Life in Bites

Think you don't have what it takes to get over the pain and messy past? This story will change your mind. Nour Alzamar, a woman, from the Middle East, a refugee since she was born, made it to a country she found it through a song, after risking her life to flee from a war zone. She starts her life from zero, and run a successful business, doing what she loves.

You may think your life is messy, and I believe you that it feels like this. But did you ever think to start listening to stories that breathe hope and a different perspective? What I came to learn over the years, is that information is powerful, but a story has the potential to make a lasting change and impact.

Where you find Nour:

The time we navigate now requires people willing to support others. The problem is that most people believe they have to get training first, and only then offer their help. Because of that, we lack buddies for these navigating depression, reintegration, or struggling with health issues. That leads to loneliness and many need to cover. It doesn't have to be that way! Life in Bites offers you a simple perspective on how to help without training, with Zaida SilvaCoronel.

Whether you need help, or you want to offer help, there are simple ways to be there for people, even in the middle of a pandemic. First, you need to listen. This way, you hear the needs, and people feel heard and seen.

When people feel seen, and know that someone is listening to their needs and struggles, they open up to improvement and change. And sometimes, this is the only key you need to get to the root of the problem, to listen.

Zaida SilvaCoronel is a Transformational Coach and Reintegration Coach. And in her daily work, she helps people at different levels. In this episode, Zaida is sharing with us her journey as a foreign teenager who made her way to the Netherlands and grew into a strong and, influential woman, who impacts the lives of people she works with.

You can contact Zaida on:

“A reframe is not about telling yourself that
your fear is wrong. Reframes are about finding another way to look at the possibilities of your life.”
― Rebecca K. Sampson

Trauma has so many shapes and forms, and it has to be addressed in any shape and form it is in your life. It is ok to feel sad, angry, afraid, or any other negative emotion. And it is ok to feel the joy, and happiness too!

In this episode, you are going to listen to a story of healing, and overcoming trauma, the devastating effects of PTSD, and how you can overcome mental health challenges too.

Listen to the story of a veteran and his family drama. A story of strength and resilience, determination and courage to heal. And share it with your friends. This podcast has the potential to save lives from suicide and the effect of PTSD.

You can find Giorgio and connect with him on:

Whatever you feel inside, you mirror outside, and the people feel it, even if you try to hide it. SO in order to maintain yourself out of burnout, you need to find what makes you happy.

The moment you get into burnout is just the sum of years of being unhappy. When you do what it has to, but not what you want, for too long, and that becomes a way of living. And if that comes out of the core belief that you are not good enough, or that you must make everyone happy around you, you get stretched until your mind, emotions and body can't take it anymore.

To make sure you get out of the burnout, or you avoid getting into one, there are several things you can do, and this is what you are going to find out in this episode:

1. How to find your own happiness.
2. How your happiness or unhappiness influences your family, children, and career.
3. How to put yourself in the first place and take care of yourself first.
4. How to get your energy high, so that you manage your energy for the entire day.
5. How your feelings are mirrored by your children.

Burnout is a result of you ignoring the signs in your body until your body decides to quit being on your side. The price you pay going through burnout is always higher than the one you would pay if you would take care of yourself. The kindest thing you can do for yourself is to take care of yourself!

You are a beautiful creation, and you were meant to function in a fascinating and complex way. You are not meant to carry weights that are too heavy on your shoulder. You are meant to be healthy and free to enjoy physical, and mental health!

When you look at health, there is a complex process that happens within you. Your body carries you around and presents you to the world. Your mind is the machine that creates the reality we don't have access to but has a big impact on the way you feel, the choices you make, the action you take daily, and the outcome we see in the end.

When one of these areas is out of balance, you start feeling the pressure, which grows into stress, anxiety and leads to depression and burnout.

In this episode, you have an overview of mental health from a holistic perspective and how you may carry weights that are not meant for you to carry.

Are we connected yet? If not, let’s connect!

Every time your body releases cortisol, the hormone responsible for stress, the neurochemicals in your brain are impacted, so your memory, the ability to decision making and to control stress!

Stress is one of those things that are good or bad, depending on how long is there, and what are you doing with it. Knowing this should empower you to take control over the situations in your life not in what happens but in how you react to what happens.

In this episode you will learn two powerful and yet easy to use tools, to reverse the effect of cortisol in your body and the way it affects your brain. Grab a cup of tea and listen, because this episode has the potential to transform the way you live.

Are we connected yet? If not, let's connect!

The moment you empower a mother to take care of her family's health, you empower the generations after her!

When fear takes the driver's seat, you and I feel paralyzed, especially when it comes to our family's health and safety. That's why, I invite you in the conversation with me and Elena Misu, mother, and entrepreneur, to learn how we, as mothers, use nature, essential oils and faith, to make sure our family is safe during these times we live in.

Grab a cup of coffee, matcha latte, tea, or any healthy beverage, and join us in a conversation meant to empower you to feel confident and have tools on hands, that you can use whenever you need, knowing that are safe and effective.

You've got this mama!

Are we connected yet?

Elena Misu

"I have no fear! I don't do fear, so I choose to do what I can, in the situation I am, with what I have!" -- Elena Misu

Sometimes as mothers we need to see that other mothers can do it, so we step into our greatness too. How about you? If you are here, most probably you are a high achiever or a working parent. You know you can do everything you put your mind to, but you are afraid to put your mind to, because of the mom guilt, or fear of not having enough time with your loved ones.

In this episode, I invited Elena Misu, mother, entrepreneur, and a high achiever, to tell us how she reinvented, pivoted, and built her best year in business, while the entire world was quarantined.

Take a seat, grab a hot tea, and sit comfortably, because, after this episode, I promise you, you will jump out and start living up to your purpose because you will see how easy can be if you DECIDE to do it!

Are we connected yet?

Elena Misu

As a Holistic Coach and Stress Management Strategist, promoting Mental Health in a Holistic approach, I consider this episode needed and useful to encourage, give hope by informing, and give a sense of "I'm not alone in this".

Yes, I am positive for Covid19! When I say that, I have to admit that my heart is squeezing a bit, not because I am afraid, but because of the stay indoors for so long.

In this episode, you are going o learn what we (especially I) experience while I am positive for coronavirus. Things like:

• How everything started
• Physical symptoms
• Emotional experiences
• What I did and do
• Recommendations

"It's not about making a better world for our children. It's about making better children for our world!" - Yasmin Wilnis

As a mother, it's been always my main goal to raise good children. Listening to Yasmin's story, and seeing how big is the impact of her mother on her career, and being, and for how many generations is carried, it gives me hope, energy, and perspective, when I look at parenting. We need more people. like this. More parents who raise principle-based children, who carry the legacy of being at service for others.

Yasmine’s Wilnis contact information:

When your vision is bigger than you, age is not important anymore. Paying attention to your personal growth can start anytime, no matter how young or old you are. Yasmine is teaching us how personal development changed her life and is about to change hundreds of lives of children and students.

As a former exchange student, Yasmin faced the reality of coming back, with new ideas, larger horizons, and no support to reintegrate in the country she knows. The social shock made her dive into personal discovery and personal development, take a year to reflect and decide what she wants to do with her life.

This led her into the entrepreneurial world, and today she is the Founder of Year of Growth, a personal development platform for exchange students. Her experience turned into a blessing for the generations after us.

What you will learn from this episode?

1. That experience beats age.
2. The impact that personal development has on teenagers and young adults.
3. What a clear vision can do in your life, and how your experience and dreams can influence generations after you.

Yasmine's Wilnis contact information:

If you want to heal, you have to believe that there is a Father that held your hand!

The opposite of fear is not courage, but love. The unconditional love, the one you can count on when life gets tough, the one that has your back.

Connect with us on the following links and let us know how we can support you in your journey of healing, acceptance, and rebuilding yourself!

Fred Stover: https://www.facebook.com/fred.stover

As long as you look for confidence inside of yourself, you will never lack any! If you choose to build your confidence based on what others say about you, you might discover that your confidence is built on sand.

Did you ever ask yourself why some people are so confident while others not? I remember asking myself that since I was a child. As I grew and had the chance to interview people, I realize that confidence comes from the inside, and not from other's approval. And this is what you are going to learn in this episode with Roeleke.

The best conversation happens in the comment section, so feel free to let your comment and let’s have these conversations and grow.

Are you part of Life in Bites Community, yet?

If not, click here and subscribe to get an email every time something new is up. Click on www.cristinapopescu.com, scroll the home page, and put your email in one of the sections available for this. When going to free resources, you also have a FREE guide to organize your life in a way that reduces stress.

Also follow me on social media:

"My mama always said you can tell a lot about a person by their shoes, where they going, where they been." - Forrest Gump

While going through life, your shoes will change, according to the experiences you go to. One thing you have to remember, that no matter what comes to your way, you always have the choice of how to look at what happens to you!

One more time, I set with Fred Stover, and he shared his life experiences to give you hope and perspective. What we hope for you to find here is the feeling you are not alone in this thing called life, and there are so many other people hurting. That will not make your painless, but f you let your heart listen, you will find hope and resources to keep going one more day at a time.

Connect with us on the following links and let us know how we can support you in your journey of healing, acceptance and rebuilding yourself!

Fred Stover: https://www.facebook.com/fred.stover

How many times did you wait for approval, confirmation, and appreciation from the people around you, only to get disappointed that you don't get what you expect? I know, I know that too. It's time to start looking inside and find everything we need there. You are enough, worthy, and valuable already! You only need to find out how. So, listen to ti this episode and learn how.

Once you learn, understand, and practice looking inwards, your life will get way easier. You will stop looking for approval outside, and start living your life in the power that was given to you when you were born. You are good enough, worthy enough, and everything you need to be to live a purpose-driven life and make a difference where you are right now.

The best conversation happens in the comment section, so feel free to let your comment and let’s have these conversations and grow.

Are you part of Life in Bites Community, yet?

If not, click here and subscribe to get an email every time something new is up. Click on www.cristinapopescu.com, scroll the home page, and put your email in one of the sections available for this. When going to free resources, you also have a FREE guide to organize your life in a way that reduces stress.

Also follow me on social media:

How would you speak if you would know that your words have the power to breathe life or death in one's life? Would you choose your words differently? You never know what is that one goes through, and one sentence of yours can push them over the edge or bring them back. So choose to bring life with everything you say.

"Love others as you love yourself," the Bible says. But what if you have no idea how to love yourself? This episode will teach you where to start when it comes to learning to love yourself.

Steps to start healing and loving yourself:

1. How do I feel?
2. Why do I feel this?
3. How do I want to feel?

This and so much more about healing.

Looking forward to reading in the comments how is this episode impacting your understanding of how a man thinks, and how is that improving your relationship.

The best conversation happens in the comment section, so feel free to let your comment and let’s have these conversations and grow.

Are you part of Life in Bites Community, yet?

If not, click here and subscribe to get an email every time something new is up. Click on www.cristinapopescu.com, scroll the home page, and put your email in one of the sections available for this. When going to free resources, you also have a FREE guide to organize your life in a way that reduces stress.

Also, follow me on social media:

If you fight with life by yourself, please know that you are not alone! You may feel weird reading this, but trust me on this, one line of what is written it can be the very thing you need right now, so bear with me here and keep reading, please! YOU ARE NOT ALONE! Have the courage to reach out to people around you, and if you don’t trust them with your internal battle, reach out to me. Sometimes is easier to talk with strangers than family and friends, and that’s why I am here!

Shame, guilt. the overwhelming feeling of hopelessness? It is okay to feel that, as long as you reach out for help! The entire world is crazy now, so believe me, not normal is the new normal. And yet, there is so much hope in human connection! So much hope when you decide to pick up that phone and call. You don’t have to explain anything, just call, and have little conversations. Take it from there, and just trust God to guide you! Your friends, will har you even when you don’t talk. So pick up that phone and call!

When we recorded this episode, I had some epiphanies, when I edit it, I had some more. I now understand my husband better, I know how his mind works, and our relationship is different now. I see the way how he shows me his love, in the way is natural for him. 

Looking forward to reading in the comments how is this episode impacting your understanding of how a man thinks, and how is that improving your relationship. 

The best conversation happens in the comment section, so feel free to let your comment and let’s have these conversations and grow.

Are you part of Life in Bites Community, yet?

As a man, did you ever feel like when it comes to understanding how women's brain works, you are lost? Everything looks perfect, you have great conversations, UNTIL, you get in love with her. You try to understand why you say something and she understands completely something else, then she gets upset and you have no idea why. Well, here is why. Listen to this episode and you will finally understand.

As a woman, you know there are behaviors you don't want to have when comes to get involved with a man. Especially if you are a single mon, you know something is up, but have no idea what. In this episode, you will understand the foundation of how your brain functions, so you can do the needed changes and get the love life you dream of.

The best conversation happens in the comment section, so feel free to let your comment and let's have these conversations and grow.

Are you part of Life in Bites Community, yet?

When I first met Roeleke, it was a day like any other, trying to get in the flow or getting back to the office after 5 years of being out of working place. She looked so confident, calm, and grounded, that honestly, I was nervous around her, and yet, somehow calm. She was someone I wished I could know better.

A few hours later, we not only had some amazing conversations, but we get to plan this podcast. I invited her, and she said yes, so here we go, here to bless you and empower you to start dreaming, and living the life YOU WANT! For that, you want to start knowing who you are, what do you want and where do you want to go with your life. I invite you to tune in and listen to every episode, because there is a treasure in knowing, and Roeleke is one of those women who inspire change, growth, and empowerment!

Roeleke Klein Ikkink is a strong woman, single mom of a teenager, successful in her career, working in marketing and leadership positions for 20 years. 2 years ago, she decided to live the corporate world and work for herself, after she realized that the road she was on, led her close to another burnout. She was tired, overwhelmed, angry, and not feeling like herself anymore. So, on a walk with her dog, she decided to quit her job, and the next Monday she did it!

On the way to find herself, she starts exploring who she is, what she likes, and what is that she wants to do, now that her son is big, and she has more time on her hands, to focus on herself. Today, Roeleke coaches women to love themselves, and find their strength again. She works especially with single moms, to start dating, and have the courage to start living again happier.

Together with Roeleke, we sat and had long conversations. Some of it, we decided to share with you and bless you with her knowledge and wisdom. We invite you to join our conversation in the comments section and let's get this conversation-starting.

You can find Roeleke on:

Freedom is something we all crave, and it comes in different shapes and forms. The beauty in this is that you and I have the power to choose the kind of freedom we want to have.

In today’s episode, we speak about the freedom that comes when you and me, stop trying to fit in and please others. We learn how to be ourselves and I’m going to give you 3 techniques that will help you to start. It will help you interrupt that circle in your brain that tells you are not good enough the way you are so you must change.

As long as I can remember, I was sure that the way I was was not good enough for people to accept me. I was born and raised in the countryside of Romania(in case you wonder, that’s not pretty when you move into the city as a teenager). Being the oldest of 9 kids, with parents with no titles, and only big dreams. Believe me, that’s tough, so my whole life I had to try somehow to fit in the society I dreamed to be part of it. I kept doing this for my entire life.

As a foreigner, it was the last straw in my desperate attempt to fit in and become something else that I am. After painful years of feeling low and insignificant, going through therapy and mentorship, I finally got it. I AM ENOUGH THE WAY I AM, AND I CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE AS I AM!

After I internalized this, I felt like a huge weight was taken off my chest and I can finally be FREE! To get here was not an easy way, but totally worth it!

What does it take to STOP being someone who tries to fit in or pleases others?

Are we connected yet?

If not, Let’s meet on:

When we understand what is going on in lour mind and the psychology behind everything we experience, life gets easier, and we know what to do when we feel the way we feel, isn’t it? This is the reason why I choose to speak about this subject they Dr. Henry Cloud talks about, the psychology of the crisis and the Hyman connection which is the foundation of human functioning.

Keep in mind several things:

1. Your mind is full of maps that has the role to help you and make your life easier. In the crisis, those maps perceive an error, and that error has to be restarted.
2. Name the crisis you are going through. This time is called COVID-19, and another time will be something else. Whatever it is, name it and your brain will be able to find a place for the crisis in it, label it and start looking for solutions.
3. Connect with people. How to do that when social distancing is imposed by law?

• Set up a zoom call for a coffee date with your friends
• Do something for your neighbors or someone in need around you
• Organize indoor challenges with your friends to raise money for causes you care for.

Are you alone and have nobody to talk with? Let’s connect.

From a holistic point of view, being healthy is more than having a healthy body. In this episode, you will find how you can strengthen your body, mind, soul, and emotions, in order to stay safe and healthy during hard times. The only thing you can control now, is your attitude, actions, and mind and this my friend is power! You have the power to guard your mind against the thoughts that can hurt you more than the virus, the virus of panic.

As Dr. Edith Eva Eger said: “The most powerful prison it is in your mind, and the key it’s right in your pocket!” This quote is something that guides me during those times and reminds me that God gave me the power of choice to decide what is going to build a nest in my mind and what is going to be evacuated.

Daria Kholod is a young professional from Russia, Moscow. 

She moved to the NL for her Master studies at Tilburg University. She lives in Rotterdam and her dream is to make Rotterdam more open to new startups and initiatives. She does Communications & Marketing for a not-for-profit and provides startups with non-financial support.

She is an inspiration and a strong woman who teach us all that we can do everything we put our mind to. 

Connect with Daria here:

"Resilience is the way you can deal and bounce back from difficulties and hardships in life. From losing your temper when under pressure, to bounce back from severe abuse. Resilience allows you to cope with stress more efficiently and keep a positive attitude for a longer time! "

When going through challenges like losing someone you love, medical emergencies, diseases, losing a job, moving into another country, financial problems, divorce or losing your spouse, natural disasters or severe abuse, you need resilience to go through it with had on and full mental faculties. 

The good news is that resilience can be built and it is a skill you can learn. How?

1. Reframe your thoughts

2. Seek support

3. Focus on what you can learn

4. Create systems and routines to support you

5. Find a sense of purpose in your life

Stress takes more resources then everything else. Resources as money for health, drugs, alcohol and other abusive substances, and resources in terms of human lives, because stress is the root cause of suicide and death because of cancer, heart disease, diabetes, lung disease, and depression.

When you find a way to manage stress in the way that works for you, you set yourself up for freedom. In this episode, you will find useful tips to start applying it right away. Start with one at a time, and build habits that stay with you for life. 

"I think was my mother's dream for a bigger and better world than we knew, and so became my dream too!"

Having this interview with Dana, was a blast and once again I could see that if we as humans want something bad enough, it will eventually become a reality! From the cage of Communism to the freedom to be whatever she wants to be, Dana is sharing with us her journey.

Do you like it? Press the share button and share it with the world. We need role models and we can have it by sharing the stories of those who made it through tuff times to the life they dreamed of!

You can not fill other's cup until you have your own cup filled. Self Care is an act of courage and love for you and for others.