Inner Path Seekers

A few days ago, we at Inner Path Seekers hosted our first big in-person event around mental health, together with the Red Cross.

We know (or at least many of us do) that CPR can save lives. It actually saved mine when I had my sudden cardiac arrest. 🫀

But something we often don’t realize is that honesty, checking in with others, taking time for someone, truly listening, and asking questions without judgment, can also save lives.

From my time as a volunteer at the su***de hotline, I learned that there are many things we say that we think are helpful, but actually aren’t.

Such as:

- Minimizing: “Well, it’s not that bad.”
- Premature positivity: “Everything happens for a reason.”
- Comparative reassurance: “Oh, I totally understand what you are going through.”
- Forced gratitude or reframing: “Be grateful for what you have.”
- Problem-solving too early: “Here’s what I would do.”

These are things we all do. I catch myself doing them too. But they don’t help someone feel truly understood and seen.

During calls, 90% of the time is spent simply understanding the person, sitting with them in the darkness, and being there without judgment.

Emotionally supporting someone is a very underdeveloped skill for many of us, yet one that can truly save lives.

The event included a panel discussion with Dr. Catthoor (a psychiatrist), myself, and a testimony from someone who struggled, followed by an introductory workshop from the Red Cross on First Aid for Psychological Problems.

Mental health is still stigmatized, and there is a lot of work to be done. But I am deeply grateful to everyone who showed up and to those willing to face difficult emotions and sit with the emotions of others instead of avoiding them. Because of you, we are taking steps forward in normalizing mental health, learning how to better be there for one another, and reducing unnecessary suffering.

A special thank you to the sponsors, partners, and speakers who made this event possible: LUX visual storytellers, Humgy Coworking, Red Cross, Joke Sas, Niels Piette, and Dr. Catthoor. Thank you all for being there and for helping to further normalize mental health.

Addiction is rarely about pleasure. More often, it begins as relief from pain.

In our upcoming series, we focus on addiction—exploring this complex topic through both science and lived experience 🧠❤️. Multiple professionals will be invited, as well as people who have dealt with addiction themselves. We’ll talk about trauma, stress, loneliness, the brain—and what recovery actually looks like beyond stereotypes and shame. 🌱

Our first episode features Dr. Judith Grisel 🎙️📘 — neuroscientist, author, and someone who understands addiction from both sides: as a researcher and through lived experience.

Be sure to follow Inner Path Seekers on YouTube or your favorite podcast app so you don’t miss the first conversation. 🔔

I lost my father when I was four years old. I’m 32 now. In this video, I share what I’ve learned over these 28 years of losing my father at a young age — the realizations, lessons, and moments of healing that have shaped my journey.

I Lost My Father at 4. I’m 32 Now — What I’ve Learned About Loss and Grief [Loss & Grief Ep 5] I lost my father when I was four years old. I’m 32 now. In this video, I share what I’ve learned over these 28 years of losing my father at a young age — the...