You are what you 'think'.

I remember the first time I visited a hypnotherapist (and this was years ago - I must have been about 11 years old at the time). I didn't really know what to expect. As a child, I had very little self-belief never mind a belief in the benefits of hypnosis. (I think I was too young to really know how it worked). During my early adult years, I decided to give hypnotherapy another try. It wasn't until this period of my life that I realised hypnotherapy actually worked. As soon as I started to believe hypnotherapy would help me, it did! So what changed?

Hypnotherapy is something that we can apply to our everyday lives and indeed any kind of challenging situation we need to face. It is a very natural state and it is something we have all experienced before at one time or another. The most empowering aspect of hypnotherapy comes from an eventual understanding that you have the ability to solve any problem that comes your way. There is always a tendency is look outside of ourselves and to other people for help when it comes to finding solutions. By all means, look for guidance but the ultimate problem solver, is you!

You've heard of the expression 'You are what you eat'. The same could also be applied to 'you are what you think'. We have to be very careful about the food we eat as well as the thoughts we think. Negative thoughts could easily be compared to eating unhealthy food - neither are good for us and the more we do of it, the worse we end up feeling.

The more negatively you think, the unhealthier your mental state becomes. We have to be careful in regards to the thoughts we choose to think about ourselves and that of others. Positive thoughts are more empowering than negative thoughts. And the great thing is, we can choose what to think! The power of choice is always available to us. Knowing that we have that choice, is an important realisation.

So, if you are what you think, what image are you projecting of yourself to the world? Do people like being around you? Are you creating positivity or negativity? Are you helping people or making life difficult for others? Your inner mental state will reflect your outer state. If you feel angry inside, you will attract anger. If you feel loving towards yourself, you will attract love from other people. It is that simple.

If you are unhappy or if you want to change a certain aspect of yourself, the great thing is, you can do it! You don't need to accept 'this is the way I am'. The concept of 'I am' knows no boundaries. Thoughts are just thoughts. Realising you alone have the power to choose your thoughts and the way you think and feel, is what self-empowerment is all about. So what changed? I did. And the great thing is...you can too!

Dealing with the January Blues

'Happy New...Ugh..'

The Parties are over, the festive season has come to an end and we are left with a hangover and an expanded waistline...to say the least! All you want to do is crawl back into bed and stay there until spring. If only beating the january blues could be so simple. So, how can we beat the New Year blues?

Regular exercise:

This is the best way to release the 'happy hormones'. Eating chocolate to feel better in the dark and cold January weather isn't the best option (albeit the most tempting). If you don't feel like going out for a run in the January rain and wind, try some yoga instead. It is a much gentler form of exercise and it wont be so hard on your joints.

Detox with healthy food:

Try not to go on a crash diet. It will not do you any good and you will put your body under more pressure than it can handle. It is already dealing with the effects of excess so you need to change your diet in the correct way. Eat healthy foods that are rich in antioxidants (such as berries) and only eat essential fats such as omega 3 which can be found in fish. This will also help to boost brain power and mental alertness.

Drink water:

Speaking of alertness, the best way to detox and boost mental alertness is to drink water regularly. Over 80% of your body is water and over the christmas period, you may have becomes dehydrated due to the effects of drinking too much alcohol. Not only that, drinking water is great for your skin tone and complexion.You don't need to spend money on facials when all you need to do is drink water!

New Years Resolutions:

Now is the time to set goals and make plans. If you have a goal, it will help you to stay focused and it will make the darker days more bearable. Financially speaking, January may not be the best time to set a new course in motion but it is good to have a think about the changes you want to make. You are much more likely to achieve your goals if you have given thought to how you are going to do it. Make the most of January!

Dealing with debt:

January is debt month. There is no denying it. Bills come through the door and firmly establish the reality 'cheque' of Christmas spending. It has to be paid back and it can make you feel so depressed when you open that monthly statement. Create a financial plan and prioritise your debt repayments in order of importance. Don't ignore it as mounting bills have the potential to create more stress than they are worth.

A very Happy New Year to everyone!