A person with a backpack walks alone along a narrow path through a lush, moss-covered forest.

How losing touch with yourself shows up in your body

September 8, 2026

We lose touch with ourselves slowly but surely as we live our lives and do what is required and expected of us. We each come into this world as a unique being. And over time we get molded to fit the expectations of society so we blend in nicely. Over time this causes problems in our health, our well-being and our ha…

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A calm, sunlit lake and mountain view from a shady spot in France—a peaceful summer scene at the end of the holiday season

Why you still feel tired after your time off

September 1, 2026

Summer is over. Back to reality. Which begs the question: how relaxed and recharged do you actually feel? You wouldn’t be the first to return from a holiday happy but not quite re-energized. Whether it was the heat, the uncomfortable bed (dare I say inflatable mattress?), or the mosquitoes dancing around you…

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booklaunch YA Fanrtasy novel Poisoned Arrow written by Iris van Ooyen

Why my editor is glad I’m behind schedule

August 25, 2026

This week is dedicated to getting back into the writing of my novel. Over the years, many people have asked me whether the main character in the story is autobiographical. Some elements are. I don’t think you can write an entire novel without pouring some of yourself onto the page. But just as many of the exper…

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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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Iris van Ooyen I Life Transformation Mentor excited
© 2026 Bright Eyes

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