Influencer Phyllis van den Hout
Interview Januari 2021
Could you share with us some information of your family life?
I was born and raised in Curaçao, with a father from Curaçao and a Dutch mother. I have one older brother. Like most families, we have had some turbulent times growing up, but I must say that because of these experiences, I feel that I am now a stronger, more resilient and better person. Although my parents are not actively involved in what I am doing now, they have provided me (consciously or unconsciously) with the right set of values to navigate in this life. And of course I have picked up some of my own too along the way. I am the mother of two beautiful souls, who besides making me crazy, are also making me a better person every step of the way.
Could you share something of your educational background and your experiences? You are lawyer and Life Consultant?
I went to Amsterdam when I was 17 years old to study English Language and Literature, and I have lived and worked there for 8 years, after which I came back and worked for six years as the deputy manager of CIFA, which is the association representing the international financial services sector in Curaçao. At the same time I was studying Law, which I finished in three years and then I started to work as a lawyer in 2010. In 2017 I started my own law practice and even then I felt I was missing something. My motivation to study law was to help others. However, I have always felt and feel more and more that the legal issue is but a small piece of the “problem’, which cannot be solved from the legal perspective only. So I was missing something. And since I always was interested in the human and the emotional side of the story, I got certified as a mediator for conflict resolution outside of court, and in 2020 I started working as a transformational life coach as well.
You are an entrepreneur and what kind of services do you offer?
I am not your traditional lawyer! And although I still offer traditional legal services, where I specialize on employment matters, that is now becoming a minor part of my focus. Besides the legal aspect, I offer mediation sessions and workshops, I work closely with people (in groups or 1-on-1 coaching sessions) to achieve massive mind shifts, which result in massive positive changes in every area of their lives. However, at this point I am in the process of transitioning myself and my business to cater to high achievers and business icons to reach the next level in their success. This enables me to combine my talents and leverage my zone of genius in order to offer my clients that which will have the most powerful results for them.
You are now involved in a venture to launch Golden Village. Why did you team up with Natalie Daal and Haydee Hermans?
I believe in collaboration. I believe a human being is one integral entity. The segmentation we experience now, of work on the one hand and private life on the other; the body on the one hand and spiritual and mental aspects on the other, is something made up by people. And we are not benefitting from that segmentation. Everything is intertwined and connected, and we should take care of ourselves that way. Since I myself have always been very much interested in my own development as a human being, I have been walking around for a few years with the idea of starting a center in which every aspect would be catered to. This idea crystallized when I met Natalie. I can’t explain what exactly happened, but since I have been trusting more and more on my intuition, and I just took a leap of faith and started this venture with her. And while Golden Village is developing, we ourselves are evolving at the same time.
Everything is intertwined and connected, since I myself am very much interested in my own development as a human being in all areas I have been walking around with the idea of starting a center in which every area was being catered so I was doing the labor part helping people find their way in employment matters as an employees or owner whatever and I was doing meditations at the time doing practicing spiritual development etc…etc…so then this idea was crystallized when I met Natalie, I can’t explain what exactly happened, but I started to trust more and more on my intuition and I just took a leap of faith and started this venture. I see that as Golden Village is developing, we ourselves are evolving ourselves with the village.
What is your BIG WHY or driving motivation to be whom you are right now?
I think all in all in the past, of course the experiences we have in our lives lead up to something, they lead up to one Big Bang, if we let it flow We all have a mission on this earth, something we came to accomplish before we leave. I am convinced that by finding out what that mission is and by actually living out that mission, we become whole individually as human beings, or rather spiritual beings. Only by becoming whole individually, we can become whole collectively. So we need to take that step for ourselves first. We need to allow ourselves to be authentic and break free from all the rules, the traditions and all the regulations that have been set up for us, consciously or unconsciously, out of fear or will or whatever it is, and stop playing small and step into our power. By helping others finding and achieving their mission in my own unique way, I accomplish my own mission in the process.
What are the challenges that you are dealing with? And how are you dealing with these different challenges you confront?
I am at the point of my life that I am looking at the different segments of my existence and everything I am doing as an expression of me (the lawyer, the life coach, P#MP, Golden Village, the mother, the friend, etc), taking all that and re-inventing myself into one powerful being through which I can support others even better. When a person starts living in his power and allowing himself to be truly authentic, the people that are the closest to them do not always understand. You are changing, evolving, rocking the boat and people don’t like that. You are stepping out of your comfort zone and now, for the first time, you feel that you are alone in your journey to reach your potential. This is what I am experiencing and those are my challenges. Most of all, I am confronting myself now, for the first time, with all limiting thoughts that I have been holding for all these years. My biggest challenge now is to be completely honest with myself and break with those beliefs that have been holding me back until now.
How are you dealing with thise challenges?
By spending time with myself, getting to know my true self, to really listen to myself and what it is that I need at any moment. I luckily have like-minded people around me, whom I can brainstorm with and who challenge me to grow. I look for these people, I welcome them in my live. Furthermore, I meditate, spend quality time with my kids, spend time in nature and really make it a point to enjoy life. After all, it is all about staying on that high vibration, that frequency where everything is manifested.
Do you use your inner voice to evaluate when dilemma’s show up? How does that work for you?
When I look back at my life, I can say that I have always unconsciously trusted and worked with my intuition. I welcome the answers I receive from the Universe. I have always depended on my intuition and now I am doing it on a much more conscious level. I am an impulsive person and I work with my gut feeling. I know that I am on the right path or taking the right decision (like starting with Golden Village), when I get cold feet but at the same I feel electricity, that deep excitement. I then know “this is it” regardless of the feeling of fear that arises when I step out of my comfort zone. That is when I take that leap of faith.
How are you trying also to keep up with your personal knowledge and skills levels?
There is not one moment in my life during which I am not busy working on some program or course. I am always looking out for further development of my skills by doing workshops, following courses online or embarking on a new venture. Now, with more and more possibilities online, I feel like a kid in a candy store! There’s always something to do, and I am always looking out for the next level: a bigger, better, bolder action.
Where you did you get this curiosity?
It is this basic urge: the need to grow, to expand, to keep expanding, to not stand still. I have the innate urge to live this life fully and completely. Since we don’t know how much time we have been given, I take any moment to move, evolve and grow.
What are your strengths?
I’m bold. I say what needs to be said, even if I am the only one saying it out loud, while others only think it. I honestly care about people and I am interested in their journey. I think it is a good combination because I dare to ask the questions to get to the bottom of things and support others to get insight in themselves, even if it might hurt. I refer to this combination as “tough love”. In my connections with other, I believe in honesty and openness in the interest of growth. If we are always telling each other that we are right, not telling each other what we did wrong or where we could have done better, we are not being challenged, we are not learning and thus not growing. So I cherish friends who can be a mirror to me and who can tell me where I can change and what was my part in any situation. One book that depicts this beautifully is the “Spiritual Partnership” by Gary Zukav.
Do you have hobbies?
My hobbies are growing, studying, reading, playing with the kids, going to the beach, having fun and doing crazy stuff. Forging deep connections with people over dinner while having a good conversation…that is my definition of an ideal evening.
How would you describe Phyllis in one word or one sentence?
Bold, couregeous and witty.
Whom are the persons that have inspired you the most in your career?
Anyone who steps out of their comfort zone and creates massive extraordinary results for themselves against all odds, by being their authentic selves. These, to me, are the most inspiring people.
What is a trait that is still work in progress?
Dare to be vulnerable, by being honestly and brutally me.
What was a defining moment in your life?
My father’s death last year. I realized that his presence and what we have been through together over the years, has had a big impact in my life. I now need to incorporate this experience into that which makes me what I am today in order for me to be of even better service to others.
What would you want your Loved Ones, family, friends and others to say about you let’s say 20 years from now?
That I stepped up and I overcame my fears.
What makes you stay optimistic about the future of Curaçao as we are in the middle of a worldwide pandemic, recession and in the middle of growing environmental challenges because of the global warming consquences?
I believe that this is a vital time for people to be creative, to reinvent themselves, to leave behind everything that is not helpful anymore, to start gathering all the things that give you power and give you life. It is a perfect time for people to start to reflect, regroup and come back even stronger.
Tell us something about PEM?
P#MP (pronounce PEMP) is a movement that inspires people to break with limiting believes, to stop being a victim and live their power. The content of the different projects is based on the coaching programs I offer. Since working with my coaching clients, I have seen so many great results that I wanted it to have a bigger impact, to make it accessible and have a greater impact.
Anything else?”
This is a great initiative and I feel honored to be part of it.
More information or connect
– justacuracao.com/
– fortacuracao.com/
– linkedin.com/in/phyllis-van-den-hout-47b217133/
– thursdayteachings
One of the 250 Influencers of Curaçao
Phyllis van den Hout is an energetic, curious, fun-loving, dedicated lifelong learner aimed at wanting to get the best out of her life. Multi-facetted as she is, in terms of her study background and career path, her deep interest in the humanity of her clients especially their emotions, nudge her in her journey to focus of late more on One-on-One Transformational Coaching and offering of Transformational workshops enabling her clients to become whole. While being able to be brutally honest on the one hand and while at the same time caring deeply for her clients, she helps her clients to get a deeper understanding of their lives. This she is doing without excluding her legal background as an attorney, her focus on employment matters and her mediator background, leading her to bundling of the services she offers to serve the transformation of her clients even better. Her spirituality has been driving her to look for like-minded people that could help her in her endeavor to expand and grow her own spirituality and that of the island. This has led her to join Natalie Daal’s initiative to start the Golden Village, a concept, a venue where all kinds of spiritual experiences are offered based on collaboration. Her success with her coaching services, and her urge to also be a social responsible entrepreneur, led her to form PEM. A program where she offers the same services to those unable to pay for these services. For all these reasons, we dearly love and deeply respect Phyllis and consider her part of the 250 Influencers of the island representing the Business (Coaching) and Spiritual sector.