Foundation for Humanity Mental Health / Neuroplasticity / Emotional Intelligence / Peace of Mind

Reflecting on my life, what I might do differently if I could live it all over again. What stood out most was fearlessness, the authenticity in choosing my own way in life as a self-made man I’m proud of!

Learning by doing, growing from mistakes, some twice, but never giving up; continued learning, growth & hands-on = in any situation!

To have left behind a safe bank job (I was offered to manage a branch) in my mid-twenties to build & direct my first company in interior design & product development. As an autodidact, I trained myself & learned from mentors; Humans who supported me in ways I never forgot.

Left the bank job. My boss became my first ordering client; A wooden shelf with marble on top. To store books & files.

Big Letters framed on the wall: "Do It Now!"

This Mantra of action followed me my entire life, taking everything into my own hands. Supervision. Not 2be whirled around like a loose sail in stormy weather. It’s inspiration, form follows function, courage counts!

Strange looks, gossip, belittled & laughed at by ‘others’ caused by my brave decisions in work/life. Following my Intuitive Flow to do what I love. THE PATH in life meant for me.

These ‘others’ are withered, old & dry these days. If still alive. Retired in comfort zones; a monthly pension on top. Count & stare at numbered days like grain falling from top to bottom in an hourglass.

While I feel like my mid-50s. The best is yet to come with every breath, taken with a HeartBeat.

To wake up each morning in gratitude; early sunrise. My Oasis of a home, filling the soul, nourishing the brain with creativity & lust for life.

Spontaneity. A boy discovers unknown territory, is fascinated by things, developing new design ideas & building products.

Nothing comes easy in life; setbacks & loss are unavoidable. Trusting the wrong people leads to hurtful outcomes. No results. In vain.

Standing my ground by acting, reacting like bamboo. Not 2 break under pressure but 2 bow with the wind! Going through, but not beside!

All obstacles and stones thrown in one’s path as the gym of daily life lived in purpose. A Mission like an Inner GPS.

My burnout at 40 was more enlightening than burning a candle on both sides. The beginning of a new life cycle I never could have imagined!

It led me in 2009 finally to my inner & outer destination; to live & work in Southeast Asia.

LONG WAY HOME.

Changing my life by immigrating to the other side of the world when turning 50. To begin all over again from scratch, life & work-wise – the opposite of a midlife crisis but a rebirth. I never regretted it.

Inspired mentoring/coaching students, clients, & companies. Starting again to design n’ build interiors, products & lamps. Proudly established my Foundation For Humanity almost a decade ago.

Helping other humans, families, & their children in need is my mission – where all dreams make sense.

"Stillness and meditative activities are your inside, insight oxygen tank, of mental nourishment."

I find this-to provide an easy example-when my hands are covered in soil & my body is grounded while pulling weeds, gardening bamboo plants, lemongrass, ginger, banana, mango & papaya trees in my tropical garden. Without any words, phone, or background music needed; the sounds of nature are like little angels singing.

BEing 1 with oneself by doing something useful is an easy way to recharge, rewire; a vitamin boost to refresh the brain. Inner freedom comes from humility and commitment for yourself & others on behalf of our overall well-being.

"Accomplish something that will last; leave your unique footprint."

Detach from the past; free yourself from a rucksack you might be carrying. Find YOUR Way, neglecting this often heavy load. Move on without thinking or mentally meandering about it anymore.

Inner freedom is mostly nourished by the absence of overthinking or doubting our decisions; the fear of possible negative outcomes. Never regret but reverse it. Awakening happens within yourself only!

"Optimistic Thoughts attract satisfying Goals & successful RESULTS."

Be With & Within Yourself, take time consciously – at least an hour a day/night, whenever possible! Mind your emotional territory and protect your peace of mind by setting clear boundaries against any negativity and toxicity. Frequently laugh about and not take yourself too seriously!

Cultivate meaningful, inspiring, trustful, and humorous relationships! Empowered by human BE-ing connections – nourished by mutual respect, active genuine listening, and interpersonal shared understanding – that both sides lift. Live a life that authentically aligns with your values!

Be empathetic, tell & share with others about ups n’ downs of life; Direct encouragement can help to heal, grow, and regain identity by building a foundation of resilience. For all sides involved!

Paramount is to reclaim and stay with your mental & emotional balance. Find resources and commitment for your entire well-being, a self-assured presence in the here & now.

Try something new, something off-road from your habits. Feel free to make mistakes. Trust your intuition; don’t be strict but generous with yourself!

"Don’t pick up bad ideas but never turn down good ones." (David Lynch)

Stay faithful – however external reactions & responses to your acting might be. Doing it YOUR own personal way feels so different from a common ‘corset’!

Turn pain & emotional scars into something powerful that raises you towards a new stage of consciousness. Change doesn’t happen in the comfort zone; it just hinders you from growing beyond.

One of the highlights – during my 10-year-long career as an educator & curriculum designer, active in 4 countries – is letting students do it by finding their own independent ways.

To ask and let them choose their responses and input for a discussion, provided orally or written on the whiteboard by themselves. To let students teach a topic of their desire – while I was sitting in their chair.

By not providing ready-made answers from the educator’s side – but by letting the students work it out, do it in their own ways, and explore it by themselves.

To sit with my students constructively in a half-circle, on the same eye level; NOT in rows!

To prepare them so well ahead that no one had to fear insomnia or stomach ache upfront a test or exam – but appeared with self-confidence and left with a smile after the test.

To work in groups by letting them freely choose their group members, color, group leader, and subject of topic. To gain knowledge through a creative approach & interest in subjects such as Science, History, and Geography, including tailored hands-on activities.

My Grade 5 students showed great leadership, creativity, visible fun, and stunning organizational skills! I am still so very proud of them! They achieved up to 14 projects in an academic year!

Triumphant, with broad smiles of self-esteem for their wonderful works – which were shown in an exhibition – organized & presented by my students on huge posters and 3D models at the school’s assembly hall.

PSS: I wrote and posted the identical post some years ago, right here on LinkedIn. This post received 29,000+ views.

It’s interesting to see & realize how interest and human focus have changed in these few years! The interest, dependency & exploration moved increasingly towards online activities; away from classical presentation, pictures in motion, and text, but making it more personal than digital media has done.