“Drei Haselnüsse für Aschenbrödel” and “Sissi” are my favorite holiday movies. I completely watched “Downton Abbey” this holiday season again, and like every woman, being treated like royalty is very high on my wish list. I was delighted that I received a king statue on Monday, 6 January 25, in my “Dreikönigskuchen” because I see that as a sign of luck for 2025, a sign that I will get over past challenges and stop working so hard for my income.

As a fan of Aschenbrödel and someone who mentions her in talks, I came across Colette Dowling’s book, the “Cinderella Complex”. She described her journey with a deep need to be saved by a man, a knight in shining armor (although she had all the competencies to help herself.) The “Cinderella complex” is a hidden desire to be saved or magical thinking, which keeps us stuck in non-action and keeps us in the shade. Deep down, you don’t want to be responsible for yourself and fear independence. 

I feel I’m in the best phase of life ever, and more is yet to come. I have a sense of ownership of my life and work that I never had before. As a “Queen” (Carl Gustav Jung only spoke of the “Kings”, but hey, it’s 2025) … It’s time to reap the rewards of past labor and to live a more relaxed bohemian artist life in Zurich, one of the most beautiful (and most expensive) cities in the world. 

Do you also want to work occasionally from the South of France, Kerala, or the Hamptons? Or would you like to take long summer vacations in a campervan with your doggie or ride on a train for weeks with your typewriter and Tom Robot to keep you company? 

In the Global Rockstar Album, I gave you the steps to transition from one role into another with ease and purpose, with performance and productivity as primary goals in your professional life. With my upcoming publication, “The Global Coach Journal”, and my upcoming workshop at the SIETAR Switzerland conference, I plan to take you along on the train ride of becoming a Global Coach. I don’t like to call it Expat Coach; I’m just using the term for SEO right now. We will explain why that is in the book. 

FOLLOW UPDATES ON THE PUBLICATION BY SIGNING UP HERE:

https://mailchi.mp/globalpeopletransitions/friends-and-family

Even in 2025, I want to continue growing, learning, and self-improving and will continue doing what I recommend here. I will let you know once I have my dream body again. It’s not there yet, but it’s much better than a year ago, and I would be grateful if you could follow me on the train ride across the world of Global Mobility, whether you are a Nutcracker or an Aschenbrödel. I will help you get out of your shell. 2025 will be our year friends.

Understanding Complex and PTSD

In psychoanalysis, “a complex is a related group of repressed or partly repressed emotionally significant ideas which cause psychic conflict, leading to abnormal mental states or behaviour.”

Stressful times like cultural adjustment, a bereavement in the family, terrorist attacks or a global pandemic can trigger weight gain in many women. Weight gain could be a sign of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). 

Maybe you suffer from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Maybe you suffer from Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE) and maybe you are trapped in a cinderella complex.

See also my interview here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vBYDJ7ZLGsQ

If you want to understand more about Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE) read this article. 

How Can You Deal with Complexes?

1 – Seek a Group of Sisterhood

When we transition and want to change or heal, we often have a more challenging time doing this alone. You should seek a support group or enter a course to help you understand yourself better while others support you. Often, suppose you have been traumatized as a child. In that case, you will not have experienced the feeling of safety, and reproducing safety in your adult life will be key to integrating all aspects of your personality into your awareness. You can join a group with similar interests or seek a professional support group. 

2 – Fast from Alcohol and Other Addictions

Fasting is helpful; you could think about fasting because of sugar, alcohol, and caffeine. For that, you first need to identify the stressors for you and find out what keeps your nervous system calm. You might be more sensitive to noise, smell, and light than others. You may have a hard time focusing in an open-plan office environment. Or you may have a hard time being at home every day. Feel what you need to stay calm and at ease. I have finally found a fantastic app called YAZIO. It helps my fasting process.

3 – Apply one Minimalist Rule to Your Life

I was reminded how often I do this: “I will do x when y happened.” or “I will not do x until y happened.” I do this not only about not buying nice clothes, books, or other stuff but also about making decisions about relationships I know I should probably not engage in any longer. 

To overcome impulse buying, you might want to consider a wish book, a vision board or another method for “manifesting”. Noting down wishes for the week also helps me to prioritize. I’m a fan of action, but occasionally, you could allow yourself to dream big, and when you write down your wishes and wants, this has a powerful effect on your inner prioritizer. (You could also say that “it helps you to think more strategically”, using Corporate Speak).

If you feel you can’t afford an investment in something that would make you happy, you might need to trade it for something else. For example, you could sell an item before buying a new item. I like the minimalist rule of “One in, one out.” Or you could buy a piggy bank and sell items until you can afford that thing or piece of clothes or furniture.

Template 331_Annual Business Planning for Digital Nomads

4 – Tend to a Sacred Safe Space

If you are unsure where to start, reduce all your clutter and clean your home. One of the external stressors in your life could be that you have not yet developed healthy boundaries, and one way to practice that is by having a sacred, safe space in your home that you reserve for yourself or a small part of the garden that you tend and care for as your sacred space. Add your style and artwork to the “sacred space.” Give it your signature touch. Make sure that other family members respect your space and don’t touch it.

 You could also declutter relationships that no longer serve you.

https://elainejunge.com/declutter-your-relationships/

5 – Develop a New “Me First” Work Routine

If you haven’t learned to set boundaries, chances are very high that you will always serve others first before you take care of your priorities. Over the long run, you might feel used and depleted. While it is okay to help others and be a giver, if you have been traumatized as a child, you will need to learn to stand up for yourself more and own your calendar at work. This is not always easy in the corporate world. 

Hence, I recommend starting with a baby step similar to the sacred space. Reserve 90 minutes in your calendar in the morning to work on your most important task of the day. Allow yourself not to be reachable and go to the gym or exercise before you do other work.

Do you want to become an Expat Coach?

I’m working on a new workbook where I explain my methods and how to build a business as an expat coach. I will also hold a workshop for expat coaches at the SIETAR Switzerland 2025 conference in Lucerne. You can sign up here to be invited to her book launches and be updated on publications and workshops https://mailchi.mp/globalpeopletransitions/friends-and-family.