relationships – EvolveYOU Coaching

It all began on a typical evening as I drove home from work, lost in the rhythm of a webcast playing in the background. In a cheerful birthday mood, the presenter shared a heartwarming story about receiving a flower bouquet. It struck a chord with me; I realized it had been ages since I last received flowers from my husband. It’s not that I expect them regularly—we both have never been ones to indulge in such fleeting luxuries. Yet, the simplicity and thoughtfulness behind gifting flowers have always resonated with me.

Upon arriving home and parking in the garage, I entered the kitchen with thoughts of flowers still lingering in my mind. A beautiful magenta flower sat on the counter to my surprise and delight. In a spontaneous act of kindness, my husband brought home this lovely gift from his grocery run.

In that instant, I couldn’t help but smile. It was as though the universe had overheard my musings and decided to play matchmaker between my thoughts and reality. This spontaneous gesture of love and appreciation felt like a gentle flirtation from the cosmos—a reminder of the little wonders that can brighten our days when we least expect them.

The concept of a “universe flirt” captures these serendipitous moments when life aligns to bring us something unexpectedly delightful. It’s about those instances that reaffirm our connections—with loved ones and with life itself. These moments may seem small, but they carry profound significance—they remind us to cherish the beauty in spontaneity and the joy in simplicity.

In today’s busy world, where routines and obligations often take center stage, these universe flirts gently encourage us to pause and savor the magic of the present moment. They remind us to embrace life’s unpredictability and find meaning in small acts of kindness and love.

Have you experienced a universe flirt recently? I invite you to reflect on those moments that have brightened your day unexpectedly. Whether it was a surprise gift, a chance encounter, or a perfectly timed coincidence, these instances remind us that beauty and joy are often found in the most unexpected places—if only we are open to receiving them.

I seldom felt connected to any community for as long as I can remember. Through coaching, I learned that humans share similar challenges and insecurities. We are all humans–alike and individualistic in our unique ways. I want to share two habits that helped me connect to what matters and be a more effective leader.

Habit 1: Ask 1-2 questions about the person’s well-being

To expand my leadership capacity, I needed to embrace the ‘being’ side of leadership: developing better relationships with myself and others. I often worked from my headspace and embraced the ‘doing’ side of leadership: driving for results. I made this shift by intentionally asking 1-2 questions about someone’s well-being at the beginning of each encounter. The more I opened up and shared, the easier it was to accept my imperfection and vulnerability. The more I shared, the more others shared, and I became more trusting of myself and others. I could enjoy their company and be myself. By connecting with others, I was less afraid to be vulnerable in front of them. It became easier for me to embrace the ‘being’ side of leadership.

Habit 2: Acknowledge people’s positive qualities

I saw people’s flaws more often than their positive attributes. To be less critical of others, I made it a habit to acknowledge the positive qualities I saw in people. I rewired my neural pathways to focus on positives. My colleagues, friends, and family felt heard and seen as a result of my acknowledgments. These deeper connections have helped me feel part of a community and happier.

If what I share resonates with you, let’s chat. I would like to hear your story and help you create habits and rituals to reconnect to what matters and lead with confidence from the inside out.

Let’s Connect

Testimonials

“ ‘Life-Changing’ and ‘Cathartic’ are what I would use to describe my coaching experience with Nadine. I worked with her during the most challenging stage of my life – losing a parent due to a heart attack and misdiagnosis. She helped me get through my grief, re-evaluate my purpose in life, build resilience and find … Continue reading Michael D, California, USA

― Michael D, California, USA

“We all have to change constantly. And a lot of people say change is hard. It is, but it is much more achievable when you have Nadine Duong as your coach and mentor to be with you throughout the process. After one year of coaching with Nadine, I found more balance in my work and … Continue reading Nadine H, California, USA

― Nadine H, California, USA

“Nadine has a wealth of experience working with various groups of people and she is able to provide appropriate guidance based on the current situation of her client. She is warm, caring, sincere, practical, patient, and understanding. She is trustworthy and is able to work under pressure to provide outstanding results. Moreover, she has a … Continue reading Ling Y, Singapore

― Ling Y, Singapore

“I recommend Nadine as a leadership and career coach. In my case, I met Nadine in terms of a local Mentoring project we have initiated for our trainees. Nadine was willing to share her knowledge and experience and she helped me to further develop my communication skills, in order to be more helpful as a … Continue reading Sophia K, Greece

― Sophia K, Greece

“Prior to coaching, I struggled with high-functioning anxiety. I had to be perfect and often seek to please others. There was never room for failure and as a result, I suffered from panic attacks, decision paralysis, and low self-esteem. I always felt guilty for taking the time to care for myself and didn’t set boundaries … Continue reading Emily C, California, USA

― Emily C, California, USA

“I am in a big period of transition in my life right now, with starting a new job and thinking about making a big move in the future. Being coached by Nadine has really helped me get a better idea of what I want from my future, and has helped me see the big picture. … Continue reading Alisha P, Minnesota, USA

― Alisha P, Minnesota, USA

I consider myself very lucky to have Nadine as my coach. I honestly don’t think I could have gotten through some of the toughest times of my life without her guidance. The visualization exercises helped me get to the bottom of the challenges I was facing. The personal values assessment helped me understand my values … Continue reading Nora C, California, USA

― Nora C, California, USA

I lost my job, and it was hard navigating a new chapter in my life. Coaching with Nadine helped me gain the confidence back that I lost in my previous job. I believed in myself again and that helped me excel in my interviews. I landed my dream job with an amazing company! When Nadine … Continue reading Karly L, California, USA

― Karly L, California, USA