Claudia Berg has studied psychology and theology, she is an NLP Master Practitioner, and a experienced meditator. (Yes, she meditated daily already when it was seen as socially absolutely awkward.) She also is a Life Coaching enthusiast and a soon-to-be yoga instructor. She believes in warm humor and it’s profound ability to awake something authentic in us, as well as the super healing powers. She is interested in the science of wellbeing and wants to pass the good she has learned with all the training along to others.
She has had her share of shadow work mess, and she armed this book with the tools she has professionally and personally found the most effective.
Her guiding rule is: “A glowing woman can help other women glow and still be lit.” — Unknown (Fellow Hero!)
Author Q&A
Is there a message in your book that you want readers to grasp?
Absolutely! First, I would like the reader to have a warm feeling of being supported and loved, and that’s why we have built the whole publishing around a loving tribe, a like-minded circle of friends on the same journey. We all have our lovely little shadows (trust me!), and like Carl Jung said, they are not a bad thing—just something if integrated in our personality we can find more self-love and compassion towards ourselves and others. Our mission is, in fact, to turn human kind into kind humans, one smile at a time.
What book are you reading now?
I confess. I am a read-aholic, a serious case of a serial reader. I have always had several books on the table: usually a couple of non-fictions since I seem to have forever growing thirst for knowledge, but also usually one fiction. I have always loved reading. On the non-fiction side I have always been super interested of the science of wellbeing, lately especially the neuroscience, and now I am reading The Awakened Brain—The Psychology of Spirituality by Lisa Miller, as well as Blink—The Power of Thinking Without Thinking by Malcolm Gladwell, as well as Breath by James Nestor (this book I have read at least three times, it’s all shredded and covered with post-it-notes with shaded colors because I have read it at the beach, when I travel and everywhere).
What are your current projects?
I have worked in big global publishing organisations and national broadcasting, so I always seem to have several projects in progress. I work on them guided by intuition (and of course deadlines, as they are the productive kick starters!). I have published for over 25 years, and currently I am working on a series of fiction dealing with the life transformation and finding the true, authentic happiness. I am super happy to see the books reach readers and seem to touch their lives, as a few of my books have been Amazon Best Sellers and even more have been Amazon Top New Releases. Thank you my dears!
Do you have anything specific that you want to say to your readers?
I would say: Believe in yourself vigorously. Believe even when all the signals from the surroundings point in the other direction. You have the inner wisdom, it will let you know if this is something for you. I am deeply honored to walk alongside on the paths of my readers, as well as deeply touched by the openness, authenticity and love people share. This I believe strongly: the right books find the right people at the right time. I am deeply grateful I followed my path, even when I was told writing and/or designing are not ”real jobs”. I am saying to all the beautiful readers: don’t believe that kind of BS. Just follow your inner voice—it will take you to the right place. Sometimes through little d-tours (all part of the plan, I think), but it will get you where you are supposed to be.
Do you write an outline before every book you write?
It really depends on the case, the story and the air pressure or from which direction the sun is shining. In fiction, I might start with a character, or a scene, or a feeling, a picture. I might write it out (and later either use it, or not use it). The main thing is to write it down and have a beginning. With nonfiction, I usually plan a little more before I start, but not always. With nonfiction, I also might start with a scene, but later on plan the outline and the content flow, sometimes even very engineerishly.
How can readers discover more about you and your work?
One way is to go on Amazon (www.amazon.com/author/my_zen_power_tribe) or www.myzenpower.co. I have deliberately stayed out of social media because otherwise I would just hang out there and wouldn’t be able to write.
What would the logline be for your book?
We all have the lovely little shadows, which we spend so much energy trying to hide. But when we look at them lovingly (with humor, absolutely always with humor!), we can become whole. It also illuminates the shiny side of us even brighter—yes, the sides we so gladly would like to show around—and in natural focus, which is so much more beautiful. Life is so much more fun in the sunlight!
How do you think being a writer has helped you as a person?
I tend to fall in love with my characters. They really become close, and sometimes through them I can see sides of life which in any other profession I would not. I am deeply grateful for them, showing me new universes of life. I have always been a people-oriented person; I love people and their stories, and writing has always helped me to look at different perspectives of life with empathy and compassion. Nonfiction writing has always been a way to organize my thoughts on different topics, and I am very grateful if it also has helped other people.
Picture this: You feel uninspired and you’ve sat at the computer for an hour conquering no words. How do you get your creativity flowing?
Oh, I don’t have to picture this; it happens so often! If and when it happens, there are few things I do. 1) I just start writing, accepting the first part is crap and I have to delete it later, but I continue, and at some point the text starts to flow, the thoughts start to sparkle and the rest is easy. I usually try this first. If it doesn’t work, I 2) meditate or 3) go for a walk, outside, in the nature. I physically leave the computer, forget about the text for an hour or two, get refreshed and my thoughts sparkled by sunshine and the beautiful shy pink blooms of cherry trees (they soon start to bloom) or the hills of green grass and olive trees, and I will be a new person again. THEN I go sit by the computer—and usually The Mother Nature has worked its wonders, and the text flows again. Actually, there is strong brain science behind walking, and many creative writing instructors talk about it—but also the neuroscience. Many neuroscience studies have shown walking boosts creative inspiration, for example Stanford University, and other studies about nature doing the same thing. If none of these work, I go in despair for a few hours to a day, repeat the steps 1, 2 and/or 3, as many times as it takes.
Do you like audiobooks, physical books, or e-books better? Why?
I know many love audiobooks, but my favorites are the physical books, especially in nonfiction I love paperbacks. There has been neuroscientific studies done which show reading with physical paper (yes, the old-fashioned way!), it’s connected to the area in our brain connected to location (our inner map) and time (our inner time), and, for example, there is a big difference with kids learning to read from devices or paper. I have also tried audiobooks, I seriously have, but somehow my brain is wired to feel the paper, write notes, see the beautiful type setting. (Yes, I absolutely am a nerd!)
If you had the opportunity to live anywhere in the world for a year while writing a book that took place in that same setting, where would you choose?
I would definitely choose Italy, which it happens, I currently do live here and I love it, I love it, I love it! We live totally in the middle of nowhere but stone throw away from Rome, and you would not believe how much this place inspires me.
Shadow Work Guide Book: Shadow Work Journal Carl Jung With Shadow Work Questions is available for purchase on Amazon.