There are bosses you can say “I don’t understand” or “I think you’re wrong” to without any repercussions. And there are others with whom you weigh every word before speaking. The difference between the two scenarios is not a matter of luck or character: it is what experts call psychological safety.

Psychological safety is the perception that you can express yourself, ask questions, disagree, or admit a mistake without fear of retaliation. It seems basic. And yet, it is scarce.

It’s not whether your boss is a good or bad person. It’s whether, when you talk to them, your voice has space.

When psychological safety is lacking, it’s not just that people stay silent. It’s that people get tired. Constant silence, holding back opinions, not asking questions for fear of seeming incompetent, not warning when something isn’t working because, after all, it’s useless... all this has a cost. And the cost ends up having a name: chronic stress, disengagement, and in many cases, burnout.

It’s no coincidence that the organizations with the highest cases of burnout are often the very same where effective communication is striking by its absence. Where leadership does not build trust, people don’t communicate, and when people don’t communicate, problems pile up until they explode, in the form of sick leaves, conflicts, or silent exits.

Research in organizational psychology, especially the work of Professor Amy Edmondson from Harvard, has been documenting one clear thing for years: the best-performing teams are not those that never make mistakes. They are the ones who can talk about their errors without hiding them.

The question is not whether your boss appreciates you. It’s whether, when you dissent, you have permission to speak.

Leadership that creates healthy environments is not spectacular leadership. It’s the kind that creates the conditions for everyone to do their job without wasting energy protecting themselves.

It seems unheroic. But it’s what makes the difference between a team that thrives and one that burns out.

So the question isn’t whether your boss is a good professional. The question is: do you feel safe when you talk to them?

And, while you’re at it: do you make the people around you feel safe?

When we attend these gatherings, we often perceive that the conversation has invisible limits and that the real decision was made before it even began.

—What do you think of the proposal? The question sounds sincere. Someone opens the debate, nuances appear, possible alternatives are discussed... The meeting progresses, and it still seems that everything is open. We can decide.

Of course, sometimes, as the meeting continues, we begin to sense that something doesn’t quite fit.

There are people who speak as if the decision still needs to be made. But others listen with a very particular calm. As if all the fish had already been sold.

And the truth is, the end of the meeting was already written before it started. The decision was made a long time ago. The meeting is a formality.

In many organizations, this happens more often than it seems. The meeting is called as a debate, but what really happens is something else: explaining the decision, preparing the ground, or beginning to build consensus around what has already been decided.

This shows. And no one likes it at all. No one likes to be deceived.

They may not say it explicitly, but they perceive that the conversation has limits no one mentions, but are felt. Contributions can be made, yes, but there is a line that no one expects to be crossed.

Over time, if these meetings keep repeating, they end up leaving a strange feeling. And it’s not that they are useless. In fact, they can be very effective and serve to share information, provide context, or explain why a decision was made.

But they are not the decision-making space they seemed to be at the beginning.

And this ambiguity ends up affecting something very delicate within teams: trust in the process. When people feel decisions have already been made, they don’t participate in the same way.

They keep attending meetings, they keep giving opinions, but with a different energy. They participate, but no longer believe.

Perhaps, in these cases, the important question is not whether that meeting was necessary or not. The question is another.

When we call a meeting to decide together…do we really want to decide together? Or is it a “cosmetic” meeting to make the decision seem shared?

It happens through much simpler, closer, and above all, sustainable decisions. And that is precisely what I would like to share with you.

The first step is not training, it is moving more. Before talking about training, there is a key aspect: daily movement. Many people believe that one hour at the gym compensates for a sedentary day, but that is not the case.

Spending most of the day sitting negatively affects you, even if you work out. That is why I always recommend increasing daily activity: walking more, taking the stairs, moving around at home, and avoiding long periods of inactivity. This movement is the foundation on which everything is built.

Not everyone needs a gym to improve their fitness. In fact, starting at home is often the best option. With basic exercises, you can develop strength, endurance, and body control:

• Squats
• Push-ups (adapted to your level)
• Lunges
• Planks
• Pulling exercises with elastic bands or suspension systems

With 20 or 30 minutes, three times a week, it is enough to generate real changes. The most important thing is not the complexity but consistency.

Another common mistake is wanting to do everything perfectly from the start. You don’t need to follow a strict diet to begin improving your health; often, it is counterproductive. I recommend starting with the basics:

• Increase the consumption of real foods
• Reduce ultra-processed foods
• Ensure adequate protein intake
• Maintain good hydration

Small changes sustained over time have much more impact than extreme short-term measures.

There is a factor often forgotten: rest and stress management. You can train and eat well, but if you don’t sleep enough or you are in a constant state of stress, your body doesn’t respond the same.

Sleeping between 7 and 8 hours, reducing screen exposure at night, and finding moments to disconnect are fundamental aspects to improve health.

Many people don’t start because they wait for the perfect environment: an ideal gym, precise equipment, or the right moment. This only delays the process. You don’t need anything perfect, just start with what you have.

Many times, the most effective thing is to do it from home, in a comfortable environment, without pressure and adapted to your reality.

If I had to summarize it, I would say that a healthier life does not depend on big changes, but on small but consistent decisions:

• Move more every day
• Train simply and regularly
• Eat better without obsessing
• Rest adequately

This is the real starting point.

It’s not about achieving a physical ideal or following fitness trends, but about building a lifestyle that you can maintain over time. A functional body, with energy, that allows you to live better is not built in a gym but in your day-to-day life.

And in many cases, it all starts at home. This is what we seek to share at Malagaentrena, and if you need help, we are here for you.

But, what is more effective when someone is suffering? Giving advice or truly listening? This doubt is very common and the answers can be surprising.

When we are going through a tough time, those around us react one way or another. Some people immediately offer solutions: they tell us what we should do, suggest activities or recommendations. Giving good advice is not bad, but the question is: do we really feel heard or simply pressured?

On the other hand, there are those who choose to listen attentively, allowing us to express what we feel without interrupting. This type of attitude does not guide, but it does comfort and makes us feel accompanied in suffering.

Neither of the two ways is infallible: unsolicited advice may not help, but consolation does not always mark the path to follow. The key is knowing what the person needs at that moment. Maybe they first want to be heard and later, when ready, will accept suggestions.

Recognizing the difference between advice and consolation can help us provide more suitable support and make people feel more understood. It also allows us to ask for what we really need when we are in difficulty.

Finally, this article does not replace any professional therapy, but offers basic ideas to accompany those who are going through a tough time. If necessary, do not hesitate to seek specialized help for a more personalized treatment. The world already has enough difficulties without adding unnecessary suffering.

Our children see the results, but not the path. They see the athlete winning, but not the hours of training. They see the famous artist, yet not the years of practice. And this creates an unrealistic expectation: that things must be achieved quickly and without effort.

And when they discover that this is not the case, they get frustrated. They give up. They think they are not good enough. However, value is not only in achieving things. It is in the process. In getting up every day and trying. In not giving up when it is hard. In discovering what we are capable of when we persist.

How can we teach this? First, by valuing effort over results. Instead of saying "what a good grade!", say "I’ve seen how you studied, I’m proud of your dedication." Instead of focusing on whether they win or lose, ask "did you try your best? Did you have fun?"

We can also share our own struggles. Tell them when something is difficult for us, when we have to try many times to achieve something. Let them see us making an effort and also making mistakes.

And above all, teach them that effort is what is in their hands. The results, not always. But if they try hard, they will always be able to be proud of the path taken.

Because in the end, it is not what we achieve that defines us, but how we achieve it. Until next month, and may you “ThinkThrough” a lot.

The weight on the scale changes constantly for reasons we often don’t consider: the amount of liquids, diet, or even the time of day. Focusing only on weight does not reflect real progress.

One of the biggest mistakes I see at Malagaentrena is precisely this obsession with weight. Many people don’t realize that when they start training, they can gain muscle mass while losing fat, causing the scale not to go down or even to go up, but the body improves.

There are changes that are not seen at first glance: sleeping better, having more energy, reducing back pain, or feeling more agile. These are clear signs of progress that are often ignored for not being visible in the short term.

It is essential to value the process and understand that consistency does not mean perfection. Many people start with energy, but when the routine declines, they feel guilty. Real change lies in accepting that every step, no matter how small, is an important advance for health.

The relationship between discipline and mindset is key: when we postpone what we know is good for us, it affects our self-esteem and our way of overcoming challenges. On the other hand, fulfilling small commitments with oneself strengthens confidence and resilience.

Training only for appearance is an unstable motivation. When you train for yourself, for your well-being and health, that’s when you manage to maintain it over time.

Many people never feel enough, they always compare themselves, and this generates constant dissatisfaction, affecting physical and mental health. That is why it is necessary to build a more realistic relationship with the body and training.

Another common mistake is thinking that everyone needs the same plan. It is not the same to have a sedentary job as a physical one, nor a lifestyle with a lot of stress as one that is more relaxed. Training must be adapted to each person and life moment.

Many times, fatigue is mental and not physical. A busy day with a heavy cognitive load can leave you more exhausted than an exercise session. Performance depends on the balance between mind and body.

Physical change doesn’t start on the scale, but in how you think about yourself and how you value your process. Stopping focusing on weight and concentrating on habits and consistency is what truly makes the difference. Results come when you stop chasing them and start building them.

If you need help, you can find us at malagaentrena.com.

The reason is that we live in a success culture where mistakes are penalized. At school, at work, in life. But if we think about it carefully, all our most important learning has come from our mistakes.

When a child starts to walk, they fall a thousand times. And no one tells them "that’s it, you’ve failed at walking". We simply encourage them to try again. But what happens as we grow up? As we grow, mistakes are no longer seen with this normality.

What would happen if we changed our view on mistakes? If instead of saying "you did that wrong" we said "how interesting, you’ve discovered a way that doesn’t work"? If we celebrated mistakes as learning opportunities?

Children need to know that making mistakes is human, normal, and necessary. That the people they admire also make mistakes. That I, as a mother, as a teacher, sometimes am scared too and also do things wrong, that I make mistakes.

This month I suggest you share your mistakes with your children or your students, explain to them that you have made many mistakes and what you have learned from these stumbles along the way. Talk about your mistakes naturally. And when they make mistakes, change the "it’s okay" to a "what have you learned from this?".

Because mistakes are not failures. They are steps toward growth.

Until next month and “ThinkDeeply” a lot.

When you look back, do you remember who read you a story before bed? It wasn’t just the story; it was the moment. It was the feeling of companionship, security, and love. It was that space just for us where all that mattered were the words and our connection.

Reading together is much more than turning pages. It’s creating a ritual, a space of connection. It’s discovering new worlds together, laughing at the same scenes, being afraid of the same characters. It’s sharing emotions.

And you don’t have to wait for children to know how to read on their own. In fact, continuing to read aloud to them when they’re older is an incredible gift. It allows access to stories more complex than they could read alone, it allows deeper conversations, it keeps that special moment alive.

We can also each read our own book but in the same space. Sitting on the couch, each immersed in our own story, but together. This also teaches that reading is a valuable activity, one worth dedicating time to.

And if you want practical advice: leave books within reach throughout the house. On the nightstand, on the couch, in the kitchen. Let them be part of the everyday landscape. Let them be as accessible as anything else.

The passion for reading is not taught through obligations. It spreads by example and grows with shared moments.

Until next month, and may you “ThinkDeeply” a lot.

The capitals of the Camp de Tarragona, Valls, Tarragona, and Reus have grown upon a dense layer of centuries. Walls, churches, convents, palaces, mansions of wealthy families but also of peasants and artisans, hospitals, service buildings, and factories have been erected, each with its own significance within urban history. But while part of this heritage has been rehabilitated or reused successfully, another part falls into oblivion and, sometimes, literally to the ground, or has been subject to unfortunate rehabilitations or renovations. The conservation of architectural and historical heritage is a matter of the city, identity, and also economy.

“When an old building disappears, we lose not only stone; we lose collective memory.”

Citizen awareness plays an increasingly relevant role. Public opinion does not remain indifferent to unnecessary demolitions or the sustained degradation of an old neighborhood. In Reus, for example, the demolition in 2021 by the City Council of two Noucentisme houses generated a wave of indignation. In Valls, over the past decades, citizens have witnessed helplessly how the Old Quarter loses commerce and inhabitants, while it continues to deteriorate and suffer cyclical collapses. And although diagnoses have been made and projects launched, the reality is that deterioration advances faster than solutions.

Tarragona, with a rich Roman and medieval heritage, has made important strides in protecting its assets, especially since obtaining World Heritage recognition in 2000, although much work remains to be done. The expanded list of assets to be protected in 2008, 2013, and 2021 has been a key step. Reus, on the other hand, has managed to highlight its modernism with a powerful cultural and tourist strategy. But in both cases, there are still elements outside tourist circuits waiting for an opportunity or, at least, urgent restoration.

“A good heritage catalog is like a compass: it guides today’s decisions thinking about tomorrow’s generations.”

The key to progress lies in an active, updated, and operational heritage catalog. It is not enough to have it approved: it must be alive, guiding urban planning decisions, serving as a preventive tool rather than an emergency one. In Valls, the revision of the POUM offered an opportunity to do this work thoroughly, which materialized in the catalog of assets to be protected, definitively approved in 2018. But cataloging is only the first step. The second — equally or more important — is to activate effective rehabilitation policies.

The case of Valls’ Old Quarter is paradigmatic. Shored-up buildings, uninhabited houses, recent collapses, and neighbors who resist with a mix of resignation and affection. Despite constant institutional efforts, the general feeling is that measures come late and poorly. Different municipal projects are recovering spaces and buildings, such as various sections of the 14th-century wall, the old Church of Sant Francesc, or the Ca Padró building. But it is also true that model private initiatives have taken place in this same neighborhood, such as the La Titaranya housing cooperative. What is needed is political determination and continuity in action.

Reus and Tarragona can offer useful lessons: from managing nationally significant cultural assets to incorporating heritage into local revitalization circuits. And beyond the major monuments, attention should also be given to artisans’ houses, decorative details, stone doorways and windows, everything that makes each street a unique space.

“Cities with a future are those that do not reject their past.”

In short, heritage preservation cannot be an optional subject. It is a transversal policy that affects urban planning, culture, housing, and the well-being of residents. And it is also a commitment to the future: because no city can project itself forward if it neglects its past.

Saving the stones that tell us our history is also saving ourselves as a community. We may not be able to recover everything that has been lost, but we can work to conserve, make known, and defend what remains. And do it not out of nostalgia, but out of conviction.

Then, when he has about twenty or more spectators, he starts to deliver a speech filled with phrases explaining the virtues and miracles of his mir-a-cu-lous tonic, capable of curing sadness, your child's lazy eye, syphilis, or making crops yield more.

Then appears the “bait”, in the form of a gentleman on crutches, slow and looking not very healthy… Until he takes a sip of the magic elixir and look! He throws away the crutches, jumps a couple of hops, and he’s cured!

People can’t believe it, everyone lines up so they don’t miss this miracle and the stock —note this, Jocelyn!— is limited. Once he has sold all the boxes, the stranger shuts down his stall and hurries off to the next town, only making a quick stop to pick up outside a certain gentleman without crutches who looks like a longtime acquaintance…

Let’s change scenes and modernize the background: a very muscular and aggressive guy shouts through a little screen while explaining that exercising, getting up at 5 am every day, and kissing up to the boss will make you rich like him.

Elsewhere, a very calm-looking girl tells you she is su-per-hap-py because she drinks some I-don’t-know-what tea and lights a candle that gives off pleasant smells.

Or a video of a man made by Artificial Intelligence saying that, by doing these exercises for 5 minutes, you’ll have the body of an athlete or another who tells you the secret to picking up girls is to say “seven secret words” which obviously he won’t tell you unless you watch his entire video and pay for one of his courses…

The world is full of “entrepreneurs” who, whether knowingly deceiving or acting in good faith, promise us paradise at bargain prices: if we do this or that, if we pay for this or that, we will become prettier, richer, smell good, and have an easy and happy life…

When, in truth, having an easy life requires a lot of work (or very rich parents) and being happy… "well", it’s complicated.

A historical perspective on the latter will be useful: in the Maxims of Shuruppak, written in Mesopotamia around 2600 BC, a father recommends to his son that, if he wants to have an ordered life, he must avoid excess, control his emotions, and get along well with others.

The Instructions of Ptahhotep from Egypt around 2400 BC (give or take a year) describe how to have a good life: avoid anger, be generous, and listen before speaking, among other things.

And so we could keep searching and searching and searching through the 4600 or so years that separate us from these two: self-help sections have gone from being interesting shelves with books containing good ideas to a set of “Do as I do” and other su-per-e-ffi-ca-cious formulas…

When, if that were true, there would only be one book on the whole shelf!

Be careful with miracle and utopia sellers! Your servant here leaves you now, since I just saw an ad for a course on how to write interesting articles in 5 minutes and it will only cost me 20 euros… and that even though it’s a course valued at 200!!! A steal!!!!

But what happens when we don’t teach them to say no?

Saying no is an act of self-respect. It is recognizing our limits, our needs, our space. And it is a fundamental life skill.

A child who doesn’t know how to say no will become an adult who lets others lead them. Who will accept situations that don’t suit them for fear of disappointing. Who will always put others first. Is that what we want to pass on? Is that what we want to become?

I’m not saying we should raise selfish or rude children. I’m talking about teaching them that it’s okay to have limits, that they can decide about their own bodies, that they don’t have to give hugs if they don’t feel like it, that they can say “I don’t want to” without guilt.

How do we do it? First, by respecting their no’s. When a child says “I don’t want a hug” and we insist “give grandma a hug”, we are telling them that their limits don’t matter.

When we respect their decisions (as long as they don’t involve danger), we teach them that they have the right to decide about themselves.

Have you ever considered what it means not to respect their “I don’t want”, “I don’t like it”, “I don’t feel like it”?

This month, observe how many times they say no and how you react. And think about whether you are teaching them to respect themselves.

Because saying no is also a form of self-love.

Until next month and may you “ThinkDeeply” a lot.

But if we are honest with ourselves, this thought is a rather limiting thought, since many times it is they who teach us.

I don’t know if you have ever felt this way, but to me, children teach me to live in the present moment when they stop to watch an ant for ten minutes.

They teach me to truly forgive when five minutes after an argument they have already forgotten what made them so angry.

They teach me to be brave when they try new things without fear of looking silly.

And above all, they teach me to be a better person.

Because educating is not a one-way street. It is not only about passing on knowledge or values from top to bottom. It is a constant dialogue, a path walked together, where everyone, if willing, learns.

When my students or my daughter ask me "why are you sad?" it forces me to name and identify my emotions and, therefore, I am learning. When they tell me "this is not fair" they make me reconsider a decision and, therefore, I am growing. When they forgive me so easily, they are teaching me about generosity.

Children are not empty vessels that we must fill with our wisdom. They are whole people, with their own worldview, often clearer and more honest than ours.

This month I invite you to pay attention to everything your children teach you. To truly listen to their questions, to value their opinions, to learn from their way of living.

Because educating is also letting yourself be educated.

Until next month and may you “ThinkDeeply” a lot.

We live in a world full of constant stimuli. We all always have an endless list of tasks to do, day after day.

Our children go from one extracurricular activity to another, from homework to video games, from the phone to the tablet. And when there is a moment of silence, an empty space, we feel the urgent need to fill it with something.

But what happens if we get bored for a while... and let them get bored?

I have often been surprised thinking that I can’t stop, that I am wasting time if I do nothing. Also saying “come on, let’s do this” when I saw my daughter sitting apparently doing nothing productive.

As if boredom were an enemy to fight, something to avoid at all costs.

But it turns out that boredom is the best soil for creativity. When nothing is scheduled, when there is no screen entertaining us, we are forced to look within ourselves.

And that is when the craziest ideas, the most imaginative games, the most incredible stories, the deepest questions appear.

Boredom is not wasted time. It is time to gain. It is the space where curiosity is born, where autonomy develops, where we learn to be comfortable with ourselves.

So this month I propose a simple (and difficult at the same time) challenge: leave empty spaces in your schedule and in your children’s.

Don’t schedule every minute of the weekend. Resist the temptation to look for an activity to do when you think — or are told — “I’m bored.”

And see what happens. You might be surprised to discover that the best adventures are born from boredom.

Until next month, and may you “Think deeply” a lot.