Woman laughing as she steps out of a café with a takeaway coffee, holding the door, delighting in an unexpected free day

What I did with a surprise day off

November 24, 2025

What would you do if you suddenly had a day off? Recently I had a full day meeting planned with peers but it was canceled because the host was sick. So I suddenly had a day off. Guess what I (and the others) did? Yep, catching up on work. Granted, I took things slower and stopped earlier but I didn’t take the day …

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Iris van Ooyen on a windswept beach in a hooded coat as waves rush in, a distant figure further along the shore, seeming out of touch with herself

5 signs you’ve lost touch with yourself (and what to do)

November 19, 2025

Losing touch with ourselves is more common than you might think. As I shared earlier, I lost touch with myself but it happened so gradually, so sneakily, that I didn’t notice until a series of wake-up calls showed me how far I had drifted from my true self. I want you to catch this earlier so here are five crucial…

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Iris van Ooyen, Life Transformation Mentor, sits in front of a waterfall

Small homecomings: free audio practices to come home to yourself

November 11, 2025

Two weeks ago I shared a very personal story about losing myself and how I found my way back. I mentioned the breakthrough that helped me realize that "Coming home to yourself" is the foundation of everything I do in my private mentoring and online programs. Many of you reached out saying how helpful and insightful …

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Still water winding between tall reed beds under a blue sky, lily pads floating, nature's calm for a stressed mind

Why you can’t think straight when you’re stressed (and 3 solutions)

November 5, 2025

I heard myself say, “I can’t think about that right now.” There were what felt like a million things vying for my attention and when my mother asked what time I would be there for dinner I simply didn’t have the bandwidth to come up with an answer. So I told her I would get back to her the next day. If you 

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Iris van Ooyen smiling softly outdoors in a black-and-white portrait, denim jacket, home in herself again

This is how I lost myself

October 28, 2025

How do you lose yourself? Not all at once. Not in one dramatic moment. You lose yourself one decision, one step at a time—every instance you say "yes" when you mean "no". Every moment you take care of everyone else at your own expense. Every time you push through when your body is already exhausted. That’s…

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A green hedge maze in the foreground with rolling fields and mountains under a soft pink dusk sky, old patterns you can find your way through

Our problems evolve—I almost made an old mistake

October 21, 2025

When I have a new idea, I tend to run with it. I need to stop myself when I’m writing new website copy—like I was doing last week. I'm so in the zone that I simply lose track of time. I forget to take breaks and end up eating way too late in the evening. In the past I did too much because I was perfectionistic a…

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Lone silhouetted figure walking across a vast pale expanse with a faint reflection below, alone in the in-between

No Man’s Land: What to do when you’re between phases

October 14, 2025

Last week I described that something was feeling off. Nothing felt right—like I didn’t fit in my own skin. And I gave myself permission to just be—without needing to fix anything. I often feel like this when I’m in transition. When things are shifting or changing or when I’m transforming into a new level o…

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A pink

When nothing feels right: your permission to just be

October 7, 2025

Sometimes nothing feels right. There isn’t necessarily anything specifically wrong either, but you feel like you don’t fit in your own skin. That’s how I’m feeling right now. I can’t yet place a finger on what’s off—and I don’t need to. All that’s required right now is giving myself space to be. …

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Aerial view of a woman in white pausing on a winding bamboo path through green rice paddies, standing still on purpose

5 reasons why standing stil matters (especially when you’re busy!)

September 28, 2025

In this world where we’re always busy and running towards the next thing—checking things off our to-do list—we need to remember to take a moment to stand still. To take in the world. To enjoy where we’re at, what we’re doing and who we are with. I know, when you're super busy, pausing may feel like the las…

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Iris van Ooyen and her mother laughing warmly together in a crowd, worry giving way to gratitude

How to shift from worry to appreciation: the future gratitude method

September 23, 2025

Summer has just officially given way to fall and I think we’re all hoping for an Indian summer.  At least I am. ;) The change of seasons made me pause and reflect on the past few months. I am so grateful for everything that transpired this summer. Shift your focus You may have heard me mention the importance of…

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

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