Peace is every step

In following up on some reading I am doing at the moment, I thought I would add a book reference to the blog.  

Peace is every step - Amazon books

A quote from the book reads: "I have heard many stories about parents who have hurt their children so much, planting many seeds of suffering in them. But I believe that the parents did not mean to plant those seeds. They did not intend to make their children suffer. Maybe they received the same kind of seeds from their parents. There is a continuation in the transmission of seeds, and their father and mother might have gotten those seeds from their grandfather and grandmother. Most of us are victims of a kind of living that is not mindful, and the practice of mindful living, of meditation, can stop these kinds of suffering and end the transmission of such sorrow to our children and grandchildren. We can break the cycle by not allowing these kinds of seeds of suffering to be transmitted to our children, our friends, or anyone else."

Amazon UK books - Peace is every step

I hear and see many people who have suffered because they cannot forgive their past or someone in their past. Maybe it is a parent. It is challenging for humans to let go of the past and to change.  I see my own journey over the years as part of the reason for who I am now. 
Feelings and experiences the concrete poured amidst the foundations of who we have become. Maybe if we look at it as mud that held everything in place instead of seeing it as concrete, it is less permanent? It is possible that change can be made and that the foundations can be flexible. 


We have a choice. We can start by thinking about and gaining an understanding of the relationship we had with others, particularly our parents or carers. If we get stuck (in the mud) and are unable to see how we might react to this knowledge, or that forgiveness is beyond our comprehension, we can turn to books like the one above or to therapy. Both of which give a different viewpoint, a different take on our inner chatter. 


Can you listen and begin to see how your thoughts on your own foundations (experiences and feelings) affect you now? How would you like to change? 

stress and eating

I have been aware for a while of a hormone in the human body - and from reading research information also observed in mice - which is triggered and affected by stress. It's not a newly discovered hormone, but one that has increasingly been studied in understanding depression, overeating and obesity. More research is needed, though at least hormones are being taken more seriously and gradually the stigma surrounding people with obesity will begin to fall away. I speak to many who are deeply ashamed (feeling of social stigma) and are personally unhappy with how they feel, their behaviour around food and how they look. More research is underway on the hormonal links, I'm just not sure how quickly that knowledge will filter down. Also whether a pharmaceutical solution comes into play rather than therapies like hypnotherapy, cognitive behavioural therapy or counselling which could all address the stress or depression in the first place (save taxpayers money in the long run too!).


If someone 'feels' depressed the depression itself may be organic (back to the old favourite 'mind body connection') so if we work on the depression, the 'mind' - then perhaps the hormonal balance might be tipped. That makes logical sense to me. I have seen some great results with my clients on balancing out their emotions as well as their eating habits. I help clients to tackle losing weight and to manage stress through individual or group sessions.

http://angiegiles.co.uk/

Rules for living, love and lifestyle?

I came across this today. I think it's wonderful!

The Dalai Lama's Instructions for life ...

Take into account that great love and great achievements involve great risk.

When you lose, don't lose the lesson.

Follow the three R's:
- Respect for self.
- Respect for others.
- Responsibility for all your actions.

Remember that not getting what you want is sometimes a wonderful stroke of luck.

Learn the rules so you know how to break them properly.

Don't let a little dispute injure a great relationship.

When you realize you've made a mistake, take immediate steps to correct it.

Spend some time alone everyday.

Open your arms to change, but don't let go of your values.

Remember that silence is sometimes the best answer.

Live a good, honorable life. Then when you get older and think back, you'll be able to enjoy it a second time.

A loving atmosphere in your home is the foundation for your life.

In disagreements with loved ones, deal only with the current situation. Don't bring up the past.

Share your knowledge. It is a way to achieve immortality.

Be gentle with the earth.

Once a year, go someplace you've never been before.

Remember that the best relationship is one in which your love for each other exceeds your need for each other.

Judge your success by what you had to give up in order to get it.

Approach love and cooking with reckless abandon.

By Dalai Lama XIV

Dreams being woven

'We all have our own life to pursue, our own kind of dream to be weaving. And we all have some power to make wishes come true, as long as we keep believing' (Louisa May Alcott)

nature's moment

I caught sight of a flurry of activity in my garden today.  There were suddenly birds flitting about everywhere. I discovered that a blackbird was in the process of building a new nest in the ivy (sadly a previously crafted nest was raided by a cat or a rat on another side of the garden) It was absorbing and interesting to see how she managed to choose and carry varying amounts of stuff to build her nest with. It was in that moment of quiet and interested observation that I was calmer, freed from whatever thought had been occupying my mind previously. It took only a few moments to clear the cobwebs and to listen to what's important, to notice something other than the noise in my head!

Have you taken time to notice what's around you today?  
 

Permission

A conversation I had today at work prompted me to look at how much positivity was flowing when a few challenges have been knocking at the door both for myself and for those I've come into contact with recently.  I'm pleased to hear and see changes for some people. 

For some, it's almost like they have to give themselves permission to take stock, take a chance and allow a tiny bit of themselves to start to believe. This leads to a borrowed quote: ‘It takes but one positive thought when given a chance to survive and thrive to overpower an entire army of negative thoughts’ 

Mind games and tweaking reality

I've been talking with people today who make a lot of sense.  They make a lot of sense as they realise what they are saying has a direct and proportionate reaction to their reality. It comes down to this; if you think that something is going to happen (and I'm talking here particularly about negative beliefs that burrow into our thoughts) it will unfortunately and more often than not, become the truth. You'll hear 'I told you so!' from those who have this type of mindset.I accept I might sound like a scratched record on this theme, I can only tell you how true this is!

What if we were able to shape our world by the very thoughts and images we have in our head? It sounds too good to be true for most people though, right? Maybe the way to begin to effect a positive outcome is to start with one thing - turn a negative thought around. So if you think 'I'm no good at that' - could you say 'I'm getting better' instead? Where one thought might lead.... 'mind games' might take you there, John Lennon's lesser known song really is very clever indeed. I hope you enjoy the you tube link.

Placebo or real?

I've always enjoyed natural sciences and in particular how the mind connects with our bodies. I'm fascinated with the idea of 'placebo' effect, actually more for me about the true nature of mind over matter.  It has seemed a strange fact that over the years thousands of studies for new drugs have shown people given a placebo will often report an improvement in their condition. However, this often does not get reported. So I was pleased to read up on a study that definitely proved the 'placebo' effect, or rather how our expectations of something have a big effect on how we respond. The study was reported in February this year, completed at Oxford University, in conjunction with German Researchers.  See link Fear the worst expect the best


The findings suggest that doctors may need to consider dealing with patients’ beliefs about the effectiveness of any treatment, as well as the traditional route of deciding upon a drug for them.  


Are we in the Western world getting closer to a traditionally Eastern medicine view of a holistic view of mind as well as body?  I truly hope so.

They do say you are what you eat, click for link to BBC news article

This isn't me in the photo, its a fine art student from Derbyshire who made a model of her head and then filled each one with left over food from her meals. She was inspired by a diet group that she'd joined.  
I thought about a suitable pun, but I couldn't think of one off the top of my head...... 

don't rush to grow old

A beautifully original crafted piece of artwork by Paula, a fellow blogger and whose blog I found today.  


Her blog is at new beginnings blogspot and this image is timely too, what with government-backed plans to clamp down on sexualised imagery such as raunchy music videos and scenes on TV before the 'watershed', inappropriate ad campaigns and a call for tougher internet controls for parents.


On a slightly different track, sometimes it's great to remember how good it is to let ourselves have the freedom and abandon of childhood. To dream with all our senses like only children can do. How often do you give yourself up to that feeling as an adult?


I'm looking forward to volunteering at a schools enterprise event later this week, I'll be seeing teenagers showing imagination, skills and knowledge in a very different way too. Exciting!     

Imagination is the first step to reality

'What ever the mind of man can conceive and believe, it can achieve' - Napoleon Hill

Positive effects of Hypnosis - could it be a standard NHS technique?

Hypnosis could become a standard technique on the NHS. 

A report by the Royal Society of Medicine (hypnosis and psychosomatic medicine section) said that Hypnosis could become a standard technique on the NHS to treat a range of conditions. It said it can be used to relieve pain and treat stress related conditions such as irritable bowel syndrome. 


I was pleased to see that hypnosis (and talking therapies) is considered a viable option. From my perspective I agree hypnosis particularly works well with Irritable Bowel Syndrome.  Focusing on relaxation, on emotions as well as the physical symptoms.  In fact I would like to challenge anyone to change my belief that the mind and body are totally connected! In my late teens and early twenties I suffered IBS.  Whilst I had some food intolerances that made it worse, I was also very unhappy at work at the time. I'm certain the stress I felt back then was a factor in making me feel unwell. It felt like a vicious cycle.  
                                                                                                                                                                         
A therapist should have sufficient training and supervision to help their clients.  An important thing for anyone considering hypnosis is that their therapist can do it well.  They should belong to a recognised regulatory body and adhere to any guidelines laid out by that organisation.  I belong to the General Hypnotherapy Register and (in my work as a therapeutic counsellor) to the National Counselling Society.  I receive regular supervision for my work.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                        
Of course, a therapist can learn much from working with clients and also get an understanding of how their practice is going through feedback from those clients. If my clients are happy, then I am happy! In the last 6 months I had feedback telling me about reduced stress, better ease at falling asleep (and staying asleep), feeling more positive about themselves and life in general, greater assertiveness, greater confidence,  managing pain, losing weight.   I work on a tailored-to-their-needs approach with clients. 
                                                                                                                                                                      
I've been able to see first-hand how hypnosis and the use of 'talking therapies' gets positive results.  The old expression of talk is 'cheap' has moved with the times.  Talk is 'value for money', is more like it.

See:

http://www.angiegiles.co.uk/
Twitter: angie_therapist
Facebook: Angie Giles Hypnotherapy

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About the Author: Angie works as a hypnotherapist, counsellor and coach at the Norfolk Clinic Complementary Healthcare Clinic, 38-40 Magdalen Road, Norwich, NR3 4AG. 

Call Angie directly on 07773 610816 or email info@angiegiles.co.uk 
Angie offers a free initial consultation to find out more. 

Confidence and Questions

“Confidence, like art, never comes from having all the answers; it comes from being open to all the questions” - Earl Gray Stevens

start as you mean to go on!

Sometimes there can seem like hundreds of options and opinions taking you in different directions. To avoid confusion, weigh it up - the pro's and the con's and then just choose one option.  Though the path might bring you back to where you started, the good news is you can try another option. A different path. You may not have realised that very first experience taught you what you needed, quickly getting you to where you want to be.  

Making a mistake can be a positive experience - no one is perfect. Perfect your idea of what perfection is and you will already be travelling a different road.  A happier one.

Moment of change

'A truly happy person is one who can enjoy the scenery while on a detour'  ~Author Unknown