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“Knowing others is intelligence; knowing yourself is true wisdom.” - Lao Tzu
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Conflict Management


What The Little Match Girl Teaches Us About Resilience
The Little Match Girl isn’t just a sad story — it’s a metaphor for emotional survival. This post explores how self-soothing can keep us stuck, and why true resilience means knowing when to stop lighting emotional matches and start taking real action.

Frieda van der Merwe
Jul 172 min read


Antifragile: Strength Isn’t Born In Comfort But Mined From Mistakes
Antifragile means gaining strength from stress, failure, and disorder. This post explores how individuals and teams can grow through adversity — learning from mistakes, adapting under pressure, and rising stronger. Inspired by Nassim Nicholas Taleb’s concept, it’s a mindset shift from “Why me?” to “What now?”

Frieda van der Merwe
Jul 172 min read


From Victim to Victor: You’re Not the Damsel in Distress
Victimhood can feel like safety, but real power begins when you stop waiting to be rescued. This post explores the shift from Victim to Creator — and ultimately to Victor — through the lens of the Drama Triangle, the Empowerment Dynamic, and anti-fragility.

Frieda van der Merwe
Jul 172 min read


The Bully Within: Let’s Look At Self-talk
The voice in your head isn’t always a mentor — it’s often a bully. This post explores how internal roles like Victim, Rescuer, and Persecutor shape self-talk, and how to shift them using the Empowerment Dynamic for true inner transformation.

Frieda van der Merwe
Jul 172 min read


Rethinking the Drama Triangle — How Internal Roles Become External Patterns
The Karpman Drama Triangle doesn’t just play out in relationships — it lives in your mind. This post explores the Internal Drama Triangle and how to shift from self-criticism to self-compassion using David Emerald’s Empowerment Dynamic. Real change begins with kindness — to yourself.

Frieda van der Merwe
Jul 172 min read


When the Body Speaks: The Label Is the Lens
Teenage boys and menopausal women may seem worlds apart, but both navigate intense hormonal shifts that change how they interpret the world. Our bodies are the interface through which we experience life. The labels we give to sensations shape our reality. But when hormones shift, familiar signals can feel unfamiliar leading to misinterpretation. Learning to read the body accurately, especially during transitions, is key to emotional clarity, better communication, and self-und

Frieda van der Merwe
May 192 min read


Stress Signals: When the Warning Light Stays On Too Long
While short-term stress can be helpful, chronic stress is toxic. Prolonged exposure to high cortisol levels harms your immune system, gut, and heart, increasing the risk of serious illness. This post explores why recognising limits, letting go of the impossible, and choosing rest isn’t weakness, but wisdom. Stress is a signal, not a flaw. When we learn to listen, we don’t just survive, but protect our health and reclaim our strength.

Frieda van der Merwe
May 142 min read


Stress Signals: Don’t Fix the Symptom — Follow Them
Fidgeting, overeating, nail-biting — these behaviours aren’t flaws. They’re the body’s early stress signals, offering a chance to respond with compassion. Backed by research like Damasio’s somatic marker theory, this blog explores how noticing these signs — in ourselves or our children — can spark connection and healing. Stress isn’t the enemy; disconnection is. When we respond with empathy and curiosity, we turn stress into a shared strength. Let’s learn to listen — and lean

Frieda van der Merwe
May 142 min read


The Chemistry of Connection: How Stress Builds Resilience
A study found that stress isn’t the killer. Your belief about stress is. Those with high stress and a belief it was harmful had a 43% higher risk of early death. But stressed individuals who saw it as non-harmful had the best health outcomes. Why? Because stress also releases oxytocin — the "connection hormone" — which fosters empathy and bonding. When you face stress with others, you don’t just survive, but you actually grow stronger, together.

Frieda van der Merwe
May 142 min read


PART 2 — Break Free From The Drama Triangle: From Critic To Coach, Do It With Kindness
This video shows how self-kindness breaks the internal Drama Triangle and improves external relationships and conflict management.

Frieda van der Merwe
Apr 43 min read


PART 1 — Break Free From The Drama Triangle: It Starts In Your Head
We play Victim, Rescuer, or Persecutor in our minds. This video shows how self-awareness can break the inner drama cycle.

Frieda van der Merwe
Apr 32 min read


PART 2 — Escape The Drama Triangle: How To Recognise Hardwired Patterns
Your drama triangle role isn’t random — it’s a survival pattern from childhood. Spot it, understand it, and break the cycle.

Frieda van der Merwe
Mar 264 min read


PART 1 — Escape The Drama Triangle: How To Master Manage Conflict
Stuck in conflict? Learn how the Drama Triangle traps you — and how to break free with better communication and boundaries.

Frieda van der Merwe
Mar 243 min read
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