And Why Books Alone Don’t Change Your Life This article is my contribution to Melanie’s blog parade about three books that shaped your life. Actually challenging, for two reasons.   I have always been an avid reader and there are…

Preventing Conflits When people hear the word martial arts, most picture in their mind punches, kicks, and self-defence. But good martial arts is about something even more impactful: preventing conflicts from escalating in the first place. A confrontation rarely begins…

"Be Careful" Is Not Enough When I was young, my mother always gave me the same advice: be careful and don't walk alone at night. This is a valuable advice, no doubt and well-meant. But somewhere along the way, I…

When a Case Suddenly Hits Close to Home In my coaching sessions and group courses on assertiveness and self-defense, I have worked with many women who, for very different reasons, decided to start addressing their personal safety. For most of…

How to Stay Physically Present and Act with Confidence Under Pressure There’s a moment many women know well. It usually happens in everyday life: in the office hallway, at the kitchen table, during a meeting, or in an encounter that…

You know that feeling? You enter a room—a meeting, a family dinner, a gathering of friends—and immediately sense that something is off. Perhaps the atmosphere is tense, perhaps someone is laughing excessively loudly, perhaps there's a sudden silence. The ability…

Say it like it is   I'm thinking back to a former colleague. A team assistant who had everything under control: reliable, structured, loyal. She was our rock in everyday office life – but at some point, she withdrew. She…

Navigating Self-Image, Self-Worth and Self-Deception Recently, I noticed a couple in a restaurant. He was relaxed, chatty and enjoying his dinner naturally. She? Dressed to the nines, perfectly made-up, every gesture rehearsed like from a manual. Almost too perfect. Here’s…