The Cost of Smoking

Despite nearly 100,000 people in the UK dying from smoking-related illnesses each year, nearly one sixth of adults are still smokers.

While it wasn’t until the early 20th century that the harmful effects of smoking were explored, studies continue to expose the dangers of the habit. Quitting smoking is a big challenge for a person to face and they will often need more than just willpower. For many people, hypnotherapy is an effective solution.

• Nearly 50 per cent of all smokers die prematurely due to smoking-related diseases.
• The life expectancy of a smoker is about 10 years less than that of a non-smoker.
• In the UK is it estimated only half of long-term smokers live past the age of 70.
• Up to 17,000 children under the age of five are admitted to hospital each year as a result of passive smoking-related illnesses.

It is important for the person to know why they want to quit before any successful attempts can be made. It is common for people to relapse if they are quitting for somebody else. If the individuals are making the decision for themselves, the chances of success can improve.

Why stop smoking?

Smoking increases the risk of developing a wide range of health ailments and diseases. But the habit does not only harm the smoker’s health, it can also have a negative impact on the people around them. Children and babies living with people who smoke are vulnerable to many health problems. This includes chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and an increased risk of cot death.

Some of the most common smoking-related illnesses include:

• Infertility - Smoking affects the fertility of men and women, making it difficult to conceive.
• Gum disease - As well as staining your teeth, smoking can cause premature tooth loss due to gum disease.
• Heart disease - This is considered the UK’s biggest killer. Nearly one in six cases are smoking-related.
• Lung cancer - More than eight in 10 cases of lung cancer are directly related to smoking.
• Other cancers - This includes mouth, throat, nose, blood, cervical and pancreatic cancer.

Adults who endure passive smoking for a long period of time are also at an increased risk of heart disease and lung cancer. Tobacco is also an irritant; therefore it can make conditions such as asthma worse.

Hypnotherapy for smoking

A great number of people find hypnotherapy for smoking an effective treatment. The method works to break the negative behaviours and thinking patterns associated with smoking. The thoughts and behaviours the smoker holds is often what prevents them from successfully giving up.

When a person makes the decision to stop smoking, the key aspect is to let go of the routine and change their perspective of cigarettes. Breaking an addiction like this is a challenge. Many people find changing how they think about something difficult. As hypnotherapy focuses on this change, it is fast becoming one of the most popular forms of treatment.

When considering stop smoking hypnosis, the first thing the person has to do is make sure they are choosing to quit for themselves. Hypnosis for smoking has been found to be most effective when the person really wants to quit.

How Much Does it Cost?

Hypnotherapy for smoking cessation is usually done in just one session which costs £95. Now if you think you can't afford £95 think about how much money you're spending on cigarettes. Do you know if you smoke 20 fags a day you're literally burning at least £3,000 every year? 

Think what you could do with this money? And think also of the health benefits. It's really a no-brainer.

What Should I Do?

To arrange an initial discussion, please contact me on 07521 353 787 or email me at mike.smith@mgs-hypnotherapy-services.co.uk 

This initial discussion costs just £10 - and if you decide to proceed this is deducted from the cost of your session. 

More information is available at the Mind Generating Success website.

Mike Smith Hyp CS

Mind Generating Success

Craiglockhart

Edinburgh EH14 1DJ

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Fear, Phobias - And Freedom!

Have you ever tried to lose weight but found that diets don’t really work - and you blame your lack of willpower? Or you really want to give up smoking but, again, find that nothing works? Are the words ‘I’ve tried but I just can’t do it’ familiar to you? 

Do you feel your self-esteem is quite low in these difficult times and you are lacking in confidence? Perhaps you have an important presentation to make, or job interview looming or have an exam to take and you think your self-confidence could do with a boost.

Perhaps you have a phobia with a fear of spiders, wasps etc or you’re in desperate need of a holiday - but can’t face flying? Do you feel despair because you think nothing helps? 

Well, a hypnotherapy practice based in Edinburgh may be able to help. Mind Generating Success can show you a perfectly natural process to overcome issues such as these mentioned above. And the beauty is that hypnotherapy – the power of the mind – can help you thanks to your mind power! 

The reaction of many people when I tell them I am a fully qualified hypnotherapist is somewhat inevitable. They wear a look of surprise, there’s an audible gasp and a somewhat predictable ‘oh, look into my eyes’ reaction whilst waving their fingers in my direction. Given television shows such as Back in the Room on ITV, this is no real surprise. Hypnotherapists can be perceived as magical wizards who sit in a therapy chair dangling a swinging watch, putting people into a trance like state where they lose all control. In reality, hypnotherapists can help people transform their lives – and the client is fully aware and in control at all times.  And if I tell you just how many different issues hypnotherapy can help with you may be surprised. 

Hypnosis is an altered and heightened state of awareness that is sometimes referred to as a trance state. Most of us slip in and out of trance states throughout the day in everyday life. Has anyone ever said to you ‘Hey – you’re away in a dream!’ in an attempt to get your attention? When you day-dream you are at your most relaxed and comfortable. This is often when the best ideas 'pop' into your mind – they certainly do in my case! 

You may be aware there are two parts to the mind, the conscious and the subconscious. Many therapists use the term 'unconscious' instead of 'subconscious', and many describe the workings of the mind in great detail. My explanation is very simple:

The Conscious

You are aware and in the present with your conscious mind. It’s the part of your mind that reasons and makes decisions and choices. It acts as a filter to thoughts and suggestions, deciding whether to keep them in the forefront of your mind, or put them ‘on hold’, or to dismiss them altogether. When a thought or suggestion is put ‘on hold’, it goes straight to the subconscious where it is filed away. 

The Subconscious

The subconscious is a container for your thoughts. Amongst other things, it houses all the information your conscious gives it to store, like memories and things it can't deal with immediately. 

Unlike stage show hypnotists, during hypnotherapy you are fully conscious and aware at all times. You will never be asked to do anything you don’t want to do - so there will be no flapping around the room believing you are a chicken! You are in control and hypnotherapy sessions give you time for you and no one else; a chance to indulge in the freedom that having time to yourself give you. 

Okay, I hear you ask. What can hypnotherapy do for me? 

Well, that depends on you. Hypnotherapy gives you time for one of the most important things in your life – you. With relaxing techniques tailored to suit you, you will feel calmer, more relaxed and have a better understanding of your life, needs and aspirations as well as others.  

So, dear reader, if you are someone who wants to lose some weight or stop smoking but find your willpower evaporates after a few weeks; if you feel a distinct lack of self-esteem or self-confidence; if you are someone who has a phobia whether this is of spiders, wasps, general ‘creepy-crawlies’; or even if you’re thinking about going on holiday to sunnier climes but have a fear of flying - contact me to arrange an appointment. After a no obligation initial consultation, we can decide together the best way to enable you to achieve your goals.

The cost of a consultation is just £10 and this is deducted from the cost of your first session. Sessions are £60; for smoking cessation – which is usually a single session -  it’s £95.

Phone or text me on 07521353787 (24 hours) to arrange a date and time for an initial consultation or email me at: mike.smith@mgs-hypnotherapy-services.co.uk

Evening and weekend appointments are available. Home visits are available by arrangement.

Whether you wish to stop smoking, lose weight, increase self-confidence or overcome a phobia why don't you contact me to arrange a consultation and take the first step to overcoming this by natural methods - the strength and power of your mind - by contacting me for further information. 

We have but one life – so why not try and change your life for the better?

Mike Smith Hyp CS

Mind Generating Success

tel: 0752 135 3787 (24 hours)

email: mike.smith@mgs-hypnotherapy-services.co.uk  

twitter: @smith_mgs 

Obesity on Rise as Quarter of European Teens Eat Sweets Daily

A World Health Organisation (WHO) report paints a 'bleak picture' of young people eating and drinking too much sugar and spending too much time sitting down

A quarter of adolescents in England and Wales eat sweets or chocolates every day and 14% have a cola or other sugary drink daily, according to the authors of a report that shows obesity rising among teenagers across Europe.

Even more adolescents in Scotland have a sweet tooth, with a third eating some sort of confectionery and 23% having a soft drink every day. And across Europe, adolescents spend 60% of their time sitting down.

The findings are part of a big new report on adolescent obesity in Europe, compiled by researchers at the University of St Andrews for the World Health Organisation. Gauden Galea, director of the WHO's division of non-communicable diseases which includes obesity, described the findings as "a bleak picture".  Too many young people are in a harmful cycle, he wrote in a foreword to the report. "Most young people will not outgrow obesity: about four in every five adolescents who become obese will continue to have weight problems as adults."

Across Europe, the issues are the same. Young people are eating and drinking too much sugar and too little in the way of fruit and vegetables. They spend too much of their lives sitting down - most often at a computer screen.

Across Europe, 4% of adolescents were obese, says the report - although data for nine countries including those in the UK was not included because it was not complete. Nearly one in five adolescents (19%) was either overweight or obese. The highest levels were found mainly in southern Europe.

In 2014, only about a third (38%) of adolescents aged 11, 13 and 15 years from 40 countries and regions in Europe reported consuming fruit daily, while 3% claimed to never eat fruit. Boys ate significantly less fruit than girls, and as adolescents got older, their consumption dropped. Those living in wealthier families in all countries ate more fruit. A third (36%) of adolescents reported consuming vegetables daily, but 5% claimed never to eat vegetables.

Across Europe, 19% on average had a daily soft drink - the UK figures were higher - and a quarter (26%) ate sweets every day.

Physical activity levels were low and get lower as adolescents get older. "Young people spend approximately 60% of their waking time sitting, which makes sedentary behaviour the most common behaviour (besides sleep) in children and adolescents," says the report.

"Despite sustained efforts to tackle childhood obesity, one in three adolescents is still estimated to be overweight or obese in Europe, with the highest rates found in southern European and Mediterranean countries. What is of particular concern is that the epidemic is on the rise in eastern European countries, where historically rates have been lower," said Dr Zsuzsanna Jakab, WHO regional director for Europe. She called for ambitious action by governments.

"High rates of overweight and obesity among many countries in Europe are an important public health concern," said Dr Joanna Inchley from St Andrews, the coordinator of the study, called health behaviour in school-age children (HBSC). "Obese young people not only have a higher risk of developing chronic health conditions such as type 2 diabetes, but also face psychological issues such as low self-esteem, depression and social isolation.

"The proportion of young people who achieving the recommended level of daily physical activity remains stubbornly low in most European countries, suggesting that habitual forms of physical activity such as walking, cycling and active play have largely disappeared from adolescent's lives."

The Obesity Health Alliance, a coalition of more than 40 organisations, said: "Obesity, especially in young people, is a major cause for concern across Europe just as it is in the UK.

"The next government needs to prioritise tackling childhood obesity with measures like the soft drinks industry levy, Public Health England's sugar reduction programme and tighter regulations on junk food marketing to children, to give our young people a better chance of a healthier life."

Thanks to the National Hypnotherapy Society for this article. Hypnotherapy is a natural and holistic method to help reduce and cut out snacking. For further information and details about the life-changing benefits of hypnotherapy, visit Mind GeneratingSuccess. 

Get Rid of Your Unwanted Habit

Do you have an unwanted habit? Do you wish you could stop over-eating, tackle your eating disorder, make sleep problems a thing of the past, rid yourself of a fear of spiders, mice, flying etc?

Or do you want to stop smoking and have tried everything - but nothing works?

Hypnotherapy could be the answer you are looking for. Over the past year, Mind Generating Success has helped many people with weight loss, eating disorders, phobias and sleep problems. MGS has also helped people finally stop smoking - one client, who had smoked for over 20 years, stopped after just one session.

Unlike stage hypnotists, hypnotherapy does not mean you are put to sleep. You are awake and in control throughout. Sessions are conducted by a fully qualified hypnotherapist.

To arrange an initial, no-obligation consultation contact me on 07521 353 787 or email me at mike.smith@mgs-hypnotherapy-services.co.uk today.

Evening and weekend appointments are available. Home visits by arragement.

Take the first step to changing your life.

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Over-Indulged on Chocolate This Easter? Help is at Hand!

Have you had a good Easter? How many chocolate eggs have you consumed? You can tell us, we won’t tell anyone!

Many of us over-indulge at Easter (as we also tend to do at Christmas) which can be demoralising if one is trying to lose weight. Have you been on a calorie-controlled diet with the daily battle to try and lose a pound or two a week? If so, you may recognise that, at the end of the week, you step on to the scales, possibly with some trepidation, to discover you have lost a couple of pounds. Great! Then you decide to ‘treat’ yourself to that chocolate bar (or Easter egg) that’s been tempting you all week or that brightly coloured cake that’s been winking at you from the baker’s shop window every day when you go to work. Thus, all your hard work is undone….

Many of us enjoy a wee indulgence occasionally.  However, for many, snacking can evolve from a wee indulgence to a regular way of managing emotional problems. How often have you said, ‘I know I shouldn’t but it’s been a tough week/I need some comfort/just one won’t hurt me?’

Or how often have you phoned your partner on the way home from work on a Friday evening after a tough week and said, ‘do you fancy a chippy tea?’ as you really can’t be bothered to go to the effort of cooking anything? Aye, I’ve got the tee-shirt (previously XL but now Medium)

This psychological drive to consume unhealthy, sugar coated food such as chocolate, biscuits, cakes etc. or fried food such as chips can be worsened by the addictive aspect of such foods; thus, begins a vicious circle where you eat because you feel stressed – subsequently you put on weight – therefore your stress increases….

Does this sound familiar?

If it does, don’t worry - you’re not alone. It’s part of our culture to ‘reward’ ourselves with food and even to mark celebrations such as Easter, Christmas, birthdays, anniversaries etc. When this is done on moderation it’s perfectly fine. If you’re a member of a gym, going out for a meal on a Friday night can be balanced by an hour or so at the gym on a Saturday morning. It becomes a problem when this behaviour becomes excessive and/or regular and you begin to ‘reward’ yourself with food more often than is healthy for you. Then it becomes more difficult to keep your weight under control.

So, okay, smart-Alec, I hear you ask. What’s the solution? Well, it’s worth considering that everyone is different and what works well for one person may not work at all for someone else. What you need to consider from a personal point of view is the deep-rooted reasons for you snacking as this works in cahoots with your subconscious mind. And this is where hypnotherapy can help.

Perhaps your snacking habits developed as a child. Did your family ‘reward’ you with a bag of sweets for doing well at school or learning to ride a bicycle or learn to swim? Did your grandparents always ‘treat’ you to some sweets when they saw you? As a grandfather to four little brats young people, I stand guilty as charged over this – my two daughters lecture me about how I should take round some fruit for the wee ones rather than chocolate, cakes etc. And, of course, they are quite right.

So, how can hypnotherapy work to help you stop snacking?

Rather than attempting to work with your will power – which may be a losing battle - hypnotherapy will work with the main cause of your snacking habit and re-educate your brain with different, positive thoughts.

A hypnotic approach helps people shed unwanted weight and stay slim for the foreseeable future. This is done by using the power of positive suggestion. You will be in a conscious, yet deep state of relaxation. No, you’re not put to sleep and made to dance like a chicken around the room like some stage hypnotists. You are awake, aware and in control at all times. I can help embed new strategies to replace the old, habitual snacking process which has developed over the years.

After a few sessions, your aim will be to decrease your wish to have snacks, meaning that healthy diet plans are much simpler to sustain.

I have had great success with clients who have come to see me with weight management issues. One client has lost nearly three stones in five months.

Interested? Contact me at Mind Generating Success today I can start helping you to re-educate your brain and make snacking history.

Weekend and evening appointments available. Home visits by arrangement. If you’re a public sector employee and a member of Premium Benefits, you’ll get 20% off each session.

 Web: www.mgs-hypnotherapy-services.co.uk 

Phone me on 07521353787 (24 hours)

Email:   mike.smith@mgs-hypnotherapy-services.co.uk  m

How Was Your Day?

How has your day been at work? Tough? Do you feel unable to cope with the demands being placed on you? Stress, including work related stress, can be a significant cause of illness and is known to be linked with high levels of sickness absence, staff turnover and other issues such as a lack of confidence and self-esteem.

Stress can hit anyone at any level of the business and recent research shows that work related stress is widespread and is not confined to any particular sector, job or industry.

If you are fed up with your lot, you may be looking to change jobs or even change your career. With application forms and CVs submitted, the first hurdle is getting short-listed. When you get that email or letter inviting you to attend an interview you get an adrenalin rush and are on a high. But then you read that, as part of the interview, you have to give a presentation. Perhaps you revel in this. Or perhaps – like many people – you panic at the thought.

You really want this job. And to have a chance of beating off the undoubtedly stiff competition, you know you will have to give a good presentation. But if you’re someone who is lacking in self-confidence, you may be in self-defeating mode even before the interview begins.

I’ve had clients tell me ‘I’m no good at presentations. I know what I want to say but it just doesn’t come out right’.  Or ‘I hate talking to a group of people, particularly people I’ve never met before’. Or ‘I know I can do the job but I’m not sure I can talk the talk’.

Self-doubt takes over. Self-confidence dips. This can affect not only your presentation but your interview particularly if the presentation is at the end of the competency based questions – and the presentation has been on your mind so much you haven’t been able to fully concentrate on the rest of the interview.

So, what can you do to overcome this dilemma?

Hypnotherapy can help. I have been asked to help clients who dread having to give presentations, whether as part of a job interview or in their existing role. Hypnotherapy can increase self-confidence and self-esteem – and it has worked for clients who have approached me in the last year.

So, what is hypnotherapy, I hear you ask? Well, hypnosis is an altered and heightened state of awareness that is sometimes referred to as a trance state. Most of us slip in and out of trance states throughout the day in everyday life. Has anyone ever said to you ‘Hey – you’re away in a dream!’ in an attempt to get your attention? When you day-dream you are at your most relaxed and comfortable. This is often when the best ideas 'pop' into your mind – they certainly do in my case! You may be aware there are two parts to the mind, the conscious and the subconscious. Many therapists use the term 'unconscious' instead of 'subconscious', and many describe the workings of the mind in great detail. My explanation is very simple:  The Conscious You are aware and in the present with your conscious mind. It’s the part of your mind that reasons and makes decisions and choices. It acts as a filter to thoughts and suggestions, deciding whether to keep them in the forefront of your mind, or put them ‘on hold’, or to dismiss them altogether. When a thought or suggestion is put ‘on hold’, it goes straight to the subconscious where it is filed away. The Subconscious The subconscious is a container for your thoughts. Amongst other things, it houses all the information your conscious gives it to store, like memories and things it can't deal with immediately. Hypnotherapy is a skilled verbal communication, used during hypnosis, which helps direct your imagination in such a way as to bring about intended alterations in sensations, perceptions, feelings, thoughts and behaviour. The process begins with an initial consultation meeting during which I will ask questions about your lifestyle. I will also ask about things that make you relaxed such as your favourite place in the world to go; happy memories of a special time in your life; favourite pastimes and generally things that make you feel happy and relaxed. From this initial consultation, I create a bespoke script for use during the hypnosis. We will then decide together on the changes or goals that are desired. Unlike stage show hypnotists, during hypnotherapy you are fully conscious and aware at all times. You will never be asked to do anything you don’t want to do - so there will be no flapping around the room believing you are a chicken! With regards to having to do a presentation, hypnotherapy can help you to: Control feelings of nerves Project your voice Answer questions Deal with tricky situations ·       If you are looking to change your job or career but feel you may struggle with a job interview or presentation, hypnotherapy may be for you. If you are interested in finding out more, please have a look at my website Mind Generating Success. You can phone or text me on 07521353787 (24 hours) to arrange a date and time for an initial consultation or email me at: mike.smith@mgs-hypnotherapy-services.co.uk  It’s not as expensive as you might think – £60 per session. If you’re a public-sector worker and a Premium Benefits member, you’ll get a whopping 20% off every session. Evening and weekend appointments are available if required. Home visits are available by arrangement. We have but one life – so why not try and change your life for the better? Mike Smith Hyp CS Mind Generating Success National Hypnotherapy Society Membership No: HYP14-01935

How Was Your Day?

How has your day been at work? Tough? Do you feel unable to cope with the demands being placed on you? Stress, including work related stress, can be a significant cause of illness and is known to be linked with high levels of sickness absence, staff turnover and other issues such as a lack of confidence and self-esteem.

Stress can hit anyone at any level of the business and recent research shows that work related stress is widespread and is not confined to particular sectors, jobs or industries. That is why a population-wide approach is necessary to tackle it.

Hypnotherapy is one area which is proving successful at alleviating not only work-related stress but stress in general.

If you're experiencing stress, work-related or not, and are interested in finding out what hypnotherapy can do for you, contact me by email at mike.smith@mgs-hypnotherapy-services.co.uk or by phone on 07521 353 787.

https://www.mgs-hypnotherapy-services.co.uk/what-hypnother…/

The Life-Changing Benefits of Hypnotherapy

Hypnotherapy is one of the most successful ways to stop smoking safely and easily. I had a recent client who has stopped smoking after ten years. The recent feedback he gave me was that he is now a non-smoker and feels proud to tell me people he no longer smokes. Hypnotherapy can help you stop smoking after just one session. A smoking cessation session costs £95. If you smoke 20 cigarettes a day you spend close to £3,000 a year on tobacco. Think what you could do with that money.

If you want to reduce your weight without dieting and feelings of deprival, hypnotherapy is a proven way of changing your eating habits. Hypnotherapy removes unwanted habits by addressing emotional eating, negative thoughts and feelings about your body and desire for unhealthy snacks. The power of your mind can help increase the desire for eating nourishing foods, water and exercise.

One of my clients has lost nearly two stones in just four months. To quote he said ‘Hypnotherapy has changed my outlook on food. I no longer have an inclination to eat chocolate just because it’s there. If you’re like me and are serious about losing weight – and nothing else has worked – try hypnotherapy. It really does work’

Like a drink but are wanting to cut back or even stop?  Hypnotherapy is a successful way to address this. Hypnosis is the most effective way of removing habits, unwanted behaviours and addictions that no longer serve you and is a quick, safe and natural method.

Struggling to cope with stress in your life? Stress can be a good thing but too much stress can have a serious impact on your life. Stress reduction with hypnosis is one of the easiest ways to achieve deep relaxation. It is a very effective way to enhance your health and well-being, leaving you feeling calmer, more positive and very refreshed.

Re-programme your mind to achieve success in your life whether at work or in relationships. If you are lacking the motivation, hypnotherapy can help improve your confidence and self-esteem and help you envisage your best possible future.

Fears and phobias can hold us back and restrict our lives. Our unconscious mind’s primary function is to protect us from emotional pain and physical harm which is why these problems arise. By taking you back to find the event, cause or experience that has caused this issue we can then resolve, release, and rewrite the past. One of my clients had an irrational fear of spiders. After a few sessions of hypnotherapy, she views the little creatures differently and they no longer frighten her.

Hypnotherapy is a powerful way of resolving the negative effects of IBS - so much so that it is now recommended by the NHS.

Anxiety and depression can be caused or exacerbated by harsh critical words we say to ourselves. We all have negative thoughts but when these take over our lives these can have a damaging effect. Hypnotherapy can help reframe negative thought patterns that keep us stuck where we don’t want to be and move us towards positive, empowering and life affirming thoughts and behaviours.

Hypnotherapy has been a proven success in fertility, doubling the chances of success when used with IVF. For women struggling with conceiving, this is a positive and effective way of removing any blocks that are unconsciously stopping you having a baby.

Every thought you think has a physical reaction in your body. Start using the power of your mind and heal your body. Hypnotherapy can change the way you feel and the way you view things that have a negative impact on your life. We have just one life – why not make the most of it?

The article above is based on a piece by Elaine Marsh, clinical hypnotherapist and psychotherapist.

So, if you are someone who wants to lose some weight, stop smoking, cut back on alcohol – but find your willpower evaporates after a few weeks – or if you are someone who has a phobia (for example, fear of spiders, rodents, flying) - contact me today to arrange an appointment for a consultation.

The cost of a consultation is just £10 and this is deducted from the cost of your first session. Sessions are £60; for smoking cessation, it’s £95.

My website and email address is below - you can leave a message on my mobile phone at any time, day or night.

If you would prefer a home visit, I would be happy to arrange this.

Take the first step to changing your life!

Mike Smith Cert Hyp CS

Mind Generating Success

tel: 0752 135 3787 (24 hours)

email: mike.smith@mgs-hypnotherapy-services.co.uk 

twitter: @smith_mgs 

Your Existence is a Priority

Do you want to lose weight or stop smoking? Looking to overcome a phobia or increase your self-confidence?

Hypnotherapy can help with all of these things as well as stress, depression and anxiety.

Visit Mind Generating Success  for further information.

Interested in arranging a consultation meeting?

Email me: mike.smith@mgs-hypnotherapy-services.co.uk

Tel: 0752 1353 787 (24 hours)

Evening and weekend appointments available. Home visits by arrangement

Do You Find it Difficult to Accept Criticism?

I was trying to instigate a conversation with someone the other day. With this particular individual most of the time the conversation is free-flowing, amiable and not without banter (aka her taking the proverbial Michael from Michael)

However, this time, the conversation was strained. Her replies were limited to one word answers accompanied by sighs and a clear inference she just didn’t want to talk to me. Being a hypnotherapist, I wanted to see if I could ascertain if there was anything troubling her and if I could help in any way.

Eventually she told me she was going through the trauma of a bad week. You know the sort of thing that can affect all of us. A difficult time at work, people having a go for no apparent reason, family arguments. Oh, and the final demand for paying the gas/electric/phone/council tax bill is screaming at you from the shelf you stack all red letters on (it’s not just me is it?)

The common thread in her bad week was criticism. Her line manager at work had been on at her several times that week regarding this that and the other. She felt under a lot of pressure because there was so much work to do and there just wasn’t enough time in the day. And she felt her manager was wholly unjustified in her criticism.

When she arrived at what she believed was the sanctuary of home, she was on the receiving end of her grown up daughter having a go at her all because she was unable to look after her grandson on Friday evening,

When she looked to her husband for support, he was occupied with other things. ‘Ach, ye need to get a grip’ was her husband’s less than supportive remark which merely added to the weight of criticism she felt she was under.

I told her that hypnotherapy could help her. She gave me a puzzled look. She said she was aware that hypnotherapy can help with things such as weight loss, smoking cessation and phobias but she wanted to know how it could help her deal with the veritable mountain of criticism that engulfed her that week.

I explained that when someone gives criticism it doesn't mean to say that they're rejecting that you – in fact, often, it can be quite the opposite. If they were rejecting you as someone who is worthless, they probably wouldn't even bother with their unwarranted, unwanted criticism. Their criticism could be because they value your work so highly that they want to let you know what you’ve done or what you have said wasn’t as effective as it might be.

And a loved one’s assertion to ‘get a grip!’ might be a back-handed compliment in that ‘but you’re such a strong character you don’t usually let criticism affect you’.

It depends on how you view criticism. Hypnotherapy can help you look at criticism differently. By encouraging your subconscious mind to look at criticism a different way it can help you cope with it more constructively. And constructive criticism can be a positive experience. Sometimes we need to change the way we think about things or the way we say things. It can help you develop as an individual.

Think about using cricket as a metaphor. The bowler launches a ball of criticism at you. Do you cower or try to avoid this delivery? You could do. Or you could take aim and bat it away for six. Not only have you dealt with this delivery of criticism you’ve turned it into a positive spin (that’s enough cricketing metaphors)

If you feel the criticism isn’t deserved, then question the person who's criticising you - put your own view across and then listen - to whatever is said. Or if you feel you are unable to verbalise this then say it to yourself, in your own mind.

You can’t control whatever criticism comes your way – but you can control the way you feel about it. You are the only person who can decide if this will affect you in any way. Only you have this power. And because you’re in control you can decide to use any criticism to help you build the necessary skills and abilities to develop your career and/or relationships.

This is where hypnotherapy can help you. By using the power of your mind, you can turn criticism into something that can actually be a positive thing.

That said, no one likes to receive criticism. We are all different and it can affect some people more than others. If you are someone who feels they can’t deal with criticism and would like some support, please contact me by:

Phone or text me on 07521353787 (24 hours) to arrange a date and time for an initial consultation or email me at: mike.smith@mgs-hypnotherapy-services.co.uk

Home visits are available by arrangement.

Whether you wish to stop smoking, lose weight, increase self-confidence or overcome a phobia why don't you contact me to arrange a consultation and take the first step to overcoming this by natural methods - the strength and power of your mind - by contacting me for further information. 

We have but one life – so why not try and change your life for the better?

Mike Smith Hyp CS

Mind Generating Success

National Hypnotherapy Society Membership No: HYP14-01935