Ná 51 romans daag moedswillige karakters, vertwyfeling en die gevaar van selfplagiaat haar steeds uit, sê die bekroonde romanskrywer Chanette Paul. Sy praat oor  haar jongste roman, “Déjà Vu,” die onvoorsiene verband tussen haar storie en ‘n moord in Australië, die skryf van vurige tonele en haar eie ervaring van prekognisie. Chanette verduidelik hoe die debat oor die waarde van Afrikaanse literêre werk versus ontspanningsfiksie benader kan word en wys op ‘n wanopvatting rakende skrywers wat dalk nét gegrond is...

Lei veroudering en siekte noodwendig tot kognitiewe inperking? Nee, sê dr. Rayne Stroebel. Hy bespreek oorsake van Alzheimersiekte - wat onverwerkte trauma kan insluit, die rol van oorerflikheid, moontlike simptome en die versorging van mense met dié siekte. Rayne verduidelik hoe om breingesondheid te bevorder en watter praktiese leefstylveranderinge demensie kan help voorkom. Hierdie artikel het in die Maart 2024-uitgawe van ‘rooi rose’ verskyn.

ADHD is often labelled “a problem.” Dr Albert Bramante, New York talent agent with a background in psychology, suggests ways to reframe the so-called drawbacks of being neurodivergent. He offers practical advice on creating systems that honour the way the brain works, redefining success and failure, handling criticism, and countering self-sabotaging behaviour.

When retiring from a busy urology practice, Dr Hans Rabe (now 76) set himself the goal of playing UNISA’s most advanced piano exam. Despite having to play through the pain due to autoimmune arthritis, he achieved an A+. Savour this story of retirement, reinvention and resilience, told with a quirky sense of humour.

How does a parent deal with not only the stigma, but misconceptions attached to high-functioning autism? Social worker Mariette Cawood candidly speaks about how this affects a child and its parents, facilitating the child’s relationship with teachers and other individuals, dealing with specific challenges, and the 3 phases of autism. She voices the grief many parents experience and urges other adults to educate themselves and promote a more supportive, inclusive environment.

Society has a narrow lens when it comes to autism, writes the mom of a nine-year-old diagnosed with high-functioning autism. “Many find it easier to label a little boy than to challenge their own biases and become better, more inclusive adults. And so, they never get to know the kind, gentle, snuggly, clever little boy that I get to call my son.” Read social worker Mariette Cawood’s moving letter – “not a story of pity, but a call for awareness.”

Which adventure would take you out of your comfort zone, pique your senses, and invigorate you with growth? Transformational coach and change consultant Gail Cox extracts life & leadership lessons from open-water swimming in Mallorca. She considers saying yes to a challenge despite not being quite ready, meeting her own edge, bravely navigating constantly shifting waters, breathing in a different way, and creating space for recovery.

Re-framing your lifestyle to include frequent movement needs to be fun! Naturopath, wellness & spiritual coach and massage therapist Dr Francois du Toit discusses the benefits of primal movement patterns such as the resting squat, how to optimise preferred forms of movement by using experiential goal setting, and ways to gain self-knowledge resulting in joyful, energetic living.

Why would you need to “work hard” to maintain a low self-esteem? Human development specialist Dr Melodie de Jager explores our uniqueness, the phases of life we experience, the impact of our birth, and how we’re shaped by our genes and early childhood. She suggests ways to change limiting thought patterns, since brain plasticity means our past needn’t dictate our future.

Do you remember the anticipation building before the school holidays, and how the last few days dragged by? Luckily, I’m almost at the point of having a week and a bit to indulge in doing not very much at all!

Hou kommer oor jou tiener jou snags wakker? Wil jy graag beter verstaan wat jou kind voel en dink? ‘n Psigiater vertroud met adolessensie gee riglyne oor tienerontwikkeling, normale tienergedrag, groepsgerigtheid, selfone, dwelms, en wat goeie ouerskap behels.

Chronic disease alters the daily functioning and quality of life of the individual with the diagnosis - the same applies to their partner. Educational psychologist Lidalize Grobler explores the physical, emotional and financial challenges a couple may face, energy budgeting, realistic expectations, and flare-ups. She offers valuable pointers on creating emotional safety, deepening trust, and finding intimacy in shared resilience.

Raising four children as a single parent, receiving a breast cancer diagnosis and undergoing a nine-hour surgical procedure - amidst other losses - could not extinguish Cecelia Jansen’s faith. Then she met a man who looked beyond her scars, saw her heart, and helped her realise a life-long dream. Listen to an inspiring story of courage and hope.

Even though our thoughts are mental events, not facts, we may find them overwhelming. Clinical psychologist Dr Colinda Linde explains how ACT teaches us psychological flexibility, including unhooking ourselves from self-criticism and riding out discomfort or anxiety. She discusses the 6 core processes involved in ACT, and committing to actions that serve our values.

Do you experience our world as secure and predictable, or find it overwhelming and anxiety provoking? “Complexity nerd” Sonja Blignaut  considers how AfrikaBurn mirrors life’s complexity, becoming comfortable with being uncomfortable, the difference between complicated and complex systems, and developing 4 meta-skills aimed at thriving in an entangled world.

Verliese gekoppel aan ouer word -  byvoorbeeld van liggaamskrag, ‘n jeugdige voorkoms, verhoudings, onafhanklikheid en werkstatus & -relevansie - dwing ons om ons identiteit aan te pas. Skrywer, spreker en spirituele begeleier Philip Liebenberg gesels oor kopskuiwe wat dit makliker kan maak, hoe om liggaamlikheid van binne te beleef, en hoe om steeds begeerlik te voel.

When we face high-pressure situations, we often lose our cool. Executive producer and educator Gabriel Dibble explains how the ability to pause, find clarity and respond - not react - benefits us personally and professionally. Offering research-based, actionable insights into developing emotional control and regulation, Gabriel explains how this builds respect and trust.  

If men have a biological tendency to seek self-worth through personal, independent performance, what happens when they can’t work or don’t reach their goals? Executive coach Neil Bierbaum explores manhood and the 4 stages of maturity, including a possible mid-life crisis. He discusses countering the loss of identity and recognition by deliberately creating a meaningful context and cultivating acceptance.

Following divorce, arrear maintenance can have a devastating financial and emotional impact on children and primary caregivers. Family mediator Anneke Greyvenstein introduces the Maintenance Order Management System, which allows arrear maintenance to reflect on a maintenance debtor’s credit profile. Discover how to recover arrear maintenance with interest, and how the Co-Parent App can help divorced parents limit misunderstandings and conflict.

Did you know meditation can be used to reprogramme your subconscious mind to reach desired goals? Master transformation coach Liezl Thom explores the difference between mindfulness and meditation, the benefits involved, and cultivating blissipline. She offers advice for those believing they simply cannot meditate, and shares Vishen Lakhiani’s powerful 6-phase meditation.