Colorful candles glowing warmly on a tray, symbolizing energy and living in color rather than burning out

Why burnout is not for losers

August 18, 2026

Most people, my previous self included, have the impression that burnout is something for people who don’t have it all together. It’s a failure of some sort. But let me tell you why losers and lazy people are not likely to burn out. It’s because they don’t care enough. Full stop. Burnout happens to the o…

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Iris van Ooyen, life transformation mentor, looking out over a valley from a mountain viewpoint

The dream she almost let go of (and what changed)

August 11, 2026

Last night I received a text message from a client: “When wishes become reality.” Attached was a video of a dream she had been holding in her heart that had come true. ❤️ Seeing that video gave me chills up and down and I was so excited for her. How it started In January 2026, she joined my six-w…

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A turquoise river flowing gently over rocks through a green summer forest — a natural image of energy and flow

The 3 posts I was most scared to share (and you read most)

August 4, 2026

Looking back at which articles were read most in the first half of 2026, I am surprised to see that the one article that was the hardest for me to share with you is the one that was most popular by far. In fact, the three posts I was most scared to hit publish on were the three you loved most. Then again, I shouldn…

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Iris van Ooyen, Life Transformation Mentor, smiling in a pink checked cap on a riverside hike through a forest gorge in France, relaxed and disconnected on vacation.

My 3 best tips to disconnect from work on vacation

July 21, 2026

Some clients jokingly call me the queen of self-care. But I'll let you in on a secret: I learned everything I know about truly restful vacations, aka really disconnecting from work, by getting it wrong first. Here are the three lessons that changed how I take time off—so that when your body leaves the office, your mi…

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Comfortably miserable on the cliff edge

Stop being comfortably miserable

July 14, 2026

I see far too many people set the bar (too) low for life. So many are apparently okay being comfortably miserable. What is comfortably miserable? Comfortably miserable is what I call it when you’re not quite happy where you’re at, but not yet unhappy enough to do something about it. When your relationship …

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Woman relaxing in an orange hammock suspended high above a city skyline

You’re not lazy. Here’s what’s really going on.

July 8, 2026

People might have told you that you’re lazy. Are you though? Really, truly lazy. I don’t think so. Chances are when you’re reading this that you need to be protected from doing too much rather than doing too little. My family has called me lazy in the past—which is hilarious because no one lazy will…

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Tropical beach with palm trees and lifeguard tower — a reminder to slow down, rest, and find your way back to yourself

You matter. And you might be killing yourself trying to prove it.

June 30, 2026

Our two most fundamental needs are to be worthy and to feel loved. It is something we all need to function well and feel like we belong. Belonging isn’t just nice to have—it’s fundamental to our survival. In prehistoric times, when you were not part of the group, you were in danger. That’s hardwired in our b…

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Sunlight filtering through trees - come home to yourself

You’re not the problem. Your programming is.

June 23, 2026

Early June I gave the workshop Discover where you lost yourself and how to find your way back in Atlanta, USA. It was a wonderful group of highly successful, highly ambitious women who were curious where and how they might have gotten off track. They felt comfortable to be vulnerable and share from the heart. As a p…

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tropical beach blue water

Is growth one of your core needs?

June 16, 2026

With a bit of luck right now I’m feeling the sun on my face, feet in the sand as I meditate during sunrise—hoping it won’t rain. I’m in Mexico for the 10-day Advanced Follow Up Retreat from Dr. Joe Dispenza. (You can read my experience with his 7-day retreat here.) I do my best to attend at least one new eve…

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© 2026 Bright Eyes

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