by Inge Beckers | August, 2024 | Inge Beckers, Life
Embracing the Shades of Grey in a Polarized World In recent years, it feels as though the world has become increasingly divided. We see it in politics, in social issues, and even in our personal relationships. The lines between right and wrong, love and hate, for and against have become so sharply drawn that it often seems like there’s no room for anything in between. The middle ground, the shades of grey where we see nuance and understanding, is fading away. This growing polarization isn’t just a perception—it’s a reality fueled by several factors, with social media playing a significant role. Platforms that were once designed to connect us now often serve to divide us. Algorithms feed us content that aligns with our existing beliefs, reinforcing our personal viewpoints. We get locked in our own opinion-bubble and become less tolerant of those who think differently. But this black-and-white thinking is dangerous. It oversimplifies complex issues, strips us of empathy, and drives us further apart. When we refuse to really listen to other viewpoints or try to understand them, we lose the opportunity to learn and grow. Even worse, we begin to dehumanize those who think differently, seeing them as adversaries rather than fellow human beings with their own experiences, struggles, and hopes. This trend towards polarization makes our world colder and more hostile. And yet, there is a way to counter it—a way to bring back the shades of grey, to foster understanding and connection. What we need is more kindness and mildness in our interactions with others. The power of kindness Kindness is often dismissed as a soft...
by Inge Beckers | November, 2023 | Inge Beckers, Life
Do you sometimes feel like we live in a world where more equals better? More money, more clothes, more gadgets, more productivity, more growth, … It seems like a big part of our life is in fast-forward modus. We find ourselves entangled in the web of constant notifications, hectic schedules, and the pressure to keep up with the ever-increasing pace of life. We are all very busy and many people perceive being busy as being successful. But is that true? Personally, the older I get the more I feel a need to slow down and embrace simplicity. And I think I am not alone. I can see that more and more people see the art of slowing down as a necessity, not just a luxury. Research shows that if you go too fast, you overload your cognitive abilities, and they degrade. One of the leading experts on this topic, G. Claxton, analysed what happens to a person’s focus if they engage in deliberately slow practices like yoga and mindfulness. He is very clear in this: slowness nurtures attention, speed shatters it. So, how can we create simplicity in our lives and savour the beauty of a slower, more deliberate existence? These are things that work for me: 1. Disconnect to reconnect. In a world dominated by smartphones and social media, taking a break from screens can be incredibly rejuvenating. I discovered the Focus button on my phone, and it is very helpful to designate specific times during the day and especially in the evening to disconnect from my device. Instead, I choose to read a book, take a walk,...
by Inge Beckers | March, 2023 | Inge Beckers, Work
Life is never a straight line. There is no one perfect recipe to create a perfectly happy life. Sometimes everything is great, and we are in a flow, enjoying everything we do and sometimes we feel like we are standing still and maybe even going backwards. Life is a journey, with ups and downs, but always with opportunities. It is clear that recent events have had a huge effect in many ways, also in the workplace. I hear employees saying they feel exhausted, disconnected, or disengaged. I hear leaders saying their challenges have amplified. This new way of working is not so easy and there is no manual that teaches us how to deal with this fast-changing working environment. Or how to create the mental space to think and create, on top of getting the normal work done. How can we address this? One way to do this is ‘holding space’, a concept widely used in psychology that has also become a leadership practice fostering innovative practices and a more inclusive work environment. Holding space We can define holding space as being physically, mentally, and emotionally present so that someone else can find the way to growth or the solution to a problem. It is an approach to create time and validation without judgment. It is about listening, staying present, and making it known that the other person is safe to feel and share their feelings. It is about being supportive without stepping in. Holding space at work is creating a workplace culture that promotes listening over talking and that values respect over dominance. It is a...
by Inge Beckers | December, 2022 | Inge Beckers, Life
Due to circumstances, and the unexpected things that have happened, I am forced to now follow the advice I usually give my clients! As the year draws to an end, this is usually a good time to reflect on everything that happened and look forward to what the future might bring us. A good moment to stop, pause and reflect (mentioned in my previous blog) because taking a time out can sharpen our brain and make us more alert and efficient. Forced to slow down Things can change fast. One moment I was just walking around, and the next I was unable to walk. All because of one single, small accident, I tripped my foot on an uneven tile and twisted it. Result: one broken foot that is now in plaster resulting in me being pretty immobile. I had and have no choice but to slow down. I also had to build new routines and shift my priorities. It feels a bit like the first lockdown again, I cannot leave my house, I cannot go anywhere, I am confined in my own little space. I am grounded. Unfortunately, this time the weather is not so nice, winter is coming and instead of seeing my garden blossom, like in lockdown number one, I now see it slowing down and becoming quiet, with autumn colours fading away and leaves disappearing with the wind. The air has become dense, some days are misty from morning till evening, and others are cold and bright, showing a wonderful blue sky and pleasant sunshine (I definitely prefer the latter). Gratitude Despite the huge...
by Inge Beckers | September, 2022 | Inge Beckers, Work
When I give webinars or training on topics about wellbeing, communication or leadership I often share my mantra of “stop-pause-reflect.” Usually, the people in my audience all have a very busy schedule and they feel as if they are putting out fires all day long. Numerous calls, too many meetings, too many emails. They feel overwhelmed. And I have to admit, sometimes I do too. I have learned that pausing to reflect is not a privilege but a must. Consciously taking a moment to stop, take stock and reflect on what is happening can be quite illuminating. We can then see more clearly what is really important, what drives us and what keeps us busy. It can help us to make better choices to stay on course in the right direction. Taking time to reflect creates greater self-awareness and helps us to separate our own perception from a situation as an objective observer. It allows us to notice our thoughts and feelings and become aware of our internal stories. We can then shift from reacting blindly to responding thoughtfully. It is not so easy Reflection is important and valuable, but it turns out it is not so easy. First of all, we have to make time for it. We really have to schedule time for this in our calendar, otherwise, it is not going to happen and we will be consumed by the everyday tasks as usual. We might forget that time is our most valuable asset in life, we cannot get it back once it is spent. We should choose wisely how we spend it. Do we...