Many of us spend too much of our time worrying about the future and how things will work out.

A certain amount of worrying is necessary to our daily lives, so that we can make wise choices about how we do things that involve some risk. There is a time for worrying and there’s a time for just getting on with life and accepting that you can’t control the outcome and worrying about it will just make you unhappy.

Robert Sanders, one of our therapist has recently taken part in the successful UK podcast series – “Five Minutes to Change Your Life’, by Joanne Mallon. The series is available on most podcast sites.

In this episode he talks about a simple technique to help worry less. It’s just five minutes long.

Why not have a listen.

The ‘Conscious Chats’ podcast in Australia is devoted to Vinings’ NLP Coach, Robert Sanders.

Inthe latest edition (number 33) Jay Win talks to Robert about his early life and how he became a coach. She explores about his methods and he gives some specific recommendations. He explains how to begin incorporating some NLP techniques into our lives. In particular they discuss ‘anchoring’ and using positive memories to improve your mental state.
Robert also gives some practical advice on how to find a suitable coach for your own needs.

By Chrissie Dimitri-Cooper

The clarity that comes with awareness serves to wake us up.

There is so much beauty around us. How much of it are we truly aware of?  Do we look at it with the wonderment of a child, as if we are seeing it for the first time? We all notice the splendour of the colourful spring flowers, which are so welcome after winter, but are we awake enough to appreciate the life force that manifests through them to bring their beauty into existence? For many people, the answer is probably “No”. For those who are more awake and aspire to live in the moment, the answer may be “Sometimes”.

Nevertheless, even when aspiring to be aware, we can be under the illusion we are seeing clearly. The state of heightened awareness, as distinct from everyday observation, only takes place when we are able to put aside our conditioned thinking. This is more difficult than it appears, particularly when it comes to relationships.

How aware are you of those you know well and with whom you have an emotional connection?  Bring to mind someone close to you and see if you can recall the colour of their eyes and any distinguishing marks they have.

You might be aware of their physicality, but how awake are you to their inner life? Are you aware of their feelings or only of your own? Do you believe you know, from past experience, what to expect from them or are you able to see them as they are in that moment?

If we can suspend our sense of knowing, and our expectations, and just be open, we are rewarded with a more expanded viewpoint. Our own behaviour changes in response to our new outlook, which influences the other person’s expectation of us, and in turn their behaviour.

Awareness brings transformation.  When we begin to see things as they are, without the filters through which we habitually look, wonderful things can happen. 

Cultivating awareness is an ongoing process, which practices like mindfulness meditation and Jin Shin Jyutsu® self-help will naturally lead us into.  It is not something that can be rushed or acquired in a weekend!

“The aim of life is to live, and to live means to be aware, joyously, drunkenly, serenely, divinely aware.” 

Henry Miller