Challenges of Life Abroad: Insights from the Community

Living abroad offers excitement but also challenges, especially for international professionals and their partners. This article explores key insights from a recent survey, highlighting the struggle to build social connections, maintain mental well-being, and navigate career and purpose in a new environment. It also discusses the interconnected nature of these challenges and invites readers to co-create solutions that empower expats to thrive both personally and professionally in their host countries.

Natália Leal

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November 22, 2024

Wintering: Embracing 'Winter' and making the best of shorter days

Embrace the shorter days and winter by slowing down, seeking light, nourishing yourself, enjoying indoor hobbies, and connecting with others to find warmth and renewal.

Natália Leal

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October 30, 2024

Power and Responsibility: On Taking Over The Wheel and Using The Flow

From going with the flow and remaining in the victims role to taking over the wheel and using that power to navigate to where it matters and living life fully responsible for what happens.

Natália Leal

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August 27, 2024

Maximizing Your Expat Experience: My Lessons-Learned and 10 Pitfalls to Avoid in Your Life and Career Abroad

I am sharing with you below some of my lessons-learned, so you can avoid the same mistakes and navigate your expat experience in a much more enjoyable and stress-free way.

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July 31, 2024

Can Anyone Change? Neuroplasticity and Why Change is Possible!

Change is not only possible but also within everyone's reach, given our brain's neuroplasticity. Check out why, my 3 tips, and some examples with an expat, a taxi driver or someone with fear of public speaking.

Natália Leal

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July 1, 2024

Judgement versus Discernment: Can You Be a Good Judge?

As a child and teenager I heard my parents and friends say that I’d be a good judge more than once. As an adult what I learned is that being a good judge of people is not really about judgment but rather about discernment. ‍What’s the difference?

Natália Leal

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June 4, 2024

[19 June 2024] Putting Success and Happiness Together: A Recipe for Expats Feeling Stuck

A webinar to support international professionals feeling lost or stuck on their journey towards combining personal happiness with professional success while living/working abroad.

Natália Leal

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May 6, 2024

Can you embrace your 'darker' side? Harnessing your negative emotions...

Life comes with its ups and downs (which I hope are never too low), and that means both positive emotions and those which we - unfairly - call ‘negative’ emotions. (...) The truth, is that these negative emotions serve as crucial signals which our minds and bodies use to navigate our life's challenges. Ignoring these signals bears a huge risk; dwelling and ruminating on them for long does too. We need to acknowledge the alert being given (notice it! what are you feeling?), and consider what type of constructive action is appropriate as a follow-up. So, let’s take a closer look at some of the most 'infamous' negative emotions (in no particular order), where they originate, when they're fitting, and how to harness them for positive outcomes.

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April 10, 2024

Overcoming Your Limiting Beliefs [2024

Have you ever felt there was an internal struggle inside you, some 'inner voices' whispering doubts and uncertainties? The persistent nagging telling us: I can't do it, I'm not good enough, this is crazy, I don't have the time for that, I'll never learn this new language or understand this culture, I'm too old for this...? If you recognise any of these thoughts, you are not alone!

Natália Leal

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February 15, 2024

Discover Your Path to a Balanced Life: The Wheel of Life Workshop [2024 March]

Are you seeking clarity and balance in the various aspects of your life? Do you feel like life is a juggling act, with some balls soaring high while others linger at your feet? Join us for an engaging 1-hour workshop that will transform the way you perceive and navigate your life's journey.

Natália Leal

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February 15, 2024

Workshop: Get Unstuck and Find Your Path [2024 January]

Coming up in January 2024: the next "Get Unstuck and Find Your Path" Webinar to help you achieve a successful career and happy life.

Natália Leal

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November 16, 2023

Workshop: “A Roadmap to a Career You Love”, live in Amsterdam, 2 December 2023

An in-person workshop that will offer you a simple structure regarding how to design a career path that contributes to your overall happiness. You will leave with a proposed roadmap, different steps and suggestions; a guide to help you build a career you love and which is fully aligned with who you are.

Natália Leal

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October 17, 2023

Rituals, the expat way! How do you celebrate important moments?

This reminded me of rituals and how important they can be in any society and culture. They suggest to us what is meaningful and valued in that context, though ‘tradition’ can often sweep in as an invisible source for shared activities that no one consciously accepted to follow. Rituals can include a wide range of shared practices, from exchanging rings, certain objects or gestures (ex: greetings), songs, dances, and (yup!) special food and drink. (...) Once you start moving across countries, and especially going across cultural borders, it can get quite messy to keep track of all your ‘new home’ rituals and still respect your original ones.

Natália Leal

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October 5, 2023

Mental Health is a Universal Human Right [WMHD2923]

10 October (2023), World Mental Health Day. Joining the efforts to demystify the topic and protect everyone who may - in the past, present or future - suffer from a mental health condition, I invite you to join this year’s campaign to recognise mental health as a universal human right! :)

Natália Leal

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October 5, 2023

Coaches Corner: Upcoming dates and topics

Check the upcoming dates in 2023 for InterNations' Coaches Corner, with Natália Leal as guest speaker and coach.

Natália Leal

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September 17, 2023

Workshop: New Country, New Habits? [ACCESS patrons only]

Workshop on how to create new habits and getting rid of old ones following a relocation, especially prepared for ACCESS Patrons: European Space Agency, Telespazio, TU Delft, Welcome Center Food Valley, and Worley

Natália Leal

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September 17, 2023

Workshop: Draw Your Wheel of Life - How to Do One and Use It [September 2023]

Workshop - Draw Your Wheel of Life: How to Do One and Use It, Learn how to

Natália Leal

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September 16, 2023

Picture Or No Picture

I often advice my clients regarding how best to design their CVs and cover letters for specific vacancies they wish to apply to. One of the most frequently asked questions is about the photo. Should I include a profile photo in my CV or not? While the answer to this question is partially dependent on the country your vacancy is based on (there are a few cultural differences in the DO's and DONT's across countries when it comes to CVs), my answer is almost always an 'It depends'.

Natália Leal

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May 12, 2023

Can expats speak EQ-ish?

Talking about EQ is quite different than actually practising and increasing our EQ, and the challenge can be even greater for expats and professionals working across cultures and languages.

Natália Leal

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May 5, 2023

On 'being', and that's enough!

We learn to associate our self-worth to what we do... and end up becoming 'Human Doings'. It's the 'cult of doing'.If you have the courage and allow yourself the space to really listen to yourself, you will recognise that we are, instead, truly 'Human Beings'. Being is enough. Being is all that matters. Being is your true essence. Check my tips to create more time for being.

Natália Leal

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December 22, 2022

On Sleep 😴

On setting our priorities straight and respecting sleep time🌛 Some tips

Natália Leal

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December 8, 2022

How to turn your relocation to another country into a success story

What you need to personally consider before moving abroad (again) - besides all the logistic stuff. Check our comprehensive tips to make sure you are prepared to turn your next move into a success story abroad.

Natália Leal

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October 17, 2022

On seasonal adjustments

On seasonal adjustments - How will you maintain your mood and energy throughout Fall and Winter? ❄

Natália Leal

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October 13, 2022

On appreciating cultures

Natália Leal

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August 18, 2022

On pain vs. exploring pleasure without guilt

What if you could explore pleasure without guilt and savour life more?

Natália Leal

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April 28, 2022

Improving your well-being at home with Tai Chi & Chi Kung (extra videos)

The second part of my initial post, with extra suggestions for great videos to watch at home and improve your own mental and physical well-being.

Natália Leal

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July 9, 2021

Tip#4. Brainstorm the perfect career for you

This post was done in the context of a joint publication with other colleagues on the 10 tips to navigate your career during a pandemic". Once you have a fair idea of what gives you purpose, what are your core values and strengths (see all the previous tips mentioned below), you are ready to brainstorm and reflect on how you wish to 'invest' your time. ...

Natália Leal

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May 20, 2021

Expectations: Adjusting and Owning Yours

Have you ever thought about 'Whose expectations are you carrying'? (...) There is nothing wrong in taking on other people's ideas and suggestions and incorporating them into your expectations, belief system and goals. However, when you 'uncritically inherit the burden' of certain things you should be doing (or not doing), you are giving away your right to determine what makes sense for you; you are sleepwalking through life or blindly following someone else's recipe.

Natália Leal

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March 16, 2021

Improving your well-being at home with Tai Chi & Chi Kung

Wondering what you can do at home alone to improve both your mental and physical well-being, during these lockdown times and beyond? Join me for a low-impact exercise session at home, with Chi Kung/ Qigong exercises that you can do alone, as you find greater mind-body balance and relaxation. No excuses :)

Natália Leal

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February 6, 2021

Relaxing at Home, with TRE exercises

At some point, we all live through circumstances that bring some tension into our lives. This feels even truer during the past few months. Being almost constantly at home is both physically and mentally demanding. Some times, extremely demanding. It feels like�some form of milder or deeper stress is almost unavoidable these days. TRE stands for�'Tension and Trauma Releasing Exercises'. If you want to learn more about TRE and find out how you can do it by yourself, at home, check this article.

Natália Leal

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November 18, 2020

Having Fun Alone

What can I (and you) do that is interesting and/or fun, alone, at home, and repeatable? Share your ideas in the comments section. I hope you can try some of them yourself!

Natália Leal

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November 17, 2020

Learn How to Draw Your Wheel of Life [Free, online workshop]

In times of transition such as these, it can be a challenge to clearly (fore)see what exactly about our life plans needs some re-thinking. (...) when faced with uncertainty, life also offers a field of new possibilities for those willing to explore them. (...) join a group of 'pathfinders', and use the Wheel of Life as a compass to help you re-focus into what's most important for you in this new stage of life! Register for the free, online workshops here.

Natália Leal

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October 8, 2020

10 Keys to Happier Living [Online Group]

Join our free, online, monthly group meetings, putting the "10 Keys to Happier Living" into practice. While this group is theoretically based in Utrecht (Netherlands), all meetings are online. Invest some time on your well-being and happiness!

Natália Leal

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October 2, 2020

'Taking a Picture' of Your Life: The Wheel of Life

Even the most basic reflection, that is, simply assessing how we feel right now, is an exercise that most of us do very rarely. Yet, knowing how you are at a given moment can be a powerful tool to help you consider how balanced your life is and whether some changes are necessary (or even urgent). In coaching, this starting assessment is often done using the Wheel of Life. Here is how I do it. Do your own at the same time!

Natália Leal

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September 10, 2020

Fatigue and kindness, in the era of online meetings

... Zoom fatigue is not inevitable though and there are a few measures you can implement to reduce it. Above all, however, I would like to invite you to use your compassion and kindness when you interact with your friends and colleagues, and not to rush into judgment about their choice to video-call you or not. Don�t measure your relationships by the amount or extent of your online calls. It is hard to go by with less intimacy and real human connection but quality trumps quantity every time.

Natália Leal

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June 23, 2020

The Secrets to Reaching your Dreams [2020, ONLINE Webinars]

Now ONLINE too! Join us for about an hour of reflection on and tips to achieving your dreams in today's world. Take note and get ready to get your hands dirty. Find out what are your next steps could be. Finding happiness and reaching your dreams requires dedication, hard work and doing your 'homework'. We'll show you what you need to do. Are you ready? Dates: Amsterdam, 21 March 2020; Utrecht, April 2020 TBC.

Natália Leal

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March 26, 2020

The blessing of Corona?

How do you find the best out of a negative situation? Some thoughts on the positive side of the Corona virus outbreak.

Natália Leal

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March 13, 2020

"Know your Strengths and How to Use Them" [29 November 2019, Gouda]

This workshop will invite you to reflect on your main character strengths and the values you hold highest. How can you build on these strengths to improve your overall happiness and design a career path towards a job that really fulfills you? Come and explore more about yourself.

Natália Leal

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November 19, 2019

Are you suffering from MND?

Do you think you may be 'suffering' from MND (Multiple Nationality Disorder)? Have you felt the 'reverse cultural shock' when you go back to your home country? Tell us about it. You are not alone.

Natália Leal

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October 15, 2019

What are your signature strengths? And why do they matter?

This summer take some time to find your signature strengths! And invite your friends, family and community to do that too. Reflecting on them and sharing them with others will allow better to understand yourself and others, as well as to create new ways of building on your distinct strengths to create a happier life for all. I'd love to hear all about it! What are your signature strengths?

Natália Leal

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June 21, 2019

The Coach's Coach

Yes. Of course, even coaches have their own coach! We can all do better in our life and work if we have the right support to overcome our own challenges at any given time.

Natália Leal

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June 20, 2019

Pushing your boundaries... and learning your lessons

What I learned from participating in the 2019 Odyssey Hackathon, the good and the bad... About getting out of your comfort zone and on clarity and leadership.

Natália Leal

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April 23, 2019

Workshops in the Netherlands [May 2019, Utrecht]

Check the forthcoming workshops this May 2019 in Utrecht (Netherlands) that can help you find the way towards a career you love and uncover more about yourself and how to live a happy and meaningful life. Find your Roadmap, re-discover yourself!

Natália Leal

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March 28, 2019

2019 Happiness Day

The search for happiness is a quest as old as humankind itself. This year, on 20 March 2019, the theme and challenge is #TENSTEPSTOGLOBALHAPPINESS. Yet, every day can be a Happiness Day: share the word, share the power of happiness, be happy!

Natália Leal

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March 18, 2019

"(Re)Inventing Myself" [January 2019, Brussels]

Moving to a new country brings with it very specific challenges, and it's often hard to deal with all the personal and professional changes related to it. How can you find (again) a balanced life and fulfilling career?

Natália Leal

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December 14, 2018

Life lessons from struggling with your Business Plan

I am used to thinking about strategy, annual plans, budgets, and all that comes along with it. (...) You cannot be a successful entrepreneur if you cannot ultimately sell whatever you are 'producing'! Rationally, that is as clear as water. But emotionally there was a whole other battle to fight. (...) Life lesson: asking for support can deliver much better results than adhering too close to some false sense of pride or ego.

Natália Leal

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November 26, 2018

Gifts with meaning and purpose

Offer (a journey towards) meaning and purpose to those you care about - whether employees, friends or family! Performance, learning and enjoyment (happiness) are all deeply interlinked. Consider offering coaching sessions, so a journey of personal and professional development can start! A gift that will not be forgotten.

Natália Leal

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November 11, 2018

Steps Towards a Career you Love

Make sure you are getting closer to a career that will really make you feel like a happy and fulfilled person, without skipping any important steps. Are you on the right path?

Natália Leal

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October 23, 2018

"Build a Career you Love", 8 October 2018 (De Broekriem)

Based on specific methodologies and my own experience, this workshop will offer participants some structure about how they can design a career path that contributes to their overall happiness. They will leave the workshop with a proposed roadmap, with different steps and suggestions; a guide to help them build a career they love.

Natália Leal

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September 20, 2018

"Negotiation Basics" workshop (University of Groningen)

On 21 September 2018, I will be offering a workshop on Negotiation and its basic elements, as part of a group of training sessions on Negotiation within the framework of the Learning Communities available to students at the University of Groningen (the Netherlands). If you would like to attend, please contact the organisers at the University of Groningen directly.

Natália Leal

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September 19, 2018