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20 June 2025

Tag: power

12 Ways To Feel GREAT In Today’s Pressure Society.

Saturday, 25 April 2015 by Nadira

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Something we all want, to feel good…to feel great! If you are reading this, the chance is you are in possession of a computer, smartphone or tablet, you have a roof above your head and food on your plate. Hopefully you are healthy and that would mean you have everything you need to feel great, because your are blessed.
Yet in this society we keep on being pushed and pulled to have the need for more in order to feel great. We think we need to have more, do better, work harder, look better. We are never really content. It’s a giant form of peer pressure, that I am experiencing as well, to look a certain way and accomplish certain things, because it is expected. I do realize, that usually I’m my worst critic, so I’m the one putting pressure on myself. And I find myself in this rush and extreme need of being better (inside, outside, you name it, just better).
As much as this can be a good thing, because it keeps you sharp, and keeps you evolving and growing as a person, it can make you feel really insecure and just not great in general. Why? Because you are not ‘’there’’ yet. And in your mind, where you are now, isn’t good enough.
I’ve thought about this a lot, to find a way to deal with it and came up with 12 ways to feel great, while in the constant process of evolving.

  1. Remember you will always be a ‘’Work in Progress’’
    We will always be a work in progress. We will never be ‘’there’’, we will never be perfect, because even if we would be, our head would be telling us that we still need this, and that to be perfect. (Let’s assume for this statement that perfection is even possible). A recent example: When I started with Fitness I had this picture in my mind of how I wanted to look. This mental picture kept me going, yet when I reached it, I didn’t even realize it. In my head this picture had gradually evolved, making me think that I wasn’t there yet. Most of the time, we are our own worst critics. When you accept that even when you’re old and wrinkly, you will still have so many things you would want to do better; you will feel so much more relaxed and confident about the progress you make, because it’s not something finite, there is no end to it, and anything is possible.
  2. Find balance between working on yourself and loving the way you are now
    Change is great, growth is essential. Yet we have to stop thinking ‘’when I look like that, I will be happy’’ or ‘’only when I achieve that, I will be worthy’’.
    Start loving yourself for the person you are now, even if you’re not the person you want to be yet. Identify the wonderful things about yourself, certain traits, abilities, achievements, things you love about the way you look . Despite the fact that you would want to improve, you are still a lovely, beautiful person with qualities. So embrace that, and keep on reminding yourself of these things while you are working on yourself.IMG_6926photoshop
  3. Stop Comparing
    In today’s society, we get overrun by success stories, pictures and videos of others around the world. It’s not only the celebrities and magazine covers anymore, but technology has made it possible to follow the lives of many others. This makes it even easier to constantly compare yourself to others. You think you know their life, and you would love to have what they have; to do what they do.
    First, let me tell you, everyone only shows off the great things in their lives, not their struggles along the way. Second, STOP, just stop! It’s good to look up to people and try to find out the strategies they use to get where they are. But everything beyond that is not healthy. You only have part of the story, and most of the time, thing just aren’t what they seem.
    An example: Instagram is being taken over by the fitness hype, which is great because it encourages a lot of people to work out. But I see too many ladies around me obsessing with having abs, booties and muscles and having/wanting to look a certain way, that is in some cases not even possible to achieve naturally and they starve themselves for it, because they just don’t know the right way to achieve this. I will write more about this soon, but the message is to just stop comparing, because it does more harm than good. Count your blessings and focus on yourself, your own progress. The more energy you put into yourself, the more you will get out of it, and the greater you will feel.
  4. Do more YOU
    Invest in yourself, whether it is by taking some me-time and just take a long bath, or a vacation. There are endless possibilities for this, depending on your personality. You can go from reading a book, taking up a certain hobby or activity, to taking an extra course or workshop in the area you want to excel in. As long as you do something for you, that you enjoy and know is good for you.IMG_6945photoshop
  5. Don’t wait for other’s approval/applause
    This one is a hard one, for me at least. You know those people who always say, I don’t care what anyone thinks? Well I am one of them. Only I do care (to certain extent). I’m still working on finding out why approval of others is so important to most of us, even if we might not want to admit it. But when we accomplish something cool, we do like it when people around us acknowledge this. If you ask me, that’s the basic foundation of social media. Sharing the good things, the accomplishments, all in exchange for a ‘’like’’.
    I cannot tell you how to get rid of this need for approval, because I am still working on it myself. I can, however, tell you how I deal with it. I’ve decided to value my own approval more than that of others. In the end we know ourselves better than anyone else does. We can be the best judge of ourselves, and we know how we’ve struggled and when we’ve stepped out of our comfort zone to achieve something. Therefore, applaud yourself, when you’ve achieved whatever it is you wanted to. If others do so as well, it’s a nice extra, but having that inner approval is so much more valuable and should be the most important.
  6. Celebrate victories, even the smallest ones!
    Since we are talking about victories, I have found that celebrating them, no matter how small, really feels great. Even though it might be just a small step, it is a step in the right direction that you haven’t made before, and it might have required some to a lot of effort, so it is worth celebrating. It’s also motivating to get to the next step, and the next, and so on.IMG_6972photoshop
  7. Know your strengths and develop them
    We are all good at something, some of us have excellent communication skills, others can persuade very well and others can juggle or draw or dance really well. Whatever it is, it is likely that you enjoy doing these things, because you have a talent for it, and it feels rewarding. Even if you might not be able to make a living out of everything, I would encourage you to invest time into these strengths. It will make you feel great about yourself, because you’re great at it and you will get better and better.
  8. Set Goals and most important Stick to them
    Setting goals is easy. Sticking to them, well that’s another story. It’s not always easy, especially if the goal requires controversial change in your daily life or just lots of effort and time. Yet there is no worse feeling than regret of not having pursued the steps to achieve your goals. You’re always going to be busy, it will never be a perfect time, but just do it. Focus and go. You will feel great by putting it in the works, sticking to the plan, because the closer you get, the better the feeling. I personally love the feeling of checking that box next to the task on my to do list.IMG_6953photoshopc
  9. Do good (for others).
    Last Sunday, we had the privilege to receive a special 9 year old boy with severe diabetes at the Wulterkens Clothing office. In collaboration with the Make A Wish Foundation, we made it a really special day for him. He arrived in style, in a beautiful white limo, and got to create his very own design sport t-shirts with us. There were balloons, cake, and we had his family come along with him. Afterwards he went to the Ajax Stadium in Amsterdam to watch a soccer game and he got to stand on the side lines and see everything up close. There was no better feeling and I am extremely grateful for this experience. Just to see the smile on his face. Anyway, do good, because it feels great to give. Even if it’s just something small, as long as you give back.
  10. Realize that everyone else around you has Insecurities.
    For some reason, when we know that others share the same struggle, we find some sort of peace with it. There is something in the collective that soothes us, as long as we are not the only one, right? Well in this case, this might make you feel better. Remember that all of us, even the greatest, have insecurities, struggles, pain, issues etc. That’s life, and we’re only human. So whenever you feel insecure, just know that you are not the only one and it doesn’t have to be a limitation, unless you make it one.
    I don’t know if this is a direct incentive to feel great, but it does put things in perspective and makes you embrace life, the way it is, even if it’s not easy. If you think about the fact that even Beyonce has her insecurities, yet she is the amazing artist that she is, you know that you can be that amazing version of yourself as well, despite your insecurities.IMG_6960photoshopc
  11. The power of thought
    As I’ve mentioned before, we are our own worst critics. Try to understand and remind yourself that you and the way you decide to see and think about things create your reality. If you’re being too hard on yourself, you are the one making it difficult and making yourself unhappy. If you hold yourself to unrealistic standards, it’s you and your thoughts that make you feel insecure (not anyone else).
    At the same time, you have the power to create another reality, one that makes you happier, more motivated, more positively driven and more acknowledged of the small steps of progress you make. Remember all limitations are self-imposed, by thoughts and fears that are created in our own mind and we choose to listen to them or not.
  12. Count your blessings, Be Grateful & Smile.
    It’s cliché, but do it. Every day, when you wake up, count your blessings, thank for them & smile. It’s going to be a good day. There is always something to be thankful for, and acknowledging this can make you feel great. Life is all about the little things anyway. Learn to appreciate them. No matter where you are, it can always be worse. And if you hit rock bottom, you can only go up. Be grateful for the fact that you are alive and able to pursue your dreams. An attitude of gratitude will get you far.

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Be  great, feel great. Remember: Happiness is not a destination, it’s the journey.

Love,

Nadira

Outfitdetails:
Boots: Zara || Dress, Hat & Coat: Missguided || Bag: River Island || Bracelet: Hermes Collier de Chien.

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ApprovalAttitudeBalancebeautyBeliefCelebrationChangeComparisonContentDreamsfashionFeel GreatFeelingGoalsgratitudeGrowthhappinessInsecuritiesInvestmentJourneylifelifestyleloveLove yourselfMindfulnessmindsetOOTDPeer Pressurepersonal growthpowersocial mediasocietyStrengthsthoughtVictoryWomenWork In ProgressYou
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  • Published in Business & Entrepreneurship, Self-Discovery & Growth, Written Archives 2013-2018
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Woman In The Mirror

Friday, 29 November 2013 by Nadira

Michael Jackson, one of my idols sings: ‘’If you wanna make the world a better place, take a look at yourself and make that change!’’

I want to  make a change, I want to leave a legacy and I am working hard every day to realize this goal. The reality is, we live in a world with too many inequalities. There are so many charities, because there is so much pain, sickness, poverty, hunger, theft, cruelty, destruction. It breaks my heart.

One of the most recent occurrences that has really got me thinking about the world we live in, is the horrifying way the angora rabbits are stripped from their wool. The problem is, that the companies that sell this angora wool or clothing made from angora wool, are very aware of the process of acquiring this wool. Despite knowing, they sell it, because for them all that matters is their profits.

Since recently there has been going around a video where you can see the rabbits getting stripped from their wool ALIVE!! It’s gone viral through social media and gotten a lot of media attention to it and suddenly, you have these big clothing chains claiming that they never knew that this was the way the wool was acquired. Of course, it is against their company policy and ethics.

Read the previous line as sarcastically as you can, because it is all bullshit, believe me! They knew exactly what was going on, but only until their customers found out, they decided to save the company’s face/reputation and take back their clothing.

There are so many examples of big company’s conducting unethical business. I took this example, because, as a fashion designer of my own brand, I can’t take this hypocrisy.

We know exactly where Wulterkens products are made, what kinds of fabrics are used and under which conditions everything is produced. We make sure that we use environmentally friendly products, made in labor/worker friendly environments and we don’t use or abuse animals in the process. This is also one of the big points where we distinct our brand from our competitors, and we’re proud of that. Our products are pricey, but you get real value and at the same time you contribute to a better environment and economy.

Either way, it is up to you, the customer, the people. Please be conscious about what you buy, inform yourselves (we live in the age of information), so you don’t end up fueling these businesses! And please don’t believe everything you hear from conventional media, because it’s all government regulated and guess what, they don’t want us to know everything, because they know the people have power (and they also know their slate is not clean). I’ll get into this in another post.

This all also goes for food, know what you put into your body. Always eat all you have on your plate, because others don’t have the privilege. Keep your environment clean, save on water, be aware of your pollution etc etc.

In the end we are all responsible for the pain, suffering (of both animals and humans) and inequalities in this world. And NO, one person might not be able to change the world, but if you decide to just make that change for yourself, you are already contributing to a better environment. And in the process you might inspire others to do so as well. Call me naive, but I believe in the power of the people.

There are enough resources in this world to let everyone live a good life, including animals that might not have to go extinct if we would get our priorities straight.

I really hope you all think about it, and make that change, for yourself, your (Future) children, grandchildren and a better world overall! Every little effort matters, even if it might not seem so.

Love,

Nadira

Outfit Details: Wulterkens Signature Studded Sweater (made from Fairtrade Organic cotton):
My faux fur vest: Saboskirt (and it’s very faux, as in FAKE). Leggings: ZARA. Shoes: Collin Stuart.

Image‘’Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has’’ – Margaret Maed

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‘’Vision without action is merely a dream. Action without vision just passes the time. Vision with action can change the world’’-  Joel A. Barker

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‘’It’s a philosophy of life. A practice. If you do this, something will change, what will change is that you will change, your life will change, and if you can change you, you can perhaps change the world’’.- Vivienne Westwood

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”You may not realize this, but people have the power to change the world”. – Steven Morrissey

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”Here’s to the crazy ones. The misfits. The rebels. The troublemakers. The round pegs in the square holes.The ones who see things differently. They’re not fond of rules. And they have no respect for the status quo. You can quote them, disagree with them, glorify or vilify them. About the only thing you can’t do is ignore them. Because they change things. They invent. They imagine. They heal. They explore. They create. They inspire. They push the human race forward. While some see them as the crazy ones, we see genius. Because the people who are crazy enough to think they can change the world, are the ones who do”. – Apple Inc.

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  • Published in Business & Entrepreneurship, Written Archives 2013-2018
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And Though She Be But Little, She Is Fierce!

Thursday, 14 November 2013 by Nadira

Yeah baby!! Props to William Shakespeare for the title (from A Midsummer Night’s Dream), which I can totally relate to. The thing is, I get underestimated so often!!!

I’m quite short at 5 ft 2, tiny body, with big eyes, lips and a lot of hair. I am very much aware that because of my looks, the first impression I make might not exactly be ‘’intelligent’’ or ‘’smart’’. Apparently it’s in the nature of us humans to be distracted by the way people look and judge them based on just that. The truth is, I’m a nerd, professional business woman and quite a tough cookie, which can be confirmed by the people who know me closely.

In addition, I have recently discovered I am a  ‘’beast’’ at the gym! I’ve really come to get to know a different side of myself. Check out my previous post ‘’That Power I Got’’ where I really go into details about this.

I used to hate it when people underestimated me, I felt like I came short. Now I’ve learned that being underestimated is actually a good thing. It gives you an advantage. I call it the element of surprise. There is no better feeling than surprising those who underestimate you. Especially in business and sports, it’s a huge advantage, but I think in life in general also.

My advice:  never underestimate, especially not if that person is in some way your opponent. Never judge, especially not based on looks. Always encourage others. No matter who you are or what you do, you have the ability to inspire someone in your surroundings.

On a last note, which I think is most important: NEVER EVER underestimate yourself. You can do ANYTHING you set your mind to. You will have to work hard and fight for it. But remember: All limitations are self-imposed!!

Stay fierce ladies, no matter how ‘’little’’ you are!

Love,

Nadira

”Never underestimate the power of dreams and the influence of the human spirit. We are all the same in this notion: The potential for greatness lives within each of us” – Wilma Rudolph

”I love when people underestimate me and then become pleasantly surprised” – Kim Kardashian

”If a man achieves victory over this body, who in the world can exercise power over him? He who rules himself rules over the whole world” – Vinoba Bhave

”Take care of your body. It’s the only place you have to live” – Jim Rohn

”Physical fitness is not only one of the most important keys to a healthy body, it is the basis of dynamic and creative intellectual activity” – John F. Kennedy

”Mastering others is strength. Mastering yourself is true power” – Lao Tzu

”Perhaps I am stronger than I think” – Thomas Merton

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  • Published in Self-Discovery & Growth, Written Archives 2013-2018
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That Power I Got

Wednesday, 06 November 2013 by Nadira

The past few months I’ve been pushing myself mentally more than I ever have before. Since we started with our t-shirt brand Wulterkens around February 2012, we’ve been so busy and focused on success and growth of the brand that we failed to acknowledge basic, but extremely important things, like our health. My partner and I both gained quite some weight due to our unhealthy lifestyle, with lots of stress, little sleep and no time for proper cooking.

And suddenly we just realized, that if we would jeopardize our health consistently, we will eventually not even be able to focus on the success and growth because we would be sick and fat. And of course, since we’re operating in the fashion industry, we do really want to look good!

So around mid-august, we started our Fitness journey with training and eating healthy unprocessed, freshly cooked veggies, lean meats and proteins, good carbs and fruit, 6 times a day. And lots of water! It took a lot of discipline, we really had to make the time, for the grocery shopping, cooking and training. We even set our alarm clock every 2 hours to make sure we don’t forget to eat.

For the first time, I started with Fitness, lifting heavy weights and kickboxing. It was all new to me, and in the beginning I thought fitness was really boring, until I finally got into it. I experienced the intensity at which you can push your mind and body and believe me, when training at THAT intensity, you don’t have a second to think of anything else, let alone be bored.

We really did our research on what to eat, and how to train and it’s working! We’re looking great, feeling great, much more energy and are much more productive. I really feel that my body is thankful for doing this.

I’m realizing while going through this journey that basically everything in life comes down to one thing: Mental Power. In the beginning it is so hard not to give in to sugar and bad carb cravings, but if you can manage your mind, eventually you train your mind into not needing any of it. I am so proud to have mastered this (It took me 2 months though, so be patient and stay strong!).

Another thing that has been happening a few times to both my partner and I has confirmed the power of the mind as well. While lifting weights, we mistakenly took a heavier weight than we thought it was. And while we could feel that it is very heavy, we had in our head ‘’this is 30 kg, I did this last week, so I should be able to do it now, I guess my body is just tired’’. But it actually was 50 kg. And still we were able to push ourselves to do the amount of reps that we wanted to do with 30 kg, while normally if we would be conscious of the weight being 50, we would probably not have been able to do half of the reps.

This means that it is extremely easy to trick and train your mind to be able to do amazing things. If your mind can conceive it, you can achieve it. While most people think with sports or lifting weights you have to be physically strong, it actually comes down to your mental strength. This mental power will allow you to break boundaries and thereby grow stronger both physically and mentally.

The power of my mind that I am getting to know during this fitness journey is astonishing. I am implementing this in every other aspect of my life, especially with work and it’s really making a lot of difference.

Henry Ford brought to life the saying ‘’Whether you think you can or you think you can’t, you’re right’’. This is so true. Say to yourself you can do it, and no matter what, you will, if you keep your focus and don’t give up. Say you can’t and you won’t. It’s as simple as that.

Lastly, I would like to share with you my personal affirmation:

‘’I am extremely powerful! Whatever I set my mind on having, I will have.
Whatever I decide to be, I will be. The evidence is all around me. I have taken the actions to create my current reality. And I have the power to change it into whatever I want it to be. With the choices I make, I am constantly fulfilling the vision I have for my life’’.

And so can you!

Love,

Nadira

P.S. This pictures were taken exactly a month ago. I am wearing my own beautiful Wulterkens Signature Studded Sweater.  ZARA ripped jeans & heels from LolaShoetique.

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‘If you realized how powerful your thoughts are, you would never think a negative thought” – Peace Pilgrim Image

”Man, alone, has the power to transform his thoughts into physical reality; man, alone, can dream and make his dreams come true” – Napoleon Hill

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”And so you touch this limit, something happens and you suddenly can go a little bit further. With your mind power, your determination, your instinct, and the experience as well, you can fly very high” – Ayrton Senna

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”Man’s greatness lies in his power of thought” – Blaise Pascal

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  • Published in Self-Discovery & Growth, Written Archives 2013-2018
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