My background
For eight years, I worked in international development—stationed in places like Pakistan, Vietnam, Vienna and Oslo working for the UN and the Norwegian Foreign Ministry. Externally, I had achieved “success”—a good career, money, and status. Yet, internally, I felt a growing dissatisfaction and a sense that the systems I worked within were dysfunctional. I also realized I wasn’t dealing enough or effectively with my own suffering.
Driven by a longing for something more real and profound, I quit my job and moved to Plum Village in France to study with the Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh. Here I learned a lot about meeting myself at a deeper level, and about living in presence. I also learned about the value of contributing to building communities of understanding and love. I later moved to Ängsbacka in Sweden, where Zen Coaching was born in 2005—originally just as a name for a short experimental training I wanted to offer, and which has since grown into a global network.
Along the way, I have learned that true support does not mean to “fix” anyone, and that problems are not obstacles to happiness but gateways to our deeper nature. I have learned that when we stop trying to get somewhere else, we discover that we are already home. I am still learning every day, exploring the paradox that while we are in one sense already perfect as we are, life is also an endless adventure of unfolding, learning and growth. For many years now my main passion has been to be on a journey of inner discovery, and to share my findings with the world. This is what the Zen Coaching training is about.
I have been a student in the spiritual school of the Diamond Approach for more than 15 years, where the main teacher is Hameed Ali, also known as A.H. Almaas. Before that I have been a student of Marshall Rosenberg, founder of Non-Violent Communication, and of Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh in Plum Village. I am also deeply inspired by the native traditions of the world, such as the Huni Kuin people of the Amazon jungle. I am, at heart, a student of all wisdom traditions of life, and of life itself.
My work these days
Today, most of my work is directed at spreading these teachings to as many people as possible. The future well-being of all life on the planet depends, as I see it, on humanity’s ability to move away from mistrust, competition and conflict and towards inner connection, inner joy & peace, and respectful, co-empowering collaboration.
It is my view that for this to happen we need support from each other – from teachers, guides, mentors and friends. Alone, and without support, we cannot grow much, nor can we achieve much positive impact in the world. But together we can do a lot.
