The Boldly Minimal Podcast

This week's episode is 3 of a 4 part mini-series on 'How to return to your essence'. in this week's episode I discusses the importance of being selective in order to get back to your essence. I dive into the concept of minimalism and cutting out excess and distractions in order to get closer to your most authentic self. I share a few personal experience of being selective in my jewellery business and the benefits it has brought me, such as clarify, less stress and standing out in the market. I touch on various themes in life where we can be selective with our time, the people we surround ourselves with, our environment, our wardrobe, and our work, and how this can create more space for the things we truly love. I encourage you to curate your life and make choices that align with your values and goals.

Main Topics Discussed

• Being selective is essential to getting back to your essence and living a fulfilled life.
• Minimalism and cutting out excess and distractions can bring clarity and focus.
• Choose quality over quantity.
• Being selective with your time, because time is your most precious resource that is NOT renewable!
• Being selective with the people you surround yourself with. DO your friends reflect your dreams and values?
• Being selective with your environment. How can you curate the space you are in to enhance your wellbeing?
• Being selective with your wardrobe. Choose for local, well crafted items instead of fast fashion.
• Being selective in the design process and your work. Strive for excellence but don't get caught up in perfectionism.
• Remember to be selective with love for yourself and others.

Thank you for listening. I hope this gave you some inspiration to filter out the things in your life that are no longer serving you, in order to make space for what really matters.

If you're curious to explore my work, you can visit my website juliaduff.nl to see my sterling silver jewellery with a very selective design aesthetic.

If you have any comments or stories to share, please reach out via my instagram @juliaduff.

Till next time.

Julia xxx

This episode of is part 2 of a 4 part mini-series on 'How To Return To Your Essence'. This means, how to get clear on what you love to do and live in alignment with your values and dreams.

This week's episode is about defining your essence, by distilling all the things you love to do into a unique recipe for life. I call this your special spice.

Your Essence aka, your special spice is made up of two parts; 1. Your base, which includes your core values and non-negotiables, and 2. Your unique flavour, which includes your personality traits, talents, passions, and quirks.

Together these ingredients form your unique essence. You can use this as a reminder of your authentic self, and as a roadmap to keep you on track towards your dreams.

I touch on the concept of essentialism, and give some fun exercises to help you define your own essence.

Main Topics Discussed

• How to define your essence aka, your special spice for life.
• How to define part 1 of your special spice : Your Base (aka Your essentials). These are your non-negotiable and your core-values, desires and beliefs.
• How to define part 2 of your special spice : Your unique Flavour. This is made up of your favourite personality traits, your gifts & talents, passions & unique way of doing things.
• The difference between wants and needs
• Identifying your soul needs.
• The concept of Essentialisms
• Fun excerices to define your essence aka your special spice.

Resources

• Good Life Project by Jonathan Fields
• Book : Essentialisms by Grey McKeown

To me, creation, beauty & freedom are part of my special ppice. I'm trying to sprinkle it over all that I do. For now that's creating Boldly Minimal Jewellery. You can explore my collection at juliaduff.nl

What's Your special Spice recipe? Drop me a DM on my instagram that's @juliaduff.

I hope you enjoyed listening. Thank you you for being here.

Till next time.

Julia xxx

In this episode, I introduce the 1st of a four-part mini-series on how to return to your essence. If you are feeling a little lost or out of alignment, or maybe just need reminding of the things that are most important, then this episode if for you.

Part 1 is all about doing what you love. I discuss how this is related to Boldy Minimal Living & why its so important for us to feel deep satisfaction & a sense of purpose.

Doing what we love is about a feeling from within, not about external validation. If we're honest with ourselves, we live according to our authentic desires, and won't be led astray by our ego or other people's expectations.

I share my personal experiences of loosing track of what I loved to do, and some simple tricks & tools that I used to get back on track.

Main Topics Discussed

• Why doing things we love is so important:
• It's more sustainable - in terms of our energy.
• It brings deep joy & satisfaction
• It helps to break prejudices when we live more authentically.
• The dangers of loosing touch with what we love.
• How our body gives us the clues to come back to our essence.
• How it feels to do what you love; a deep inner knowing NOT external validation
• Breaking the misconception that doing with you love is challenge free & always easy.
• How we are all so different & should embrace our authentic desires.
• How to integrate what we love in daily life.

4 tips to re-discover what you love:

1. Get calm. Sit Quietly / Meditate

2. Free Play / get inspired

3. Follow your Curiosity

4. Write it down. Journal prompts:

What Makes you feel light?

What tasks GIVE you energy & which grain energy? Is there a pattern?

What type of content are you attracted to?

What did you love to do as a child?

Thank you so much for listening. Next week we'll be back with part 2 : Defining your essentials. My jewellery is designed to empower you and connect you with the things you love to do.

You can explore my collection at juliaduff.nl

Till Next time,

Julia xxx

Summary

In this week's episode, guest Martijn Piek shares his inspiring story of following his passion & dream, that lead him across the ocean, working with the largest mammal on earth. He discusses the challenges and fears he faced along the way, and the transformative power of yoga therapy. He explains how it helped him listen to his body and make intentional choices. He highlights the importance of dealing with internal struggles before making external changes. Martijn's passion for marine life, eventually lead him to researching whales in Sri Lank; a great adventure he is still on. Martijn shares both the difficulties and the joys he experienced in Sri Lanka, from corruption and visa issues, to a life changing moment of swimming with a wild orca. He emphasizes the importance of trusting the process, staying positive, and not letting negativity take over.

Takeaways

• Embracing your passion and following your dreams can lead to a fulfilling and inspiring life.
• Listening to your body and making intentional choices can bring about transformation and personal growth.
• Dealing with internal struggles and finding inner peace is essential before making external changes.
• Chasing your dreams may come with challenges and setbacks, but the rewards and moments of joy make it all worth it. Trust the process and stay positive in the face of challenges.

Resources:

Book : Transformational Presence, by Alan Seale

Yoga Therapy

The Polyvagal Theory - Dr. Stephen Porges

Thank you for listening. I hope you found this episode inspiring.

If you're cirious to discover which piece in my collection is Martijn's favourite, check out The Revolution choker here.

Till next time,

Julia xxx

In this episode of the Boldly Minimal Podcast, we explore the complex topic of perfectionism, diving deep into how it can be both a driving force for excellence and a hindrance to personal growth. You'll discover how to identify when perfectionism is helping you strive for greatness and when it's becoming toxic, potentially holding you back from true fulfillment.

Topics Covered:

• Understanding Perfectionism:
• Definition and common perceptions.
• The paradox of perfectionism as both a positive and negative trait.

• Positive Perfectionism:
• High standards and striving for excellence.
• Importance of clear goals and values.
• Discipline, commitment, and their role in motivation.

• Negative Perfectionism:
• The impact of stress, anxiety, and fear of failure.
• Decreased productivity and procrastination traps.

• Personal Stories :
• Balancing high standards with self-care and mental health.
• Real-life example: Simone Biles' journey through the pressures of perfection.

• Strategies for Balanced Perfectionism:
• Steps to achieve balance between ambition and well-being.
• Practical tips for maintaining productivity without burnout.

Thank you for listening.

If you're curious to see how I try to find balanced perfectionism with my jewellery, you can check out my website juliaduff.nl

Till next time xxx

This week I chat to Bianca Bates all about Human Design.

Human Design is a holistic, self-knowledge system that blend ancient wisdom and modern science. It combines astrology, Ching, Kabbalah, Vedic philosophy and modern physics to give each person a road map for how they function best in the world.

Like me, Bianca is from South Africa (a pleasant surprise that I only discovered after inviting her onto the podcast). She worked in the corporate world, but after a few years, she found that the long hours & gruelling hustle culture wasn't aligned with how her body operates. When she discovered Human Design, everything started to make sense. She is now a Human Design coach, helping individuals and companies to better align with their purpose. Knowing our Human Design chart, can help us to find self-acceptance and optimised our way of working & living.

Human Design is Boldly Minimal. It gives us permission to be ourselves, and break free from generic, outdated moulds that society puts on us. It allows us to get specific about who we are, and what we love to do.

More Topics Discussed.

• Defining Human Design & its origins.
• The 4 main energy types explained (Generators, Manifestors, Projectors & Reflectors)
• Honouring your energy - Fining alignment in work and life
• Applying Human Design - From personal development to Corporate settings
• The Challenges of traditional work systems & how Human Design can help to combat these

Resources:

• https://www.jovianarchive.com/
• Book : Chetan Parkyn & Steve Dennis, Human Design

Connect with Bianca

• Instagram @bianca_bates_
• Website https://biancabates.com/home/

If you are curious about my work and my jewellery you can head to my website juliaduff.nl or find me on instagram @juliaduff

Till next time

Julia xxx

This week I discuss the beauty of change and transformation. Since my new jewellery collection is called TRANSFORM, this theme has been on my mind. I've also been through a lot of personal growth and change recently, so I have many thoughts on this subject.

Change and transformation can be scary and difficult. We often resist it at first instinct, but when we embrace it and 'go with the flow' we feel so much better on the other side. Have you ever thought, "I wish I hadn't changed. I wish I was the same person I was 10 years ago!"? My guess is no! Change & personal growth is almost always for the better. Learning to embrace transformation makes the whole experience a lot more pleasant!

Main Topics discussed:

• Defining Transformation.
• My personal stories of major life changes
• How fear of change is normal
• Learning to embrace change
• How minimalism can be used as a tool for transformation.

Resources: Book : The Untethered Soul, Michael A. Singer

I hope you enjoyed the episode. If you're a lover of bold minimal jewellery, that's all about transformation & change, check out my new TRANSFORM Collection here or visit juliaduff.nl

Till next week.

Julia xxx

Today's guest is a special Friend of mine, François van Opstal.

We practice yoga together every morning, but for years didn't say more than hello and goodbye. Untill one day, when Francois bought a necklace from my collection which sparked a conversation and a beautiful friendship.

François has a fascinating life story to tell, which he openly shares with us during this episode. From a wild, rock and roll lifestyle, paired with personal struggles, to a simplified way of living, that's all about self acceptance and love.

He shares some of his highs and lows, as well as the adventures and challanges along the way. During a particularly difficult time, François stumbled upon meditation which helped him come addiction and come back to his essence.

Today, although retired, François is busier than ever. Mornings are filled with his daily meditation and ashtanga yoga practive, and his days are filled with travels, volunteering at non-profit organisations, and teaching mindfulness courses whenever he can.

François is passionate about helping others overcome addiction and learn to love themselves again. If you are interested in finding out more you can contact François via email at : [email protected]

Rescources:

• Meditation : Dzogchen Buddhism tradition
• Books :
• Addicted to love, Jan Geurtz
• De verslaving voorbij, Jan Geurtz

Thank you for listening. If you're curious which necklace from the collection François used to spark our friendship, check out the Equality Necklace Here on my website juliaduff.nl

Till next time xxx

Julia

In this episode, I reflect on the advice I would give my younger self: don't let shyness hold you back. Shyness can lead to regret and unrealised potential, as I learned from my own experience. Today, we'll explore how to transition from shyness to shining and owning our unique gifts with graceful confidence.

Key Points Covered:

• Understanding Shyness: Shyness is the tendency to feel awkward, worried, or tense during social encounters, especially with unfamiliar people. We all experience feelings of discomfort, self-consciousness, nervousness, fear, or insecurity.
• Origins of Shyness: Shyness can stem from genetics, generational trauma, and personality traits. It's important to distinguish between introversion and shyness. Evolutionary traits and physical characteristics can also contribute to shyness, along with psychological factors like low self-esteem.
• Personal Stories: I share personal stories, including a significant encounter involving Mandela and my journey with my jewelry business, to illustrate how fear of judgment and the desire to fit in kept me from shining.
• What is Shining?: Shining means knowing your worth, having pride, confidence, self-acceptance, and exhibiting graceful confidence. Shyness isn't a fixed state and can be changed.
• Shining vs. Arrogance: Confidence can often be mistaken for arrogance. I discuss how cultural differences influence confidence and share a story about my American schoolmates whose upbringing fostered self-belief. I also touch on the fear of bragging and the internal voice that questions our actions .
• How to Shine Right: For those who have struggled with confidence, it's unlikely you'll suddenly become arrogant. Arrogance has a different energy and is focused on self-superiority and selfishness. Graceful confidence involves self-reflection, self-awareness, and humility while owning your gifts and accepting compliments.

• Tips and Tools for Shining:
• Try hard things and invite failure as a learning experience.
• Collect evidence of your successes and celebrate your wins.
• Practice self-compassion to control negative self-talk.
• Focus on how your gifts can help others.

Conclusion:

Don't let fear of judgment hold you back. The world needs your unique gifts. Embrace your journey from shyness to shining with confidence and grace.

If you are curious about my work and my jewellery you can head to my website juliaduff.nl or find me on instagram @juliaduff

Till next time xxx

The podcast is back, with a fresh new focus. Welcome to The Boldly Minimal Podcast.

During this episode I introduce the new focus of the and explain the concept of Bodly Minimal. The new direction is a little closer to my own story and my journey towards what I am so passionately doing at moment; running a jewellery business called Julia Duff.

'The Boldly Minimal Way' is a strategy for intentional living, that creates space for what you love most, and allows your unique authenticity to shine thorough. I hope this, and future episodes will serve as an inspiration for you to get a little closer to your self, by cutting out the nonsense and focussing on what really matters to you.

The Boldly Minimal Way is made up of 2 parts.

1. Bold
2. Minimal

The two cannot exist without the other and together they create something really powerful, like Yin & Yang.

Bold is about stepping into your worth. It's about being unapologetically you. It's about owning your uniqueness and learning to take up space with powerful grace.

Minimalism is "a tool to rid yourself of life's excess in favour of focusing on what's important so you can find happiness, fillfillmelnt and freedom". Beautifully described by The Minimalists.

I discuss how these concepts transformed my life from a low self esteem employee, to a more confident and happier business owner following my dreams.

You can explore my work at juliaduff.nl

Till next time. With Love,

Julia