SchoolofCT

The School of Complementary Therapies

The Easy Way to Choose Happy & Get Healthy

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Do you ever sit and daydream? Imagining living the Happy Life? Making pictures in your mind’s eye about…

  • living with higher self-confidence and self-worth
  • enjoying better health and great sleep
  • having more energy
  • achieving your goals
  • becoming popular and having lots of friends
  • achieving more of what you truly want
  • balancing the different areas of your life
  • being truly Happy!

If you can do any of the above, you can begin to improve your life and Choose Happy with hypnotherapy! Really! Let me tell you how…

Hypnotherapy is a Complementary Alternate Medicine therapy that allows you to reach levels of deep relaxation. When you are relaxed the conscious and the sub-conscious mind are very close together. You simply have to relax and think of new ways of being for your mind to make changes.

My aim is to help you help yourself.

Hypnotherapy is not about one person controlling another’s mind, but about a sensitive and caring relationship developed between therapist and client, in which a true understanding of each client’s goals, ideals and objectives are established. I am dedicated to helping each client achieve their objectives in the shortest possible time, in accord with their best interests.

Hypnotherapy or Clinical Hypnosis can be used to help in an almost unlimited number of ways, and is especially useful in behavior modification (big words that mean ‘changing your habits’):

  • relaxing,
  • relieving anxiety and depression,
  • quit smoking,
  • changing eating habits,
  • overcoming fears and phobias,
  • improving memory and study habits
  • and much more.

My studies in hypnotherapy have led me to believe it to be one of the simplest tools of change we can use. Currently,  I am working with clients who have anxiety, depression, phobias, weight issues and sleep problems. Each and every one is feeling better using hypnotherapy! And that is how to Choose Happy!

Hypnotherapy can allow you to escape from your typical patterns of response and behavior, allowing you to achieve greater flexibility and choice.

It works by allowing you to relax deeply, so giving you the ability to choose new ways of doing, being and thinking, without being controlled by past experiences.

I want you to be able to achieve your objectives and Choose Happy in the shortest possible time, with your best interests in mind.

When you make an appointment with me because you are ready to feel better in any area of your life, whether it body, mind, emotions or spirit, hypnotherapy is one thing we consider. Sessions are personalized and highly enjoyable experiences.

Thank you for being ready to change and ready to Choose Happy. I look forward to helping you achieve your full potential! To make an appointment to try a hypnotherapy session or begin a series of life-changing sessions, please contact me.

June 2012 Health Steps ~ Get Physical With Some Love

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Walking the dog ~ an excellent way to add exercise to your life!

Over the years I have listened to hundreds of clients and students make excuses for not exercising—seriously, I think I’ve heard them all. And I always say ‘the key is finding something you love to do’.

So today I’m going to share some of my tips to making exercise more fun:

  • Don’t do it alone. Go with a friend. The buddy system works so well. If you are not feeling motivated, maybe your friend is, or vice versa.
  • Don’t over do it! The temptation to get stuck in and work like mad because you haven’t exercised for a while is so strong. Resist! Go gently. As we say at Feeling Absolutely Fabulous, ‘gentle change leads to permanent results’. Take it easy and you won’t injure yourself. You have all the time in the world.
  • Don’t commit to an exercise regime until you have tried it for a while. Sometimes the initial endorphin rush is mistaken for loving the exercise. See if it works for you and your lifestyle first. Then make the commitment.
  • Do schedule exercise into your daily calender. If you make an appointment with yourself you are more likely to keep it than saying ‘I’ll get round to it when I’ve done everything else’.
  • Do something you can afford. The stress out-weighs the benefits if you cannot afford to do it. Walking is free. Running is free. Doing the housework vigorously is free, which brings me to my final tip for today:
  • Moving your body is exercise. You don’t have to wait until you can join a program or pay for a gym membership. Get physical and clean the house. Get physical and go shopping: park the car away from the mall entrance and walk vigorously around the mall. Make love with enthusiasm—teehee! Get down on the floor and play with the kids/grand-kids/pets. Move it or lose it!
  • And think about what you eat! Good nutrition partnered with some exercise and you’ll soon be Feeling Absolutely Fabulous!
  • And get physical with some love.

April 2012 What to eat? What have you got to lose?

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Have you noticed that it is becoming more and more confusing to decide what to eat? It seems that a new study or a new fad diet comes out every day. One day we are avoiding too much protein as it’s hard on the kidneys, and then the next we are loading up on protein heavy diets to lose weight. One day we are taking all dairy out of our diet so we are free of congestion, and the next day we are eating yogurt three times a day to improve our colon health. Are you confused?

Gluten-Free Spagetti| Eating Healthy|

SCT Founder Jacqueline Fairbrass tucking into a fabulous gluten-free

Have you noticed that it is becoming more and more confusing to decide what to eat? It seems that a new study or a new fad diet comes out every day. One day we are avoiding too much protein as it’s hard on the kidneys, and then the next we are loading up on protein heavy diets to lose weight. One day we are taking all dairy out of our diet so we are free of congestion, and the next day we are eating yogurt three times a day to improve our colon health. Are you confused?

Over the years I worked as a naturopath, I found that diets and fad diets were occasionally useful but most of the time left people out of balance. So, I developed Nutrition 101 to help people learn to eat well and follow a balanced diet. Whether you want to maintain a healthy weight or lose a few pounds, understanding what our bodies need to ingest and paying attention to how we feel when we have eaten is in my opinion the key to healthy body weight.

This month I’ve spent some time with people on what I call ‘fad diets’. That is, diets that cut calories to less than

1000 a day and cut out one particular food group. When we cut down our calories to a very low level (seriously, one friend of mine is currently ingesting under 500 calories a day while working out!) our body goes into ketosis. This means that we use our stored energy and we lose weight. The question is, whether this is healthy for us. Initially, we get a sense of euphoria from it, which people attribute to increased energy. It’s actually a body function from ancient times ~ we get energized to find more food because we are starving ourselves. When we go back to normal eating, the weight goes back on faster than ever as the body celebrates not starving!

Quite simply, removing one particular food group from our diet can lead us into ill health through unbalance. We don’t get the body’s nutritional requirements met unless we eat from all the food groups.

So, what should we do? Perhaps you are looking to lose a few pounds, or you’d like to be healthier or you’d simply like to stop being confused. I recommend that you take the Nutrition 101 course. It’s experiential, which means that while you study and learn you are guided to record your nutritional experiences. Take this course to help yourself and to help your family and loved ones. It’s easy to follow and learn and you’ll be able to take charge of your eating habits.

In the meantime here are some of my tips to make eating right easier:

  1. Drink more water. We often confuse hunger and thirst, so drink your water, hydrate your body and see if you need to eat as much.
  2. Take a daily multi-vitamin. Make it a good quality one from food sources.
  3. Eat a rainbow. Make sure your plate has various colors on it. Food colors represent nutritional components.
  4. Eat fruit and veggies daily. 
  5. Eat a variety of foods. Make sure you eat from all the food groups.
  6. And the most important! Slow down and enjoy your food. Don’t eat while you drive, while you watch TV or standing in the kitchen because you are in a hurry. Paying attention to what you eat cuts calorie intake like nothing else.

As our food supply is being chemically changed and modified you owe it to yourself to take charge of your eating habits. Want to go a step further? Then start today on one of our Feeling Absolutely Fabulous revolutionary new weight loss programs. So start today! What have you got to lose?

The Feeling Absolutely Fabulous LLC Top Ten Rules for Looking Good and Feeling Great

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(Rule 6 to 10-check August 2010 for 1 to 5)

As summer comes to a close many of us decide to begin new projects. This year how about making you, the wonderful you the new project you work on. Use these simple tips to start making the positive changes you wish to see in your life and by Christmas you’ll really be on the way to Feeling Absolutely Fabulous!

6. Quit the junk.

Lose the junk food. The best way to get off the junk food wagon is to go through your cupboards and do a little spring cleaning. If there is stuff in your cupboard that tempts you, then the easiest way to is to not keep it around. Find out what sucks you into unhealthy snacking. Is it the need for something crunchy and salty? Then make sure you stock the fridge with crispy vegetables and a yummy salsa dip. Don’t overdo the fat-filled dips! Or does something sweet and creamy tempt you to get into unhealthy eating habits? Instead of a full-fat ice-cream dessert, try 2% Greek yoghurt, mix in some honey or preserves and enjoy.

Dead calories and preservatives don’t make you feel good. The body has to work extra hard to get them out of your body and they can leave you feeling tired and too much sugar or salt leads to health complications.

Drive by the drive-through. A little planning and you can skip the fast food joints. My husband has long been a junk-food addict, now two years of marriage later he heads out the door each morning with a home-made sandwich or a salad and some fresh fruit for lunch. Not only is he feeling better physically, he’s feeling better about himself and is saving money each month. All it takes is a little planning and getting out of bed five minutes earlier!

7. Stop skipping meals.

Working as a CAM Health Consultant for eighteen years I’ve probably heard every excuse for missing meals: ‘I didn’t get up in time, I don’t feel hungry till later in the day, I was too busy, there was no time, I figure if I skip meals I’ll lose the excess weight I carry.’ You’ve probably heard them or used them too! Missing meals causes fluctuations in your body’s energy reserves and can really mess up your metabolism. Again, like number 6, a little planning can help. I plan my evening meals for the week ahead and then go do the grocery shopping. Keep a few frozen items on hand for when things get hectic. Carry a high quality protein snack with you. I personally like to keep a small bag of almonds and raisins in my purse, especially when I’m traveling.

I recommend three meals a day and two snacks. Some people like to break their meals into five or six mini-meals spread through out the day. Whichever way works for you, you’ll feel better, have more energy and improve your digestion by eating regularly. And let’s face it, if we try skipping meals as a weight-loss aid, we only end up eating more or eating junk, so let’s not do it anymore.

8. Laughter is the best medicine

One of the most important things we can do for ourselves is to enjoy life and laugh often. Remember the old saying ‘angels can fly because they take themselves lightly’? Take it to heart and lighten-up-figuratively and literally. Studies indicate that those who take time to enjoy the little things in life actually live longer, more productive and healthier lives and this means they don’t overeat!

I’m not much of a TV watcher, but I do enjoy sitting down, putting my feet up and enjoying a movie. Most of the movies I have in my collection are comedies or feel-good stories. Do you have a few favorite movies that you can watch over and over again that make you laugh every time you see them? Invest in having them in your collection.

Hang out with friends who like to laugh. Go through your list of friendships and evaluate who makes you feel great when you are around them. Then go ahead and start weeding out those who drag you down.

When we laugh we send natural chemicals around the body that uplift our mood. We breathe more deeply and oxygenate our blood. And we have a sense of being able to cope with all that life throws our way! A good laugh shared with some good friends is one of the simplest ways to feel absolutely fabulous.

9. Spend more time in bed.

This works in a couple of ways: healthy, good quality sleep makes you feel absolutely fabulous and so does some sexy-time!

Studies indicate that most of us are not getting enough quality sleep. If you have trouble with this one, try establishing a bed-time routine. Never, ever take the laptop or work to bed with you. Make sure your bedroom is a peaceful, harmonious place, conducive to quality rest and you’ll reinforce your sleep routines.

Take the TV out of the bedroom. Again, studies indicate that couples who have a TV in the bedroom make love less often than those who don’t. Find time, again it make take a little planning, to enjoy having a body. Being sexual is a very important part of being human and you deserve to feel good.

Last, but not least:

10. Develop a support network.

Over the years as I became an expert in helping people to over-come anxiety, one of the major things I discovered is that having emotional support is so important to our overall health and wellness, including our sense of worth and self-esteem.

Whether you are trying hard to lose weight, want to exercise more, or just want to lead a healthier lifestyle, surrounding yourself with like-minded people is the support network you need. Think about how successful the 12-Step Programs are. They are so successful because whatever the issue they address they encourage attendance at meetings with like-minded people.

I have a list of friends I go to when life hands out its pear-shaped moments. Having one friend to go to (or to your spouse or significant other) isn’t the right approach. No one person can be everything to you. Get yourself a list. If I pick up the phone and the first friend isn’t available to chat with, I move on the next and so on. That way no-one becomes burdened with me and I feel I can always turn to someone for some support!

Well done, by reading this far you know that you are ready to make the changes to be a healthier you! Remember, I am here to help you. Just call for an appointment (206) 201-2764 or drop me a line by email. Let’s get started today. Live Your Fabulous Life NOW. If not, WHEN?

  • Stay fabulous,
    Jacqueline Fairbrass CEO Feeling Absolutely Fabulous LLC
    Founder, School of Complementary Therapies
    Certified Hypnotherapist and CAM Health Consultant
You may reprint this article and include this information:
Reprinted with permission by Health Steps, the School of Complementary Therapies Education division of Feeling Absolutely Fabulous LLC Newsletter. Jacqueline Fairbrass is the founder of the School of Complementary Therapies, a leader in the field of CAM (Complementary and Alternative Medicine) education. For more information go to SchoolofCT or Feeling Absolutely Fabulous LLC JacquelineFairbrass, call 206.201.2764 or contact us on-line.

Jacqueline’s Top Ten Secrets to Happiness! Part one

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I am one of life’s optimists. That’s not to say I don’t have my moments of self-doubt etc. but basically I have a positive outlook on life. Have you ever wondered how some people stay cheery, even when things in life are not going so well? I am going to share with you ten simple secrets of happy people to help you. This month we are going to explore my top five secrets!

1. Celebrate good times!

Happy people make every day a holiday! Just think for a moment and feel how excited you get when you are planning a vacation. When we are on holiday, whether exploring a new place, simply chilling out or doing something daring and out of our comfort zone-we are excited and we feel celebratory. Now, what if everyday could feel like that? Life can whiz by and we can get so bogged in the ‘day-to-day’ that we can feel as if life is leaving us behind. Choose to do something today that feels like a vacation. Even if it’s just stopping to have a cup of coffee-don’t walk around with the coffee in your hand-actually stop and relax, breathe deep, enjoy your coffee and watch the world go by. Taking only ten minutes to pause and celebrate life will lift your spirits. And who knows, it just might become a new habit!

2. Smile

And the world smiles with you. Have you ever seen a gray, sad face opposite you on the bus or beside you in a line-up and thought ‘gee, I’d like to be that person?’ No, I thought not. It’s a natural feeling to not want to be around people who look miserable. So if you decide to make yourself appear cheerful you’ll soon start to feel it, and then you’ll attract others who are cheerful. And the bonus here is that happy people have a natural inner glow and appear to look younger. Take a moment right now to check in the mirror: are you a naturally happy looking person? If not, decide to change that right now and start smiling!

3. Find a reason to laugh!

Seriously, haha! One thing that has been mentioned to me time and again by clients and colleagues over the years is that it doesn’t take long to be in my company and we end up laughing. Even when things are gloomy, and let’s face it we all have set-backs now and again-that’s life, you can look for the humor in situations. If this one is difficult for you, try detaching a little and look at your life as if it is a movie script. Or as my friend Dave used to say to me ‘I love getting updates on your life-you live in soap opera!’ Imagine a cinema audience watching your life-transfixed by your fate. You can even add a movie-trailer voice over for extra effect. You can’t help but giggle. And remember when you do this exercise that all the best movies have happy endings. Even if you are in the midst of what seems like hell, one of my tips is to go into the misery. ‘Have the best pity party in the world’-you’ll go so far over the top you’ll start laughing! And if all else fails, take a‘time-out’ and go watch an up-lifting movie or re-read a book that makes you feel good and forget about things for a while.

4. Think sexy!

Woohoo! Feeling sexy is a fantastic way to boost your happiness levels. All sorts of things go on with your hormones when you are feeling sexy-sex is an expression of feeling. So go ahead, think sexy thoughts and feel alive. And of course, orgasm is a great way of boosting tension-releasing estrogen and releasing endorphins that give a natural ‘high’. Feeling sexy is highly personal and subjective, so don’t obsess about it, just give yourself permission to feel like a sexy person. A tip here for those of you who have difficulty with this-think about a movie star who is at the top of their game and imagine what it would be like to be them or remember a time when you were feeling attractive, flirty and sexy. Then fake it ’til you make it!

5. Bounce back!

When I was a youngster there were these toys in England called ‘weebles’. They were pretty much egg-shaped creatures and they sang a little song ‘weebles wobble but they don’t fall down!’ When I get flattened by a brutal life experience I sing this little ditty to myself. It’s a natural part of life’s experiences to sometimes feel bad; the trick is to not stay down. Look for the good behind the bad. For example, I was having a whine about having to stay in the house from 1 to 5 today waiting for a repair man to arrive. This isn’t how I planned my day! However, the sun is shining and I’m now sitting with my lap-top on the deck writing my next article, with a nice cup of tea and some biscuits. Simple, really!

If it feels good, do it! I hope you find these tips useful and if you have any contributions to make please let me know and we’ll pass them along to others at SCT. Next month we’ll explore my other five secrets to happiness. In the meantime, keep well and do contact me for an appointment if you would like to explore your own inner happiness further. I am taking phone appointments Monday to Fridays now and would love to help. How may I be of contribution to your life?

 

The Feeling Absolutely Fabulous LLC 10 Rules for Looking Good and Feeling Great!

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We are in our summer clothes and our bathing suits now and maybe not as happy with the way we feel as we could be. This month I’m sharing some ‘golden rules’ to follow when we make the decision to tone up and start Feeling Absolutely Fabulous about ourselves and our lives. So let’s make ‘yo-yo’ dieting a thing of the past, and make some healthy lifestyle choices:
The Feeling Absolutely Fabulous LLC 10 Rules for Looking Good and Feeling Great!

  1. Commit to a Healthier Life
    Stop now! You are never going to ‘diet’ again! Choose to commit to a new lifestyle. We all know that dieting is not a solution. If you diet to lose or to gain weight as soon as you stop dieting you return to old eating patterns. When you stop, the pounds start to creep back on or off again, and before your know it you are back to your old weight. Or, making you feel worse still about yourself, your weight may have crept even higher or lower! The first step in Feeling Absolutely Fabulous is making that commitment to yourself to make healthy choices and change your life to one of happiness and fabulocity.
  2. Move it or Lose it!
    Some form of movement is necessary to keep your body healthy. If you have committed to making healthy changes to stay healthy, you are going to have to move your body. Regular exercise is an essential part of a healthy lifestyle. And, there are so many choices. What do you like to do? Find it and do it, often. I don’t mean you have to go to the gym and hire yourself a personal trainer. However, if that’s what does it for you, go right ahead and do it! There are lots of options, have you learned to Belly Dance, Salsa or Tango? Ever wanted to learn to ride a horse or to fence? The Feeling Absolutely Fabulous golden rule for exercise is that is should be fun—if you hate it you will quit! Find out what is fun and do it, often.
  3. Drink Water
    Drink water. We suggest a minimum of eight glasses daily. That’s eight 8 ounce glasses of water each day. You may substitute herb teas, no caffeine please! If you drink coffee, tea, colas, etc, they don’t count as part of your eight glasses. Drink eight glasses of water as well as your other fluids, or cut out some of the others and drink water instead. Those of you who know me know that I have a great complexion-I drink my water daily. It flushes out toxins. Water also helps your digestive tract work well and your bowel movements stay regular. This is especially important now you are ready to eat for health as you will most likely be getting more fiber in your diet. Water bulks fiber up and moves it out! It will also take the edge off your appetite as you change your diet-yes, the simple act of drinking a glass of cool refreshing water will help you through the cravings! Don’t like it cold-then drink it warm. Don’t like the taste-put a slice of lemon in. Makes you run to the bathroom too often-your body will get used to it and gradually you won’t have to go so often. And as I said above, moving your body is good for you-get up from your desk and walk to the bathroom! If you want to Feel Absolutely Fabulous you will have to move your body!
  4. Write it Down
    One of the easiest ways to self monitor what you eat is to keep a little journal and write it down. If it goes in your mouth record it! No, it does not take a lot of effort-remember this is now part of your new lifestyle. This can cause a great deal of resistance, but to become healthy and happy and Feeling Absolutely Fabulous you have to get honest with yourself. AbFabbers are often surprised by how much or little good stuff they consume at first. You may know how it goes…honestly, I don’t really eat that much I don’t know why I gain weight…I must have a really slow metabolism…I eat well all day and only snack a little in the evening…write it all down for one week and see where you overindulge and where you under indulge. You can see for yourself how healthy your diet is and if in doubt you can send it in to me and we can review and see where you can make changes. Record your exercise too! Often the simple act of recording can stop us grabbing unhealthy food and inspire us to exercise. Try it! What do you have to lose?
  5. Manage Your Stress
    Stress is a natural part of the human experience however we all know that too much stress is extremely detrimental to our health and well-being. Finding healthy ways to manage your stress is an important part in your new healthy lifestyle. Often when under too much stress we will over eat, comfort-eat, binge, skip meals, eat an unbalanced diet. Emotional roller-coaster eating leads to surges and drops in blood sugar, which can make us feel even worse. The hormone cortisol starts packing a layer of fat on our tummy and we feel bad. See, where I’m going with this? Take a good look at what stresses you out and see if you can make some changes. When did you last have some time just for you? I suggest getting an aromatherapy massage, a reiki session or a reflexology at least once a month for maintenance. When under extra stress I go more often. The Feeling Absolutely Fabulous Progressive Relaxation CDs are great, easy to use tools for reducing stress and helping you get back to your fabulous self!

Well done, by reading this far I know that you are seriously thinking about making changes to a healthier you! Next month, we’ll look at the next five steps. In the meantime, start by doing the first five and together we’ll gently make changes. Remember, I am here to help you. Just call for an appointment             (206) 201-2764       or drop me a line by email jf@jacquelinefairbrass.com Stay fabulous, Jacqueline Fairbrass CEO Feeling Absolutely Fabulous LLC Founder, School of Complementary Therapies

You may reprint this article and include this information:
Reprinted with permission by Health Steps, the School of Complementary Therapies Education division of Feeling Absolutely Fabulous LLC Newsletter. Jacqueline Fairbrass is the founder of the School of Complementary Therapies, a leader in the field of CAM (Complementary and Alternative Medicine) education. For more information go to SchoolofCT or Feeling Absolutely Fabulous LLC JacquelineFairbrass, call             206.201.2764       or contact us on-line.

Secrets to Happiness 6 to 10

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Last month we looked at five simple ways that you can stay cheery even when your life looks or feels like rubbish. This month I am sharing another five of my ‘life-saving’ tips!

6. Happy People Love Sharing Surprises

So, you had a crappy drive to work and road rage is possibly overcoming you. Instead of going into work and having a moan session, just turn it around. This is especially useful to remember if your buddies expect you to whine. Stop and get everyone a coffee or pick up a box of donuts. Being the hero and changing your focus to one of pleasing others will give you an instant pick-me-up! And it will uplift people with you rather than drag them down with you.

7. Happy People Love Ticking Things Off

Sometimes even the most cheery of us are daunted by an enormous task. For example, I just moved into a new home that needs completely redecorating. The thought was rather overwhelming. So, I made a ‘to-do’ list. By making a series of steps out of moving in and redecorating I’ve made a series of small manageable pieces instead of one huge and overwhelming one. The way that worked for me was to pick one room at a time and unpack that. Now that I have worked through all the unpacking and moving furniture around I have a real sense of accomplishment. Next, I’ll pick a favorite room to start decorating and it’s become fun! Ticking off the to-do list makes me feel proud and gives me a real sense of accomplishment which leads to ‘what’s next?’.

8. Happy People Love Caring for Others

Double your luck by cheering up others! Sometimes it becomes too easy to be obsessed with our own lives, especially when we are feeling down on our luck. By looking outside of ourselves and caring for others we get a chance to put things into perspective. One of the things I recommend to clients with anxiety is to get out in the community and do some volunteer work. Studies indicate that people who volunteer have a stronger sense of self-worth and value. Even caring for a beloved pet can be a real dose of sunshine as well as a wonderful reason to get out of bed in the morning.

9. Happy People are Flexible

You are out shopping with your heart set on getting a new pair of red shoes and you miss out on the fabulous orange shoes on sale. Ouch! Do not set your intentions too firmly. Allow life to surprise you and take off those blinkers. Too often I see clients and students who are working the Law of Attraction by fixating on something they want in their lives. While they are so busy waiting for the exact image on the vision board to turn up they are missing all sorts of fabulous opportunities, just like the orange shoes.

And my Top Ten Tip for bringing oodles of happiness into your life:

10. Happy People Love to Live for Fish & Chips

This doesn’t mean live on deep fried foods, although occasionally they are delicious. Living for fish and chips is a state of mind. Back when I was a kid in the UK fish and chips were served in old newspapers. (Great for recycling but a bit iffy when it comes to hygiene!) Living for fish and chips is a reminder that today’s news is tomorrow’s chip wrapper! Let the past go. We all make mistakes, we all screw up, and we are all some times disappointed in ourselves. Just let it go and move on. I often remind clients and students alike ‘you did the best you could with the information you had at the time’.

Start each day afresh and let the past be the past. Here’s one of my ‘Pearls of Wisdom’ from the Feeling Absolutely Fabulous Program:
Allow the past to be the past. Start each day as if it were the first one on this beautiful planet. Ask yourself ‘who am I today and what grand and glorious adventure can I have?’ and let the past go…
And don’t forget that I love hearing from you, so if you have stories to share or need some help please contact me

What contribution can I be to your life?
Jacqueline Fairbrass
CEO Feeling Absolutely Fabulous LLC
Founder, School of Complementary Therapies

You may reprint this article and include this information:
Reprinted with permission by Health Steps, the School of Complementary Therapies Education division of Feeling Absolutely Fabulous LLC Newsletter. Jacqueline Fairbrass is the founder of the School of Complementary Therapies, a leader in the field of CAM (Complementary and Alternative Medicine) education. For more information go to SchoolofCT or Feeling Absolutely Fabulous LLC JacquelineFairbrass, call 206.201.2764 or contact us on-line.

This Time Next Year

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“If you always do what you’ve always done, you’ll always get what you’ve always got.”

Does this sound familiar? We tend to start the New Year setting Resolutions for the year to come, i.e. I will lose 20 lbs, I will go to the gym, I will give up smoking, I will start a new career path, etc. And by the end of January, or sometimes by the end of January 1, we have given them up and life goes back to normal. At some points during the year, we’ll re-hash our dreams and wishes for the year to come, but for most of us at the end of the year we are exactly the same as we were a year ago! How would you like to change this? If you are interested in some simple steps to help you make some permanent changes in your happiness, health and well-being for the year to come, then read on.

Start here: If this year, you are still challenged by the same issues you were dealing with last year, what are you going to do differently in the year to come to move beyond them? Take a moment to imagine where you could be NOW if only you had overcome these problems last year!

1)         The first step is to accept. The way things are is the way things are. Do you look in the mirror and hold in your tummy? Do you not look in the mirror at all? (And that can be a metaphorical mirror!) Are you being honest with yourself? Pick something that you have been ‘sweeping under the rug’ and get honest. Choose one thing about you that you would like to change and begin by accepting that is who you are right now.
“The measure of success is not whether you have a tough problem to deal with, but whether it’s the same problem you had last year.” – John Foster Dulles
(My CD Acceptance is designed to help you with this step: All improvements in life begin with accepting that things aren’t working the way we would like them to. By accepting that life is one way we are not locking ourselves into that way for ever, we are taking the first step to change. The Acceptance CD takes you on a guided journey to allow yourself to “let go” of the way things are and create an opening in your life to let in the new.)

2)         Decide what change you would like to make. Where would you like to be this time next year? Really, take a moment and think about this. If we go back to the ‘losing weight’ analogy—what would you realistically like to see changed by this time next year: January 2011. Instead of looking at numbers, go with ‘how would you like to feel’. For example, how would you feel if you were wearing something that was well-fitted and you were feeling healthy and attractive?
If you have been thinking about taking some courses to add to your profession or to start changing your career path, what is holding you back? Imagine how it feels to be doing something you love for a living.

3)         It’s time to take action. Make the commitment to you that ‘it’s time to take control of life and start making some serious decisions about what kind of life you want to live’. This is the easy part; decide to change one thing and then start to make the change! This can be joyful, exciting and easy.

The most important thing to remember is: You have to choose to make a conscious decision to make something different happen. That’s all you have to do is make the decision. In your mind, once you have made a decision that’s it. There is no back door escape hatch. You simply cut yourself off from any other possible option.
If you are not sure what that feels like, think back to a time you were certain about something. Perhaps the day you decided to marry your partner, the day you decided to train in a particular job path, the day you decided ‘yes, this is where I want to live’. Now think about what you want to change in your life—does it feel like ‘yes’?

4)         Follow through! When you have found something you are prepared to change and made the conscious decision to make the change, it gets easier and easier to follow through. People, circumstances, thoughts, ideas and solutions will suddenly begin to show up as the Universe aligns and makes the path for you. All you have to do is pay attention.
So, I ask you again, ’where do you want to be this time next year?’
Here are some affirmations to help you along the way:

  • This year I agree to do only the things I intend to follow through with
  • This year I am making ME a priority

If these affirmations don’t feel right for you, create the ones that do. The important thing to remember is that ‘you have to mean it’! Believe and know!

If you feel the time is right to start making changes and you would like some help you can either contact me for personal one-on-one coaching and facilitating to help you make these changes, or you can purchase my CDs and start working with me by listening daily and allowing your subconscious mind to start the process.
I sincerely wish you the best year ever! May your wishes and dreams come true! Start, by believing you can change. Gentle change leads to permanent results.

What does January 2011 look like?

You may reprint this article and include this information:
Reprinted with permission by Health Steps, the School of Complementary Therapies Education division of Feeling Absolutely Fabulous LLC Newsletter. Jacqueline Fairbrass is the founder of the School of Complementary Therapies, a leader in the field of CAM (Complementary and Alternative Medicine) education. For more information go to SchoolofCT or Feeling Absolutely Fabulous LLC JacquelineFairbrass, call 206.201.2764 or contact us on-line.

February 2009 Love

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Believe in the Magic of Love

February being the month to celebrate “love” with Valentine’s Day on February 14th had me thinking about “love”. My mind went off in many tangents and I thought I’d share some with you. When we think “Valentine’s Day” most of us think about “romantic love”. That’s the sort of “couples” love that for many signifies the immediate interpretation of the word “love”. Valentine’s in our culture has come to signify a day of celebrating a romantic connection with someone special. But not all of us have that someone special in our lives to celebrate with. Does that mean some people should get left out of this celebratory time? I don’t think so.

So, what does “love” mean? The Oxford Illustrated American Dictionary defines love as “any number of emotions and experiences related to a strong sense of emotion”. In fact, the word “love” may refer to a whole range of different feelings. From the ambiguous “I love that sweater”, to the enthusiastic “I love chocolate”; the platonic “I love you buddy” of loving your best friend, to the passionate love of a sweetheart or significant other, “I love you darling”. In fact, we use the word “love” a great deal.

And then if you start to research St. Valentine, it all becomes even more confusing. It appears there were many different St. Valentines and that the February 14th celebration might actually be a cover-up for a pagan celebration.  My brother insists that St. Valentine’s Day is nothing but a marketing scam and that we should ignore it. But how can we ignore a day for the celebration of love, when it is so diverse and meaningful in our lives?
This Valentine’s I suggest you make the day a celebration of love as you choose to make it. If that’s dinner and a movie with your sweetheart, go for it. But don’t think that’s the only way to celebrate love. Start with yourself! How often do you admit to loving yourself? Not enough, I expect. Without love of self we can’t accept love from another, and we don’t know how to love another.

If you were to treat yourself as the most important loved one in your life for one day, this year being St. Valentine’s Day, what would it look like? How does your day look? Will you rush out of bed into the shower, grab a coffee on the road and head into work. Or will you set the alarm clock a little earlier, have coffee in your robe, maybe read the paper or watch a little breakfast TV? Why not make a lunch “date” with a friend or your kids? And what about the pet in your life, will you celebrate with them? Perhaps an extra long walk or snuggle by the fire?

One of my favorite movies and one I recommend to clients when they are feeling that the world is an unlovable and unloving place is “Love Actually”. Okay, so it’s a Christmas movie as it is set at Christmas time, but I watch it year round. Although it’s classified as a “romantic comedy” it really is much more than that. It is about all types of love. One of the most memorable parts for me is when Hugh Grant is doing a voice-over talking about how when 9/11 happened no-one was phoning out messages of hate. Those trapped and able to connect with the outside wanted to let the people they love know that they loved them. (There is also a part about a lobster in the nativity play at school that absolutely appeals to me, but it doesn’t reinforce the love theme!) Getting my husband to watch Love Actually with me, I suggested he suspend belief and just enjoy the movie. But secretly, I rather like to not suspend belief, and for a while ‘believe in the magic of love”.

This Valentine’s begin by loving you and then let everyone and everything that is important in your life and that you “love” know that you love them. Don’t wait for a catastrophe; in fact, don’t wait until the 14th! Just for today, get out and tell people that you love them! Let people know how much they mean to you. Feeling alone? Find a place to volunteer and get out and meet people. Watch uplifting movies and TV shows—I know CSI is entertaining, but it doesn’t actually leave you feeling warm and fuzzy about people! Make a choice to bring more love into your life and to be more loving.

The real magic of love is that the more you give it away, the more you get. How cool is that?
I’m in Ottawa at the moment, so if you’d like an appointment to see me just let me know 206 201 2764 or jf@jacquelinefairbrass.com. And don’t forget, my Hypnotherapy/Clinical Hypnosis CDs make fabulous Valentine gifts for you or your loved ones.

Keep well,

Jacqueline Fairbrass

You may reprint this article and include this information:
Reprinted with permission by Health Steps, the School of Complementary Therapies Education division of Feeling Absolutely Fabulous LLC Newsletter. Jacqueline Fairbrass is the founder of the School of Complementary Therapies, a leader in the field of CAM (Complementary and Alternative Medicine) education. For more information go to SchoolofCT or Feeling Absolutely Fabulous LLC JacquelineFairbrass, call 206.201.2764 or contact us on-line.

Baby, It’s Cold Outside!

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It’s certainly chilly in the Northern Hemisphere in February! How many of us are hiding our winter extra layer of insulation under extra layers of clothing? I know that for many years during the late winter months I certainly had a tendency to hide under woolly sweaters and hide indoors not going out so much. I was hiding both my over eating, justified to keep warm and lack of exercise, justified by its too cold to go out and do things! A few years ago I decided to make some real changes to that old story of mine and I now have lots more energy and I look good and feel great all year round! So, I have decided it’s time to start sharing how I Feel Absolutely FabulousTM with others.

Let’s start by looking at blood sugar levels and how important blood sugar stabilizing is for reducing and lessening feelings of stress and anxiety. As defined in the dictionary, blood sugar is the glucose in blood that rises and falls depending upon what we eat. Carbohydrates are the most common source of energy. All carbohydrates are ultimately converted to glucose to be used by the body as fuel for the brain and muscles.

Proteins and fat are vital building components for body tissue and cells. The body can actually obtain all the energy it needs from protein and fats, however it is advisable not to deplete the building blocks and therefore carbohydrates are necessary in our diets to supply on-going fuel or energy. I am going to look at a simplified approach and recommend fiber-rich foods and whole grains.

Dietary fibers are the indigestible portion of plant foods that move food through our digestive systems while absorbing water. It plays an important part in the process of digestion. Insoluble fiber passes through the digestive tract increasing bulk, shortening the time food moves through the body and softening the stool. Soluble fiber goes through a process of fermentation in the intestinal tract and has a host of health benefits most importantly that the absorption of nutrients is enhanced.

So foods that are high in carbohydrates and dietary fibers include:

  • Whole grain breads
  • Whole grain pastas
  • Beans
  • Potatoes
  • Bran rice
  • Cereals.

These foods give us “fuel to burn”. However it is important that we do not eat too many carbohydrates as this can lead to weight gain. The Institute of Medicine recommends that Canadian and North American adults obtain between 40 to 65% of dietary energy from carbohydrates. A balanced diet that includes carbohydrates, fats, proteins and fiber is the perfect way to achieve optimum health. When we are feeling healthy and eating well the actual physical symptoms of stress and anxiety are lessened.

When we are feeling low on energy, for example we are feeling tired or fatigued we often crave sugar or caffeine. These substances allow a quick “pick me up” and we feel an instant surge of energy. Glucose production in the body is increased. Glucose is body fuel and an energy source in most organisms. Insulin reaction and other mechanisms regulate the concentration of glucose in the blood. Caffeine appears to release stored glucose into the blood stream and provides a boost of energy. It is both a central nervous system and metabolic stimulant. Sugar-cane in its natural form provides a source of vitamins and minerals, but refined sugar lacks nutrients. It does however provide a boost of energy. Instinctively we know that these substances will raise our energy (or sugar level) quickly.

So, what’s wrong with that? The problem is that this high concentration overloads the system causing the levels to swing up above normal giving us a lift. Hence the term “boost of energy”. Once the sugar or caffeine is used up then the sugar or energy levels in the body fall rapidly to way below normal. In addition, the body recognizes that the boost of energy is more than usual and goes through a series of chemical processes to bring the body back to balance. Then we feel even more tired and crave more sugar or caffeine. So we have another cup of coffee, glass of coke or sugary snack. Our energy swings up again and crashes down again, over and over. Riding on this chemical roller coaster leads to irritability, depression, anxiety, confusion and fatigue. Yes, the body actually becomes fatigued or tired from the swings up and down. So the long-term effect of using stimulants is increased tiredness. It actually becomes an addiction cycle! We are not nurturing and taking care of ourselves when we are in this pattern.

Ideally we all want a strong, steady level of energy all day long. Three moderately sized meals along with a couple of healthy snacks will maintain a constant level of energy in the body. The gentlest way to nourish our bodies is to give them high quality food as fuel on a regular basis so we do not cause unnecessary stress on the body. We want to avoid the swings up and down. This can be achieved by eating healthy food in healthy amounts. We need to avoid refined sugar and caffeine and instead eat whole foods that are digested slowly, thereby releasing energy into the body slowly, gradually and steadily. The following is a list of complex carbohydrates that are advised to be a high percentage of your daily diet, including meals and snacks:

  • Fruits
  • Vegetables
  • Grains.

These foods slowly release their energy into the body.

Next month I’ll give you some more tips on how you can change your diet to one that enhances your overall health, well being and energy levels.

In the meantime, if you are ready to start living the life you have always wanted I will help you get started on a personalized wellnessProgram. Consultations available in person or by phone. Begin the New Year as you mean to carry on and start taking care of yourself now! Email me at jf@jacquelinefairbrass.com for an appointment and let’s get started! Woohoo!!!

Nehlig, A; Daval JL, Debry G (1992 May-Aug). “Caffeine and the central nervous system: Mechanisms of action, biochemical, metabolic, and psychostimulant effects”. Brain Res Brain Res Rev 17 (2): 139-70. PMID 1356551
http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/fn-an/food-guide-aliment/basics-base/quantit/index_e.html sourced July 10, 2007
You may reprint this article and include this information:
Reprinted with permission by Health Steps, the School of Complementary Therapies Education division of Feeling Absolutely Fabulous LLC Newsletter. Jacqueline Fairbrass is the founder of the School of Complementary Therapies, a leader in the field of CAM (Complementary and Alternative Medicine) education. For more information go to SchoolofCT or Feeling Absolutely Fabulous LLC JacquelineFairbrass, call 206.201.2764 or contact us on-line.

Welcome To The School Of Complementary Therapies

jacqui

Hi, I’m Jacqueline Fairbrass—licensed Hypnotherapist, holistic wellness therapist, vivacious health coach, and founder of the School of Complementary Therapies.