Goodbye Comfort Zone, Hello “Better Place”!
We’re stepping out of the beauty zone today and handing over to the lovely Jacqueline Hurst, Clinical Hypnotherapist & NLP Master Practitioner, who has appeared in The Sunday Times, The Times, Harper’s Bazaar, OK Magazine, The Daily Mail and on BBC London and Talk Radio.
With Christmas around the corner and 2013 just days away now, whatever it holds for us all, we can be pretty sure changes are on the way – both the ones we don’t choose, and the ones we make. Before we dive into the Belgian chocolates and hit the Prosecco in full-on festive mode, here are Jacqueline’s tips on moving out of our comfort zone into a richer place.
“I am a morning person, I never used to be. I used to party late into the night and go to bed at the time I now get up. I am glad that changed, especially this month, because Autumn is my favourite season. I love the beautiful colours of the trees, the leaves and the special light. Walking yesterday morning, I realised the perfection of nature – which is all about change. If the leaves didn’t change colour, fall from the trees and allow new buds to grow the process would get stuck. It’s the same for us – without change we become stuck.
We tend to go to great lengths to avoid situations that make us feel uncomfortable. We try avoidance techniques, disconnecting from ourselves or find tactics to keep busy. Until of course, staying stuck becomes harder than making the change.
So when the time comes and you feel ready to rock the status quo, to make changes and strike out in new directions which will require doing something you haven’t done before, I say face the fears and go for it anyway. Because if you do what you have always done, you get what you have always got. Here are a few tips to help you on your way:
• Accept that change can bring up feelings of fear, resistance and self-doubt but remember, a feeling has always come from a thought FIRST so check your thoughts and make sure you are choosing the good ones!
• Take risks – get comfortable with not being comfortable (for a while)
• Remember that Emerson didn’t make the light bulb in one try…..baby steps at first!
• Check your thoughts. Choose positive ones to lead you towards your goal. If you think you can, you will.
• Accept that staying in your “safe” comfort zone isn’t safe at all because you’re risking a life time of existing rather than living.
Have a great month – and take up the challenge!”
For more information and to sign up for her newsletters visit www.jacquelinehurst.com Twitter @JHurstNLP
