SchoolofCT

The School of Complementary Therapies

The Easy Way to Choose Happy & Get Healthy

By Leave a Comment

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.

May 2012 You Can Heal Your Life

By Leave a Comment

This month we are doing sharing something a little different with you. One of our School of Complementary Therapies’ students has given permission to share her book report. The book report was part of the Anatomy & Physiology course. All students who complete A&P, Reflexology Instructor Training and the Certified Natural Health Practitioner training are required to read the book You Can Heal Your Life by Louise L. Hay. This book is a classic in the holistic health and wellness field and I encourage you to pick up a copy and read it.

‘In her book Ms. Hay focuses on changing thought patterns to improve your health and life over all. She teaches manifestation through positive thought. This book helps it’s readers to recognize and acknowledge current thought patterns that are acting in ways opposite to that which we truly want to feel and bring into our lives. Louise Hay also goes into detail on the specific thought pattern that lies under physical ailments, including a chart to break it all down (which is from her book Heal Your Body). As part of this chart she includes the thought(s) that can be used to break the current pattern.

I have to admit that I had a lot of trouble (resistance) reading this book, which I did find surprising as I am a firm believer in active manifestation. But through this I got the chance, with the help of this book, to really look at where I had been straying from my path of manifesting. I was forced to be present in my thoughts, which can be very uncomfortable. As I carried on with the book I did eventually come to a place of gratitude with the awareness Ms. Hay’s book brought to me. This experience reminded me that lessons come when we need them, not always (or rarely) when we want them.

In the past, I have read other books on the Law of Attraction and active manifestation. So, I admit I thought this book would be a ‘walk in the park’ for me as the others had sparked a connection with me. It wasn’t. The tone the book was written in did not resonate with me. I felt as though I was a little girl being lectured, which riled up the rebel in me. But once I finally finished the book I realized that this was a very effective technique. I wanted to “show” the book itself that I could indeed change my thought patterns. This book would not beat me, I would finish it and I would benefit from it.

I did really enjoy the personal connection to herself that Louise Hay brings into the book. Through parts of the book it was this connection that kept me going. Through her stories of her journey I was inspired to bring these changes into my life everyday. Finishing the book with her personal story was a good way to end. I felt it took away the sensation of “who are you to tell me these things”. It brought proof to her book if any reader should need it.

I am grateful that I read this book, as hard as it was for me to get through. I have learned, and am continuing to learn, from it. It has helped me to keep the awareness of my thoughts present. I feel I am back on my path of active manifestation.

Submitted by a student. Received and shared with permission and gratitude.

Secrets to Happiness 6 to 10

By

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.

Have many ideas-do one!

By

Tips to begin making priorities

I’m just back from a wonderful whirlwind tour of Ottawa, ON; Montreal, PQ, and Vancouver, BC and arrived back to my home office in Seattle, WA to find loads of paperwork to catch-up: emails, phone calls, filing, correspondence course evaluations, Team SCT minutes, RRCO minutes and committee work, etc. Phew! And of course, during my trip while I was spending time with all sorts of phenomenal people in my life, we began creating new ventures and things to do. So, I’m in a highly creative phase of life.

The only problem I have with the creative phase is that I have so many ideas I find that I get overwhelmed. I was sitting on my deck this morning sipping a cup of tea and allowing ideas to bounce around my brain when this message popped in:

Have many ideas-do one!

I first remember reading this on the wall of a bookshop in Ottawa and it is attributed to the Buddha. I took the phrase and put it on the SCT bookmarks and used it in my early (paper) newsletters. It’s time to revisit.
Sometimes it seems there is so much going on and so many things to do that we become paralyzed. Many of you will recognize this form of procrastination! If you have a number of things that you would like to accomplish but find there just isn’t the time, so you end up not doing anything but the usual day-to-day routines, this is for you:
Pick something, just one thing, and follow through by doing it. It may be something as simple as completing a course of study you have started. (Of course, this is a reminder to all you SCT students out there who began a course with loads of enthusiasm to find that the course materials are nearly completed by you have just lost the ‘umph’ to finish.)

To begin, I find the best thing to do is to write a list-but make it a visual list. When working many years ago with my long-time friend, client and student Lee Wallace, I was able to share with him a simple organization tool that helped me. Within the next few days take a little time to make a chart, as follows:

  • Take a piece of Bristol board or large piece of paper
  • Using something simple like a small glass, draw circles across the board to represent the areas of your life that you have started something or ideas that you wish to begin (you could just use a graph by I like the idea of it being an organic design)
  • Write a simple title to represent each one of your objectives or creative ideas in each of the circles (I like to use different colors for each topic)
  • Then draw a line down from each circle and leave spaces for breaking into steps.
  • At the bottom of the page draw another circle for each topic to indicate completion
For example:
sample table
  • Post it on your office wall or in the kitchen-somewhere you’ll see it each day and be motivated to continue
  • As you complete a step either cross it out or use a sticker to celebrate, just like when you were a kid!
  • Do something good to celebrate your successes and completions! Woohoo!

If you have too many things to do and your chart is overwhelming, then it isn’t going to work. So, don’t put too many things on the list, be realistic. If you are not sure what is realistic, then this is a really good time to enlist the help of a Life Facilitator or Coach or Counselor to sort out life’s priorities.

How can I be a contribution to your life? Email me

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

By

“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.

Let’s Get Physical ~ Happiness & Exercising

By

Tips to Make Exercising a Happiness Habit

Move your body instead of exercise ~ how about picking blackberries? Lots of stretching, bending and balancing!

How often have you started a stringent exercise plan only to fall off the wagon and give up?

If you are like most of us, you will often through out your life! We all want the benefits of exercise and starting a new program seems so exciting.

We imagine how we are going to look and feel, and then the painful reality hits! We are not as good as others in the gym or we begin to find body parts we didn’t even know existed that hurt/ache or we quite simply find after a few classes that we really don’t enjoy that particular form of exercise.

The best way to exercise is to find something that you love; not the latest fat-burning, muscle-rippling, easy-to-do-at-home plan, but something that you enjoy doing.

And that, like anything else, is personal. The key to exercise is to move your body regularly.

Over the years I have tried many different types of exercise, from swimming, all types of dance, going to the gym and even forking out a fortune for a personal trainer. Each type of exercise brought its own benefits. But I didn’t stay with them for one reason or another.

The one thing that has been constant over the years is yoga. Why? Because I love how it makes me feel, I can do it anytime anywhere, I don’t need any special equipment and I don’t have to wear special clothes. That works for me! But maybe not for you, so read on.

Think back to a time in your life when you were regularly exercising. How did it make you feel?

  • Exercise improves your mood. When we exercise the body release endorphins, which are chemicals that actually lift our mood. Most medical doctors prescribe exercise for depression. When you feel better, the bonus is you start to look better too.
  • Exercise gives your self-confidence a lift. By actually making the effort to exercise, we can start to feel that we are taking control of our lives and making positive changes to feel good and look good.
  • Exercise improves strength and stamina. We feel more powerful when we exercise regularly. And that spills over into all aspects of our life. We feel more in control.
  • Exercise helps you sleep well. Getting plenty of rest is important to health and well-being. So many of us don’t get quality sleep. A good exercise plan helps you get to sleep and the body shifts to rest and repair mode.

All types of exercise will help you feel better. The trick is to stay with something because of the other benefits it brings to you.

I love to swim, but I hate having to scrub the chlorine out of my hair and off my body and after a while there seems to be a build up and I smell of chlorine. So, I find I’m less likely to go swimming as I don’t enjoy the smell of chlorine on my skin. Once a week doesn’t seem to be a problem, but that’s not enough. I know to feel my best I need to exercise more than once a week.

The personal trainer had me working my butt off and I loved it, but it was a weekly huge time commitment to get to the gym, work out, shower and back to the office. I needed to go more often but couldn’t take the time out of my schedule. Notice, I said my schedule, I know these exercise regimes work for others!

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 planner. 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!

Most importantly remember to have fun and you will come up with some form of exercise that works for you. And do let me know how exercise is improving your life.

Choose Happy & Stay Fabulous,
Jacqueline

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.

Meet our Logo ‘Aeuracura’

By

I had a very interesting conversation with a new friend and web-mistress (don’t you love that term-sounds so naughty) recently that has led to a great deal of pondering. So, I wanted to share the results of this with you. Elaine (that’s the friend and web-mistress) pointed out that although my ‘faery’ logo was very pretty there was nothing else relating to her in my materials and on the website. Now, it’s always useful to get someone else’s view of you and your stuff, so instead of going into that place of being defensive (you know the one I mean) I just listened to what she had to say and thought about looking at my website from her eyes. Hmmm.perhaps you can see where I’m going with this.

Anyway, she was exactly right. I know what my ‘faery’ logo means to me and therefore was just assuming that everyone else did too. Is this an analogy to something in your life? How often do we think our spouse, mother, best friend, person at the grocery store, etc. should know what’s going on in our head without our taking the time to explain ourselves?

So, I explained the logo to her.and she got it.and then she told me that I had better let everyone else know what she means too! My ‘faery’ logo is intended as a reminder to all who see her, and to me too.that there is magic in everyday life. In fact, I’d go so far as to say she is a reminder to put the magic back in your life! So, what does magic mean? I ran a workshop on Earth Day this year about putting magic back into our lives through making a magic wand. One of the things we explored was what magic meant. Well, I don’t mean icky black magic or casting spells ala Harry Potter.though that would be cool. (Particularly like the idea of riding around on a flying broom.) I mean more like the sense of wonder a child has in exploring life, the joy of a new puppy or kitten in playing; remembering that the world is a magical place and that it is our birthright to enjoy life whatever our circumstances. The feeling of magic is invoked for me when I hear a beautiful piece of music or when I stop and look at the sun setting and the marvellous colours Mother Nature makes in the sky. Take a moment and think of what magic means to you. And by all means, drop me a line to share with others if you would like.

From this exploration my ‘faery’ logo has really come to life for me. The next push from Elaine was to find her a name.What do you mean, she hasn’t got a name?” That one could have put me back into adefensive place for sure.but I’m going with this idea of looking at the world through the eyes of others as well as my own. My daughter Emma came up with the name Emma for her ~ not quite what I had in mind. And as I started to dwell on the question, all I could find were blanks.so then I let it go. And guess what happened? The name “Aeracura” popped into my mind!

Aeuracura (pronounced Air-uh-CURE-uh) is a Celtic and Germanic goddess who multi-tasks as an Earth Mother deity, a ‘faery’ queen and also a bridge between earthly life and the hereafter. Well, that certainly fits in with me.why do one thing at a time when you can be doing lots? Mmm, I felt the name was right. She helps us put our goals and challenges into perspective so that we don’t needlessly stress ourselves. Well, sign me up! Now every time I look at my logo I remember that. And I’m sharing all this with you so that you too can be reminded when my newsletter pops up in your email or you check out the website, look at your manuals from class, wear your tee or golf-shirt, read a book and put the bookmark in place (get the picture?) that life is a magical gift, and we really don’t need to stress ourselves out over the challenges of life.

“We work with people who want to feel better and people who want to help others feel better.”

You are free to publish this article in your newsletter, e-zine, book, etc. provided that the COMPLETE Resource Box information found at the end of the article is published along with the article. The article may be edited for size. If you are including this article in your publication, please notify us by email.

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.

Clearing Out The Clutter In Your Life

By

Before you read on, take a moment to look around you. How is your desk? Is it covered in piles of paper, unread articles, “to-do” piles, unpaid bills? Are you surrounded by unfinished projects? Or is it neat and tidy, with everything in its place? Look up and check out the rest of the room, the rest of your personal space? How does it make you feel?

Did you know that the state of our physical environment actually contributes in quite a large way to our energy levels? It also affects our clarity of thought and our ability to be resilient. This, in turn, affects our health and well-being. When we are surrounded by clutter, including reminders of failed relationships and things we are just hanging onto out of a sense of guilt or obligation we feel physically more tired. Our motivation and our energy are lowered and we can literally feel “stuck”. And sadly, we are actually preventing what we really want from coming into our lives!

Don’t despair! Keep reading. This isn’t about judgment and I’m really not trying to make you feel worse. I want you to know that you can create a space that makes you feel good and supports your health and well-being. And you can start right now! Here’s how:

  1. Get yourself and pen and paper and get up and walk through the area you are ready to tackle. You pick where you would like to begin, whether at home or at work.
  2. Begin writing two lists:
    • The cluttered areas that are causing you the most grief (be honest with yourself-no one else has to see this)
    • A “to-do” list of actions that will alleviate the discomfort.

    Breaking the task into manageable portions will go a long way to getting you started in your clutter-clearing.

Tip: Don’t take on your whole house or apartment in one go—you’ll feel overwhelmed and quit. When deciding where to start pick a small project that is manageable and also watch out for the emotional attachment trap. For example, you could start with an underwear drawer—throw out the old ones, and create space for the new, or a kitchen counter-top is a good neutral place to begin. As you feel good about clearing clutter you will be ready to tackle projects with greater emotional attachment.

  1. Set yourself up for success! Plan a time to begin, whether it’s right now or book an appointment with yourself.

Gather some boxes and label them as follows:

  • Donate
  • Sell
  • Garbage
  • Recycle
  • Return to rightful owner (oops!)

The idea is to sort directly into these boxes, so that you do not end up with just more piles of stuff on the floor or worse still, all over the bed!

Tip: Make the task more palatable by playing your favourite CD, or my personal favourite, the reward system. I book myself a time to work and then I allow myself time afterwards to do something fun!

Allow yourself to have your feelings! Sometimes clearing clutter can be like a trip down memory lane. Take time to journal or pick up the phone and chat with a friend and then let go and let the good stuff come in.

  1. Clearing clutter and getting the energy flowing back in our lives makes us feel absolutely fabulous! The more you do, the more you will want to do, as it feels so good to let the energy flow around us again. Feel great about taking a box of stuff you no longer use to the local thrift store and imagine how it will help someone else’s life. Enjoy the recycling process. Letting go of clutter is an energising experience!

Tip: Remember, the clutter didn’t all arrive overnight, so be gentle and caring with yourself and allow yourself time to take on these projects. Your energy will increase and you will actually find yourself looking forward to your next clutter-clearing appointment.

  1. And the final step is maintenance. Begin to establish routines in your life that support being organized. Simple steps might be to always do the dishes before you go to bed. We feel much better when we start the day walking into a clean kitchen, and your day will begin on a positive note.

Well, I am feeling inspired to tackle my desk! I’ve been procrastinating, and as I look at it now, it will take me maybe half an hour tops to get it back on track.

If you would like help getting started, please call me for an appointment at 206 201 2764 and we can personalise the above process, looking at your habits and general mental, emotional, spiritual and physical health. We can then take a serious step to your feeling more energy and being healthy. I can also connect you to some dedicated clutter-clearing professionals—just e-mail me. And finally, a book I recommend is Karen Kingston’s Clear Your Clutter With Feng Shui.

Enjoy the rest of the summer and don’t hesitate to contact me to get started on the Feeling Absolutely FabulousProgram™.

The Perfect Cuppa…Feeling Good and Looking Good With Tea

By

More info from the Feeling Absolutely Fabulous Program™

Remember Peter Rabbit? After a day pilfering the farmer’s cabbages, Peter had a tummy-ache. So, what did his mum do? Gave him a nice cup of chamomile tea, and sent him to bed. Well, this remedy works for people as well as rabbits! Want to learn more? Then read on…

Second to water, tea is the most popular drink on the planet. Yes, even more popular than coffee! Tea has been around for years and is considered on of the world’s oldest beverages. It warms you up when you are cold, comforts when stressed, energises when you need a pick-me-up, and tastes good too! And currently, is one of the trendiest drinks, gaining popularity with the rich and famous.

What is Tea?

There are two major branches of tea, the “herbal” variety and “real” teas. The difference? Herbal teas contain no tea. Herbal teas are made only with brewed herbs. Real or true tea is made from the leaves of the tea bush, Camelia sinensis. Real teas include oolong, black and green. Herbal teas may be made with hundreds of different herbs–alone or mixed together to form blends.

The third type of tea available, and this often confuses people, is flavoured tea. Flavoured teas very often contain a mixture of black tea and herbs or oils. For example, one of my favourite teas is Earl Grey; a blend of black tea and oil of bergamot.

“Tea – the cups that cheer but not inebriate.” William Cowper

Tea time has never been so good…

All tea offers health benefits. You just have to pick the right one for what ails you. Black, green and oolong teas offer you a dose of flavonoids, which some scientists believe lower our risk of cancer and heart disease. Flavonoids help to protect our body cells from free radicals, which destroy body cells. Is that why us tea drinkers look younger than coffee drinkers?

Name that tea!

Orange pekoe – your regular black tea. Not an actual type of tea, but a cut of leaf. Small pieces of tea to make it quick and strong.

Darjeeling – delicate black tea. The tea of choice for those of us who do not like a strong, dark cup. Known as the champagne of teas!

English Breakfast (or Scottish, or Irish) robust black tea. Good as a “pick-me-up”, either in the morning or in the afternoon.

Green tea – subtle and fresh, as long as you don’t over steep. Often served in Chinese restaurants, this tea is currently the tea of choice for health and well-being.

Oolong – more delicate than orange pekoe in flavour and colour.

All the above teas contain some caffeine. A general rule is the stronger the tea the more caffeine. So these teas do work to lift your mood, and cannot be consumed willy-nilly before bedtime.

Herbal Teas

Obviously the benefits derived from herb teas depend on which herb the tea is made with. A really simple way to enjoy herbal tea is to pick fresh herbs from the garden, pop them in a teapot and add boiling water. Steeping time depends on the herbs, bet between 5 and 20 minutes is a guideline. Sip and see if it’s ready for you.

If you are new to drinking herb teas, you probably will not like the idea of drinking something that tastes too “twiggy”. So, let’s start with a few “beginner” herbal teas:

Peppermint – good hot or cold, this refreshing tea is gentle on the digestive tract and therefore very suitable after dinner. Use cold peppermint tea bags on your forehead to sooth a headache—lie down and relax for 20 minutes.

Chamomile – another herb tea that works hot or cold and is good for the digestive tract. Some people find this tea very sweet, and it has long been recommended for children. Only thing to watch is allergies to members of the asteracea family. If you use teabags, save them and when they are cool, lie down and put them on your eyes…any puffieness is reduced and after 10 minutes your eyes will feel refreshed.

Lemon Balm – This herb grows easily in the garden and can be made by filling a mason jar with herbs and covering with water. Leave on your windowsill in the morning and come home to a cup of “sun tea”. Has a gentle lemon taste that is refreshing and uplifting without caffeine. Putting the herb in your bath along with some Epsom salts will help to soften your skin.

Rosehip – Fruity tasting herb tea available in tea bags, high in the favonoids mentioned earlier and Vitamin C. This was often given to babies in the UK as a dietary supplement. I guess we had to start drinking tea at some time!

If you would like more information on how herbs can be introduced into your diet to help your health, please call me for an appointment at 206.201.2764.

If you would like to learn how to make “the perfect cuppa”email me and put “perfect cuppa” in the subject line – I’ll send you instructions.

Happy Tea Drinking!

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.

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.