Change Your Personal History with NLP

Bad things happen to all of us at some point in our lives.  Often we are able to shrug these things off, and they don't bother us for very long.  However sometimes these things affect our lives in a negative way for a longer time.  And these things affect people in different ways.  Experiences happen, and feelings, thoughts, and beliefs are automatically linked to experiences.

Two people may have each been abused during childhood.  One of them might get it linked up in their mind that "It's my fault, I'm worthless", while another might link up "I'm never going to let this happen again to me or anyone else I know, I'm going to be strong".  Two very different situations derived from the same experience.  So what's the difference?  What causes one person to attach a useful meaning, and another to go through hell?  Who really knows?  And who will ever know?  My questions are "Is it any use to know?  Is there a better way to help?"

A great thing about the mind is that it is a learning machine, if it does something once, it can do it again.  The mind knows how to link experiences to feelings, thoughts, and beliefs; it's done it our whole lives.  This "linking process" can be used in a positive way to effect lasting change.

Take a moment and think of something that happened to you in the past that you would say is negative.  Maybe it makes you feel bad, maybe it makes you say bad things to yourself, or maybe it holds you back from doing things that you want to do.  Wouldn't it be nice to be able to feel neutral about this experience rather than feel bad?  Or maybe even find a way to feel good enough about it to make it useful?

Try this simple exercise:

1.     Think about a negative thing that happened to you, which is still affecting your life now.  

2.     Think about how you'd rather react to it.

3.     Have a think about the following question - "What would it have been handy for me to know and do back then that would have made me go through the situation and come out with the positive reaction?”

4.     Once you have answered this question, close your eyes and in your imagination go back and run through the experience again, but this time running it differently and coming out with the positive reaction.

This simple mental rehearsal exercise can start to change how you think about things, and change your personal history.  An experienced NLP practitioner can guide you through a process to impart more in depth and lasting change.

Richard Lindesay

www.RichardLindesay.com

Richard is a Licensed Master Practitioner of Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP) and Specialist Practitioner in Neuro-Hypnotic Repatterning (NHR) at the Four Barrows Complimentary Health Care Clinic in Aldbourne. 

To book Richard for NLP Life Change and Life Identity Design sessions, email info@richardlindesay.com or contact the Four Barrows clinic.

Keeping Warm - Keeping Well

Keeping Warm - Keeping Well

By Laura Nutley

Keeping the body warm and protecting it from outside influences, particularly at this time of year, is seen as a very important part of dis-ease prevention in Chinese Medicine.

Ailments such as back pain, headaches, neck ache, the common cold, infertility and even painful periods are seen to be as a result of cold invading the body and damaging the internal balance needed for good health. Central heating can exacerbate this problem as it leaves our pores open and our defences down as we step outside into the cold winter air, thereby allowing the cold to penetrate and affect our internal systems.

Luckily, prevention is easy! Do as your mother always told you and wrap up warm before facing the elements. Protect areas such as your head, neck, lower back, abdomen and feet and eat warming, nourishing foods, such as soups, stews, and avoid a diet high in raw, cold foods. Likewise, it is not advisable to exercise and then step straight outside whilst still hot and sweaty from a workout. For example, the practice of young female athletes training and then using ice baths is seen by some practitioners as having a direct correlation with these young women later having menstrual disorders and suffering from infertility. At a time when the body is changing and developing the shock of the cold to a warmed up body is just too much and as the pores are so open the body has little defence. Although this example is extreme it illustrates the problems that can be caused by temperature extremes and the very real effect that not adequately protecting the body can have on health.

All common sense really, but worth keeping in mind and putting into practice, as these ideas can make a real difference to your health and well being.

Warming foods for Winter

Warming foods for Winter

Dietary Therapy in Chinese Medicine

A good diet in Winter is particularly important as it’s a time when the immune system can become especially strained and the internal balance of the body and systems affected. Dietary therapy is very important within Chinese Medicine and incorporates the principle that the diet should reflect, and be appropriate to, the changing seasons. In this way the body can be nourished with foods most beneficial to maintaining health when taking the environmental conditions into account. Even chronic health complaints can be addressed as Winter is a good time to nourish and support the body’s natural constitution, thus making the body more resilient.

Winter is cold, inactive and damp. Therefore, a diet rich in foods which counteract these tendencies can help maintain balance in the body. Raw and cold foods in particular should be avoided as these may put undue pressure on the body’s systems and cause symptoms to become worse. Warming foods include:

· Soups

· Stews

· Root vegetables

· Ginger

· Garlic

· Miso

· Beans/lentils

· Rice

· Oats

· Meat

· Wine

Foods classified as being ‘Bitter’ in Chinese Medicine are also useful during the Winter as they counteract a damp environment and can reduce swelling and lethargy. Some bitter foods include:

· Herbs such as, basil, cardamom, marjoram, oregano, parsley, sage, thyme and turmeric

· Vegetables such as, alfalfa sprouts, asparagus, bamboo shoots, cauliflower, celery, kale, lettuce and watercress

· Pork and sheep liver

· Rye

· Coffee and tea

Winter is also a time when nature naturally slows down and hibernates and our lifestyles at this time should also reflect this to encourage good health. Reduce stress where possible, get plenty of sleep and allow yourself to become more introverted and rested at this time of year, if needed.

Allow your energy to be recouped and reserved so you can be ready when the world wakes up in the Spring J

Good nutrition - by Sam Silvester

Fatigued - Stressed – Depressed - Anxious ...............?

One of the most common complaints I hear from my clients is that they are exhausted, stressed and depressed; and when I hear what they eat and how they live their live, it’s not surprising.

Many people are pushing their minds and body beyond their capability, and when their body says “enough”, they ignore it and push harder using caffeine, sugar and alcohol to keep going or relax. There is only so long this can go on without health problems.

Stress - Initially stress is dealt with by the release of Adrenaline which gives you extra energy to cope. It does this by raising your blood sugar, shutting down your digestion, releasing sugar stores and preparing your body for fight or flight. However the body can be under stress from stimulants or lack of nutrition.

Anxiety - If this extra adrenaline isn’t used in a physical way, you can feel anxious and wired and unable to sleep. This is why exercise can ease stress. If the stress continues, Adrenaline is replaced by a hormone called Cortisol which suppresses your immune system and increases blood sugar. If Cortisolsecretion is prolonged, it can cause increased gastric acid (ulcers, heartburn and reflux, decreased bone formation and insulin resistance (which can lead to diabetes). There are many foods and supplements which are calming.

Fatigue – This is usually due to poor diet (too much junk and sugar, business lunches, alcohol and lack of regular meals) and adrenal exhaustion. When theadrenal glands have been over-stimulated, they tire and in addition, Cortisollevels may fall. It is at this stage people often turn to caffeine, energy drinksand sugar to give themselves a boost, but these force the body to keep going. Our natural equilibrium of health will try and repair and recoup by demanding rest, causing us to feel fatigue. When the body is this tired, trying to go the gym or run will only cause more damage.

Depression – Eventually when the body is at exhaustion, the person feels tired, lethargic, irritable and unable to function and cope properly. They may struggle to meet the demands of work and family and feel they are failing. This can cause depression and anxiety.

What’s the answer ...........?

Diet – food high in wholegrains, protein and fat to balance blood sugar and provide energy. Foods low in sugar to prevent sugar crashes. Regular meal times. Reduced caffeine and energy drinks to allow the body to rest when it needs to. Reduced alcohol which destroys valuable nutrients and affects quality of sleep.

Supplements – to increase nutrients and relax the body

Adrenal Stress Tests to measure the amount of cortisol in the body

Exercise – Vigorous exercise occasionally for someone who is wired and hyped, but gentle yoga and walking for someone who is exhausted.

Sleep – placing importance on winding down, going to bed early and getting enough sleep, and increased sleep if adrenally exhausted

Lifestyle – Reducing working hours / travel time / or taking too much on. Building in relaxation time to watch films, listen to music or meditate.

Social – Enjoying a social life that doesn’t leave you more tired or hungover!

Contact Sam Silvester at Sam@whatseatingyou.co.uk or on 07767260374 for an Adrenal Stress Test or to find out how you can overcome Fatigue, Depression and Anxiety