All Posts

I was sitting outside one evening on the farm, watching a storm roll in. The air was thick and heavy, and you could feel the pressure and temperature building. That’s what expectations feel like. An invisible heavy weight in the air. For years, I carried too many of them. Expectations to succeed, to provide, to lead well, to never drop the ball. And when I couldn’t meet them all, the guilt was much louder than the thunder. In organisations, I see the same storm. People carr

The Sweet Trap of Validation I was walking along the beach in Ballito KZN the other day, I saw a little boy running ahead of his dad, but every now and then he would turn back to see if his father was still there and watching. When their eyes met, he smiled and ran faster. I laughed. Because I know that feeling. Most of my life I’ve been that boy, running hard, looking back for approval, craving to be seen. Titles, recognition, success, all of it can become a way to hear, “I

Driving through my Limpopo farm one afternoon, I watched the dust cloud rise behind the game-viewer. Even after I stopped, the dust continued to hang around there, just swirling, blinding and refusing to settle. And I smiled. That’s what hurry does to the mind. I’ve lived too many years in that dust. Moving fast, chasing outcomes, stacking one goal on top of another. But the faster I moved, the less I actually saw. It’s as if I lost my line of sight. In life, and especially

The Mirage of Control I was hiking in the mountains a while back, watching a hawk glide on the wind. With zero effort. No fight. Just flow and in flow. And I thought, how much time do we spend trying to control what was never ours to begin with? Control used to feel safe to me. Predictable and kept me away from feeling vulnerable. It gave me the illusion that I was protecting something important. My business, a plan, even the people I love. But the harder and tighter I tried

It’s early morning on the farm. The bushveld is still… that kind of stillness that makes every sound carry. Somewhere in the valley, a fish eagle calls out, its cry bouncing off the cliffs, strong, then lighter then fading away. And for a moment, I hear my own echo in that sound, the echo of doubt. You know that feeling, right? That quiet voice that questions every direction. It’s not loud or dramatic, it just lingers… and makes you hesitate before taking the next step. I’ve

I’m in Betty’s Bay this weekend while my youngest son, Andreas, takes part in a personal development mountain retreat, a mini heart quest of his own InVia Stellenbosch  . We decided to stay nearby as a family to support Andreas and to make some new memories together. This morning, as dark clouds gathered over the mountains, I was reminded of how many people quietly live beneath similar clouds within. The shadow of shame. That deep voice whispering “I’m not good enough” that d

Your brain can't function properly when your soul is in distress. A Desperate attitude and the need to survive consume your cognitive abilities, flooding your mind with uncontrolled thoughts. Increasing anxiety that often leads to worrying about hypothetical scenarios and trying to address endless "what-ifs." As a result, anxiety and stress build up, further impairing your cognitive functions. When overwhelmed with stress, it's difficult to think clearly, creatively, or analy