A New Me! What's wrong with the old me?

Every January seems to be the time to think about new starts, new me, new habits and so on. But is the old me really so bad?

One of the kindest things we can do, is to actually like ourselves. Some people find that harder than others. It's very easy to give a compliment, but can you receive a compliment so easily? Sometimes, something, deep down, inside is instilled within, programmed almost to dislike what we feel or what we look like. And it doesn't need to be something we have consciously put there either. These feelings have a way of creeping up on us and before we know it they are squatting within our subconscious mind, taking up valuable space. There is a saying, a song even, "You don't know what you've got till it's gone". (Shows age!)But there is some truth in it. And even the negativity we store up about ourselves, the dislike of our shape or size, the sadness, the anxiety; sometimes we don't know just what we have had until it's gone. But in some cases gone is good! Gone can mean freedom from unwanted thoughts and feelings, constraints and behaviour. And yes, sometimes we don't know what a psychological weight we have been carrying around, until it's gone! So perhaps before we go seeking a 'new me', we should perhaps, check out the 'old me' and learn to love all over again. Maggie. Senior therapist. Bee Yourself Hypnotherapy.

New Year - New You

Once again the festivities are over and we wonder what lies in store for us this year. Will it be better? Will it be happier? Will I eventually lose / gain weight? Will it be different? Will this be the year I stop smoking? I suppose the main question is, do we want it to be different? If so, how do we do that? One thing about a new year, it does offer a new start, a time to think and re-think what we really want out of life. And the trick is not just to decide what we really want, but to actually get out there and go for it! That takes courage and sometimes we may need to turn to someone to talk to; to talk things through with; to bounce off of; and help us to increase the confidence levels to take that next step. Many of us also face sadness at this time of year. Losing friends and loved ones is difficult at any time of year, but over the festive period those emotions can becomes magnified as well as carrying on into every festive celebration from now on. So new starts with promises of change and improvement are often tinged with dark clouds drifting around us. For some they can get too close for comfort. Whatever your new start is to be, whatever resolution you promised yourself and whatever thoughts and memories you take into 2013, may it prove to be all you hope for. So here's to change; to good health, to absent friends & family and supporting each other through this New Year ahead. Maggie. Therapist. Bee Yourself Hypnotherapy. www.beeyourself-hypnotherapy.co.uk