Anxiety is a state that comes from within. Yes, of course external factors play a part, but the final decision as to whether you feel anxious is yours. Anxiety can be very useful, as it acts as a warning signal; If you feel anxious about an upcoming commitment, it usually means that something needs to be changed. If you need to pack for your holiday, the anxiety serves as a reminder to finish your packing. If you have a public speaking engagement coming up, perhaps the anxiety is a reminder that you need to prepare your speech. If you have been invited to your ex's wedding, then the anxiety may just be a warning sign that you shouldn't go! Only you can decipher your anxiety. Ask yourself BOLD questions and you will receive BOLD answers.

If your anxiety relates to things outside your control or you struggle to find a rational explanation for it, then my latest hypnotherapy audio may be just what you are looking for. Let go of anxiety now is available on iTunes, Google Play and Amazon music.

When it comes to improving language skills, many people are at a loss as to where to start. Having an understanding of your strengths and weaknesses is integral to your success. However, contrary to popular belief, not everyone improves as a direct result of their intellectual understanding of a language. Please remember that children in England learn the English language largely without theory and grammar and mostly through interaction with others, particularly their parents- this explains why we have so many regional accents throughout the UK. There is no denying that this method works, but it does take years for a child to gain a strong grasp of their native language. Additionally, a child's level of English is largely dependent on that of their parents; thus children with parents who have a strong command of the English language, also tend to speak and write better than those who do not have this advantage.

So, how can this process be improved upon and accelerated?

Back in 2012, i decided that i wanted to improve my French, as i was about to move to France. I decided to follow a method that i had heard about from a client. He had managed to take his English to a high level through this method alone. He quite simply listened to an audio book, whilst simultaneously reading the text. In this way, he replaced his voice in his head (that constantly confirmed his mistakes) with the voice of the narrator. This simple technique not only improved my pronunciation, but also the flow of my speech and my use of correct grammar when speaking in French.

In last week's blog, i mentioned a new programme that I have been working on to improve spoken English. The technique i just mentioned, very much forms the basis of this course.

If you would like to give it a go, simply download the audio and pdf in this blog and follow the steps, below. The more thoroughly you follow the process, the better the results will be.

If possible, please print off the following document before beginning this exercise (the audio can also be downloaded, if you wish):

1. Read and listen at the same time the whole way through twice

2. Listen and read again, circling any words you don't understand

3. Look up any words you have circled and write their meanings in the margin of the text

4. Take out some coloured pens and highlight anything you consider to be important

5. Listen again, following the, now annotated, text simultaneously

Please do let me know how it goes. If you enjoy the process, i will post more blogs like this.

Have you ever found something EASY to learn?

If so, what was your state of mind at the time?

If no, what is your state of mind when you learn?

If you enjoy learning something new and find it easy, it is clear that you are doing something right. If you feel anxious during or exhausted afterwards then it is clear to me that your learning style is in need of an upgrade.

Ultimately, if you feel anxious it means you care. What if being relaxed were linked to better performance, would you give it a try? The funny thing about this concept is that people often link 'being relaxed' with 'not caring'; this couldn't be further from the truth.  I find that i learn best when i am enjoying something and am learning because i really want to learn. In these moments, i am focused and energized, without feeling overly anxious, but what about when you have to learn something really challenging?

When i was a child, i had a complete block when it came to numbers. At the age of 6, the teacher gave up trying to explain anything to me and left my twin sister to help, as i just couldn't take in what she was saying. I link this to a feeling of fear- i even remember crying when she tried to explain things to me. I don't think she was particularly patient and i don't think i was very good at listening back then- not the best of combinations! So you can imagine how excited i was when i was told that there was an easy way to memorize numbers. 

An NLP (Neuro Linguistic Programming) friend of mine taught me this. He asked for my bank card, took a deep breath, looked at it for a while and then gave it back. He then took out a piece of paper and wrote the number down. I laughed nervously. Could i do this too? He suggested starting with a phone number and then explained the process. It seemed that all i had to do was relax, take a picture of the numbers in my mind, look away to see whether i could visualise them and keep doing this until i had a picture of the whole number stored. I find that the number is then stored in my short term memory; to commit the number to my long term memory, i just need to repeat the process a few more times, perhaps two-to-three times a day for a couple of days. The key to this, it seemed, was to do it without over trying; to relax and to trust that i would remember it. I now practice this frequently and this element of self belief comes up again and again. If you believe you can do something, you have a much greater chance of succeeding. 

I am a strong believer in the theory that if something isn't working, it is time to make some changes. When it comes to learning, mindset is the first place i look. Thoughts, beliefs, actions and emotions are all linked.

1. Think of something you are learning now or have learned in the past

2. Assess your beliefs about this task; Are you capable? Are you motivated? Will you succeed?

3. How do you feel when you are in the process of studying this subject? Do you feel nervous and agitated or 
are you in flow? 

Try this:

1. Tell yourself  'It's getting easier and easier' then turn OFF that internal chatter and bring yourself heavily into the present, focus and enjoy. If negative thoughts persist, repeat 'My thoughts are meaningless'. 

2. Rather than frowning, SMILE

3. Rather than holding your breath, BREATHE deep breaths right down into your stomach

When you do all the things i have just mentioned, above, you are imitating the learning style of those who succeed. It may not feel totally natural to start with, but the more you practice this, the easier it will become.