In today's Mindful Monday we're doing a simple exercise, which you may carry out basically, anywhere. Step 1: Choose an object to focus on. It may be a leaf, a stone, a flower or plant, if you're outdoors. Or a desk, cup or glass., if you're indoors. Step 2: Have a really good look at it. Notice it's shape, colour, texture, corners, where one surface meets another, how the light reflects of its surface. If a man-made object, or something that has been processed in some way, consider how it was made and what processes might be involved. Find out more Find out more about mindfulness in our previous post where we kicked off Mindful Mondays. … [Read more...] about Mindful Monday: Intensive Observations
self-esteem
Managing Depression : The Importance of hypnotherapy’s role in managing depression
Hypnotherapy is an increasingly popular tool for managing clinical depression. Why? By tapping into your subconscious mind (the automatic part of our brain), clinical hypnotherapy can help you access emotions and memories,that you may have been unable to reach before. With this new perspective, you can gain insights and ideas for managing your depression in a more effective way. Clinical hypnotherapy is also being used as a self-help tool for people who want to take control of their mental health. It helps them understand the underlying causes of their depression and gives them the tools they need to take action on it. Furthermore, clinical hypnosis has been found to be helpful in reducing anxiety levels and improving sleep quality, which are both important elements in managing … [Read more...] about Managing Depression : The Importance of hypnotherapy’s role in managing depression
April is stress awareness month
Did you know that April is stress awareness month? Stress is a major source of mortality and morbidity in the average Western population. We can transplant hearts and grow vital human tissue in a lab, yet people are still dying of stress-related illnesses. It feels like the world has gone mad. We wanted to share some easy ways of dealing with stress. We'd love to hear about your favourite stress-busters in the comments too! So, without further ado, here we go. 1. Listen to music or watch a movie. These are 2 easy ways to distract yourself, and they're often free too. You Tube is my go-to source of music. Sure there are ads, but I'm ok with that. Spotify is another good source of free music. 2. Eat well and take exercise. This is another good stress-buster and does not need to … [Read more...] about April is stress awareness month
New in store – The Little Book of Happiness (free)
Hi all, this is just to let you know that we've added a new self-help book to the store. It's currently free and contains 100 affirmations for happiness, wellness, health and joy. https://hypnoticuniverse.org/shop/the-little-book-of-happiness/ … [Read more...] about New in store – The Little Book of Happiness (free)
How to improve self-esteem
Today we're looking at 5 key ways in which you can improve your self-esteem. 1. Accept yourself Self-acceptance is: The act of accepting yourself and all your personality traits exactly as they are. You accept them no matter whether they are positive or negative. This includes your physical and mental attributes. - Waters 2021 Waters also explains that beyond self-esteem, self-acceptance leads to many benefits, such as: Control of emotions Forgiveness Improvement in self-confidence Helping you be yourself If only we accepted ourselves the way that we openly accept others. I always find it interesting that we often set such high standards for ourselves, compared to others. Don't do it; you owe it to yourself to be kind to yourself. 2. Value yourself If you have good … [Read more...] about How to improve self-esteem
10 signs of childhood emotional neglect
In today's post, we're discussing 10 signs of childhood emotional neglect. So, what is emotional abuse and emotional neglect? Emotional abuse Emotional abuse (also known as psychological abuse) is a common cause of low self-esteem and, judging by the clients that we see in our office, it is a significant cause of distress with respect to mental health distress. People who experience emotional abuse may demonstrate distinct personality changes, such as being withdrawn, feeling anxious, depression, or even suicidal. According to Healthy Place, emotional abuse is as follows: Any act including confinement, isolation, verbal assault, humiliation, intimidation, infantilisation, or any other treatment which may diminish the sense of identity, dignity, and self-worth (Tracy, 2021). Emotional … [Read more...] about 10 signs of childhood emotional neglect
Being authentic when running a hypnotherapy practice
When you're looking at growing your practice, there's a temptation towards having an in-depth look at other hypnotherapists and how they market themselves. But we're here today to explain that it's more important to be authentic, rather than emulating others. Here's the #1 reason why I say this, you never know how successful somebody else is, really. Over the years, I've heard other hypnotherapists claim everything from being multi-millionaires and working 70 hour weeks, to making £100K a month and working regularly with movie stars. There may be some truth to these claims (and call me cynical if you like), but I'm willing to bet that there's a good bit of embellishment going on in these statements too. The other problem with comparing yourself is that it can really knock your … [Read more...] about Being authentic when running a hypnotherapy practice
Stuck in a “tug of war”, anyone?
If you're struggling with an unwanted emotion, it's like being in a permanent tug of war, where there's a monster on the other end of the rope and a massive hole in the middle. That monster represents all of the thoughts and emptions that you don't want to have. You expect that, if you just keep fighting harder, the monester won't win and you want fall into the pit. And the more you fight, the harder it gets, because you start to get exhausted...yet the monster stands there a strongly as he did at the beginning. It feels like you just can't win! So, you edge closer and closer to the pit in the middle and the more you try to control the monster, the more the monster pulls back. But what if there was another way? What if you just let go of the rope and just allow the monster to … [Read more...] about Stuck in a “tug of war”, anyone?
Is habitual comparison affecting my mental health
With filters getting easier to use and more numerous by the day, it seems easier than ever to filter images which you post online. A blemish here...deleted..."I need a different eye colour"...changed...a curve there...reduced or enhanced...and "I want whiter teeth, but without the cost"...your wish is my command. You get the picture. It's time-consuming, but is it dangerous? Well...yes, yet it is. Because when you look in the mirror and see the real you staring back at you, you can be filled with disappointment that you don't look like the filtered you. The same goes for your significant other; comparing them to unrealistic beauty and personality standards, can cause much disatisfaction in your relationship, despite you previously being happy with them. When you compare your home … [Read more...] about Is habitual comparison affecting my mental health
3 ways your adult relationships can be influenced by your childhood relationships
If you're an adult who constantly has difficult with relationships, this blog post might help you understand the origin of these difficulties. It doesn't matter whether it's a sexual partner, family, friend, colleague or business partner. Here's 3 ways your adult relationships may be influenced by your childhood relationships: Reason 1 If your home was chaotic when you were being raised, you may now find it difficult to calm that threat response now that you're an adult. Therefore, you might find yourself hiding away and shutting people out, trying to control your surroundings and other people. You may even find yourself becoming reliant on only one person who makes you feel safe. Such as your husband, for example. This isn't ideal because it can strain relationships. Reason 2 If … [Read more...] about 3 ways your adult relationships can be influenced by your childhood relationships
