Archivi dei tag: Relationships

A Gift to Women

I received this invite from a friend of mine, who prepared a free course for us women on occasion of the International Women’s Day on March 8.

Dear Beautiful Woman,

I’ve created a short course just for you—to bring YOU and JOY back into your life.

Let’s be honest: juggling work, children, household responsibilities, and relationships is exhausting. But perhaps the most draining of all is the pressure to be “up to standard.” Society’s expectations make our lives unnecessarily difficult.

How often have you heard your children compare?
“Mom, other kids get money for lunch, but you pack mine.”
“She goes to boarding school in the UK, and they went skiing again this year.”
It stings, doesn’t it? Because deep down, it makes us wonder: Am I enough?

From an early age, we’re conditioned to compete. If we’re not keeping up, we’re seen as falling behind. So we push harder, taking on more and more responsibilities, forgetting who we truly are. We start doubting ourselves—questioning if we’re good mothers, if our children love us, if we’re doing enough.

By the time we hit 40, especially if we’re in corporate careers, our personal dreams become secondary. School meetings, afterschool activities, birthday parties—we become invisible in the chaos of daily life. And relationships? What once felt exciting and fulfilling now feels different. Exhausted, we collapse onto the couch or bed, running on empty, craving care but unable to receive it. The spark fades—not because we don’t love, but because we’re drained.

I’ve been there. No matter how many times you’ve changed partners, been married, or started over—the cycle repeats unless you start looking after yourself, finding fulfillment, and remembering what brings you joy.

That’s why I’ve created this FREE 4-week online course—as a gift to you for International Women’s Day. A reminder that you are still a WOMAN.

If you’re nodding along to any of these questions, this course is for you:
💡 Do you feel stuck in an endless routine, giving to everyone but yourself?
💡 Have you lost touch with what truly makes you happy?
💡 Are you ready to reclaim your joy and rediscover YOU?

Here’s how it works (without adding to your stress):

✔️ Weekly bite-sized modules you can complete anytime, at your own pace (available 24/7).
✔️ Live Q&A sessions once a week for support and insights.
✔️ Practical exercises to help you reconnect with yourself.
✔️ A supportive community of like-minded women on the same journey.

✨ By the end of this course, you won’t just know what makes you happy—you’ll have the confidence and tools to make it your reality.

🗓️ First module release date: March 10, 2025
🔗 Sign up now and take the first step toward YOUR happiness: https://forms.gle/zj6smDgkfu9xaKAMA  

This is your time. Let’s bring YOU back.

Thank you for reading! Please sign up for my blog crisbiecoach so you don’t miss out on any posts!

Empathy: a Bridge to Foster Connections

Sometimes, relating to others may feel like navigating a complex labyrinth where tensions surface. Empathy would emerge as the thread that weaves the fabric of understanding, which helps to transform difficulties into opportunities for profound connection and mutual understanding. Thanks to its transformative power and pivotal role in forging meaningful connections, empathy may become a source of joy and inspiration.

Empathy: The Art of Walking in Another’s Shoes

Empathy is more than a mere display of mercy; it’s the art of stepping into someone else’s world and experiencing their emotions from within. Unlike a predefined talent, empathy is a skill that can be learned, honed, and applied to enhance our relationships.

Breaking Barriers: Empathy in Action

Being empathic involves a profound sense of connection with others. While it may be easier to empathize with those who share similarities, the true challenge lies in extending empathy to those we perceive as antagonists. Workplace relationships, for instance, can benefit immensely from empathetic communication. Engaging in open conversations, understanding colleagues’ experiences, and acknowledging their emotions can bridge gaps and pave the way for trust and collaboration.

Empathy’s Ripple Effect: Renewing Bonds

A wellspring of empathy can unlock the ability to sense the emotions of others, offering a glimpse into their perspectives and enabling us to anticipate their reactions. When people feel truly understood, the path towards trust and deep understanding unfurls. Empathy is a potent force capable of renewing bonds that may have seemed strained or broken.

Looking Inward: The Dual Nature of Empathy

However, empathy is not a one-way street. To extend understanding outward, we must first direct it inward. Acknowledging our own emotions, both positive and negative, is crucial. Identifying and embracing feelings such as anger, bitterness, or shame allows for a deeper connection with ourselves. The clarity gained from understanding our emotions becomes a foundation for comprehending and accepting the diverse emotional landscapes of others.

Nurturing Empathy to Build Richer Human Connections

Empathy serves as the vibrant thread that binds us all. By cultivating this transformative skill, we not only enrich our connections with others but also foster a deeper understanding of ourselves. As we start the journey of empathy, let’s remember that embracing diversity, both within and around us, is the key to unlocking the true potential of human connections.

Do you also believe in the power of empathy to build bridges among people?

Thank you for reading! Please sign up for my blog crisbiecoach so you don’t miss out on any posts!

Why Accepting That You Cannot Always Be Happy Makes Your Life Easier

After having read a lot about happiness, I found out that you also would need to accept that you cannot always be happy because it will make your life easier.

What is the real meaning of being happy? Is it really necessary to be happy all the time to be successful in life?

Some researchers state that happiness means designing your own quality of life and also finding ways to strive for continuous improvement. They say that we all have a social purpose to live for, that is our mission. If you keep a journal, for instance, you would be able to evaluate the activities that make you happy and compare them with those that make you unhappy. In this way you may have a choice. You can also compare yourself with others’ activities to find out what makes them happy and get inspired. It doesn’t mean that you have to compare yourself with others: you are unique, and  in some cases you don’t even know those people very well.

Moreover, there is not a single recipe to be happy. Not everyone will be happy by practicing meditation or sports, for instance. There are, however, common factors that will influence your happiness:  valuable relationships, a meaningful job,  work-life balance, a great partner and good health. In any case, you may find someone who is not happy in spite of the fact that they have a good job and they get along well with their partner.

Yet, there are also researchers saying that it is not important to target happiness as such, but you would need to to learn how to be unhappy, by accepting the moments of unhappiness without judgement and as part of your life.

Being always positive is not good

Some scientists see with a critical eye today’s trend on being always positive. Avoiding facing distress, sorrow, misery is not a solution. You can’t ignore being unhappy, you have to accept it for what it is. You can also share your negative feelings or emotions with others, it will help you create and strengthen your relationships. When you are worried and you know that someone will listen to you, you may feel a bit better after having shared your distress and discomfort.

Actually, those who pretend to always be happy may end up being alone, isolated and of course unhappy.

Accept what life gives you in the present moment

This sounds like a paradox but if you try to accept your unhappiness as a moment in your life that sooner or later will fade away, you will be more content.

The most important thing is to be happy with the life you live, acknowledging and accepting the ups and downs that are part of your life. As the French say, c’est la vie.

Becoming Older, Becoming Wiser

Becoming older means also becoming wiser. You realize what really matters in your life, what you privilege and who you choose to spend your time with.
Priority goes to what really matters in your life

During your youth, you felt almost always excited and you believed that the world was in your hands. You thought you had all the time ahead to realize and live your dreams. Becoming older makes you understand that time is limited and therefore precious. 

Because of that, you want to enjoy every minute and every second with what is essential for you. Going out in the evening and getting home very late (or also very early the day after), nights spent drinking, dancing until your feet would hurt, no longer interest you. What matters is enjoying the time spent with your family, dedicating them qualitative time, that is time of exchange, time that counts and that is not forgotten. You realize that time flies, so you want to favour the present moment. Looking at photos together, savouring the small magical moments of hugs, or playing with your children are moments of unforgettable happiness.

Avoiding self-righteous people

Hypocrisy is no longer part of your life as an adult (at least it should be). Sincerity is what you are looking for. Instead of uttering an uninteresting sentence to someone you barely know or don’t particularly like, you’d rather be sincere, kind but sincere. At the same time, you will be attracted to people who are honest in their gestures, words and actions; people who bring a positive note to your life.

Respecting the lives of others.

Time and experience are great teachers when it comes to knowing oneself and the others. Wisdom teaches you to turn away from the problems and conflicts that don’t concern you, so as to avoid getting involved with bad energy. Therefore, respecting the lives of others becomes a fundamental principle. 

Restricting your circle of friends

By ageing, the idea of making new friends doesn’t interest you any longer. Your priorities are more related to your family. You seek good friends rather than many friends. You try to build healthy relationships and you want to avoid toxic people.

Becoming older means crossing many paths with pitfalls. However, the difficulties that life presented you, allowed you to become stronger, more determined and wiser. 

You have learned to know the difference between a person who is harmful to your well-being and a person full of positive energy who brings you joy and good mood.

Which other advantages would you see in becoming older?

photo of pathway surrounded by fir trees
Pahts in Life – Photo by James Wheeler on Pexels.com

Simply Happy

In her book The Happiness Project, author Gretchen Rubin describes how she dedicated an entire year of her life doing things that can increase her happiness. Although we all aspire to have more time, resources and energy, few of us really take actions to achieve this admirable goal. But there is one simple thing that can bring more happiness into our lives, of which we are all capable, and which has proven being worth: developing and improving our personal relationships.

Your brother-in-law has just been promoted to senior manager. The lady who takes care of your dog when you’re not around has just found her dream job. And you? What has happened to you to make you happier?

According to various psychologists and studies conducted on the subject, neither professional status nor wealth have a more significant impact on our emotional well-being than a fulfilling relationship.

According to a study carried out by the London School of Economics and broadcasted by the BBC, it is indeed close ties that have the greatest impact on our happiness. The study, based on a survey of about 200,000 respondents, examines the impact of various external factors on the overall life satisfaction rate. On a scale of 1 to 10, the findings revealed that doubling your salary has very little influence on your happiness, while meeting a person to whom you feel closely connected, maybe a potential partner, is much more important.

Although the success of your brother-in-law and dog-sitter is more easily measurable (a consequence of a higher position and greater economic freedom), true happiness is feeling connected to others. That being said, it’s not just about romantic relationships. People are happier when they hang out with others who share the same interests, culture, or also sense of humour.

So, if you can’t do what makes you happy 365 days a year, if your career is stuck or if your bank account is almost empty, don’t give up! A conversation with one of your best friend can be the key to your happiness.

Why do not you follow this advice and call one of your friends now?

Sleeping Well Is One of The Secrets for Your Well-being

Sleeping well is one of the secrets for your well-being that has been confirmed by science several times.
Find out what a good night’s sleep can bring in terms of well-being.

In the past people would go to bed at sunset and get up at sunrise. Our ancestors had no alarm clocks, they did not have neither a schedule to stick to, nor morning meetings to participate in. Their sleep rhythm was simply based on the natural day/night cycle, basically on the light.

Maintaining a healthy and regular sleep pattern is one of the (many) challenges of modern life. With our busy schedules, long working hours and smartphones always on, it may happen that we don’t get enough sleep.

Yet even though we all have a schedule to stick to, cutting back on your sleep hours is never a good idea. Sleep really has fabulous benefits, and getting enough sleep is vitally important for your overall health and well-being. Sleeping well doesn’t just serve to look good: it keeps you healthy.

Discover six benefits of sleep for your happiness and health.

1. Sleep makes you look good

Sleep is perhaps the closest thing to a fountain of youth. During deep sleep, the brain secretes a growth hormone responsible for cell renewal and repair of damaged tissue. This growth hormone is only released at night and can work miracles for your skin. The skin cells themselves go into repair mode when you sleep. Their metabolism accelerates and they regenerate faster than at any other time of the day.

In addition to these freshly renewed and healthy cells, sleep also has the effect of increasing blood flow to your skin, which is why your cheeks are warm and pink when you sleep. Lack of sleep can make the skin dull or chalky.

Thanks to a good night’s sleep you will look naturally throughout the following day.

2. Sleep strengthens the immune system

Researchers are only confirming what your mom has always told you: when you’re sick, the best thing to do is stay in bed and sleep as much as possible. Sleep helps fight the flu and other similar conditions, because the body produces disease-fighting proteins called cytokines when you sleep. If you’re sick often, maybe you’re not getting enough sleep. To strengthen your immune defences, try going to bed earlier or napping during the day.

3. Sleep helps solve problems

When faced with a dilemma, a good night’s sleep can help make the right decision. Researchers have observed that sleep helps solve problems creatively, because it provides access to the mass of knowledge and memories stored in your brain. At rest, your brain looks for associations that are not obvious when you are awake. This makes it possible to imagine creative solutions to solve the most difficult problems using information you didn’t even know you had. 

stress handwritten text on white printer paper
Photo by Pedro Figueras on Pexels.com
4. Sleep reduces stress

Sleep and stress are back-feeding. Stress can cause a lack of sleep and lack of sleep can generate stress. It’s a vicious circle that can be hard to get out of. But by managing your sleep well, you learn to fight stress too. Better quality sleep helps your body and mind recover, but you’ll also be less sensitive to stress if you’ve slept well. All challenges are easier to face after at least 6 hours of good sleep!

5. Sleep helps to lose weight

If you’re looking to get back on your ideal weight, a good nap can be as effective as a workout. A study published by the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition claims that people who sleep well burn more calories during the day than people who don’t get enough sleep. According to researchers at the University of Chicago, sleep promotes weight loss, and another study in the journal Obesity shows that tired people tend to consume more caloric foods.  

6. Sleep is good for your social relationships

Sleeping well is not only good for your physical and mental well-being, it is also a way to keep healthy relationships. Lack of sleep makes us more irritable, less patient, and with less energy to devote to others. It also impacts our capacity for empathy, and prevents us from being sensitive to the emotions of our loved ones. In short, we are much more pleasant for others when we are well rested. A nap may not solve all your relationship problems, but sometimes all that’s missing is a few hours of sleep.

What do you think about your sleeping pattern? Do you sleep longer enough to be healthy?

alone bed bedroom blur
Sleeping – Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com

Non-Violent Communication

Non-Violent Communication (NVC) developed by Marshall Rosenberg is a form of philosophy of life that seeks on the one hand to strengthen relationships (starting with the one with yourself) and on the other it is a way to begin a dialogue favouring mutual understanding, open mind and kindness.

NVC aims to connect people in a peaceful way, using words without offending people, without attacking them and at the same time without annihilating yourself. It is an assertive way of communication. We listen to understand.

In these times of uncertainty and difficulty due to the persistence of the Covid emergency, we are super stressed and sometimes we can have excessive verbal reactions, which we may regret later.

We can consider the NVC as a real tool for maintaining a healthy relationship with ourselves and with others. Who hasn’t ever wanted to express themselves so as not to hurt or attack the other?

NCV consists of a simple method of clear and empathic communication, based on these four steps.

Observation of the facts.

Try to identify the fact without expressing any judgement. E.g. “It’s two o’clock in the morning and I hear music coming from your room” (fact) is different from saying: “It’s too late to make all that noise” (judgement).

Feelings.

Express the feelings that accompany the observation. Or, imagine what the other person feeling is and ask them. E.g. “You are about to take an exam and I see you walking back and forth (observation). Are you nervous?”

Recognition of needs.

Express the needs that give rise to certain feelings. E.g. “I am a bit upset and would like to talk. Is this the right time for you?”

Formulation of requests.

Ask clearly and precisely what you want. E.g. “I noticed that you are very silent today (fact). Are you bored? (feeling).” If the answer is yes, try to communicate your feelings and make a proposal: “Well, I’m bored too. How about going out for a walk?”.

Finally, the ultimate purpose of NVC is to find a way in which each person can express what they consider important without blaming, humiliating, embarrassing, or threatening others. It serves to resolve conflicts, get in tune with people and live in a conscious and attentive way of their needs, finding a compromise with your own.

NCV helps us to discover our experiences and our aspirations and to express them with firmness and kindness.

Furthermore, it also allows us to make ourselves better understood and to understand others better, by easing intra and interpersonal tensions. NVC offers keys to understand our limits and to welcome the actions and reactions of others without letting ourselves be overwhelmed!

Thanks to this tool you can lose the fear of expressing yourself and gain more confidence in your abilities.

What do you think about NVC?

ground group growth hands
Trust – Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com