"Forgiveness is not always easy. At times, it feels more painful than the wound we suffered to forgive the one that inflicted it. And yet, there is no peace without forgiveness." - Marianne Williamson. Forgiveness is a powerful and complex emotion that can...

Uncertainty is the only certainty there is, and knowing how to live with insecurity is the only security." - John Allen Paulos. Life is unpredictable. It can be exhilarating, frightening, and everything in between. From career decisions to personal relationships,...

"Psychological fitness is just as important as physical fitness. Just as we need to train our bodies, we also need to train our minds to be resilient and adaptable." - Amy Morin. In a world where physical fitness is often emphasised, it's important to...

"The best defence against misinformation is knowledge." - Lauren Zimmerman. Information is just a click away in the modern world, and it can be difficult at times to distinguish between fact and fiction. Misinformation, or false and inaccurate information, can be...

"Beauty is not in the face; beauty is a light in the heart." These words spoken by the renowned poet and philosopher Kahlil Gibran remind us that beauty is not just skin deep but something that comes from within. It's a light that shines from our hearts and...

"Connection is the energy that is created between people when they feel seen, heard, and valued." These powerful words by Brené Brown capture the essence of what it means to connect with others. In our fast-paced and technology-driven world, we can often forget the...

"Toxic people attach themselves like cinder blocks tied to your ankles, and then invite you for a swim in their poisoned waters." - John Mark Green. Dealing with toxic people can be one of the most challenging aspects of navigating our social and professional lives....

"Hope is like a road in the country; there was never a road, but when many people walk on it, the road comes into existence." - Lin Yutang. Hope is a powerful force that can inspire and uplift us, even in the darkest of times. It keeps us moving forward, even when the...

"Shyness is a curious thing. It can be seen as an endearing quality, but it can also be a crippling condition." - Susan JeffersShyness is a common experience that many people struggle with. It can be a crippling feeling that makes it difficult to connect with others,...

Imagine waking up every day with a growing sense of purpose and direction, understanding more about what you want to achieve and how you're going to get there. Picture yourself overcoming obstacles and challenges with increasing ease, confident in your ability to...

Unconscious biases are a ubiquitous part of our lives, and they can significantly impact the way we interact with the world and the people around us. These biases are formed over time as a result of our experiences, cultural influences, and other factors, and they can...

"To be yourself in a world that is constantly trying to make you something else is the greatest accomplishment." - Ralph Waldo Emerson Showing others your true self may be a daunting and demanding endeavour, especially in a society that often emphasises conformity and...

"Depression is the most unpleasant thing I have ever experienced. It is that absence of being able to envisage that you will ever be cheerful again. The absence of hope. That very deadened feeling, which is so very different from feeling sad." - J.K. Rowling...

Despite many seeming to be more and more disillusioned with them these days, New Year's resolutions have helped many people start on the path to making significant positive changes in their lives. People who question the efficacy of New Year's resolutions often point...

One of the issues that can stymie your personal growth and cause significant discomfort is the tendency to undervalue yourself and create roadblocks that prevent you from achieving your goals. Stop putting yourself down is a main message of this article. It's easy for...

Winter is undoubtedly many people’s least favorite seasons out of the four. With all of the holiday activities, December usually goes by pretty quickly, then the rest of the winter can seem to drag on for many people due to the cold and cloudy, dark days. By the time...

Failure has always been an unavoidable aspect of life. However, in recent years, the concept has taken on a counterintuitive meaning in some circles. As the maxim goes; "Embrace failure." John Maxwell, the leadership guru, advises us to "fail forwards." Elizabeth Day,...

Emotion and emotional expression are crucial in our daily lives. Emotions, according to evolutionary psychologists, serve a primal function in assisting us in navigating and adapting to our ever-changing environment. Emotions influence our attitudes, moods, and...

Self-care, self-help, self-improvement - are subjects that has been experiencing ongoing popularity on social media in particular. Self-help accounts on TikTok, Instagram, and Twitter gained a tonne of followers as people flocked to anything that seemed even vaguely...

The holidays, ahh. They are only a short distance away! Though my children have been asking top put the Christmas decorations since October, this weekend, we’ll finally be getting underway with it. When we're in a good place, it can be such a wonderful and joyful time...

“Intimacy transcends the physical. It is a feeling of closeness that isn’t about proximity, but of belonging. It is a beautiful emotional space in which two become one.” - Steve Maraboli What comes to mind when you think of intimacy? Sex? Cuddling? The capacity to...

“Vulnerability is the essence of romance. It's the art of being uncalculated, the willingness to look foolish, the courage to say, 'This is me, and I'm interested in you enough to show you my flaws with the hope that you may embrace me for all that I am but, more...

“Aging is not lost youth but a new stage of opportunity and strength.” - Betty Friedan Many changes occur within us as we age, both physically and emotionally, and coping with the aging process can be stressful. We may not have the same vitality we once had as young...

It is considered a part of human nature to attempt to avoid harm and conflict however possible. We tend to be vigilant of much that is around us to protect ourselves from potential threats. There is no wrong with it as it is a common yet beneficial practice for one's...

The human brain is incredible. Many regard it as the most advanced computer in existence. Our brain has the capacity to receive and process lots of new information every second. I’ve written often about the brain – boths facts and myths. Reading about all the more...

For many of us, life is all about being with the ones you love. Sharing your happiness and sorrows with them while looking out for them. But in this regard, we often tend to forget something equally (if not more) important. Putting yourself first is what many of us...

According to psychology gaining proper rest is not only essential for life and survival, but for the creative capacities that will power the knowledge industries of the future. You may at times feel super active even at the end of a busy day which would convince you...

You might have often heard the advice to ‘be wise’ or ‘choose wisely’. Have you ever wondered how one becomes wise? Before going down that road, it helps to first understand wisdom's true meaning.The typical dictionary definition is as follows: having the power of...

Do you often feel the need for constant validation? If yes, then know that you are not alone. Most of us want to be acknowledged, understood, and accepted. Even if life feels unfair and everything goes upside down, we like people to tell us that it will be okay....

“Helping others is the way we help ourselves.” – Oprah Winfrey. Did you know that helping others can do wonders for your health? As surprising as it may sound, when we help others, we are not only making the world a better place, but we are also helping ourselves to...

“Avoidance is the best short-term strategy to escape conflict, and the best long-term strategy to ensure suffering.” – Brendon Burchard. Avoidance behaviours or avoidance coping is a very common but ineffective way of coping in which a person alters their behaviour in...

How often have you come across the term ‘Psychopath'? Your answer might well be ‘frequently, especially if you have developed a penchant for Netflix documentaries. A better question that arises, however, is, what does it really mean? A psychopath is not merely a...

"Surround yourself with people who add value to your life. Who challenges you to be greater than you were yesterday? Who sprinkles magic into your existence, just like you do to theirs? Life isn't meant to be done alone. Find your tribe, and journey freely and loyally...

Resentment is defined as a negative emotion often experienced due to being mistreated (or perceived by us as being mistreated)and is more common than we might think. Frustration, anger, and disappointment are a part of our lives. However, when these feelings become...

Taking care of our mental health is very important. I write to that effect most weeks in my articles here. Some may think even more so though in the post-pandemic world we are living in. It is crucial now more than ever that we take responsibility for our mental...

“The biggest challenge to self-control is emotional regulation. Successful people know how to make their emotions servants rather than masters."- Paul TP Wang. Emotions are feelings derived from one’s circumstances, mood, or relationships. Our feelings and emotions...

“Happiness is a direction, not a place"- Sydney Harris. We often get so caught up chasing after goals or our dreams that we forget that real happiness can be found in the journey. You may think that you will be happy once you get the promotion you have wanted for so...

“The secret of happiness, you see, is not found in seeking more, but in developing the capacity to enjoy less.” - Socrates. There is a strong connection between living simply and living happily. The former can certainly contribute greatly to the latter, meaning there...

We have a lot of strengths and weaknesses, and that is what makes us human. However, sometimes we forget about all the strengths we have and solely focus on our weaknesses. Over the course of many years, scientists have discovered that each person possesses all...

I’ve written numerous articles related to this theme over the years, because it is something that I have found to be so important professionally and personally.“Imperfections are not inadequacies: they’re reminders that we are all in this together.”- Brene Brown Our...

"Your relationship with yourself sets the tone for every other relationship you have." I find myself agreeing with the above Robert Holden quote.  You see, when we connect with ourselves, it usually leads to more meaningful connections with others. When we check...

Here at my college, as part of our diploma training, we teach assertiveness training. One of the better self-help books about assertiveness training is entitled “When I say No, I feel guilty” by Manuel Smith. Though it is only one small component part of learning to...

The Information We Miss Is Often What We Are Most Interested In Throughout history, we have always been fascinated by mysteries. Questions we don’t have the immediate answer to just seem to be more interesting than the ones we could figure out momentarily. This...

Have you ever frozen in front of a room full of people while giving a speech even though you knew exactly what you had to say? Happens to the best of us. Despite rehearsing for days and committing the speech to memory, sometimes we stutter, stumble, or forget what we...

The Science Behind One Of Our Primal Emotions (fear or being afraid) Fear is one of our driving forces. It can make us run faster, think more critically, and have way more strength than usual within mere seconds of spotting a threat. It can also be paralysing,...

Spring is here and it symbolises new beginnings, a fresh start, a renewal, or an awakening to many of us. Perhaps this is why we all give our homes a ritualistic thorough clean as soon as spring arrives to make sure our homes are perfectly clean for the start of the...

I think it is a combination of many things, but many of my friends and clients are struggling with feeling tired and raising energy levels through healthy means. The opandemic effected many, having young children can effect many, and the demands of modern living – so...

Doomscrolling, also known as doomsurfing, is the trendy new buzzword that has been receiving a lot of attention lately. Doomscrolling is a relatively new phenomenon. It describes a person overindulging in social media usage or web surfing to absorb negative news....

Plato was right when he said, “Opinion is the medium between knowledge and ignorance.” If you wish to excel academically, professionally, and personally, know that it is very important that you know how to think rationally and develop your own opinion on any...

Reading can have profound positive effects on both your mental and physical health. In this article, we are going to discuss the tremendous mental health benefits offered by reading. Joseph Addison was right when he said, "Reading is to the mind what exercise is to...

It is usually fairly simple to be proud of someone. For example, when your loved ones succeed, or your friend gets a desired promotion. Maybe it’s your sibling who got a promotion at work. Maybe someone you know well just published their first book. Yes, many of us...

Matthew Fox once said, “Awe is the beginning of wisdom. Awe is the beginning of education”. This quote by Fox highlights the importance of awe as it makes us think more critically, be humbler and lead to greater satisfaction in life. Before we start discussing the...

The Definitions & Implications Of Human Intelligence Throughout history, humanity has struggled to quantify and measure the things that make us adapt, evolve, and survive. Nowadays, we pretty much use the terms “intelligent” and “smart” interchangeably and with...

Here today, I want to help you understand stress from a psychological perspective, symptoms, and effects, and what to do whenever you find yourself drowning in this common psychological challenge. The key message? Instead of stress using your body to work against you,...

With the global pandemic happening in the world right now, many of us are thinking about how isolation can affect us and how it has affected us already given that so many of us have been living with a range of restrictions for the past two years now. There’s a lot we...

Living more courageously requires us to live as fearlessly as possible and appropriate. We should be willing to try pretty much anything and everything. Unfortunately, most of us let a variety of fears run our lives for us. We all have fears. We are all afraid of...

Psychology’s Defining Words And How They Came Into Being A lot of people would argue speech is what made us the way we are right now. On a biological level, the ability to speak, read and write has led to massive differences in our brains, and on a psychological...

Do you find yourself trying to control things you have absolutely no control over? Wanting everything to turn out precisely the way you want it to be? According to Tanvi Patel, a psychotherapist, “relentless craving to control everything has many possible...

One exciting thing about new year time for many, is that you get to make new goals and resolutions, perhaps with a renewed sense of vigour and enthusiasm. With every new year, you are availing yourself a great new opportunity to reflect, restore and turn a new leaf...

Have you ever found yourself in a situation where you were pouring your heart out, but the other person was not listening or paying attention? They maybe heard you out, but you got the sense they weren’t listening. They maybe too busy checking their emails or texting,...

My very first therapist said something to me that I have written about many times before in the past, in mid conversation he said “well Adam, whatever you believe to be the truth, is the truth for you…” As he carried on talking, a lightbulb switched on in my head and...

The new year is just around the corner, and we all are heading towards what is often seen as an opportunity for a completely new start. Such a new start could of course be taken any day of the year, but the new year is a time that many seize as an opportunity. The...

I have put the outside Christmas lights up (fighting off hyperthermia in the process!), our tree and decorations are up, the advent calendars are being worked through and Christmas parties loom large.  Yes indeed, it’s now that time of the year! With the festive...

Psychology is one of the fields of science which has developed and grown impressively in recent years. With the growing interest in figuring out how our brains work, we have come to discover some very curious conditions, anomalies, and patterns. A couple of my...

I’ve just booked my booster jab for later this week, and as more waves of people locally here and at my children’s school are falling ill with Covid, I’ve definitely found myself reflecting on the past couple of years since the pandemic began and realising the...

Over on my Instagram account this past week, I posted a couple of infographics about mental flexibility and wanted to write in a bit more depth about the topic here.Although he has been greatly misquoted on this, Darwin wrote and spoke about the value of being...

As Paul Simon once sang “slow down, you move too fast.”While technology and other aspects of modern living aim to make our lives easier for us, we have also become busier than ever whereby many hardly find enough time for themselves. Today, we tend to demand fast...

The brain has long been an organ of fascination, which has intrigued biologists and researchers with its complexities. All of us know, it is an integral part of your bodily functions. From ensuring an efficient supply of oxygen around your body to coordinating the...

When teaching our students about how to become effective therapists, one of the key predictors of successful outcomes I mention often is that of developing an effective working alliance with those that you work with, and a central component of that is establishing...

Failure is a part of life, and it is usually accompanied by a range of emotions: these could be anger, embarrassment, guilt, and at times sadness as well. However, it is believed that these negative emotions can really affect your mental and physical well being. These...

I admit that I have those days when I let plenty of the little things bother me to the point whereby I become less effective in my work, and far less of the kind of person that I wish to be each day. So I sought out how to stop letting the little things bother me so...

Many of us feel guilty when and if we say no, yet do not realise how much good it can do us to say no more often; that is, to take less on, and to choose what we engage with in terms of that which brings us more joy, benefit and well-being. Often in life, we may even...

Recent statistics from a range of mental health charities and governmental agencies suggest that anxiety is on the rise, especially following recent world events. Many people deal with anxiety by avoiding that which they are anxious about, and by being temporarily...

If the past year and a half with the lockdowns that many of us experienced and the naturally stressful life conditions, many of us have become aware that the very experience and expression of emotions are vital to our well-being...

Not everything in life can be perfect and sweet, and so is the case with the people in your life. We all can relate to the idea that some people in your life simply drain the energy out of you. No matter how hard you try, you are left feeling down, exhausted, and even...

During the first lockdown here in the UK, a couple of friends of mine mentioned that the conditions had made them “feel their age” and that they were ageing more than at any other time in their lives – a combination of trying to keep up with lively young children at...

“No one knows your truth but you. If you're secure in yourself, no one and no(thing) can touch you.” ― Brittany Burgunder Finding yourself and knowing who you truly are gives you so much – when we get to know anyone better, we learn to trust, connect and be more...

We've all felt absolutely powerless at times; useless, unimportant, and undeserving at some point in our lives. A bystander's snide remark, a failed relationship, feeling unappreciated by a close friend, or even worse - aggression, deprivation, and desertion-can make...

"Criticism is something you can easily avoid by saying nothing, doing nothing, being nothing.” - Aristotle The constant need for approval can lead to some of our personal freedoms being destroyed. Approval seeking is something I see a great deal within my work with...

Self-compassion is something that has become increasingly important to me and my work with my clients throughout the past decade. I have certainly found that the more individuals understand themselves and the reasons for them being the way they are, the more likely...

This weekend just gone by was the final module of our current hypnotherapy practitioner diploma course. A number of our students are becoming graduates and are readying themselves to set up in business. One of the replies I give when asked about some of the more...

When times are difficult, everyone looks for varying ways to stay motivated and cheerful. Keeping a positive attitude can have a lot to do with how you see the world around you, but altering your vision of the world can sometimes be difficult. I know I find it...

Having energy is a well-known concept to all of us. We are all aware of physical energy levels, how they affect us, and ways to increase our physical energy. Many of us do not pay heed to the mental aspect of energy, or if we do, it is more of an afterthought. Mental...

"Listen with the intent to understand, not the intent to reply."- Stephen Covey.I listened to a fascinating interview with the MD of a world renowned meditation app when we had gone into lockdown for the first time here in the UK. Once of the things he mentioned...

The current pandemic definitely put a wrench in the well-oiled gears of people’s lives, grinding many of us to a sudden and jolting halt. Many went through a dramatic change; whether it was school, university or work, we had to adapt to a new method and standard of...

This is a topic that I have written about often. I’ve written about embracing your individuality, being authentic, being a geek, being a weirdo and lots more besides. While making our way through this life, we encounter and meet a lot of types of people and society in...

It can seem that much of today's environment revolves around competition and always trying to be better than the next person. For many, from as early as our school days, we are pitted against each other in a variety of overt or subtle ways, time after time. Whether...

“The ability to continue moving when you are feeling scared, fearful or lazy is the sign of true mental strength.” ― Matthew Donnelly Emotional and Mental health conditions form a vital part of your overall wellbeing. We all tend to know that these days. These...

“CHEESE!” Today, we are all about smiling…. “A warm smile is the universal language of kindness” - William Arthur Ward Smile may well be a small word, yet it holds the power to change a huge amount for any individual it is said to and acted upon. A smile acts as a...

I think a lot of people are fighting some of the chaos that they are experiencing currently. Chaos can actually be incredibly fertile and beneficial if we respond to it differently. That’s hat I’m writing about today…. “Chaos in the world brings uneasiness, but it...

Last week I wrote about creating an impression and it made sense for me to think about the larger impression being left; one’s legacy…. “All good men and women must take responsibility to create legacies that will take the next generation to a level we could only...

I think the currently, it is more important than ever to consider making a positive lasting impression upon those we come into contact with, I’m writing about that today… “A life is not important except in the impact it has on other lives.” ― Jackie Robinson Dale...

Since the beginning of lockdown, we've all had to adapt to a new way of working, studying and living. Zoom has been our go-to-application for meetings, classes and business calls to continue. It has allowed us to see and connect with our friends and family. Allowed us...

The world is currently subjecting us to a wide range of conditions that we are not used to and that are effecting our mental and physical health in a number of ways. Today I wanted to write briefly about how your mental health directly impacts your physical...

My daughter loves Ariana Grande. I have started loving her two since I read this quote by her…“Be happy with being you. Love your flaws. Own your quirks. And know that you are just as perfect as anyone else, exactly as you are.” -  Ariana Grande It was a leap of...

Today, I’m writing about how to value yourself more. "Love yourself first and everything else falls into line. You really have to love yourself to get anything done in this world." - Lucille Ball We all have the capacity to love and value ourselves a huge amount and...

Since the start of the new year, those who follow me on social media will have seen me posting a few pictures of my assault bike, dumbbells and other snippets to do with a challenge my gym has set throughout the current lockdown – in the gym members Facebook group we...

How to Overcome Distractions and Be More Focused When presented with the psychological tasks I give to my clients and students, many tell me how they get distracted prior to and during them. Likewise, with so much vying for our attention in modern life (even during a...

How to Get More Out Of Life Happy new year! After the year we have just had, many of us are looking to put it well behind us and set about making 2021 a far better one. I have written often on the topic of getting more out of life and it seems more pertinent than ever...

With the world facing so many challenges this year, there seems to be more resentment around to accompany much of the division that exists. Letting go of resentment and grudges is what I’m writing about today… “Grudges are a waste of perfect happiness. Laugh when you...

“Thousands of candles can be lighted from a single candle, and the life of the candle will not be shortened. Happiness never decreases by being shared.” — Buddha What is Happiness? Simply put, many consider it to be the state of being happy. However, if you think...

“Uncertainty is the only certainty there is, and knowing how to live with insecurity is the only security.” - John Allen Paulos Humans naturally do not like uncertainty, especially if we have always been living in a predictable environment. Unfortunately, that’s not...

“It must be borne in mind that the tragedy of life doesn’t lie in not reaching your goal. The tragedy lies in having no goals to reach.” — Benjamin E. Mays  2021 looks to be a year of great uncertainty and the current environment is characterised by significant...

What are you looking forward to currently? Isn’t it lovely when we have something to look forward to? That’s what I’m writing about today…. “What good is living a life you’ve been given if all you do is stand in one place”- Anonymous It’s true that we’re all feeling...

“Boundaries are the lines we draw that mark off our autonomy and that of other people that protect our privacy and that of others. Boundaries allow for intimate connection without dissolving or losing one's sense of self.” - Amy Bloom Healthy relationships are such an...

A famous man one said “I’m a stable genius” on Twitter….  “Bragging about yourself violates norms of modesty and politeness - and if you were really competent, your work would speak for itself.” -  Adam Grant These days, on all forms of social media not just...

If you follow me on social media, it won't have escaped you that I was once a fairly average endurance runner, who then took up weightlifting. This year, with the help of my coach, I have really gone on to a place where I have made what I consider to be major gains,...

“Happiness or joy is not something ready-made. It comes from your own actions.” - Dalai Lama. Without a doubt, we have snapshots of delight and times of happiness and ecstasy. Nevertheless, huge numbers of us are tormented with frequent negative feelings – with all...

We must be willing to let go of the life we have planned, so as to have the life that is waiting for us. – Joseph Campbell The current situation in the world is leaving some people feeling lost for a variety of reasons. Are you feeling lost? Are you feeling that you...

“The minute you start caring about what other people think, is the minute you stop being yourself.”  — Meryl Streep Does it effect your self-esteem when you consider what other people think of you? Are you troubled by other’s opinions? In a modern world that...

“The minute you start caring about what other people think, is the minute you stop being yourself.”  — Meryl Streep Does it effect your self-esteem when you consider what other people think of you? Are you troubled by other’s opinions? In a modern world that...

“We all have a story. The difference is: do you use the story to empower yourself? Or do you use your story to keep yourself a victim? The question itself empowers you to change your life.” ― Sunny Dawn Johnston Let me start by saying, it is understandable that many...

“Whenever you commend, add your reasons for doing so; it is this which distinguishes the approbation of a man of sense from the flattery of sycophants and admiration of fools.” - Richard Steele Sycophancy is flattery that is very obedient, or an indication of...

There’s a lot of feeling being expressed in the world currently, and not all of it is being expressed effectively – some of it simply serves to create ill-feeling and negative emotions in others. With feelings running so high, I wanted to write about how to express...

“The most beautiful things are not associated with money; they are memories and moments. If you don’t celebrate those, they can pass you by.” - Alek Wek All of us are living in an unprecedented time. COVID-19 has impacted people across the globe. Our everyday life...

In recent months I have written about using the current pandemic situation as a possible opportunity to make a new start, or even to reinvent yourself. In a similar vein, today I am talking about refreshing your life. “Rest when you’re weary. Refresh and renew...

I'm directly following on from my previous video about the benefit of social interaction and talking about friendship. As adults, we need to make an extra effort to make friends.  Why bother though? What are the benefits of friendship? Friends and friendships offer us...

This week Warner Brothers pictures have released the latest Scooby Doo film entitled Scoob and is available to purchase on Sky Tv here in the UK, and rather poignantly as far as I am concerned, the film covers some of Scooby-Doo's back story.  This video is not just...

According to the Australian sociologist R. W. Connell (the one who originally coined the phrase), the phrase “toxic masculinity” refers to when a man engages in behaviours that are traditionally considered “masculine” that are damaging to those around him, society at...

I wrote in recent weeks about starting afresh in life and considering the current world situation as an opportunity. This also presents an opportunity to reinvent oneself, and that’s what I’m writing about today… “You are never too old to reinvent yourself.” - Steve...

I'm certain that many of us have experienced being knocked down or knocked back in one way or another. Also likely that we've all seen recently that sometimes life can be messy, challenging and even ugly! Sometimes, life can feel like a great big bully that corners us...

It seems to me that conscientiousness is needed more than ever in the world right now. “Very few things happen at the right time, and the rest do not happen at all. The conscientious historian will correct these defects.” -  Herodotus If you were to improve just...

I spend a lot of my time working with people to help them be more positive in a wide number of ways. We all tend to benefit from healthy levels of positivity, of course we do. However..... One thing I have struggled to come to terms with over the years, is that as a...

Most of us use social media of one kind or another these days, and all of us are likely to have been upset, troubled or affected detrimentally in some way as a result of it. Social media is a mouthpiece for so much of the modern world we live in, and it can have a...

Individuality is today’s theme. One positive I'm encouraging people to take from the events of this year - is that We all have a chance to start afresh, to create our own new normal right now, and truly express our individuality and uniqueness. This is a topic that I...

Today, I’m writing about inhibition and the often debilitating effect it can have upon us. “You only live once, but if you do it right, once is enough.” – Mae West. Overcoming inhibition could make a major impact in your life and help lead to a more successful...

There have been times when I’ve really struggled during lockdown. Having young children, running a business in a tough financial climate, being prone to depression, not being able to see close friends, attend my gym, run my classes, carry out planned research...

Loneliness is my topic for this video. Or rather, how to experience less loneliness, feel less isolated and feel more of a connection with the world, the people in it and to feel more engaged. It seems particularly pertinent given that so many of us have been so...

As the world is undergoing a great many changes currently, so are many people’s lives. To the point whereby many are starting afresh in a variety of ways. That’s what I’m writing about today… “You may not always have a comfortable life and you will not always be able...

In this video I talk about why letting materialism be the main driver in your life can be quite destructive and problematic. I then go on to talk about a number of ways to transition yourself to being less materialistic. I go on to discuss gratitude and how it can...

If you or someone you know regularly and automatically judges others without fully understanding those others, and it is proving to be detrimental to do so, then this is for you. There will be times when fair judgement is necessary and required, but here today I'm...

A few years back one of the most popular articles I ever wrote on my blog gave instructions on how to self-destruct. Today, I am offering a video version of that - it is a perfect plan for anyone wanting to self-destruct. That’s right, I have highlighted elements of...

The start of the day is a time when our body and mind is receptive, recharged (usually), and ready to set the tone for the day ahead. Many psychological practices recommend using this time early in the morning to help you make the most of the day ahead and to get...

Here on the south coast of England in the midst of lockdown, it is hot. We are experiencing a heatwave (by our standards) and it is hotter than it usually is at this time of year. I sometimes struggle to sleep when it is so warm. I know others have the same challenge;...

Many of you may well avoid watching this video; I mean, for many the very notion of ‘routine’ being is not necessarily the sexiest or most inspiring of topics. When I suggest to my clients or students that they establish a daily routine, or even a number of daily...

Hope is something that is a major theme with my hypnotherapy clients, my students, my friends and family. In this video, my aim is that we hold on to hope and that we celebrate hope.When working with clients in my therapy rooms who are suffering with depression, one...

Now is the time to champion deep and meaningful conversations, that’s what I’m doing here today. “It is the mark of an educated mind to be able to entertain a thought without accepting it.” –Aristotle There’s a wide range of emotions that might occur during these...

I have spoken to numerous people in the past couple of weeks while we have been in lockdown; parents attempting to home-school their children, some trying to adapt and run a business in a new way, some coping with stress and anxiety that our current situation has...

I think now more than ever, we need laughter and joy. I have found aspects of the lockdown to be quite challenging, and one of the things that has really helped me through is sharing laughter with my friends. Whether it is via social media, the telephone or other...

In this video, I talk about what creativity actually is and offer a wide range of ways to advance and enhance your own creativity in order that you can achieve more and be more effective in life. I also include a wide number of ways to help improve your imagination...

At dinner earlier this week, my children and I were discussing the things we are going to do when the lockdown has ended, and we realised how impatiently we wanted lockdown to be over and how much we really wanted to do those things. Usually, we’d get to do all of...

“Self-Reflection is one of the most underused yet powerful tools for success.” – Richard Carlson “Who are you” is one of the more polite, derogatory chants commonly heard in football stadiums when opposition fans want to question the ability of their opposition team...

Now more than ever, we are facing change; new circumstances, new challenges, and new uncertainties. “Change has a bad reputation in our society. But it isn’t all bad – not by any means. In fact, change is necessary for life – to keep us moving, to keep us growing, to...

Here in the UK, as with many other countries around the world that have been hit with the Covid-19 coronavirus pandemic, there is plenty of advice and guidance regarding social distancing, staying home, washing hands, being diligent and considerate in order that the...

Understandably, there is a lot of anxiety and concern around at the moment. “The key to overcome crisis is patience, courage, self-discipline, adaptation and alertness.” ― Amit Ray. The coronavirus outbreak is rippling across most of the world. The number of...

Since the last blog entry I wrote here over a week ago, many things have continued to rapidly change around the world due to the Coronavirus (COVID-19). With so much at risk for so many of us and so much that remains unknown, it's easy to understand why people are...

Seeking to be kinder has been incredibly topical here in recent weeks. However today I wanted to write about how to stop taking other people’s crap. In my professional field, I am staggered by the amount of politics, insults and derisory comments made to other...

“Sometimes you don’t realize your own strength until you come face to face with your greatest weakness.” —Susan Gale Weaknesses are nothing to be ashamed of. However, in an increasingly competitive world, we often feel like we have to hide them, or dismiss them in...

I encounter a lot of overwhelm – with my therapeutic clients who take too much on in life, with some of my students who leave all their coursework to the last minute, with those who I mentorwhose list of goals is overwhelming to read, let alone act upon, so today I...

“If you fall behind, run faster. Never give up, never surrender, and rise up against the odds.” ― Jesse Jackson We have all found ourselves in a situation where we wanted to quit: be it something you are working on, a goal you set for yourself or a competition you...

Learning to effectively employ one’s imagination is a key part of my work with clients, patients and students. It is important for use with a great many therapy interventions, important in so many aspects of life when seeking to advance; so much so that I wanted to...

Embrace impermanence; that is my message in this video, and I’m offering up a basic guide on how to embrace impermanence as a way of advancing your enjoyment of life. “It is not impermanence that makes us suffer. What makes us suffer is wanting things to be permanent...

“You miss 100 percent of the shots you don’t take.”– Wayne Gretzky Every January plenty of people set resolutions and goals to move ahead, become a changed person, develop in all kinds of ways and much more besides. Many think back upon the last 365 days and consider...

At new year, everyone tends to get focused and pumped and start firing on into the year, and today I want to write about doing something contrary to that – taking a step back. “Take a step back, evaluate what is important, and enjoy life.” - Teri Garr Sometimes we all...

At the beginning of each new year, I encounter a great many people with big dreams for their lives and the year ahead. Yet so many I speak with and meet are afraid of going after the life they truly want; they fear failure, they fear success. It is such a recurring...

With the new year, I have encountered a number of clients who claim to hate themselves – their bodies, their behaviours, their lives in general. I have written often about learning to love yourself but I wanted to tackle the topic of hating oneself too, and offer up...

Today, I am writing all about how to effectively express yourself and how it can improve your life. “Always be yourself, express yourself, have faith in yourself, do not go out and look for a successful personality and duplicate it.”- Bruce Lee Yes, expressing...

This is my final blog post of the year, and with it being published in the midst of the festive season here, it seemed very relevant to me to be writing about ‘staying hungry’ when most of us spend so much time during this season being stuffed full. Of course, I am...

“We are better throughout the year for having, in spirit, become a child again at Christmastime.” ―Laura Ingalls Wilder How people respond and react to Christmas does vary. There are those that absolutely love the holiday season, wear the Christmas jumpers, festive...

I speak with and meet so many people who are afraid of going after the life they truly want, it is such a recurring theme that I have chosen to write about having courage to go for it in life….. “I want to be in the arena. I want to be brave with my life. And when we...

Fear of change holds so many of us back. “It’s better to regret something you have done than regret something you haven’t done.” – Billie Joe Armstrong Change feels uncomfortable to many people. And when it comes to change, for some people the thought of transition is...

A topic I have explored much more intensely in recent times, is that of leadership, especially as I have headed up teams for a major event and organisation in my own professional field. “The challenge of leadership is to be strong, but not rude; be kind, but not weak;...

Many of us will have heard about the notion of being a free thinker, but how many of us actually are free thinkers?  “Freethinkers are those who are willing to use their minds without prejudice and without fearing to understand things that clash with their own...

It is a popular and common expression, and most of us have been encouraged to think outside the box and many of us believe that we do think outside the box – yet in my therapy rooms, in my classrooms, and in other areas of my personal and professional life, I...

In upcoming articles, I plan on writing about some well-known themes in personal development circles and showing how to truly apply them and benefit from them. Starting today, with the notion of seizing the day. “Judge a man by his questions rather than his answers.”...

Throughout my earlier life, and plenty of my adult life, I took things far too personally. It plagued me. Today, I still have some of these feelings occur from time to time, but as a result of the exploration I have done, and the work I have done on myself and with...

What kind of a mindset do you have? Today I am encouraging you to adopt a growth mindset and explaining why I think it is so important. “Don’t be too timid and squeamish about your actions. All life is an experiment.” - Ralph Waldo Emerson We often assume that people...

Are you making excuses instead of really living the life you want? Well if so, this article is aimed at you. “It is better to offer no excuse than a bad one.” — George Washington This topic, along with my topic of last week are themes that are very close to my heart...

This year has required me to study and apply self-control in a number of ways. Training to run an ultra endurance running event, weight-lifting, building a particular physique in my mid-40s, raising my children, having a busy business, engaging in research has all...

As I have got older and time appears so much more precious, this has become a topic of increasing importance to me. When I write about having no regrets, this is not just classic death bed regrets, I am also referring to having no regrets when my children have grown...

“Friendship is the hardest thing in the world to explain. It’s not something you learn in school. But if you haven’t learned the meaning of friendship, you really haven’t learned anything.”– Muhammad Ali There are  plenty of studies that have explained how we...

“If you are given a chance to be a role model, I think you should always take it because you can influence a person's life in a positive light, and that's what I want to do. That's what it's all about.” -  Tiger Woods We usually think of role models as those we...

I am a big supporter of formal education, having attended college and University after school, I enjoyed that education and what it gave me. More recently, my own PhD, although offered by a formal learning institution at Bournemouth University, it involves research...

Today I am writing about one of the subjects that I spend a great deal of time talking to my students and clients about – how to stop trying to control everything, and in particular, stopping trying to control the uncontrollable. "Only one thing has to change for us...

My legacy; this is something I’ve been thinking about a bit more deeply recently as I am about to hit a Birthday that will see me closer to 50 than 40 and as I watch my children grow up. Will I have made any kind of an impact, what mark will I make? “If you’re going...

I’m an ultra-running, weight lifting, hypnotherapist, researcher of self-hypnosis with a “hypnosis geek” YouTube channel who has a penchant for bow ties, trucker caps and gin, who reads research papers and sci-fi novels for fun and loves watching documentaries about...

I talk about self-efficacy a great deal in my classrooms, and it gets mentioned often in my research and today I wanted to write an article explaining what it is and how to apply it in one’s day-to-day life. “If I have the belief that I can do it, I shall surely...

This weekend just gone by, I was teaching the final module of my current hypnotherapy practitioner diploma course and we spend some time discussing applications of hypnosis for advancing sporting performance. One of the themes that crops up with applications of mental...

In the past week, I've posted a bunch of photos and film clips that have been recorded at my gym or when out running. It just so happened to be a testing week last week to see where I am at and how I have progressed in the last training block. In January, I was really...

As of Boxing day last year, I went vegan. On rare occasions, I have been a bit flexitarian, that is, I have had the odd lapse on dairy here and there but not got stressed about it. I did Veganuary very strictly, and was strict in February but then stopped worrying if...

Live Your dream life - I know that it is a bit of an ambiguous term, and a dream life is going to be open to your own interpretation, but there are many qualities and ways of thinking that many people have in common when it comes to living the dream.  “When you reach...

Today, I don my foil cap and talk all things conspiracy theories, and focus on how to debunk them. Neil deGrasse Tyson, American astrophysicist and science communicator said:  "One of the biggest problems with the world today is that we have large groups of...

I speak with so many people in my professional life who experience insecurity, and in addition to the therapeutic assistance I offer, I tend to give some stock answers that I think all can benefit from – I thought I’d collate some of those answers to form today’s...

Scientific thinking is my topic today. I have wanted to write this article for a long time. Scientific thinking is not just the exclusive domain of academia, research or education – it is something of huge benefit to all of us. “The essence of the independent mind...

Enjoy your Alone time, solitude or time spent away from others is my topic today. I was joking in class last weekend about how I love spending time by myself and that I’d enjoy my work so much more if it involved less people. It was a joke and I talk often about the...

We all go through periods of overthinking and problematic rumination, some of us for longer than others and it is something I work with in my therapy rooms often as it contributes to a great many problems in life. The human mind seems to be unable to process a...

A couple of weeks ago, I wrote about dealing with mental fatigue and exhaustion and this week I wanted to write specifically and in more depth about boosting mental energy. We live in a time when many people are inclined to be very busy and are often stressed as a...

“Happiness is not something readymade. It comes from your own actions.”  - Dalai Lama. The mind-body connection is well-documented in research from neuroscience, psychiatry, and medicine. Researchers at the University of Nottingham has recently found a link...

When you have a mission statement, it lends purpose to your actions, and turns you into someone who is on a mission. I really like that. Creating a mission statement is what I’m writing about today.   “The two most important days in your life are the day you are...

Self-image is a topic I have not covered so much here, despite having a lot of articles on the topic of self-esteem, self-belief and self-compassion. “The person we believe ourselves to be will always act in a manner consistent with our self-image.”  - Brian...

How to Overcome Psychological Exhaustion Mental fatigue and psychological exhaustion is a topic I’ve been meaning to write about for a while. “Sustained exhaustion is not a rite of passage. It's a mark of stupidity.”- Jason Fried. I’m purposely sharing this today. I...

Loneliness is my topic today. Or other, how to experience less loneliness, feel less isolated and feel more of a connection with the world, the people in it and to feel more engaged. “It would be impossible to estimate how much time and energy we invest in trying...

Stop worrying what other people think – at least if it is getting all-consuming and too much. We can take on board good advice, appreciate useful feedback, but worrying to the point of it becoming problematic with regards to what others think is what today’s article...

Within my professional field and those related, especially with the emergence of the very popular positive psychology field, the pursuit of happiness is of paramount importance and finding more happiness is what makes us feel better about who we are and the life we...

We all know a “fun person” don’t we? Someone who is just great to be around. I have a couple of friends that I love being around and I talk about them often when I am teaching. If you want to be a person whom people love to be around, you sometimes have to be a...

Does materialism and being materialistic really deliver the kind of happiness and enrichment or meaning that people seek in life? I’m not convinced it does. Recently, I took over the UK Hypnosis Convention and had lots of people desperate to give me advice about how...

Balance is our theme today…. “The best and safest thing is to keep a balance in your life, acknowledge the great powers around us and in us. If you can do that, and live that way, you are really a wise man.” – Euripides. Maintaining balance in life is what many...

Are you in denial? “It takes a lot of courage to face up to things you can't do because we feed ourselves so much denial.” - Zoe Saldana. We’re all in denial. We’d barely get through the day if we worried that we or people we love could die today. Life is...

Living life with integrity is my topic today. "No amount of ability is of the slightest avail without honour." - Andrew Carnegie. According to the Collins Dictionary online, "if you have integrity, you are honest and firm in your moral principles." Personal integrity...

Be present. That’s my message today. “Do not dwell in the past, do not dream of the future, concentrate the mind on the present moment.” – Buddha. Some people may well say it’s obvious or even redundant to say this is the one rule everyone should try to stick to: Be...

Your best year ever - It is a grand statement indeed.“We have to do the best we are capable of. This is our sacred human responsibility.” ~ Albert Einstein. Yes, it’s 2019 already! I recognise that is the kind of statement that smacks of a man in his mid 40s, but to...

Accepting mortality – sounds like a bit of a morbid way to start the year here on my blog, I understand how that might initially appear and how worrying some might find the chosen imagery and the terms used on it at the top of this entry. That is a symptom of what I'm...

It's the festive season - Happy Christmas to everyone. We are in the biggest holiday season of the year (well, for those of us in countries that celebrate Christmas anyway). For many of us, this is also a time of reflection to see how our year has been, what we can do...

Embrace your sensitivity is my message today. 

Throughout my entire life, I have been overly sensitive. It was not until my early adult life that I was self-aware enough to address it, and really not until the last decade that I have learned to actually embrace it...

This weekend just gone by was the second UK Hypnosis Convention held at the Canary Wharf Hilton Hotel in London. I was well involved in the inaugural event last year when it was an unknown quantity and with it having been such a success, there was potentially added...

We are now closed for our Summer Holidays. Our offices will re-open on Tuesday the 29th of August. I'll pick up emails sporadically, so for anything really urgent, email me. I'll probably post a picture or two on Twitter and Instagram. Stay classy.

Last weekend, I very nearly fetched my Geraniums out of the greenhouse where they’ve been hibernating all Winter, but chose to leave them there for a bit longer and I am pleased I did so as we’ve had a couple of frosty mornings since! It is almost Spring and time for...