Where do we come from?

I watched an interesting TV program on BBC iplayer a few days ago and it really got me thinking - where do we come from and what role does evolution play in our daily lives. Dr Alice Roberts went on an extraordinary journey to Africa to trace the "Incredible Human Journey". This incredible human journey begins with the history of modern humans in Africa.

The earliest modern human fossils were discovered in Omo Kibish, Ethiopia - 200,000 thousand years ago. Sites in Israel hold the earliest evidence of modern humans outside of Africa approximately 90,000 years ago, however this group of people appeared not to have travelled any farther and for some reason may have died out as no further evidence has been located.

Genetic data indicates a small group of modern humans left Africa between 70,000 and 50,000 years ago and eventually replaced earlier known humans such as the Neanderthals. This is the fact which I still find amazing - all non-Africans are the descendants of this small brave group of travellers who decided to leave Africa and unwittingly colonise the world.

After extensive DNA testing across the world, testing different sections of cultures and society, and tests have so far proven that all non Africans are descendants of this small group of people who left Africa between 70,000 and 50,000 years ago - that's about 6 billion people in the world today! Tests indicate that we all share 99.9 percent of the human genetic code and the remaining 0.01 percent is responsible for our own individual uniqueness, skin colour, eye colour or even risk of disease.

I often wonder how the world may be different if this small group of people decided to stay put in Africa, how we, as a humans race, may have developed. Maybe there would be different species of humans, how would our culture and society operate - the list of possibilities goes on! It is not known what compelled this group of wanderers to set upon the adventure of their lifetime - perhaps it was in search of food, or for safety. We will never know but because their innate instincts were used they survived and colonised the world to create the society that we now live in.

I believe that the process of evolution in humans is often overlooked and not considered when we look how our emotions and actions impacts our lives. Dr. Roberts in the Incredible Human Journey showed us some examples of how are bodies were designed in evolutionary terms and the function it played. As we all know, modern humans were hunters and gathers and the African climate was hot. The advantage modern humans had over animals was they were able to run long distances in the heat as our bodies have evolved humans developed sweat glands to enable to maintain temperature of the body at a comfortable rate. Animals were vulnerable to the modern humans as they had no sweat glands and covered in fur and as a consequence unable to escape the hunters. Modern humans’ feet also evolved to assist the hunters track animals as there is a spring in the bones which assisted the body to run.

The above two examples are psychical but what about mentally and emotionally? Most of us are aware of the fight or flight response that not only humans, but also animals, encounter. Fight or flight is the biological response to acute stress. In prehistoric times when the fight or flight response evolved, fight was manifested in aggressive, combative behaviours and flight was manifested by fleeing potential dangerous situations such as being confronted by a predator. Today, these responses are still with us however they have assumed a much larger role and the fight response may be recognised as angry or argumentative behaviour and the flight response may be manifested through social withdrawal, substances abuse, and even television viewing - hiding from our lives and society.

The survival of our ancestors depended upon three instinctual behavioural responses - assertiveness, protection and energy for change. The small group of modern humans who left Africa between 50,000 and 70,000 years ago all had these instincts as they are part of our DNA, that 99.9 percent that we all share. Energy for change was used to leave Africa and enter unknown territory. Assertiveness was used to focus on what was required to survive in their new environment, and with control, methodology and structure helped to create their new society. The protectiveness instinct also played an important role - by protecting themselves against the elements or newly encountered animals and possibility other human species allowed them to adapt to their new environment. We are all born with these instincts, they are part of being human and are "hard-wired" into our brain, conferring the natural ability to use these three processes in perfect harmony to be successful in whatever we choose to do.

But then, unfortunately life happens and we are usually taught that we are wrong, ineffective, can't get things right, etc. An example of this is can be learned at a very young age; girls are taught to be submissive as assertive in women may not be considered attractive, boys are taught to more masculine and therefore do not require protection and children with too much energy are instructed to calm down and play quietly. We are not born with expectations or negative behaviour; these develop from an early age as a result of people around us trying to subconsciously manipulating us into behaving a certain way to suit their requirements.

When reaching adulthood, the behavioural responses we have been taught have become part of who we are, feels natural, normal and instinctual and on an unconscious level. We just accept that this is a part of us and that we can never change. The great news is that we can change! By working with the three instincts - assertiveness, protection, and energy for change, we can establish newly created thought processes and behaviours and these changes can become part of us and work effectively. This is what Symbiodynamics is all about. As mentioned in an earlier article - developed by Terrance Watts an international leading therapist, and takes into account the latest research on how the human mind and body work in synergy. It's a powerful concept which allows you to get the best from life and helps you to achieve your goals - it's a form of life coaching but works at a deeper and personal level - that's why it's so successful.

If you wish to find out more or to book a free 30 minute introductory session please contact me. Or if you wish purchase the M.A.G.I.C! for minds ebook please select the link on the left hand side.

This is really an exciting and evolutionary concept and it helps you to move your life forward to the life you want to lead.

Willpower

We have all heard of the term willpower but do we fully understand what this word means and the huge impact it has on our lives.

The definition of willpower is:

"The trait of resolutely controlling your own behaviour"

Will power sits in the conscious part of our minds - and this is what most people refer to when they are discussing the mind in general terms. In fact this is only a small part of the overall mind. The conscious mind basically experiences our living reality, and is aware and responds to our surroundings. By doing this, we are utilising three sections of the conscious mind, will power, temporary memory and the rational and analytical thought process.

In all aspects of life, will power is required to a certain degree, for example refraining from eating or drinking too much, stop smoking, focusing on goals, stop biting nails, etc. However, this function is not automatic and we need to remember to turn it on. The problem with will power is that in order to achieve something, as stated above, we need to remember to turn it on, and by turning it on we therefore need to consciously think of what we want to achieve.

This is where it can get a little tricky. If perhaps your goal is to stop smoking, you will therefore most likely consciously thinking of the term "stop smoking". Your conscious mind ignores the word stop and focuses on the word smoking. So, in essence all your mind constantly hears is smoking, smoking, smoking thus making stop smoking so much more difficult.

Willpower is quite a negative concept as people tend to blame themselves "I have no willpower to give up smoking or lose weight". This negative thought process becomes counterproductive and may lead to the person feel self-defeated and eventually giving up until the next time - being part of a viscous circle of starting, negative thought processes create feelings of self defeatism and thus giving up...until next time.

Imagination plays an important role with willpower. Imagination lies in the unconscious part of the mind and is a powerful aspect. If something is imagined intensely the body is able to respond to it as if something is actually happening thus becoming a reality. Often willpower and imagination are in conflict with each other and as a result, makes change difficult to achieve. If say for example, you imagine stop smoking or losing weight is too hard and difficult it will be hard and you can get all the symptoms associated with giving up smoking or losing weight - such as cravings. If on the other hand, you imagine that it is easy and straightforward to stop smoking or lose weight - it becomes easier to achieve the goal - as this is the reality you have imagined for yourself

If someone does succeed with willpower alone often this change is not permanent and old habits creep their way back in in times of stress or crisis. This is where something more permanent is required to ensure the change is long lasting and effective.

Hypnotherapy is a fantastic tool to utilise as hypnosis bypasses the conscious mind (this is where willpower sits) and implements change in the unconscious mind by reprogramming to change negative behaviour and thought process for long lasting change.

The role of the hypnotherapist is to determined the most suitable treatment for each individual client and an example of this is:

- Improves confidence, self esteem

- Improves stress levels

- Improves motivation levels

- Produces stronger levels of determination and inner strength

- Looks at any underlying reasons such as secondary gains or perhaps a past event.

If you have any questions on willpower or hypnotherapy please do not hesitate to contact me on 075 3421 3557.

WillPower

Hello all

I hope you are all enjoying the sun at the moment - I love London during the spring, it's such a fantastic beautiful place to be.

Just a quick message as I have been extremely busy lately I just wanted to let you all know that I am currently writing a new article on Willpower - I am very excited about it - as we all have willpower at varying degrees and it is a product of ourselves that we need in order to be successful in parts of our lives such as, stop smoking, lose that excess weight, stop eating chocolate, biscuits or cakes, plan our goals...and the list can go on!

So please come back shortly to read the new article.

All the best
Linda

MAGIC FOR MINDS ebook

SymbioDynamics™

I have recently completed training with the renowned therapist and educator Terrance Watts and I am extremely excited to announce to you all you readers that I am now a registered SymbioDynamics practitioner and able to offer this cutting edge technique to my clients. There is even a MAGIC for minds ebook for sale to help you make the changes in your life - details on the right left hand side of the screen. If for whatever reason you are not entirely happy with your purchase I offer a 30 day guarantee no questions ask. Also, after your first session with me you will be refunded the price of the ebook. I also ofter a 30 minute FREE introductory session - so you can see for yourself how this techniques works.

SymbioDynamics™ is a powerful and evolutionary coaching and therapy model taking into account the latest research into the way that the human mind and body work in synergy, developed by leading international therapist and educator, Terence Watts. I have been extremely fortunate to be train with Terrence on this exciting and cutting edge technique.

It is a powerful concept that can help individuals to get the best from life whether they want to achieve a cherished goal, establish a loving relationship, or let go of a limiting thought processes and blocks.

If you are seeking success anywhere in your life, SymbioDynamics™ can help - and fast! It is designed to access the very core of your thinking processes and to do it elegantly, swiftly and safely. It is a fact that many of the difficulties in life can be resolved with only two or three sessions, during which you learn the amazingly powerful "M.A.G.I.C! for Minds®" technique that allows you not to simply sustain the changes you make for yourself, but to continue to grow from them.

You will discover how easy it is to focus three major thought processes into a powerful singularity so that internal conflict simply melts away. I will help you to create a true symbiosis of thought, a harmony that engenders a powerful cooperation between the conscious and subconscious parts of your mind. In this way, you can leave behind self-destructive and limiting beliefs, and leave them behind so easily and completely that you may begin to believe that you were always this way.

Want to find out more?
http://www.symbiodynamics.com/
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yOiqwMBn4jo

MAGIC FOR MINDS ebook

Have you ever thought what advantage turtles have over humans?

MAGIC for minds is an exciting and evolutionary popular ebook, written by leading therapist Terrence Watts, available to you to purchase today.

This ebook will help you to overcome obstacles in your life and achieve many goals that you originally thought were impossible. Opening your eyes to your own true strengths. You will also discover why turtles have an advantage over humans!

If for whatever reason you are not entirely happy with your purchase I offer a 30 day guarantee no questions ask.

After your first session with me you will be refunded the price of the ebook.

Price: £19.99 (you will receive an email with a download link once payment is received)

Take control of your personal finances - tip 1

Are you finding that your personal finances are controlling you? Is your spending restricting the way that you live your life? Worried about retirement or redundancy? Buying another pair of new shoes when you already have 20 pairs in the cupboard? Spending out of control? Living from pay to pay?

There's a lot of questions in the first paragraph - has it got you thinking about your finances?

Track your spending

It's important to develop a budget - and stick to it. Did you know that 55% of millionaires keep a budget! But before we get to writing down a budget it's important to track your spending, keep a record of every penny that goes into your purse/wallet and also goes out of your purse/wallet. It's a good idea to carry a note book with you to enable all outgoings to be recorded as soon as possible. Stick with it for a few weeks and make it a habit to record your outgoings. This is essential if you have no idea where you money goes and you find you are living from month to month.


Here's some food for thought and a way to approach how much you spend with what initially seems like a small purchase which would not make any difference to your budget.

Say for example you may buy a coffee every morning on the way to work from a coffee shop

Costs approx £2.50 per day

Do you think that's expensive for a coffee - £2.50 is just pocket change right?

To take this a step further multiple the £2.50 per five days

Costs approx £12.50 per work week

Now multiple the £12.50 by 4 weeks

Costs approx £50 per month

Multiple £50 by 12 months

and the result:

£600

That's right - you have just spent £600 in a year on coffee!

Taking this a step further - If you drink coffee for the next five years that amounts to £3,000!

No Smoking day

Just a little reminder that No Smoking day is only TWO DAYS away!

Are you committed to stop smoking? Maybe this is your opportunity to become a non smoker.

Hypnotherapy is a fantastic tool to help you in your goal

Say not to smoking...and yes to life!!

Contact me today to find out how you can become a non smoker in just one session with no patches, gums, withdrawal symptoms or weight gain.

Contact me today on 075 3421 3557or no obligation advice or to book a free initial consultation

What is the difference between the conscious and unconscious mind?

Hello all

I do hope you all have a wonderful relaxing weekend, it's quite exciting I can feel spring in the air! I love listening to the birds sing their morning song - there is something quite magical and peaceful about that.

In hypnotherapy we often talk about the conscious and the unconscious mind (also referred to as the subconscious mind) and how they both play an important part in our lives and as a consequence have a huge impact on so many different levels.

The mind operates as two separate parts , and these are referred to as the conscious and unconscious mind. Each part has a very important and vital role to play in the way that we function on a daily basis.The conscious mind is responsible for our awareness in the waking state, basically experiencing our living reality and is aware and responds to our surroundings by thinking analytically and creating logical order.

The unconscious mind is the largest and most powerful part of the mind and operates below the level of our normal consciousness. This is where our memories from the past are stored, and records our reality. The unconscious controls our emotions and our deepest core beliefs, values and imprints are programmed here. Thus, this part of the mind allows insight to who and what we are and the world around us by accessing all the information stored within this part of the mind.