loose strands and transformation

I was thinking of how transformation in one part of our lives influences other areas too. Our life and world is made up of individual strands combined together.  

Hidden strands exists that we choose to leave out of the story we tell ourselves (and we hide this from others too, whether consciously or unconsciously). If we become aware of what that hidden part is, when a change happens, it can help us to navigate our way through the choppiest seas of life. A vulnerable, loose strand can be better managed if we accept it and know it. 

Whether your change is a career, moving home, marital status or a loss or bereavement, change can feel scary, and at the same time, I've worked with many people who have made successful transitions in their lives. They've gone from uncertainty, fear and worry towards a happier and more accepting place. 

If you want to have a chat about transforming your life, please call or email me. I'd love to hear from you.    

See:
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, NR3 4AG. 

Call Norfolk Clinic reception on 01603 660792 or call Angie directly on 07773 610816. She loves helping people achieve their potential at work, in life and finding greater happiness using a range of therapeutic techniques.

worrying vs control

Worrying about things that are out of your control is mentally draining. What if you focused instead on all the things that really matter to you and that you have some sort of control over? Would you feel more empowered? Would you feel less afraid? Would you feel free to make better choices? If you want to focus on the things that will give you greater freedom to be who you want to be, do get in touch.

See:
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, NR3 4AG. 

Call Norfolk Clinic reception on 01603 660792 or call Angie directly on 07773 610816. She loves helping people achieve their potential at work, life and finding greater happiness using a range of therapeutic techniques.

What are you leaving behind in last year?

Happy New Year! Welcome to 2015. 

It's an exciting time, with many changes happening in the world around us (and in the UK, if you are interested, it's a general election year). It's a time for new opportunities and I think  'personal choice' about our wellbeing fits into that view.  If you want to make a few changes or improve on what you already have, its a great time to get focused on that idea. All good intentions start with an idea..  If over Christmas you've faced relationship or family challenges, put on a few pounds, been hibernating or getting over an illness, it may be time to spend a bit of time looking after your body and your mind. 

Sometimes it's a challenge to get motivated to begin afresh. With spring around the corner (I say with all good intention) it's a good time for us to take care of personal maintenance routines. It's why you often see people at the gym as they set out to lose weight and get fit. 
I personally prefer not to set 'resolutions' as they can seem so set in stone and are quite scary. Things change, so I think choices and goals need to have some flexibility. Sure, go to the gym and gradually increase what you do rather than going 'full tilt' on the running machine. Your body will thank you for building up exercise gradually. 

Setting an intermediate goal with small steps towards a bigger plan gives you a chance to celebrate achievements along the way.  Even taking one small step towards a target can give you a boost of motivation 'I did it!' you say, so you keep going. The ability to see changes and feel them happening through those small steps enables you to keep moving forward and not give up with changes to lifestyle. 

Of course, I believe in the power of the mind in supporting transformation. If you want to know more about the boost that hypnotherapy, counselling, coaching or weight management (Hypnoshape ®) can give, just get in touch.  Here's to the best year ever!

See:
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. 

Call Norfolk Clinic reception on 01603 660792 or Angie directly on 07773 610816. She loves helping other people achieve their potential at work ,life and find greater happiness using a range of therapeutic techniques.

Thinking like a warrior

See:
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. 

Call Norfolk Clinic reception on 01603 660792 or Angie directly on 07773 610816. She loves helping other people achieve their potential at work ,life and find greater happiness using a range of therapeutic techniques.

Odd socks = Perfect match

Odd socks. I have several odd socks I've kept for months. My favourite blue ones are the latest to have lost a partner. Perhaps the washing machine has eaten the other. I've accepted the fate of opening my sock drawer and finding an odd pairing. I do my best to match the colour and get on with my day. I've accepted I have more important things to do than worry about perfectly matching socks.

Why talk about socks? Well, I've worked with a few clients in recent times that in various ways had felt they were attempting to be 'all things to all people'. Several of them through discussion with me, had come to realise that the stress or anxiety they'd felt about their situations, was sometimes because of setting themselves very high standards. They wanted things to be 'perfect' in every way. Whether parent, employee or manager. They thought their lives needed to be so perfect that they were burning themselves out. Matching socks were the least of their worries.

When a high achiever loses control in some way, it can lead to feelings of anxiety. An example is when our own standards of behaviour /output are personally highly valued. If that expectation is transferred to others (whether colleagues, friends or family) it can lead to conflict. When others fail to live up to expectations, it can result in anxiety or stress. Becoming passively aggressive, overly controlling or domineering may be a negative outcome. In the case of the workplace, delegation ceases or frustration builds with the colleague who doesn't match the high personal standards. Tension builds and potentially affects happiness/ productivity.

In a family/friend context, it can put a big strain on emotional and physical well-being if striving to be all things to all people. Juggling the responsibilities of a demanding job and being a parent or carer can be tough. If the world of social media is anything to go by, people want to be seen as being perfect. They can photoshop their life to show a glossed-over, unrealistic world.

Practice learning to let go of demand for total perfection, find time to do the things that give you pleasure to reduce stress/ anxiety.  If you can let one thing go this coming week, let it be matching socks! It's a good start.

See:
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. 

Call Norfolk Clinic reception on 01603 660792 or Angie directly on 07773 610816. She loves helping other people achieve their potential at work ,life and find greater happiness using a range of therapeutic techniques.

Self-Reliance

Self-reliance is a skill. It could also be considered a mind-set. As a skill that can be understood and learned, I think it goes hand in hand with having the right mentality to make it happen. But where do you start?

If you face a problem, you may feel out of control. You don't know whether to take action or stick your head in the sand, run and hide or face up to whatever it is. It can feel quite fearful on a number of levels.

People may want to boost their ability to take control and improve their lot. Whether that be at the end of a relationship where the other person made most decisions or took control of problems, & it feels daunting to find a way forward. Or perhaps at work, where doubts about abilities and confidence can surface. Or those not allowed to be their own person from a very young age and wanting to develop their confidence and self-reliance. 

You can start by giving yourself permission to be self-reliant (it does not mean being selfish, that's something different) You could start right now, say, 'I am self-reliant'. Check what that is like as you say it. Do you feel stronger? When you do something slightly out of your comfort zone, eg, suggesting to a co-worker you do a particular task that perhaps they usually seem to 'take over'. Afterwards, reward yourself with something positive. You overcame fear. The more you rely on you, the happier you will be.  

It is possible to find and get your self-reliance reward. I nearly wrote 'award' then! Actually, it could be like giving yourself an award, a 'recognition' of a skill, if you like. That's a rewarding idea.     

See:

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.  

Call Norfolk Clinic reception on 01603 660792 or Angie directly on 07773 610816.  She loves helping other people achieve their potential in life and work and to find greater happiness using a range of therapeutic techniques.

The magic of heels (or sparkly red shoes): self belief

I remember the first time I went to buy a pair of high heels. There was a good reason, not just fashion. I wanted a pair of heels to look older than my 12 years. I needed to look like I was 14, the age I needed to be to get in to see a then 'AA' rated film at the cinema. The film was the 'Elephant Man'. I'd heard it was amazing and I'd do anything to go. Where I lived there wasn't that many shoe shops in town. My mum went with me and we searched the shop with the 'teen' appeal. 

The pair of shoes I found and fell in love with there were totally impractical. A vivid red/orange colour, peep toe, in suede. I have wide fitting feet and I think these were a narrow fit. My mum asked if I was sure about them. 'Yes' of course I was, my heart was already set on those shoes and so I squeezed my toes into them and thought, 'perfect!' even as the pretty suede pinched the edge of my big and little toes. I believed the shoes made me look and feel older - just the way I needed them to. That was all that mattered. 

I needed no help in the pretence of being older than I was. I added a dab of make up on the evening of the film. I put on those red shoes and wobbled and strutted off with my friend (also in heels). That night my friend and I were also already 14 in our minds, we were emotionally 'grown up' we really believed it. We even behaved more worldly and acted confidently before we got anywhere near the cinema. Of course, we got in to see the film and it was wonderful and moving. I look back now and smile, as it was the genuine belief that we were already two years older, that was amazing and touching. 

It's great what a pair of shoes can do for you. It's also amazing what your imagination can do too. Self-belief starts with a little imagination and practice. You have the power inside. Heels are optional.

See:

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.  

Call Norfolk Clinic reception on 01603 660792 or Angie directly on 07773 610816.  She loves helping other people achieve their potential at work, life and find greater happiness using a range of therapeutic techniques.