Last time, I wrote a blog post about feeling the fear and doing it anyway and it got some great feedback. Thank you! Today, I’d like to continue on that theme and tell you the main ways I have successfully reduced worry, fear, and anxiety:
1. No news first thing in the morning and last thing at night
Oh wow, this was SUCH a game-changer for me! It took a bit of practice (no radio news at breakfast – switch off the volume if you still want to listen to the music – and going to bed before the late news comes on the TV or changing channels). I’ve done this for nearly 20 years and it’s the one single thing that dramatically reduced my worry. Think about it: all that death and destruction served up with your porridge. What a negative way to start the day!
Protect your morning with things that feed your soul, such as 10 minutes of listening to a favourite piece of music, meditating, exercising, journaling or anything else that feels good. The same goes for before bedtime. Otherwise, your mind will still be grappling with the world’s disasters while you sleep, robbing you of a restful night and making you wonder why you feel out of kilter when you wake up.
2. Trust the Universe
Because it’s all working perfectly. When I realised many years ago that there was something or someone “out there” looking out for me, guiding me and providing what I need, I was finally able to relax. It’s all being taken care of. I don’t mean you can hide away in the corner of your sofa and expect things to turn out just fine. You have to go out there and take daily action, keep moving in the direction that feels right for you at the pace that suits you but pushing your boundaries bit by bit. You’ll be showing the Universe what you want and it’ll easily be able to provide it for you.
How do I know that the Universe is taking care of me? Well, you know when you really, really want and need something, and have it in your mind all the time, and then it suddenly, miraculously appears, manifests, happens? THAT’S the Universe doing its magic!
Some of the major decisions in my life came to me in dreams – like to move in with my then-boyfriend-now-husband (the Universe). If I needed a new client, the phone would ring – which happened twice in one week when I was ready to end my parental leave (the Universe). I intensively wished for more time for my coaching business and, voilà, I was set free from my salaried job a few days later (the Universe). Has that ever happened to you? Maybe you thought it was coincidental, but really it’s the Universe doing its magic. Listen, trust and wait. You won’t be disappointed! Then you can relax and let go of the worry.
(The same can happen if you really think about something in a negative way, too, so watch your thoughts and words!)
3. Positive self-talk
Have you listened to yourself lately? I mean, noticed the chatter in your head? How much of that is negative, self-depreciating and downright bullying? I bet if you talked to your best friend like that, she wouldn’t be your friend for very long, would she?! Start noticing what you’re saying to yourself and correct it to be positive, encouraging and nurturing. Be your own best friend and cheerleader and watch your worries melt away. Eliminate words like should, have to, I can’t, I’m always, I’ll never. Stop being harsh to yourself by reprogramming the words (and pictures) in your mind and notice how good you feel about yourself. It takes a bit of practice but you’ll soon get the hang of it.
4. Daily gratitude
Another game-changer! Gratitude changes the focus from what we DON´T have to what we DO have, and is a very powerful way to reduce the worry. I started my gratitude journal in 1999 and it has been a rock even (and especially) on the crappiest of days. Even then (and those days are fewer and further between, funnily enough), I can still think of three things I am grateful for. Almost all of us are lucky enough to live in a warm, dry house, have food on our table and have loved ones around us, aren’t we? I have my journal and a pen beside my bed and I write in it before I go to sleep. That way, I drift off with lovely thoughts for a better night’s sleep and less worry.
5. Hypnosis
Once I discovered the power of hypnosis back in 2011, I’ve never looked back! In my opinion, this is the best, most effective and longest-lasting way of reprogramming your subconscious mind forever. Hypnosis programming works by focussing on the way you want to be, and not on all the things you want to be rid of. It overwrites old beliefs, doubts, worries, fears, and negativity, and replaces them with new positive beliefs that align with the true you, and with your innate confidence and self-acceptance. In fact, I have a selection of different hypnosis programming audios that I listen to daily according to my mood or needs. They pick me up and fill me with motivation, confidence, belief in myself, energy and love. I wouldn’t miss hypnosis for the world!
So, do you have a daily ritual for a better mindset or to steer yourself away from worry? I’d love to hear about it in the comments below!
However, if you feel that none of the above is the right way to help you escape from your own spiral of negative thoughts, or if you feel you need more intensive help to turn your fear, anxiety and worry into motivation, courage, and peace of mind, please feel free to take the first step and book a free, initial contact call with me. Via Skype or WhatsApp call, you can tell me what exactly you want to change and how you’d like to be. You can then decide if hypnosis coaching is the way forward for you.
If you enjoyed this article and would like to be reminded when I publish the next one, please sign up for my newsletter here.
And if you think a friend would enjoy reading it, please feel free to send her the link.
