I loved doing this little interview with Kristel from Coffee Break and Chocolate Cake. She's a coffee-enthusiast like me and truly believes that you can change your life one coffee break at a time.
There's something magical about the practice of sitting down in a cafe with your favourite drink, all set to read, write, and dig deep into your values and dreams.
Unfortunately many people don't know where to start when it comes to writing down their thoughts in a constructive, life-changing way. So to help with this, Kristel created a unique 30 day program. When you sign up, you receive an email with a special exercise and a printable (!!!) every day for 30 days, helping you connect with your passion.
In the time that it takes you to drink your favourite latte on your coffee break, you can can get one step closer to a more passionate life. Click the button below to learn more:
And now for Kristel's story...
What does it mean to you to "take 100% responsibility
for your life"?
To me, that means to take charge. And to do so, you have to
understand yourself and listen to yourself. The best way to do that? In my
opinion, to stop and reflect. Stop and ask yourself as often as possible: Is
what I am doing right now bringing me any closer to my goals and the way I want
to feel?
I change direction every once in a while. If I’ve had the
nagging feeling that a small part of my life is not how it’s supposed to be, it
takes me a few coffees and moments of reflection, but then the answer is
suddenly very clear to me. You have to stop to take 100% responsibility of your
life. It’s the only way to get to where you’re supposed to be.
What do you do when you need more clarity and focus?
I cancel all my appointments and I put myself first. My favourite
place to find clarity and focus is in cute coffee shops. I love the atmosphere
there and if there’s soothing music and I can sit by a window and watch people
walk by, then it literally doesn't get any better than that.
After I’ve ordered a cappuccino (always extra hot) I sit
down and I ask myself if I’m exactly where I’m supposed to be. Often, if I’ve
been too swallowed up in work for a while, I start feeling like “something’s
wrong” and I need to stop. When I don’t know exactly where to start I ask
myself very specific questions: what brings me joy? What inspires me? What do I
LOVE to do and how can I make even more time for hat? What don’t I like doing
and how can I reduce the time I spend on that? Who lifts me up and can I meet
up with them asap?
What is your favorite book and why?
I’ve been swallowing literature since I was 7 and my
parents’ bookshelf was the only library I had access to as a little girl. I
even remember reading The Prophet by Khalil Gibran. How fun would it be to read
his work today and see if and how it has shaped me!
But my favourite book is the Alchemist by Paulo Coelho. As a
young girl I found The Pilgrimage on my Mum’s book shelf. This opened up my
world to Paulo Coelho and The Alchemist was equally mesmerizing to me. I could
relate to the story and I could feel the magic. Magic is not something you come
across often enough in this world.
How has personal development helped you in your journey?
Self development is my journey. I teach by learning and I
learn by doing. I welcome everything
that helps me shape into a more true version of myself with open arms. A book,
a video, an exercise and even a piece of advice from a friend can trigger
something that helps me understand myself, my actions and my reactions better.
Kristel Kayser
