realisation, in hindsight, felt at times like a lonely, gruelling trek through an endless desert.

That journey began with the family I grew up in—a household with a father, a mother, and two older sisters. My father, in particular, valued strict rules, decorum, and avoiding any fuss (think of the neighbours!), and he had a strong aversion to standing out or asking difficult questions. Visits to family friends meant sitting perfectly still on chairs while the adults talked. I learned to make myself invisible—something that, to this day, often comes in handy, even as a man standing two metres tall. No, I was not the son my father had envisioned.

This upbringing taught me to prioritise others' needs over my own and never ask for help out of fear of being a burden. It wasn’t until 2019 that I first came across the term co-dependency and realised how deeply it described my own patterns: someone who sacrifices their own needs for others, who seeks validation through selflessness, and who carries a deeply ingrained sense of "not being enough."

Understanding this was a turning point. Through the guidance of a remarkable psychologist, I began to unravel the beliefs and behaviours I had carried for so long. It wasn’t easy to confront these patterns—they were rooted in years of internalised messages from my environment. But it was also liberating.

Hypnotherapy became the key to letting go of these outdated beliefs. It allowed me to release inherited expectations and embrace my true self. The experience was so transformative that I decided to learn the technique myself. When Covid struck, I immersed myself in hypnotherapy training, and since then, the concept of helping others break free has become my passion.

Before hypnotherapy, my path was diverse, driven by curiosity and a desire to explore. I studied economics at the University of Amsterdam and competed as a rower, winning the Varsity, the most prestigious student rowing competitions in the Netherlands. After graduation, I ventured into entrepreneurship, starting with a car trading business and expanding to bulk sales of new vehicles across Europe.

In 2004, I began travelling to China to follow the rise of electric car brands, long before they became mainstream (yes, I was wayyy too early). By 2007, I was importing electric scooters from Taiwan with two partners—again years ahead of the curve. Around the same time, I developed a simple, voice-controlled mobile phone in China as an alternative to the first iPhone. Learned a lot.

From 2012 to 2019, I ran a wholesale business in Apple repair parts out of Hong Kong, serving clients worldwide. These ventures reflected my curiosity. But my entrepreneurial journey, as exciting as it was, didn’t address the deeper yearning within me—a desire for more meaningful connection and purpose.

Today, I know what drives me: Joy for Life. This isn’t just a fleeting feeling but a way of living—a force that fuels freedom, authenticity, and connection. Life is precious, and I believe we owe it to ourselves and others to live it fully.

At 57, as a father of four, I’ve come to see life as an incredible and amazing journey. Along the way, I’ve freed myself from limiting beliefs and patterns that no longer served me. My mission now is to help others do the same: reclaim the freedom they were born with, reconnect with their authentic selves, and step into a life of joy, clarity, and purpose.

Together, we can create a ripple effect—a movement of free spirits living boldly and inspiring others to do the same.

Live boldly, inspire endlessly!

NB. I'm wearing a keffiyeh in one image to highlight the plight of those oppressed under the current Israeli regime. This is not directed against the Jewish people, but rather a call for justice, equality, and human dignity for all.