"Omdenken, the Dutch Art of Flip-thinking"
How a podcast episode can change one's life
Not long ago I learned about flip-thinking, a concept best-selling author Berthold Gunter discusses in his book, “Omdenken, the Dutch Art of Flip-thinking”. According to him, this strategy is “a creative thinking technique that teaches you how to transform a problem into an opportunity.”1 Gunster (n.d.)
Beyond the book
What I like the most about this 64-page book is… the podcast that developed from it. Yes, Berthold is also the host of the “Flip Thinking Podcast”, a show (in English) where he interviews regular people, like me and you (and like my professor, as you will see in a bit), struggling with some sort of personal issues, such as F.O.M.O., depression, fear of being rejected etc. It’s like a recorded therapy session. The host tries to apply “the Dutch art of flip-thinking” to his guests to solve their problems, or at least help them see all the sides of their issues (and possible solutions).
The best part…
… of this podcast is that anyone can apply to be a guest on the show. Provided that you have an actual problem that you are willing to discuss and try to solve, Berthold will consider your application and let you know as soon as possible whether you are a good fit for his show or not.
Whilst some people say that the experience is “transformative”, others say that the approach is a little too philosophical and that it lacks practicability. Regardless of that, it is something worth trying, especially as you can choose afterwards whether you want the show to be aired or not.
One realization
My university mentor, Prof. Joanna Wedrychowicz, was a guest on the show, and hearing her story inspired me to analyze my own struggles. As I told her a few days ago, “Hearing the Iron Lady admit that she sometimes struggles has brought me to tears.” It made me realize that no matter how successful one is or how many people love and respect them, there are always things lacking balance or seeking improvement in their life. This conclusion made me apply to be a guest on the show.
I did that and I was accepted.
My problem? The fear of not doing enough. There is something called a “compensatory mechanism” that activates itself when we feel that we are not achieving enough in our personal or professional lives. However, more on that in an upcoming article.
Sometime in February, after the show has been recorded, I will tell you more about the experience. Until next Friday, I suggest you listen to the episode Prof. Wedrychowicz did, but also to some other ones from the “Flip Thinking Podcast”.
P.S. If you decide to apply to become a guest of this show and are accepted, you can let us know how things go by writing us some e-mails: before, (during) and after the experience. Who knows, we might even feature your story in our newsletter!
Gunster, B. (n.d.). Omdenken - the Dutch art of flip thinking. Omdenken. https://www.omdenken.nl/zakelijk/flip-thinking