A challenging question? On some of our courses, we used to introduce our Design Your Future exercise. It was a way of creating a practical action plan to create your ideal future over the next few years. When introducing the exercise I ask people to consider “where do you want to be with your life […]

A 600-yr old tip! Have you ever noticed the great resolutions that we make when we’re unwell… You know, the promises such as: Once I’m feeling better again I’ll exercise more, eat better, have a better work-life balance, etc. Well twas ever thus. Sometime in the 1400s, Sigismund, the Holy Roman Emperor, was asked what

NLP Anchors worked – even before NLP! Back in the late 1700’s the Scottish novelist-to-be, Walter Scott, was a student at Edinburgh High School. And he was always runner-up to the more articulate and quick-witted boy who invariably came top of the class. One day, as his rival was speaking in class, Scott noticed that

“How long will it take me make this a habit?” Well, the usual answer is 21 days and this is one of those myths-which-became-truth because it is so widely and unquestioningly quoted (including by myself in the distant past). It’s based on a 1960’s observation by Maxwell Maltz, the positive thinking author and cosmetic surgeon.

Walking – less fashionable than running, BUT… In recent years enlightened GPs around the UK have been setting up walking groups for patients in their practices – with good results in reducing requests for prescriptions and in building self esteem and social connections. Walking doesn’t get the same kind of press attention as jogging or

The amazing Nocebo Effect The Nocebo is what happens when we receive scary news which results in physical symptoms.  The Nocebo is the opposite of the Placebo. With the Placebo, which means ‘I will heal’, we get well because we believe something is good for us – the kindly doctor or therapist who listens and

Time for a break from The (Bad) News! Social-Distancing? Yep, got it! So, now how about ‘News-Distancing?” As I sat down to have my lunch one day last week, there was a ‘coming up’ announcement for the BBC Radio 4 World at One news programme which proudly announced “Covid Virus – the latest on who’s

Wishing them well?? Shortly after the arrival of Covid-19 in the UK we began wishing each other well with “Stay Safe!” comments. It was a well-intended comment.  Yet, in communication, and as we know from NLP, it’s not our intention when communicating that matters.  What matters are the results of our communicating – our impact on

Perfectionism: a recipe for endless dissatisfaction The perfectionist wants everything they do to be perfect. Flawless. Beyond criticism… The perfectionist is never satisfied with their results. Whatever they achieve they quickly decide they could have done better – and should have done better, in fact. They do not have an ‘it’s good enough – let’s

The branch was in the way There’s a lot of rubble to get rid of so I ordered a skip from the local company. We’d used them a few times before but this time they said they wouldn’t be able to negotiate the narrow corner because their new lorry was higher and wider and a

  The ‘Satir Stress Modes’ Virginia Satir identified that we move into one or more of 4 modes of behaviour and reaction when under pressure – we blame others, or placate them, or distract their attention, or become cool/cold and super-reasonable. The Blamer: in Blamer mode we find fault with anyone and everyone – except