THIS IS FOR YOU.
The archetype that applies to many founders & leaders is the oak. Always being the strong, reliable force of nature, that everyone leans on—the centre of the forest, where everyone turns to for support, resources, and wisdom. You will never notice an oak is tired until it breaks or falls.
The pattern of always being the strong, perseverent one, is a gift, and at some point in time can also become the biggest challenge. Because it means that as the company grows, so does what is expected of you. Your tendency to be in control, and be there for everyone, doesn't scale, rather it often implodes. It is creating toxic patterns within the company culture, and feeling burned out.
Breaking the patterns starts with slowing down (yes we know how much you hate this), pausing and reflecting on who do you want to be? And who does your company need you to be in the current growth phase? To be honest with yourself about what drains you, and what brings you joy? To understand how you might have been abandoning your own needs, and true nature. To dare to dream of the impact you want to make, and how you want to live & lead towards that dream.
Ultimately, regenerating yourself, those around you, and nature.
Or better said, creating your ripple effects on purpose.
IN A NUTSHELL.
We invite you to practice and experience the core teachings, techniques, tools and principles of being on purpose through our program of transformational workshops to:
DAY#1 Understand where you stand now and how you genuinely feel.
DAY#2 Dare to dream and clarify your future vision, life, and business.
DAY#3 Identify and embrace what is holding you back.
DAY#4 Shift from being your inner critic to being your own best friend.
DAY#5 Make a practical game plan to redesign your days to act from a place of joy.
5 days, 4 nights, to pause, reconnect with your heart's wisdom, lower the external noise, eat nourishing food, wake up with the sunrise, observe nature at a breathtaking location, and connect with yourself and each other at a deeper level.
PROGRAM OVERVIEW.
THE RETREAT PRINCIPLES.
#1 SHIFT FROM YOUR HEAD TO YOUR HEART; FROM OVERTHINKING TO INNER WISDOM.
#2 LOWER THE OUTER & INNER NOISE TO GAIN DEEP CLARITY OF YOUR VISION.
#3 RELEASE OLD STORIES & EMOTIONS HOLDING YOU BACK: FEELING VS NUMBING.
#4 BUILD HABITS TO FEED YOUR HEALTH, JOY & IMPACT DAILY, TOWARDS YOUR DREAM.
THE WHY BEHIND OUR SETUP.
Weaving nature, modern science & ancient wisdom to create space for transformation.
THE WORKSHOPS.
A consciously designed journey that flows naturally:
DAY#1 Being honest about where you are now (feel)
DAY#2 Reconnect with your wise self on where you want to go (dreams).
DAY#3 Allowing your vulnerable self to feel what's holding you back (fears).
DAY#4 Shifting from being your inner critic to your own best friend (heal).
DAY#5 Create a roadmap to align your daily actions with your dreams (embody).
GUIDED BREATHWORK.
We can easily get lost in our minds, going in loops and looking for answers. While dreams are in our hearts. Furthermore, healing limiting beliefs and patterns happens in our bodies, our fascia. How? Through the breath, we can access and process those stored or stuck emotions. Feeling them means healing them.
INTENTIONAL DOWNTIME.
It's so important to have time to reflect, let insights sink in, journal, walk, swim, nap. It all benefits the process of transformation. Stillness is healing. The doing gets more depth when there is time for doing nothing in between. Time to rest. Time to share with others informally. Time to be alone in nature.
THE MORNING PRACTICE.
Rising with the sun helps to reset your circadian rhythm. Movement in the morning helps to get out of the head and into the body. It helps to release tension built up from the limiting beliefs in our fascia. To create space to just observe our thoughts and not identify with them. To create the conditions to listen to your heart and inner wisdom. Through movement, meditation and breathwork we increase our consciousness. Thus a key habit to making bold dreams a reality in a healthy, and joyful way.
CONSCIOUS FOOD & DRINKS.
Food is our daily medicine and affects our health and mood significantly. Intermittent fasting (12-16hrs) increases our clarity of mind. Alcohol and weed numb our emotions, while transformation requires feeling. Coffee and sugars increase anxiety, irritability, restlessness, and spikes and drops in energy. The plant-based Ayurvedic food will nourish you. Some days the spices used with soothe you, ground you, and other days it will uplift and energise you. Designed to fit the program. You will feel lighter, not bloated after this retreat.
SILENCE & NATURE.
Being in nature lowers heart rate and blood pressure, and fosters creativity. It gives perspective, and the sun on our faces feeds feelings of gratitude and joy. Silence lowers our urge to impress others, to be heard, and validated by others. It shifts our focus from outward to inward. From being reactive to being reflective. When there is no noise (opinions, questions, stories of others), we can truly hear ourselves, and process our own thoughts, feelings, and insights. Answers to deep questions are rarely given by others & often found in silence.
THE DAILY FLOW.
07.00 Rise with the sun & morning practice (stretching, yoga, pilates, breathwork, meditation) (1,5hr)
09.00 Big breakfast (in silence)
10.00 Workshop by Carlijn & Matt (2,5 - 3 hrs)
13.00 Lunch
14.00 Free time to relax, nap, journal, or explore nature around (hike, bike, or surf).
18.00 Light dinner before sunset
19.30 Evening Ritual to connect & unwind (1,5hr)
21.00 Start of Silence & get ready for bed
ABOUT THE FACILITATORS.
PRACTICAL INFO.
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Join a planned retreat or organise for your own group of founders & leaders.
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4 or 5 days with Carlijn & Matt at the location of your choice.
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incl. workshops, accommodation and plant-based meals, tea & healthy snacks
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incl. 1-1 call with Carlijn (45min) 1 month before & after the retreat.
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Max capacity. 10 participants per retreat
EXTRA SERVICES DURING THE RETREAT.
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1-1 coaching session with Carlijn (75min) scheduled upfront (€75 extra)
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1-1 breathwork session with Matt (75min) scheduled upfront (€75 extra)
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massages (60-90min) at the location (€50-75 extra)
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Airport Transport p.p. between 150-40€ ** (1-4 people)
** Excluding flight ticket
€1740/€2960 incl. VAT
depending on season, your group size, room and location selection.
CARLIJN NELISSEN.
Carlijn (35) is fascinated by human behaviour. Hence her 2 Masters in Psychology & Behavioural Sciences. And life-long exploration of how changing your day can change your mood, your health, the thoughts you have, the wisdom you can access, as well as the impact your make. Through our daily choices & actions, dreams become reality.
"I live life my way. I don't fit a label. I have intentionally turned my life around multiple times. From moving abroad to run an innovation agency business for 5 years, to moving to Portugal to start a Permaculture Farm, to living in nature without any of our societies facilities for a year. Currently creating a small homestead with a clay house. And continue to grow the impact we make with the On Purpose Studio.
Life is my playground. I am here to experience and experiment. I try something, I learn, I adapt. I listen to my inner wisdom, my heart, and lean in. That way I follow whatever brings me joy, well-being, personal growth, and freedom, without planning it far ahead (control is an illusion).
This has led me to design my life, on purpose. Being my authentic self. Close to my heart. Fulfilling my dreams. Developing myself to be valuable to others & less harmful to nature.
I get excited when people are aware of what truly matters to them & design their days accordingly. When they listen to their hearts, ignore their fearful thoughts, and just lean in.
Boldy living the life you were intended to.
Each day again,
On purpose."
MATT NELISSEN.
Matt (74) has been a certified breathwork coach and practitioner for the past 10 years, guiding people to heal old traumas stored in the body that limit their full potential.
He is an engineer by degree, and a learner at heart. He has guided many large companies through cultural transformations, always putting the people at the heart of change. In those 40 years he experienced more & more that "It's not about changing minds, it's about changing hearts". He is fascinated by why some companies are buzzing of energy & innovation, and others are filled with apathy or even toxicity. In his view, making room for passion is key.
And it's not only our environment that can limit this passion, or freedom of expression, it's also within ourselves. Breathwork has been an approach for him to free himself of old rigid beliefs that kept him stuck, fearful or doubting himself. It's been a lifetime journey from not breathing when he was born, to allowing himself to breathe, to take up space, to follow his heart.
His energy is calm, open, and focused. He is known to create safe spaces for open dialogues. Matt has been rowing at a world-class level for the past 55 years and started Karate at 56, and now has a black belt & 4th dan degree. He is a living example of never being too old to learn, or pursuing your passion.