Posted on January 10, 2026January 11, 2026 by Sue Smith — Leave a comment

New Year, No Rush: Resolutions Can Wait – Here’s Why

Winter, Yin, and the Wisdom of Slowing Down

Winter marks the deepest expression of Yin energy. It’s the coldest, darkest, and most inward‑turning time of the year—a season when nature naturally contracts, rests, and conserves its strength. Spiritually, this is the time to follow nature’s lead: to slow down, soften your pace, and allow stillness to become part of your daily rhythm. It is not the time for exertion or for pushing ourselves headlong into new goals.

The Water Element: Spiritual Meaning and Emotional Flow

In Qigong and traditional Chinese philosophy, winter corresponds to the water element, which governs the kidneys and bladder. Water represents wisdom, adaptability, and the ability to flow with life. When our energy is balanced, Water moves freely—calm, deep, and steady.

But when we push ourselves too hard during winter—overworking, under‑resting, or ignoring the body’s need for quiet—the Water element is said to “freeze.” Spiritually, this shows up as:

*a sense of fragility or overwhelm
* increased worry and heightened fear
* difficulty trusting the flow of life

These emotional shifts are indicators that our inner reserves are being depleted.

The Science Behind Winter Fatigue and Kidney Energy

Modern physiology supports many of these ancient observations:

• The kidneys regulate fluid balance, blood pressure, and stress hormones. When we’re overtired or chronically stressed, the kidneys and adrenal glands work harder, which can leave us feeling drained or anxious.
• Cold weather increases metabolic demand. The body uses more energy to stay warm, so rest becomes even more essential.
• Reduced daylight affects the brain. Lower sunlight reduces serotonin and increases melatonin, making us naturally more tired and more reflective.
• The nervous system shifts toward conservation. Winter encourages a parasympathetic (rest‑and‑digest) state—if we allow it.

The ancient idea of “protecting kidney energy” aligns beautifully with what science tells us about managing stress, sleep, and hormonal balance during the colder months.

Live in Harmony With Winter and take her invitation to :

• rest more deeply. Relaxation and Yoga Nidra
• sleep longer
• take naps without guilt
• keep warm and protect the lower back/kidney area
• choose reflective activities like meditation, journaling, reading, or gentle Qigong
• move slowly and intentionally
• conserve energy rather than scatter it

Winter is a season for replenishment, not overexertion. The above practices support both the spiritual flow of water and the scientific need for restoration.

When Water Freezes Within Us

If we ignore winter’s call to slow down, we risk draining our reserves. In traditional language, the water element becomes icy—rigid instead of being fluid and flowing. In modern terms, this looks like:

• adrenal fatigue
• heightened stress response
• increased anxiety or fearfulness
• difficulty concentrating
• emotional sensitivity

Finally, we can benefit from reflection, consider what you want to leave behind and what has a place in the new year. It’s a great time of year to consider rebuilding your self-esteem and boosting your confidence with hypnotherapy. Reading, journaling, drawing and mind mapping are great creative pursuits at this time of year.

According to TCM (Traditional Chinese medicine) the ears are linked to the kidneys so this is a good time to listen in, change channels and hear your own inner wisdom from within.

Think of the moon bringing light into the darkness, you’ll benefit from longer deeper meditations that will likely bring enlightenment and “ah ha” moments of clarity. This is a great time for creative thinking (not doing) that will help shape the year ahead.

Keep an eye out for my Spring is the Perfect Season to Start Anew blog at the end of winter.

Posted on November 29, 2025 by Sue Smith — Leave a comment

Six Suggestions to Self-Soothe and Regulate your Nervous System

Sometimes there’s just no time to get to a yoga class, to meditate or simply relax because there’s too much to do. But we all need ways to, self-soothe, relax and regulate the nervous system in preparation for the next task at hand.

Here are six quick strategies to shift your emotional state. You can try them individually, or for the best results, combine them. They’re also perfect for incorporating into your bedtime routine to promote a restful night’s sleep.

You don’t need your phone, you don’t need an app you have everything you need in your body to change channels and move from stress to a state of serenity.

Relax Your Nervous System.

Bring your left hand to your left ear lobe spread your hand and stroke slowly down your neck toward your throat, then your right hand does the same (same side) repeat hand-over-hand. Feel the warmth of your hands. Repeat to right side of neck. Then stroke down from the chin to the base of the throat. This activates the vagus nerve which triggers your parasympathetic nervous system and improves your vagal tone. All of which contribute to a regulated nervous system. In other words you’ll feel instantly calmer.

When you feel sad or tearful, this is a great tip to expel stagnant energy from your lungs, as energetically they hold sadness and grief.

Float your arms out to the sides at shoulder height, breathe in and bring your bring your arms up above your head. Make a pyramid with your fingertips as you float your hands down in front of your body, hands flatten as if you’re pushing air down, whilst exhaling with the sound Sssss hissing like an old-fashioned kettle. Repeat three times.

When you feel hurt, angry or upset, your heart fire will spike, like a fire flaring up. To balance this, focus on your energetic heart at the centre of your sternum. Gently stroke hand-over-hand, downwards in long slow strokes. Pair this movement with a soft nasal inhalation and exhale with the sound Haaaa this helps cool the heart fire and brings a sense of calm. Repeat three times.

Vibration is movement so it can shift stagnant energy making room for fresh energy to circulate.

Sit upright and hum quietly for a minimum of 5 minutes. A 2002 scientific study published in The American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine titled “Humming greatly increases nasal nitric oxide“ backs up the claim that humming for 5 minutes produces fifteen times the amount of nitric oxide in the sinuses. This is linked to increased oxygen uptake, blood vessel dilation and improved immune function.

If you’ve had a shock, feel angry and need to change your state read on…

When a dog trembles in reaction to fireworks they are attempting to shake off the excess adrenalin coursing through their body that’s making them scared. We can do this too. Stand with feet shoulder width apart, shrug shoulders up and down moving the shoulder blades too, allow the arms and hands to be limp, so that they flail independently alongside the body. Simultaneously bend the knees so that the body is also shaking loosely. This helps to move lymph fluid which carries away waste, stale energy and shakes off the adrenalin. Do this for 5 minutes with the intention to leg go of… state what it is you’re letting go of.

Gargle ‘til you Gag.

Finally, and not one for the office, practise this in your bathroom morning or evening and ideally on an empty stomach. Gargle until you gag or until your eyes water and this will reset your vagus nerve and activate your parasympathetic nervous system. Rinse and repeat. Enjoy!

Ginger tea — Ginger Tea to Aid Digestion

Additionally, boil fresh ginger for 5 minutes and drink first thing in the morning and last thing at night. It can help with digestive disorders, soothe the gut, decrease bloating and can help alleviate inflammation in the body. Not advisable if you’re on blood thinners so check with your GP if you’re taking medications.

Take advantage of the freebies in thestresshacker shop, go to the FREE STUFF button. Try some of the hypnosis programmes too, it’s the quickest way to reprogramme your mind.

Posted on July 2, 2025July 3, 2025 by Sue Smith — Leave a comment

MIND MANAGEMENT: MOVEMENT OR MEDITATION?

A few years ago I was teaching yoga in a local gym, when a student approached me seeking guidance on managing her anxiety. She asked which specific yoga poses could help her. Curiously, I inquired about her daily practice, only to learn that she felt too anxious to practice at all.

The purpose of any discipline, be it prayer, meditation, Yoga, or Qigong, is to connect with your inner self. This connection taps into an unwavering, peaceful presence that resides within you. By establishing a regular practice, ideally daily, it becomes easier to access this infinite source of calm.

The long-term benefits are profound. When you cultivate a sense of stillness and peace, it feels like returning home to a place you instinctively know you belong. You can carry this sense of calm with you as you navigate life’s journey.

Of course, as humans, we will still experience feelings of sadness, anger, and depression. Acknowledging these emotions is essential; they are part of the human experience. However, your practice allows you to move through these feelings more quickly. Embrace them after all, they are real and valid. With your discipline in place, you’re more likely to remain more positive as you move through the challenges of your day.

Can you take seven to ten minutes every day?

When you care enough about yourself to commit to a short time every day for your practice – whether that’s running, martial arts, or chanting – it becomes easier to remain centred, react less to external triggers, feel generally stronger and feel more in control of your life.

What you experience in your practice is eventually translated into every area of your life. For example, in the ancient art of Qigong, we learn to move slowly with relaxed breathing and in time we approach all our daily activities in the same way, thus gaining some self-mastery.

Over time we develop resilience as we realise that emotions are fluid; nothing stays the same forever, including how you feel in any given moment. Whilst we can’t escape illness, loss and life changing events we’re able to handle them in a more robust way.

Your Practice as an Anchor

Consider your practice as an anchor during life’s storms. Whilst many external circumstances are often beyond our control, building a daily routine fosters a sense of balance and inner strength that will serve you well throughout life.

Just before lockdown I started my teacher training in Qigong which I’ve added to my regular yoga practice. I cannot sing it’s praises more highly; it is a remarkable practice and there is a huge body of scientific evidence to prove its efficacy.

It’s an easy practice to learn… you just have to keep practising.

If you would like to experience some of the wonderful benefits of Qigong. I am holding a mini-Yoga and Qigong Summer Retreat in a beautiful setting in Bromley, Kent. Contact me at sue@thestresshacker.com for more information.

Posted on April 6, 2025April 7, 2025 by Sue Smith — Leave a comment

Mind Body Wellbeing Hacks

Here are 5 simple hacks for a mind body reset.

Hum doesn’t matter what tune or whether or not you’re in tune, just hum it’s an easy fix to feeling calm.
Stroke your neck from your left ear to your right collar bone hand over hand, then from right ear to the left collar bone, finally stroke from your chin down to the little u bend at the base of your neck.
Put an ice-pack on the nape of your neck for one-to-two minutes.
Gargle ’till you gag. Use Himalyan salts if you can get them and gargle robustly for a good couple of minutes until your gag reflex is triggered.
Learn how to belly breathe it’s a life saver in stressful situations. To be able to change your state by moving into deeper belly breathing offers us a sense of control in challenging situations.

It’s all to do with resetting your vagus nerve

This net-like nerve pretty much travels the length of your torso from your 12th cranial nerve to your gut. Apply some of the mind body wellbeing hacks above and you’ll feel in control again. It will move away from anxiety toward self-confidence.

Mind body hacks were used as far back as 12th century. Techniques such as the Inner Smile Meditation were used to give subtle messages to the major organs in the body that all is well. Cool, simply by smiling and connecting with them we start to feel great.

Light, Heartshaped Mirror Plant, Wind Chime — Light Heart Chimes with Wellbeing and Nature

Now it might sound daft to smile and connect with your heart, but if you want to live in harmony, know that the heart is the Emperor of the emotions. Stop and think about that for a moment and you’ll know it’s true. When you feel sad, angry, fearful, happy or loving you experience those feelings from your heart.

FREE GIFT

It stands to reason then that we should look after the heart. With this in mind I made a gift for you. It’s my version of The Inner Smile Meditation. Download it free here in the shop or listen to it on my YouTube channel. Once you’re familiar with it you can do it yourself EVERY day to trigger a healthy mind body connection. Let me know what you think of it.

Sunlight shining on a woman in nature who is smiling. — Smile with your heart, smile with your eyes let the light in and spread the love.

Yoga and Qigong Classes

If you’d like to join me in exploring more mind body hacks, I run an in-person Yoga and Qigong class in Bromley on the last Friday of every month and online weekly. You’ll love how you feel afterwards. Beginners are welcome you only need to bring your mind and body.

Thanks for reading.

Posted on May 7, 2023May 10, 2023 by Sue Smith — Leave a comment

Get Organised And Save Time

Some friends and I were chatting recently and discovered something in common, namely a state chaos and a realisation of how much time is lost by attempting too many things at once. I mean I’m talking, highly talented and skilled women here, so it was surprising to discover how many of us need to get organised in other ways.

We laughed about starting a hundred chores at the same time, okay slight exaggeration here, but…

Can you relate to this?

You start one task, for example clearing your desk, then you go to the kitchen to get a drink, open the fridge, notice the shelf needs a wipe over and end up cleaning out the fridge. Then you remember you’re half way through clearing up your desk, so go back to your desk. Then you notice an email that you should have responded to, start to reply and horror! Remember your were running a bath! Before long the whole place is in chaos! You need to get organised!

We agreed that having a number of tasks on the go feels really stressful. A messy environment equals a messy mind and definitely leads to feelings of agitation and stress. It triggers the inner critic too and before long, you’re berating and beating yourself up, which is very bad for your confidence and leads to poor self-esteem.

Does this or variations of it sound familiar?

But what if I told you there’s a cure for this, that in addition, you will have a nice little release of Serotonin, the drug that promotes internal happiness? Every time we get a reward, the brain releases a small amount of dopamine. Dopamine, a molecule that sends signals from our brain, gives us a temporary sense of pleasure.

When we increase rewards they build up and we eventually get a shot of Serotonin which gives us a deeper, longer lasting sense of pleasure and happiness.

It’s simply a matter of retraining your mind and re-conditioning your behaviours and that’s easier than it might sound.

The positive psychology of Neurolinguistic Programming helps us to get organised and encourages us to ‘Put Systems In Place’ again, this is not as complicated as it sounds.

For example; always putting your front door keys in the same place, will ensure that you wont spend 10 minutes searching for them with the “I’m sure I put them there” lament! It’s a system.

American Author Alan Lakein created the following to get us more organised, read on now to discover how you can bring structure and simple systems to your tasks.

Cull the Chaos

1. Make a list with no more than seven tasks on it. Write A,B,C or D beside each task in order of priority i.e. the most important jobs will have an A next to them, then B and so on.

2. Start the first A job and complete it. Do NOT move onto any other chore until this first task is completely finished. Then you have the small pleasure of putting a BIG tick beside it and crossing it off of the list, and that’s your first reward and remember a reward equals a shot of feel good dopamine.

3. RINSE AND REPEAT! Do this and you’ll get organised.

When I discovered that multi-tasking is a myth, that something has to suffer when you attempt to do two things at once, I worked even harder to stick to the above system. In a relatively short period of time I retrained my brain and my approach to tasks and have become addicted to feeling good!

Yoga Retreat

Oh, I almost forgot, if you’re in need of a reset and would like to experience a deeper state of peace and tranquility, there’s good news and bad news. The bad news is we are now fully booked for the March 2024 Yoga retreat but the good news is that we do have a couple of spaces available on our weekday Yoga Retreat 12 – 14 June 2023.

It’s held in the beautiful space of Florence House in Sussex, suitable for beginners and experienced yogis alike. Please feel free to contact me for more information or questions.

Yoga / Qigong Classes – Last Friday of every month – Bromley

Finally, alongside the weekly online yoga and meditation classes, I’m now offering an in-person Yoga/Qigong class on the last Friday of every month, in Bromley at a great spanking new venue that has a fabulous cafe serving quality food and drinks, it is in the beautiful green space of Norman Park and has free parking. Beginners welcome. Please get in touch with me by phone or email if you would like to know more.

Posted on March 3, 2021March 3, 2021 by Sue Smith — Leave a comment

Open Heart Therapy

When a client asked “What is Open Heart Therapy?” We went on to talk about the effects of being emotionally hurt, I think most of us have some experience of this.

Does anyone sail through life without being wounded at some point?

When we feel hurt, scared and rejected the natural response is to withdraw, close down and push away in order to protect ourselves.

This shutting down often takes place in the heart area. It can be a gradual closing down from small childhood hurts to a more sudden snapping shut after a major rejection.

The fall-out from this ‘protection’ can be devastating and one of the consequences is poor communication. In our efforts to keep ourselves safe, we can end up closing down in the throat area, meaning that open honest conversation is a no-go.

Instead of juicy heartfelt conversations that lead to real intimacy and healthy relationships, important dialogues left unsaid will have negative effects. Couples I’ve worked with talk about avoiding direct eye contact, instead talking about mundane things like the weather or “What’s for dinner.” Humour can also be used to avoid genuine connection or worse still, no conversation at all as couples polarise to opposite ends of the bed, room, home or country.

Rather than searching or waiting impotently for someone else to provide the magical key that will open our hearts and free our speech, it is possible to take control and do it ourselves.

In a secure environment we can gently work on the business of improving our relationships, with ourselves first and then as a natural evolution, with others.

The benefits of this heart work are manifold as we learn to accept our unique selves and practice self-love, we can breathe more easily, feel authentic, empowered and more comfortable in our skin.

When we fill our own cup first, we have more to offer others, you cannot serve from a depleted cup.

Back in 2004 I ran the first ‘Open Heart Therapy’ workshop in Holmes Place and a few times since then but NOW definitely seems the right time to open up the heart chakra and get the other centres energised and spinning.

If you’re ready for the ‘Open Heart Therapy’ challenge you can book your space on this Saturday’s workshop Registration closes Friday 5^th March 2021 at 1.00pm. Book here or drop me an email at Sue@thestresshacker.com to join us.

Posted on February 20, 2020February 20, 2020 by Sue Smith — Leave a comment

Stresshacker Podcast #5 Are You Anxious About A Career Change?

We’ve reached episode 5 of The Stresshacker Podcast! I’ve been so blown away by the response to my adventures into podcasting. It’s a new experience for me and I’m learning as I go. I’m looking forward to making more and I hope you’ll join me on the ride! If you’ve enjoyed these recent episodes, please do like them on iTunes and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts.

In this latest episode I address anxieties around career change. I offer some simple exercises to gently guide you toward a new career – and to even find your vocation.

Over the years I’ve seen many clients whose anxiety has been generated by the need to make a career change and yet deep down they feel afraid to leave the security of what they know. For many people the thought of change makes them feel afraid and anxious. But with a little daydreaming, planning and even saving for a while, it is possible to prepare your escape route and move in a different direction of work that will bring you more happiness.

Listen here to Episode Five of the Stresshacker Podcast to find out how!

Thanks so much for all your kind words and feedback. Do get in touch if you have any thoughts on future episodes – or to let me know if you’ve found any of the episodes particularly helpful!

To listen to all previous episodes click here

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Episode page: (let me know if this isn’t available on your favourite podcast app)

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Posted on February 12, 2020February 11, 2020 by Sue Smith — Leave a comment

Stresshacker Podcast Ep4: Beat Anxiety, Depression And Burnout With Balance

So many people I see in my practice are lacking energy; they feel tired, anxious and lethargic especially during wintertime. Never before have so many people and, dare I say, particularly women, been so exhausted and frazzled!

That’s the subject for my latest podcast.

Episode 4 of The Stresshacker Podcast offers some valuable ways to re-connect with yourself and others.

I talk about how you can bring much needed balance back into your life and, in the process, counter some of the struggles that we face – such as depression, anxiety and exhaustion.

The pressure is constantly on and our lives are more demanding than they have ever been.

Think about it, are you constantly doing?

In the absence of a nice smattering of being (or certainly doing much less), there’s an imbalance. The more doing we do the more that imbalance will show up in our everyday lives.

Listen to this episode for ways you can regain your sense of balance.

I’ve been so blown away by the response to my adventures into podcasting. It’s a new experience for me and I’m learning as I go.

If you’ve enjoyed these recent episodes, please do like them on iTunes and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts. It really does make a difference to how many people find the podcast!

As a special thank you for those who listen to the end, I’d like to offer you half price access to my Wellbeing In A Week short course. Listen to the podcast to find out how to claim it!

I’ll be back soon to bring more peace into your life.

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Episode page: (let me know if this isn’t available on your favourite podcast app)

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Posted on September 23, 2019September 23, 2019 by Sue Smith — Leave a comment

15 Ways To Understand Emotional Intelligence

It’s Never Too Late To Have A Happy Childhood

What is emotional intelligence? How do you stop yourself from feeling like a child when you’re pulled up at work about something. Why do you react to your own children in a childish way? Why can’t you stand up to that bully? Just how do you grow up and heal emotionally?

For almost 30 years I’ve had the pleasure of helping thousands of people to develop emotional intelligence. I’ve facilitated many as they’ve healed old wounds and genuinely found ways to leave an unpleasant past where it truly belongs, in the past!

Whilst counselling and cognitive approaches can be great ways to understand your past, they don’t always hit the spot when it comes to ‘feeling’ better.

Many clients arrive in my therapy room after months, sometimes years of counselling elsewhere, yet still feel that they haven’t moved on. Although they have a good understanding of their pasts, they still feel they haven’t grown up emotionally. Why is this?

The simple answer is this. You remain emotionally stuck because emotions live in your body – not in your mind. To have emotional intelligence you probably need to heal the past.

Your emotional life lives on in your physiology.

What does that mean?

Your emotions are stored in your organ body and are communicated via your physical systems. Such as the nervous system or cardiovascular and respiratory systems.

What is emotional intelligence? Is it intellectual or somatic?

Let me ask you a question. Do you feel anxious or think anxious? Often the feeling precipitates the thoughts.

For example, you wake up with a feeling of anxiety in your chest, it feels like a tight band around your chest. You add all kinds of reasoning and ‘rationale’ as to why you’re feeling that way.

You’ve got a presentation later that day. You’ve had an argument with a colleague or friend, or you didn’t get enough sleep.

You attribute these thoughts to the feelings of tightness in your chest, the thoughts build and the band gets tighter. This creates a vicious circle.

To become more emotionally intelligent learn a little about your subconscious mind and it’s connection to your body. Discover how you can change the way you feel.

Your subconscious mind is also your imagination, your unconscious mind and your long term memory, the other 90%. It all means the same.
According to quantum physics the subconscious mind processes 44 billion bits of information per second! Read that again!
This part of your mind has billions of jobs to do. One of the main jobs is to store information, regardless of whether that information is true or false. Read that again!
Your subconscious mind is phenomenally intelligent, yet simultaneously childlike in quality

This mind holds all the memories of billions other you’s from the past. Look at the photo of the Russian Dolls and imagine one doll for every moment in time. They are all you.
Your subconscious mind is nothing to be afraid of … it’s just YOU!
Your subconscious mind has your best interests at heart… at every stage in your life.For example if when you were 14 you had a temper tantrum with your parents and screamed inside your head over and over with great emotion “I wish I were dead!” That part of you still holds that intention. That nano second thought in time stays there at an energetic level.
Because your subconscious mind cannot identify past or future, everything just is,in the here and now. This makes healing the past possible!
Time is man-made. As I write this it’s 12.30pm here in the UK yet it’s 1.30pm in France. Your subconscious has no such time restrictions, so you can change memories (and their attached emotions) in the so-called past.
.Your subconscious mind is willing to help you in the pursuit of your goals and dreams. But it’s up to you to make really clear exactly what you want. You can program a brighter future, because your subconscious mind’s main job is to store information.
Your subconscious mind is basically YOU and it wants to help you. You at a conscious level are the headquarters and your subconscious awaits your instructions. In the absence of any new directives, it just carries out old programming, often in the form of negative thoughts and beliefs.
The subconscious mind is connected to the systems and organs in your body. This is where you feel. According to Eastern traditions such as acupuncture and Ayurveda your emotions live in your organs.If you have you ever heard someone say they were gutted? Or noticed someone unconsciously holding their breath in fear as they recounted an unpleasant memory? That’s the emotion ‘held’ in the stomach and cardio- vascular and respiratory systems.

12. Your subconscious mind is really happy to change perspective on any issue past or future, because it wants to help you to feel better at every level.

13 Due to the nature of your subconscious mind, it is willing to accept changes. When you change perspective on an old issue it affects your physiology positively.

14 By playing around with visualization paired with a relaxed body, you can change past events and program future events and physiology will obey.

15 This is currently revealed as neuro-plasticity, yet has been known and practiced by hypnotherapists the world over for years!

It’s easy to re-programme your mind. Hypnosis is the fastest way to do this. By regularly downloading positive suggestions to your subconscious mind, you bypass the ‘critical factor’ i.e. the conscious mind and in as little as a week you can be feeling happier and more positive.

As I once told a client “It’s never too late to have a happy childhood!”

Posted on June 11, 2018June 11, 2018 by Sue Smith — Leave a comment

How Can I Make Changes In My Life?

Ever felt stuck in a rut ?

Making one simple change could be enough to boost your wellbeing

Wellbeing is said to be a state of being comfortable, healthy or happy. A measurement might be how contented you are from one day to the next with your life.

But have you ever had the thought “Oh no, what am I doing, how have I ended up here again!” You know, those times when you find yourself repeating negative behaviours and habits or when you just can’t seem to stop those repetitive, rubbish thought patterns that bring you down? Sound familiar?

The cause is usually down to old conditioning and programming, time for a software update perhaps?

The daft thing is, on our journey through life and at any given moment in time, we have an abundance of choices, yet we still tread the same old path, trotting out the same old excuses that keep us feeling stuck.

Using the metaphor of a car to illustrate, imagine you drive a car through a field one day, carving out a set of tracks and then tomorrow you drive the car down the same tracks you would only have to do it a few times before the car would automatically slot into the tracks because they’re there and it’s the path of least resistance.

How Can I Make Changes In My Life - The Stresshacker Blog — Robot

It’s the same with our thinking. It’s far easier to run the same old thoughts each morning rather than make the effort it takes to create new healthier thought pathways. Most people robotically repeat the same routines and patterns each day without even knowing why they are doing so.

This is like a weird amnesia in which we forget that of course it’s possible to change your mind. You can choose a different thought. You can change a behaviour. You can choose a different course of action. There are always other pathways that can be carved out so that you can drive the car to a different destination.

If you fancy a boost to your wellbeing, here’s 5 steps to help;

Think of it as waking up and becoming more present. Move into a space where you can observe the choices you’re making in each moment. Instead of allowing every thought and action to be generated by you at an unconscious level, learn to become a witness to your thoughts so that you can make decisions more consciously.
How? I hear you ask. Slow down! Slow your thoughts down, you can train yourself to do this by slowing your breathing down. Breathing is an unconscious activity, we don’t usually say “oh okay I’ll take a breath now” it happens automatically. We can have anything between 17’000 and 30’000 breaths a day, so naturally you cannot observe every breath or you’d go bonkers! However when we gradually become more conscious of our breathing, watching it, listening to it and feeling the simple rise and fall of the chest or diaphragm, we can begin to slow it down. When our breath is slower our thoughts will also slow down leaving us with an improved sense of wellbeing.
In this space of feeling calmer and more in control, ask yourself “What will the consequences be if I make this choice? Will it make me feel happy and fulfilled? How will it affect others around me?”
To get the answer, listen within and sense the response from your body. Does it feel bright, light, expansive and uplifting? Or is there a sense of heaviness, darkness, tightness and gloom? Develop patience, stop hurrying everything and really tune in.
Are you in touch with your gut instinct? Can you sense what your heart really wants. It’s easier to listen to your body’s wisdom for the answers because the mind carries programme after programme of early conditioning such as people pleasing, resisting, putting other’s first or constantly asking the opinion of others out of habit rather than trusting your own innate knowledge. Put simply, does this choice feel good or bad. Keep repeating this process until you arrive at the choices that sit more comfortably with you.

One of the quickest ways to update your mental and emotional software and create new positive programmes to boost your wellbeing, is the regular use of simple hypnotherapy programmes, check out the range of programmes on offer in my shop here.