Iris Van Kerckhove is the co-host and producer of Feast Meets West podcast where they interview with Asian food industry 
professionals in both New York City and in Hong Kong. Food and journalism has been her passions and she has been able to combine both with her hit podcast show checking out the latest Asian food trends.
Iris talk about how following her intuition has led her to live a life by design, do what she loves and increase her self confidence instead of trying to ignore it. Check out her episode to listen to her story and tips that can help you in your own inner journey to self confidence.
Bio
Iris Van Kerckhove is the co-host and producer of Feast Meets West podcast.
Cultural Background
Iris is Chinese and Belgian descent.
Favorite Self Confidence Quote
Do you want to be right or happy?
Definition of Self Confidence
Self-confidence is about not being afraid to fully embrace who you are at your core. That means, do what you actually want to do. Be who you want to be. True confidence means that you’re comfortable with yourself, whether you’re mainstream or different to the majority, whether you are more comfortable praising yourself in front of others or poking fun at yourself. Everyone is different but we should stop running away from our true nature to meet other people’s expectations.
Her Life Before the Discovery of Self Confidence
Looking back, Iris thought she has always been pretty self-assured in a sense, though others didn’t think so and told her she wasn’t. She thought people took the fact that she vocalized a lot of self-doubt and worry, or the fact that she is very comfortable in pointing out her shortcomings as a sign of low self-esteem. Iris never wanted to betray who she is to fit in or fit what people describe as a successful, confident person, and she is really proud of herself for sticking to her guns even when she was at a younger, more impressionable age.
As Iris got older, she discovered her self confidence. She hasn’t really changed much as a person but she has learned to better trust herself, be happier with her decisions in life and not second-guess herself so much. Sometimes just getting out of your own way is the best thing you can do to achieve success.
The “AHA” Moment
The first few years after moving back to Hong Kong and changing industries played a big part in Iris’ self-confidence, ironically because her self-confidence was completely destroyed for a while. Not only was moving to the other side of the world without a job, relevant job experience, or friends a challenge, but she faced all kinds of trials and tribulations in her personal life, such as heartbreak, death of a loved one, and losing a job. After going through all of that, she was reminded how strong she was and how great her intuition has always been, and that whenever she tries to ignore that intuition and be someone she’s not, it’s the wrong path.
Her Life After the Discovery of Self Confidence
Ever since discovering the strength of just being herself, there’s so much less anxiety and second guessing. Iris can produce so much more good work, make a positive impact on others people’s lives on a professional and personal level, and enjoy her own life so much more because she is thinking about what she does have rather than what she doesn’t have.
The One Self Confidence Tip For the Listener
Just remember three words: “You do you!” There are always going to be people giving you solicited or unsolicited advice, or people trying to pressure you to do things you don’t actually want to do. It’s important to find quiet moments whenever you can to check in with yourself and follow your gut feeling, even if it doesn’t seem like the most logical thing to do at the time.
Interview Links
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