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“Knowing others is intelligence; knowing yourself is true wisdom.” - Lao Tzu
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Why Do We Need to Believe There’s Someone Worse Than Us?
Even in darkness, we compare to survive. Based on Leon Festinger’s Social Comparison Theory, this story explores why we need to believe there’s always someone worse than us.

Frieda van der Merwe
Nov 11, 20251 min read


The Plate, the Cockroach, and the Change Curve
parenting, patience, and real change. Logic won’t move your teen. Empathy, example, and quiet consistency will. Let them learn to live without cockroaches.

Frieda van der Merwe
Nov 11, 20251 min read


The courage to let children become themselves
Parenting isn’t about shaping a child—it’s about nurturing who they already are. Like a lemon tree that can’t bear oranges, each child grows true to their nature. Model the values you wish to teach, live authentically, and watch with wonder as they become themselves. Let them be.

Frieda van der Merwe
Nov 11, 20252 min read


Pecking Order Poison: The Superchicken Trap For Teams
Margaret Heffernan’s TED Talk begins with the story of “superchickens” — a failed experiment in breeding only top performers. The result? Destruction. The lesson: success isn’t about individual brilliance but collaboration, trust, and diversity. True performance thrives in connection — not competition. We don’t need superchickens; we need strong, united flocks.

Frieda van der Merwe
Nov 11, 20252 min read


This Little Piggy Got a Promotion and Missed His Kid’s First Step — What Shared Parenting Means
From childhood memories under her mother’s desk to reflections on parental roles today, this post explores how unequal leave reinforces outdated norms—and how true equality begins with shared presence, not just shared tasks.

Frieda van der Merwe
Jul 18, 20252 min read


The Tower and the Trade: Rapunzel and Generational Trauma
Rapunzel’s story isn’t just about escape — it’s about inherited trauma and transformation. This post reframes the fairy tale through the lens of generational patterns, resilience, and the power to rewrite what we’ve been handed.

Frieda van der Merwe
Jul 17, 20252 min read


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 17, 20252 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 17, 20252 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 17, 20252 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 17, 20252 min read
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