#47: What if loving yourself could become an act of service?

In this episode, I've had an amazing convo with Samantha V.P. Noten, a Dutch-Surinamese artist whose Ikigai-inspired creations bridge art, self-love and soulful connection. 

Her journey has moved through loss, anger and awakening, from corporate life and caretaking roles to a deeper calling as a visual guide who helps others remember they are enough. Through her intricate pen-and-ink symbols, Sam translates emotion into reflection, creating art that reminds people to return to their essence.

Deep dive talking points:

👉🏾 The language of symbols: how each drawing becomes a mirror for self-awareness and healing;

👉🏾 Art as a compass: tracing her path from corporate structures to intuitive creation;

👉🏾 The ripple effect of self-love: how one person’s inner alignment can inspire change in others;

👉🏾 Guidance and ancestry: being led by unseen wisdom from her roots and nature;

👉🏾 People first leadership: why empathy and emotional intelligence redefine what management can be!

Nuggets of empowerment:

🙌🏾 Self-love is not selfish. It is the foundation that allows you to love others freely;

🙌🏾 What you create through alignment ripples far beyond your intention;

🙌🏾 Every act of gentleness toward yourself is a quiet revolution against the noise;

Sam’s empowering quote:

🙌🏾 “You are enough. My art is a reminder to be kind to yourself and to love who you are"

Books mentioned:

📚 Ikigai: The Japanese Secret to a Long and Happy Life by Héctor García and Francesc Miralles: exploring the intersection of purpose, joy, and contribution.

👉🏾 𝗦𝗮𝗺’𝘀 𝗷𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗻𝗲𝘆 𝗿𝗲𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗱𝘀 𝘂𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗹𝗼𝘃𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗼𝘂𝗿𝘀𝗲𝗹𝘃𝗲𝘀 𝗶𝘀 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗲𝗻𝗱 𝗼𝗳 𝗵𝗲𝗮𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴: it is the beginning of connection. When we dare to see our own light, we help others remember theirs!

Connect with Sam:

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/samnoten/  

Company website: https://samnoten.com/over-mij/   

A word from our sponsor: https://neotopia.nl               

Great strategies don’t fail because of process they fail when behavior doesn’t align. Neotopia helps teams turn awareness into lasting change through behavior that moves people forward.

And to all Men who want to be part of the next Women’s Health at Work session on December 3rd can find all details and registration here:

👉🏾 https://luma.com/e7z1sxbv