A Day in the Life of Holistic Counsellor Wil De Boer-Dekker
April 26, 2021Asking holistic counsellor Wil De Boer-Dekker how she spends her day begets an unusual response: what is time and which part of my being is answering this question?
Welcome back to A Day in the Life of, the column where we spend a day with people from all walks of life to keep us company, albeit remotely, during the pandemic. Wil de Boer-Dekker is the author of Pause for Thoughts.
“I believe that time only exists in the mind. I can answer you as the person who gets up at 4:00 or 5:00 in the morning to answer my emails…or answer your question as the observer/the witness of life, knowing there is only this moment ‘now’.”
Wil de Boer-Dekker
After some thought, Wil decides to answer the question ‘how do you spend your day’ from two perspectives: the professional counsellor and the inner spiritual being.
Morning
Wil is an early riser, often up at four or five in the morning to answer emails and organise her counselling work. She puts together holistic counselling workshops and Reiki energy therapy classes. In addition, Wil writes the daily Today’s Thought for her website.
“Sitting in front of my laptop, I am aware of the many questions people have while searching for a better life and the development of Self,” she says.
Her work is a wonderful inspiration to start her day, she adds.
The morning is a time to contemplate, to be still and listen while reminding herself to keep on listening to the spirit inside throughout the day. To listen for the stillness through other peoples’ concerns and worries.
“We all live our own reality, the illusion of the mind in which we make time, success, career, health and wealth our main things to worry about.”
Most people make these things more important than their own peace of mind, says Wil. The concerns about the many things that must be done weigh on people’s psychology.
Wil’s spiritual answer that instead of worrying too much about these things, we should simply feel grateful for a new day.
“As a mentor, supervisor or in any other role, I am kind to myself and remind myself daily that I don’t have all the answers,” she says.
The answers lie in letting go and believing that others can help themselves. Letting go and being in the present moment connects her with the unlimited potential where all answers lie.
“I just sit down and listen to unlimited potential for the answers, knowing I have nothing to say,” she says.
Afternoon
During the afternoon, Wil counsels people searching for answers and seeking a better life. She listens and trusts that people have the answers they seek inside them.
“When meeting people, I certainly practice what I just preached!” she says.
Talking about time, mornings, afternoons and evenings… makes me humble, our ‘days’ are precious, no second, minute or hour will repeat itself, there is only this moment just NOW, we better make it an unique fantastic experience simply by embracing it!
Wil de Boer-Dekker
Evening
Wil ends a busy day counselling others with an attitude of gratitude.
“Sitting outside for a last view on the darkening sky, admiring the stars, I realize that I can even be grateful for the curfew.”
She enjoys the intense silence with no cars or people disturbing the stillness around her.
“I become aware of my own mind, still busy registering, still noisy, interfering with my own internal silence.”
All the information gathered during the day has its own energy and wants to direct her mind either to misery or miracles.
“Sitting there in the garden and recognising my busy mind makes me observe it.”
It becomes her own little game to identify with the silence and witness the illusion of the mind endlessly creating realities.
“The unique stillness of the curfew even helps me to sleep better. I just listen to the silence as I lay in bed and trust to wake up the next morning to a full day in which I may listen again.”
