Alan Strydom Coaching & Integration

What exactly, is HeartMath..?

This morning I woke up to a Facebook memory from 9 years ago: HRV Assessment results 😀

For fun, I decided to do another 2 HRV assessments this morning and compare them. The only difference besides 9 years later, is that this morning's assessments were done later in the morning, after an hour of walking outside, a cup of cacao and a light breakfast (9 years ago it was done first thing in the morning before any activity or food).

I then asked ChatGPT to compare the results and give me a report. See the images for side by side comparison 😊

See the comments for screenshots of the original reports as well as today's assessments.

Good Things Come To Those Who Wait ⏳

If you’re an expat, freelancer, or digital nomad, you’ve probably heard this one: “Good things come to those who wait.”

But waiting for the algorithm update, the next client to magically appear, or the “right moment” to launch that project?

That’s not patience — that’s passivity. And passivity keeps you stuck.

👉 Time alone doesn’t do the work — engagement does.

💡 HeartMath Reframe:
Patience has its place. But patience without engagement isn’t wisdom — it’s stagnation.
Resilience isn’t built by thinking about it — it’s built by stepping into discomfort in small, doable ways (like pitching even when you’re nervous, or trying again after a setback).
Emotional balance doesn’t just happen — it comes from working with your emotions in real time (like taking a breath before reacting, or recognizing when frustration is really just exhaustion).
Coherence isn’t just “waiting until you feel calm” — it’s shifting your state on demand. That’s the difference between hoping stress will pass and regulating yourself so you can respond differently.

✨ The real “good things” don’t come from waiting. They come from staying engaged.
Put it to the test:

🧠 Think it. Am I waiting for something to change — or am I creating change, even through small actions?

💓 Feel it. Bring to mind something you’ve been waiting on. Does it feel open and steady — or heavy and stuck? Now imagine taking just one step forward. What shifts?

⚡ Do it. Choose a small daily practice (Heart-Focused Breathing, reflection, a message you’ve been avoiding sending). Stop waiting for the “right time” — it never announces itself.

Question: If you stopped waiting, what’s the one thing you’d actually do today?

If this resonates with you, reach out and let’s explore together.
- Alan

Enjoy It While It Lasts 🌅

Life is full of highs and lows — new places, new projects, shifting routines. And when something finally feels amazing? Business is booming, you meet someone incredible, or you’re just glowing from the adventure… people say: “Enjoy it while it lasts.”

Sounds harmless, but it plants a seed: don’t get too comfortable. Happiness is temporary.

👉 The result? We brace for the downturn instead of fully living the upturn.

Science says: anticipating loss affects your physiology. The heart’s rhythm mirrors it. Joy feels unsafe, so we hold it at arm’s length.

💡 HeartMath reframe: Presence is the point. No disclaimers. Just enjoy it.

Try this when joy shows up:
✨ Drop into the moment exactly as it is.
✨ Let happiness expand without analyzing it.
✨ If fear shows up (“this won’t last”), let that exist too — without urgency.

If nothing lasts, then this moment is the most valuable thing you have.

Question: What’s so good in your life right now that you’re afraid to fully enjoy it?

If this resonates with you, reach out and let’s explore together.
- Alan

Trust the Process 🔄

For entrepreneurs, remote workers, and creatives, this phrase gets tossed around a lot. Lost? Overwhelmed? Someone says: “Trust the process.”

Sounds nice, but… what does that actually mean?

👉 It’s not about sitting back and hoping for the best. It’s about staying inwardly steady while things unfold.

When uncertainty spikes, your nervous system craves control. Real trust comes from inner stability, not external guarantees.

💡 Quick practice:
Take a slow breath in.
Exhale longer than you inhale.
Notice where you’re holding tension — soften it just a little.
Ask: What’s one step I can take right now that builds trust in me?

Every time you face uncertainty without shutting down or over-controlling, you’re strengthening trust — not just in the process, but in yourself.

✨ Trust isn’t passive. It’s built, breath by breath.

Question: Where in your life are you “trusting the process,” but actually just hoping things will fix themselves?

If this resonates with you, reach out and let’s explore together.
- Alan

"It Is What It Is"

For digital nomads, freelancers, and SEO pros, this phrase can feel all too familiar. A project stalls, a client ghosts, Google flips the algorithm — and someone shrugs: “It is what it is.”

Sounds wise. Feels like a dead end.

Often what we really mean is:
“I don’t know what to do with this.”
“I don’t have the energy.”
“I’ve tried, and I’m tired.”

👉 Acceptance is powerful, but there’s a fine line between letting go and shutting down.
Reframe it: “It is what it is… now what?”

💡 HeartMath practice:
Shift your focus to your heart.
Repeat silently: it is what it is.
Notice — do you feel ease or constriction in your body? That’s your clue.

Self-regulation isn’t passive. It’s what helps you stay clear, engaged, and see options stress would normally hide.

✨ Don’t just resign. Accept — and re-engage.

Question: Where in your life are you saying “it is what it is” when deep down, you’re not actually okay with it?

If this resonates with you, reach out and let’s explore together.
- Alan