Fear of the unknown

Once upon a time, a long time ago, I was told I had asked too many questions at a meeting. In order to keep the status quo, I learnt to keep my questions inside me, unanswered or answered at a later time when the moment of learning had passed. It wasn't the best strategy for me. 

Since blossoming into the person I am now, I know different.  It was all about joyful curiosity. Someone I respect who has helped me on my journey once explained to me that curiosity is what gets you moving away from the past and toward your future (well maybe not exactly what they said, though it was along those lines). Curiosity can be the key to unlocking someone's potential.

If you're afraid of insects for example, it could be that you did not have the joyful experience (see the picture) of being encouraged to love butterflies and all the other insects around you. Perhaps a wasp sting as a toddler put you off because your curiosity was without any fear at the time. What if that insect fear had developed into an irrational fear that stops you from enjoying time outside in the fresh air though? If you are still fearful of insects, consider how it would be to not have that irrational fear any more. What would that be like? What would it be like for those who have seen how scared you were now hearing and seeing you be fear-free? How liberating! I used to dislike moths, I can now have them flying above my head without the irrational part of my brain kicking in. 

What about an uncertain career or life path? What if you are going through redundancy or facing personal upheaval? The necessity of keeping a roof over your head and regular commitments might push you towards fear. Fear can lead to paralysing inactivity, taking a hasty decision that you later regret and worst of all... panic. Instead, what if you were able to take a breath (literally and metaphorically) and take a different view of the situation? To float above it and feel differently. Perhaps viewing it as the time to make a new start and find how it flows into the next exciting part of your journey. It can be done with joyful curiosity! I have been through redundancy and come through the other side myself. 

Whether you are facing an uncertain future, or you have been held back by fear of something there's always a time to develop curiosity, to make a change and if you want, to get the help you may need to do it. I offer a free initial consultation so you can find out what support I can give you too.  Good luck on your journey of joyful curiosity! 

Email info@angiegiles.co.uk  

angiegiles.co.uk
Twitter: angie_therapist
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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. Norfolk Clinic reception on 01603 660792 or directly on 07773 610816. She loves helping other people achieve their potential at work and in life and achieving happiness using a range of therapeutic techniques.

Summer holidays, managers, career and stress

Have you ever thought that going on summer holiday might be more stressful than being at work? A 2010 study by the UK’s Institute of Leadership and Management (ILM), questioned 2,500 of its members about attitudes towards taking a long summer break. It found forty per cent of managers don’t feel relaxed after returning from a holiday. A worrying finding was that many workers came back from a holiday more stressed than when they left. Those in both lower and upper management positions had worked while they are on holiday. Around 80 per cent of those surveyed answer work-related emails, around 50 per cent make and take business-related phone calls and 10 per cent go into the office. Over 90 per cent of managers worried about returning to hundreds of e-mails. 

The study revealed it takes approximately two days and seventeen hours into a holiday for those surveyed to feel totally relaxed. Ten per cent of managers said it took them up to a week to fully get into holiday mode. Do you see yourself taking that long to relax? 

The current economic climate and fear of redundancy encourages people to feel they need to be in touch with what’s going on at work and hitting targets. However, it’s important to allow time to unwind. Only you can do that for yourself, no one else can do it for you! 

Do you deserve a bit of relaxation and time to feel revitalised? I bet you do, but how can you balance work and holiday? If you really believe you cannot stop working entirely, set yourself a limit for checking emails, correspondence or calls. Putting aside one afternoon to focus on just work is a good idea. Discuss with your partner so they know the pressures you are facing too and how they might be able to help. Planning with a partner or a relative to take the children out for an afternoon to enable quiet for work concentration can be one way to ensure you keep to any time limit you set. In the same way you plan work in, make sure you plan in free time with family and switch off your office technology too. 

Plan time for your wellbeing and fun with family and friends. It might be an unfamiliar work ethic, though I know the most capable managers in the long run are those that make time to truly relax and have happy memories of summer holidays to see them through the most demanding career. Those unread emails can wait.   

I can help you with managing stress, insomnia or just feeling more in control. See below links:

angiegiles.co.uk
Twitter: angie_therapist


Facebook: Angie Giles Hypnotherapy

About the Author: Angie works as a hypnotherapist, counsellor and coach at the Norfolk Clinic Complementary Healthcare Clinic, 38-40 Magdalen Road, Norwich. Norfolk Clinic reception on 01603 660792 or directly on 07773 610816. She loves helping other people achieve their potential at work and in life and achieving happiness using a range of therapeutic techniques.