Nice2Meet: Irene van Gent, a Writer, Storyteller and Inspirator

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Irene van Gent

Could you please introduce yourself?

I am Irene, writer and inspirator. I live in Utrecht and am a remote worker. I have been self-employed for almost 15 years now and I see this as a way to be free. I have created my freedom by doing a lot of different things. Most important thread through my life is finding a way to live according to my own rhythm while the whole world is running like crazy ;-)

What is your new book about?

It is about finding your way, living according to your own rhythm, finding your voice to do the things you love to do, without feeling guilty. It is about stepping in your own zone, and not in the rat race that seems to be life. 

How did you come up with an idea for your new book?

New books just pop up in my head. Mostly I do not have a clue what I am going to write about, until the moment arrives and I am writing and happy about what I write. This time it was quite a struggle, I have written a lot of books before I found the right tone of voice and message that I wanted to share. This is also thanks to my editor Cat Colnot, who bluntly stated that the ideas for books I had before were just bullshit.

What is your vision of the future of work?

I see us moving into a world where we all work from our true being. In this new phase we are entering, it is vital for people to know what the hell they are doing here on earth. Because working just for the money is not good enough anymore. Systems are complex and need to change and as individuals we have to see each other as human beings and not human doings. We have to be aware of the fact that we are people, that we have feelings and are not just numbers. Work will not be the biggest part of our lives anymore in the future. We will be more and more connected with what we want and how we can create all of this together. But to get there, we all have to find our true nature. 

How did you come to follow your own path?

10 years ago I wasn’t happy with my life. I had everything a girl could ask for, but it just didn’t fit my nature. I needed to go back to my roots, to find my strength and be in nature. Because of a few turns in the wrong direction (of which I learned a lot) it took me a while to totally see who I am and what I am capable of doing. And I want to share my story and the story of others to show that it is possible to follow your own path, even though society demands so many other things…

In your opinion, how do you feel life is going to change in the next 10 years?

I truly hope that we will become more and more human. That we see each other’s strengths and that we are vulnerable in sharing our real stories. If technology is going to make our lives easier, then it would be great that we can return to nature a bit more by growing our own food, being in nature more and work from our true essence.  

How did you come into being a writer?

I guess I have always been a writer, maybe more a storyteller. I love stories, I see stories in everything. With every person I meet I want to know who they are and why they do what they do. I started writing to share my stories with a larger public than my family and friends (who at a certain point got really fed up by me repeating my stories all the time). In sharing my stories in books and blogs I fell in love with writing and especially with publishing books. I love writing, but I also love making a book and having this end result in my hands. 

What is your advice to your readers on finding their own path?

Stop doing and start listening to your inner voice. Make time to really listen to what your body is telling you. It knows exactly when you are on the right path. Listen and take action if you feel a desire to change something in your life. Be aware of what you say to yourself, what words do you use and what do you think you are capable of. There is so much more in you than you might imagine at this moment. 

What specifically makes you happy in what you do? In life? 

I am very happy when my life is in flow. When life is going in a direction that I want to go and that everything finds its way. I can be happy with really small things, reading a book, the sun that shines, a nice cup of coffee, tea or a good glass of wine. But most of all knowing that all we need is love and that love is always available, especially when you start sharing love.  

If you could give only one piece of advice on leading a more balanced life, what would it be?

Make time to reflect or do nothing. See the effects of what you are doing, because most of the time we think we are changing, but we change from the wrong perspective. I love Albert Einsteins quote “If you always do what you always did, you will always get what you always got.”

The book ‘Volg je eigen weg’ will be available in april 2020. You can already get your copy on the website https://irenevangent.com/product/crowdfunding/