Anxiety to Confidence - The Personal Development Unplugged Podcast

FMQ529 – The Big Why: Let's Refresh Sometimes we just need to pause… and refresh. Not another technique. Not another goal. Not another productivity hack. Just a simple question: Why are you doing this personal development thing anyway? In this short FMQ episode I invite you to take a moment to review where you are on your personal development adventure. Whether you're brand new to this work or you've been exploring it for years, a refresh is powerful. Looking at how far you've come, what you've learned, and where you truly want to go next. Because personal development isn't just about fixing problems. Yes, we resolve anxiety, panic, limiting beliefs and all those other "isms"… but it's also about learning new skills, developing competence, and becoming a better version of yourself. And here's the difference many people miss: Confidence without competence can fall apart. But competence naturally creates confidence. The real key though is motivation. When your why is clear, you stop pushing yourself forward… and instead feel pulled toward the life you want. And that's what this episode seeds for the longer podcast episode — discovering something most people overlook in personal development: The ripple effect. So before the next episode, take a moment to reflect: What do you want to let go of? What do you want to learn? What do you want to achieve? And most importantly… why? Bring that curiosity with you into the next episode and we'll unlock something powerful together. Have more fun than you can stand. It's time to fly and share https://personaldevelopmentunplugged.com/fmq529-the-big-why-lets-refresh/ But Before you do ➜ Continue the Journey In this short FMQ episode we've refreshed one important question: Why are you really doing personal development? But there's something even more powerful most people never realise. When you begin changing yourself, something unexpected starts to happen… Your growth creates ripples. In the next full episode of Personal Development Unplugged we explore: • Why confidence without competence can sabotage progress • How hidden value clashes block motivation • A powerful process to align your "why" • And how your personal growth quietly influences everyone around you If you want motivation that pulls you forward instead of pushing you… Don't miss the next episode. Shine Brightly 🌟 Paul Hey there! I'd love to hear from you—questions, feedback, requests—all welcome. Drop me a line or leave a comment. If you've enjoyed this episode or any other, please share and subscribe! You can reach me at [email protected]. Subscribe to the Podcast Ready to subscribe? Click here to explore your options. Or, if you're on Apple Music or iTunes, you can go straight to subscribe or leave a review here. Special Programs for You For tools on developing Supreme Inner Confidence, finding Freedom from Anxiety, or specialized Hypnosis Tracks, visit PaulCloughOnline.com. Free Hypnosis Tracks Want access to my FREE hypnosis tracks? Head over to paulcloughonline.com/podcast. Connect with Me Follow me on Twitter: @pcloughie Remember: I'm a therapist, but I'm not your therapist. This podcast and any of my online resources are for educational purposes only. Never use the hypnosis tracks or exercises if you're operating machinery, driving, or if you have epilepsy or psychiatric conditions. Always consult a healthcare provider if you're unsure. Find Us on Other Platforms Catch the podcast on Spotify, Castbox, iHeart Radio, YouTube, or on our Libsyn page. Stay tuned, and keep shining brightly. ✨ Music Credits Music by Wataboi from Pixabay, Music by DreamHeaven from Pixabay, Music by ccjmusic from Pixabay, Music by freegroove from Pixabay, Music by prazkhanal from Pixabay. Music by prazkhanal from Pixabay. Music by will |Marshall from will marshall. And the transcript WARNING if you're a lover of the written word this may make you frustrated, or angry - you have been warned - is it an 'ism FMQ529 The Big why Let's Refresh Welcome to this shorter episode because I want to sow, as usual, a seed. But it's a refresh. A refresh because I think we can all do with refreshing what we know or what we think or our aims and goals. Because it doesn't really matter whether you're a master of personal development, or been doing it a long time anyway, or brand new. It really doesn't matter because every time, even just looking at what we've done and how far we've come along, we've achieved what we've achieved, what we've done. It's great to refresh, to review. To review what we've done, what we've achieved, or review where we're going. But also just to know why are we doing this bloody thing? What are we doing it for? And there's something really, really special about personal development when you really get into it. And it's something that not a lot of people tell you about. And if you knew about it, you'd do it even more. Are you going to tell me Cloughie? Yeah, I mean indeed, but not yet. Probably on

Don't Blame Your Parents Or Anyone Else *]:pointer-events-auto scroll-mt-[calc(var(--header-height)+min(200px,max(70px,20svh)))]" dir="auto" tabindex="-1" data-turn-id= "request-68429ab0-d338-800c-96c4-a023c498401f-1" data-testid= "conversation-turn-461" data-scroll-anchor="true" data-turn= "assistant"> Who are you blaming? The weather? The economy? Your ex-boss? Your trauma? Your parents? In this deeper dive from the FMQ seed "Who or What Is to Blame?", I take you through something powerful: Blame feels like a reason… but it's actually an excuse. And here's the uncomfortable truth: If you stop blaming… what happens to your story? In this episode, I walk you through two simple but life-shifting processes to help you: Let go of resentment and emotional baggage Reclaim your personal power Release blame without denying what happened Stop living at the "effect" side of life Move back to cause — where choice lives We're not denying the past. We're learning from it. And when you learn… you're free. What We Explore Why blame keeps you stuck in victimhood The hidden fear behind letting go of your story The shift from "This happened to me" to "This shaped me" How empowerment feels safer than excuse-making Why your parents were doing the best they could How to stop dragging emotional baggage through life Process #1 – Letting Go of Someone You Blame A short but powerful visualisation to: Thank the person for the lessons Recognise the connection between you Cut the emotional cord Dissolve resentment Reclaim your personal power This works for: Ex-partners Parents Former bosses Friends Anyone you still feel "connected" to emotionally You neutralise the emotional residue… without denying what happened. Process #2 – Releasing Blame Toward Your Parents This one is beautiful. You visualise your parent as a tiny innocent child. Before the beliefs. Before the limitations. Before the behaviours. You see them as they truly began — just like you. And something shifts. Blame dissolves. Understanding appears. Compassion grows. Empowerment returns. Because now you realise: They were doing the best they could with the resources they had. And now… You get to choose differently. The Core Shift Instead of: "This happened to me." You say: "This happened. I learned. And now I choose." That's the difference between living at effect and living at cause. Blame keeps you small. Learning makes you powerful. Responsibility gives you freedom. And here's the kicker… If you let go of blame, you don't lose your story. You gain your future. In This Episode You'll Discover Why blame feels protective (but drains your energy) The emotional cost of carrying resentment How to release anger without suppressing it Why compassion doesn't mean approval The difference between remembering and reliving How empowerment naturally replaces excuse-making Key Takeaway You are not defined by what happened. You are defined by what you decide now. And once the emotional charge dissolves… clarity appears. Confidence grows. Choice returns. No more dragging the past around like a suitcase full of bricks. Just freedom. If This Resonated… Share this episode with someone who: Blames their past Blames their parents Blames their boss Blames themselves Sometimes the people who need it most are the quiet ones holding it all in. Call to Action If you enjoyed this episode: Subscribe or follow the podcast Leave a review Share it with someone you care about https://personaldevelopmentunplugged.com/477-dont-blame-your-parents-or-anyone-else And visit the free hypnosis page to deepen the change Because this isn't about blame. It's about reclaiming your life. Shine Brightly 🌟 Paul Hey there! I'd love to hear from you—questions, feedback, requests—all welcome. Drop me a line or leave a comment. If you've enjoyed this episode or any other, please share and subscribe! You can reach me at [email protected]. Subscribe to the Podcast Ready to subscribe? Click here to explore your options. Or, if you're on Apple Music or iTunes, you can go straight to subscribe or leave a review here. Special Programs for You For tools on developing Supreme Inner Confidence, finding Freedom from Anxiety, or specialized Hypnosis Tracks, visit PaulCloughOnline.com. Free Hypnosis Tracks Want access to my FREE hypnosis tracks? Head over to paulcloughonline.com/podcast. Connect with Me Follow me on Twitter: @pcloughie Remember: I'm a therapist, but I'm not your therapist. This podcast and any of my online resources are for educational purposes only. Never use the hypnosis tracks or exercises if you're operating machinery, driving, or if you have epilepsy or psychiatric conditions. Always consult a healthcare provider if you're unsure. Find Us on Other Platforms Catch the podcast on Spotify, Castbox, iHeart Radio, YouTube, or on our Libsyn page. Stay tuned, and keep shining brightly. ✨ Music Credits Music by Wataboi from Pixabay, Music by DreamHeaven from Pixabay, Music by ccjmusic from Pix

Who or What Is To Blame For Your Failure What are you blaming right now? The weather? The economy? Your lack of time? Your past? Your boss? Your parents? In this Five Minute Quickie (that's never quite five minutes 😄), I'm planting a seed that might feel a little uncomfortable… Because blame feels justified. It feels intelligent. It feels protective. It even feels responsible sometimes. But what if it's actually costing you your power? In this episode I begin to unpack: The hidden cost of living at the effect side of life Why excuses can feel like safety How trauma (big T or little t) can become an identity Why dragging the past forward drains your energy And how learning — not reliving — is the real shift This isn't about dismissing your experience. It's about transforming it. In the longer episode, we'll go deep into: Letting go of blame (without diving back into trauma) Releasing anger, guilt, disappointment and resentment Healing the "parent story" Clearing unresolved emotional ties Moving fully to the cause side of life Because when you stop blaming… You start choosing. And when you start choosing? Everything changes. The Seed Question If nothing outside you was to blame… What would you do next? If this hits home, share it with someone who might be quietly carrying resentment or excuses around like heavy luggage. https://personaldevelopmentunplugged.com/fmq528-who-or-what-is-to-blame-for-your-failure And make sure you join me for the deeper dive — because we're not analysing the past… We're releasing it. Subscribe, follow, and visit the free hypnosis page at personaldevelopmentunplugged.com. More fun than you can stand. Wallow in pleasure. Shine Brightly 🌟 Paul Hey there! I'd love to hear from you—questions, feedback, requests—all welcome. Drop me a line or leave a comment. If you've enjoyed this episode or any other, please share and subscribe! You can reach me at [email protected]. Subscribe to the Podcast Ready to subscribe? Click here to explore your options. Or, if you're on Apple Music or iTunes, you can go straight to subscribe or leave a review here. Special Programs for You For tools on developing Supreme Inner Confidence, finding Freedom from Anxiety, or specialized Hypnosis Tracks, visit PaulCloughOnline.com. Free Hypnosis Tracks Want access to my FREE hypnosis tracks? Head over to paulcloughonline.com/podcast. Connect with Me Follow me on Twitter: @pcloughie Remember: I'm a therapist, but I'm not your therapist. This podcast and any of my online resources are for educational purposes only. Never use the hypnosis tracks or exercises if you're operating machinery, driving, or if you have epilepsy or psychiatric conditions. Always consult a healthcare provider if you're unsure. Find Us on Other Platforms Catch the podcast on Spotify, Castbox, iHeart Radio, YouTube, or on our Libsyn page. Stay tuned, and keep shining brightly. ✨ Music Credits Music by Wataboi from Pixabay, Music by DreamHeaven from Pixabay, Music by ccjmusic from Pixabay, Music by freegroove from Pixabay, Music by prazkhanal from Pixabay. Music by prazkhanal from Pixabay. Music by will |Marshall from will marshall. And the transcript WARNING if you're a lover of the written word this may make you frustrated, or angry - you have been warned - is it an 'ism Welcome to the seed of a longer podcast, the FMQ, the five minute quickie that lasts even longer now, and gives you hopefully something to think about, something to ponder, digest, let it germinate and do whatever it does, so when you come to the longer podcast, boom, we can go even deeper and make some wonderful changes in our life. And this one's called, and I'm not quite sure what it's called actually, it's either Who Do You Blame? or Who or What's to Blame? You see, some people like to blame the weather for the things they can't do. Some people like to blame the economic environment. Some people like to blame, well, time, I haven't got enough time. And that's just a fact, isn't it? Living at the effect side of life. And they're all wonderful reasons, aren't they? Are they balls? They're not reasons. They're not reasons at all. They're bloody excuses. And we're going to dive deeply into that on the longer podcast. But we're also going to dive into something I think is even more important. Because everyone talks about cause and effect, living at the cause side, or living at the effect, living at the effect with all those excuses, or coming back to cause and becoming empowered. And we do that here. Because I believe in that 100%. Once you start living at the cause side of life, you take control. Everything is your responsibility. And with that comes all the glory. And the glory is just living the life you want to choose because you chose it, and you did it. But then again, what else can you blame? Well, we've all suffered trauma, haven't we? Some with a capital T, and some with a little t. I think I've maybe had a little t when I was younger, a big T

Empathy - A Way That Works Without The Pain In the FMQ527 I said something that probably made you blink. Empathy sucks. And I meant it. Not because caring is wrong. Not because helping people is wrong. Not because being sensitive is wrong. But because absorbing other people's pain is not helping them — and it's definitely not helping you. In this deeper dive, I show you: Why emotional dumping drains you Why empathy often becomes a hiding strategy The crucial difference between empathy and compassion How to stay grounded when people offload on you And how to become truly empathetic… with yourself Because here's the truth: If you feel everyone else's pain, you'll drown. If you stay grounded and compassionate, you can actually help. And the real work? It starts with self-empathy. What We Explore 1️⃣ Why Empathy Can Be Harmful Emotional dumping and energy drain Why taking on others' pain doesn't serve them How empathy can become a badge of honour How it can also become unconscious avoidance of your own emotions 2️⃣ The Shift: Empathy ➜ Compassion Empathy = I feel your pain. Compassion = I recognise your pain — and I can support you without absorbing it. Compassion allows you to: Stay grounded Sustain your energy Think clearly Offer real support Stay emotionally stable It's the difference between drowning with someone… or throwing them a rope. 3️⃣ Process One – Sitting With Your Emotion Instead of pushing emotions away: Sit with the feeling Acknowledge it Ask: What are you trying to do for me? What are you protecting me from? What are you trying to teach me? Every emotion has a positive intention. When you learn the lesson — the emotion doesn't need to shout anymore. 4️⃣ Process Two – Compassion Without Merging (Visualisation) I guide you through: Grounding yourself Breathing deliberately Creating a subtle protective boundary Supporting someone without absorbing their pain You remain: Present Steady Caring Strong And when you walk away? You're still yourself. 5️⃣ Process Three – Deep Self-Empathy Installation This is the powerful one. You: Place the emotion in front of you Speak to it with curiosity Thank it Discover its intention Ask what it needs Create a better strategy for that intention Future pace the change You keep the intention. You release the pain. That's self-empathy. The Core Takeaway Before you help anyone else… Check in with yourself. Am I grounded? Am I breathing? Am I compassionate? Or am I merging and hiding? One emotion. One learning. Then it can let go. That's how you help yourself. That's how you genuinely help others. And that's how empathy finally works. Key Quotes From This Episode "Empathy absorbs. Compassion supports." "Every emotion has a positive intention." "Learn the lesson — and the emotion doesn't need to stay." "Help yourself first. Then you're truly available to others." If This Resonated… Subscribe so you don't miss the next FMQ seed and deeper dive. Share this with someone who: Is emotionally drained Always takes on other people's pain Or thinks empathy is the only way to care https://personaldevelopmentunplugged.com/476-empathy-a-way-that-works-without-the-pain and don't forget the video https://youtu.be/8iAcW58QreE Let's move from drowning together… to lifting each other properly. Shine Brightly 🌟 Paul Hey there! I'd love to hear from you—questions, feedback, requests—all welcome. Drop me a line or leave a comment. If you've enjoyed this episode or any other, please share and subscribe! You can reach me at [email protected]. Subscribe to the Podcast Ready to subscribe? Click here to explore your options. Or, if you're on Apple Music or iTunes, you can go straight to subscribe or leave a review here. Special Programs for You For tools on developing Supreme Inner Confidence, finding Freedom from Anxiety, or specialized Hypnosis Tracks, visit PaulCloughOnline.com. Free Hypnosis Tracks Want access to my FREE hypnosis tracks? Head over to paulcloughonline.com/podcast. Connect with Me Follow me on Twitter: @pcloughie Remember: I'm a therapist, but I'm not your therapist. This podcast and any of my online resources are for educational purposes only. Never use the hypnosis tracks or exercises if you're operating machinery, driving, or if you have epilepsy or psychiatric conditions. Always consult a healthcare provider if you're unsure. Find Us on Other Platforms Catch the podcast on Spotify, Castbox, iHeart Radio, YouTube, or on our Libsyn page. Stay tuned, and keep shining brightly. ✨ Music Credits Music by Wataboi from Pixabay, Music by DreamHeaven from Pixabay, Music by ccjmusic from Pixabay, Music by freegroove from Pixabay, Music by prazkhanal from Pixabay. Music by prazkhanal from Pixabay. Music by will |Marshall from will marshall. And the transcript WARNING if you're a lover of the written word this may make you frustrated, or angry - you have been warned - is it an 'ism #476 empathy - a way that works without the pain So, you're back for the longer,

Empathy Sucks (Unless It's With Yourself) I said it. Empathy sucks. Now before you unsubscribe and send me a strongly worded email… hear me out. In this episode I'm diving deep into something that most people believe is a virtue — feeling other people's pain. And yes, empathy can be beautiful. But if all you do is absorb the emotions of others, carry their struggles, and ignore your own… that's not kindness. That's self-neglect. Here's what I explore in this episode: Why absorbing other people's pain drains your emotional energy How empathy can become a way of avoiding your own feelings Why suppressed emotions don't disappear — they generalise The difference between empathy and compassion (and why it matters) How to process your own emotions so they stop running your life Simple processes to turn emotional overwhelm into emotional strength I truly believe this: If you deal with your stuff first, you help people better. When you stop hiding from your own emotions and learn from them instead, something shifts. You become grounded. Present. Powerful. And far more able to support others without drowning in their experience. This episode includes practical processes to: Work with difficult emotions Discover the positive intention behind them Stop suppressing and start learning Shift from emotional sponge to compassionate supporter Because compassion sustains. Empathy without boundaries drains. And if you're going to feel deeply… start by feeling for yourself. This Episode Is For You If: You feel emotionally drained by other people You often absorb the moods of those around you You struggle to process your own emotions You consider yourself "an empath" but feel overwhelmed You want stronger emotional resilience You want to help others without losing yourself A Simple Practice From This Episode Before helping someone else this week, ask yourself: "Am I grounded… or am I hiding?" Then sit with one emotion of your own. Ask: What are you trying to teach me? What are you protecting me from? What can I learn from you? Learn the lesson. And watch what shifts. Share The Love If this episode resonated with you: Subscribe Share it with someone who gives too much of themselves https://personaldevelopmentunplugged.com/fmq527-empathy-sucks-unless-its-with-yourself Leave a review Let's help more people become emotionally strong instead of emotionally overloaded. And as always… Have more fun than you can stand. Shine Brightly 🌟 Paul Hey there! I'd love to hear from you—questions, feedback, requests—all welcome. Drop me a line or leave a comment. If you've enjoyed this episode or any other, please share and subscribe! You can reach me at [email protected]. Subscribe to the Podcast Ready to subscribe? Click here to explore your options. Or, if you're on Apple Music or iTunes, you can go straight to subscribe or leave a review here. Special Programs for You For tools on developing Supreme Inner Confidence, finding Freedom from Anxiety, or specialized Hypnosis Tracks, visit PaulCloughOnline.com. Free Hypnosis Tracks Want access to my FREE hypnosis tracks? Head over to paulcloughonline.com/podcast. Connect with Me Follow me on Twitter: @pcloughie Remember: I'm a therapist, but I'm not your therapist. This podcast and any of my online resources are for educational purposes only. Never use the hypnosis tracks or exercises if you're operating machinery, driving, or if you have epilepsy or psychiatric conditions. Always consult a healthcare provider if you're unsure. Find Us on Other Platforms Catch the podcast on Spotify, Castbox, iHeart Radio, YouTube, or on our Libsyn page. Stay tuned, and keep shining brightly. ✨ Music Credits Music by Wataboi from Pixabay, Music by DreamHeaven from Pixabay, Music by ccjmusic from Pixabay, Music by freegroove from Pixabay, Music by prazkhanal from Pixabay. And the transcript WARNING if you're a lover of the written word this may make you frustrated, or angry - you have been warned - is it an 'ism Hey, welcome to the five minute quickie, the seed that I sow for a longer podcast. And hopefully you'll find if you, if you have an issue, by the way, if you have an issue and they're not, not directly talked about in the episodes, I think you'll find that I've made, made them in a way that if you concentrate on your issue and set your intention to learn about your issue and how to let it go with every episode, you'll find that they're, they're ambiguously linked. I'll say that again, ambiguously linked. Done it in a way that you can really use these for so many issues. In fact, you can have any issue you like as many as you like, but pick one and have a listen and you'll find that it will help. That's my plan anyway. And today we've got another seed and it's about one of the banes of life. And what is it? Bloody empathy. Empathy because it bloody sucks. Now, title is something different. You have to read the title, but you know, why do I say empathy sucks? I've said it for a long t

HYPNOSIS Creating The Life You Haven't Lived - Yet I thought it would be nice to take the process from the longer podcast and remix it to a deeper and even more comfortable way to connect with your Unconscious mind and sow the seeds of what you dream of for you in the future. So please enjoy with my compliments And........ Let me know what you need now to ensure they happen bigger, better and quicker than you could imagine :o) Get your unique link here: https://paulcloughonline.com/podcast Oh! You will also find a further 65+ more complimentary deep hypnosis tracks and NLP processes Shine Brightly 🌟 Paul Remember: I'm a therapist, but I'm not your therapist. This podcast and any of my online resources are for educational purposes only. Never use the hypnosis tracks or exercises if you're operating machinery, driving, or if you have epilepsy or psychiatric conditions. Always consult a healthcare provider if you're unsure. Hey there! I'd love to hear from you—questions, feedback, requests—all welcome. Drop me a line or leave a comment. If you've enjoyed this episode or any other, please share and subscribe! You can reach me at [email protected]. Subscribe to the Podcast Ready to subscribe? Click here to explore your options. Or, if you're on Apple Music or iTunes, you can go straight to subscribe or leave a review here. Special Programs for You For tools on developing Supreme Inner Confidence, finding Freedom from Anxiety, or specialized Hypnosis Tracks, visit PaulCloughOnline.com. Free Hypnosis Tracks Want access to my FREE hypnosis tracks? Head over to paulcloughonline.com/podcast. Connect with Me Follow me on Twitter: @pcloughie Find Us on Other Platforms Catch the podcast on Spotify, Castbox, iHeart Radio, YouTube, or on our Libsyn page. Stay tuned, and keep shining brightly. ✨ Music Credits Music by Wataboi from Pixabay, Music by DreamHeaven from Pixabay, Music by ccjmusic from Pixabay, Music by freegroove from Pixabay, Music by prazkhanal from Pixabay. Music by prazkhanal from Pixabay. Music by will |Marshall from will marshall. Personal development [self improvement] [self development] [NLP] [Hypnosis]

Creating The Life You Haven't Lived Yet In the last FMQ, I talked about the idea that there's a book inside you. In this episode, I take that idea further. Because here's what I truly believe… You're already writing your life. One page at a time. One day at a time. The question is — are you writing it consciously? In this episode I guide you through a creative visualisation process that helps you: Step out of "life just happening" Stop letting other people write your chapters Feel your future before it physically exists Align your unconscious mind with what you truly want Take one small, powerful step forward This isn't about pretending the past didn't happen. It's about deciding what happens next. And you don't have to be 100% ready. You just have to start. What We Do Together In This Episode I guide you into a relaxed, curious state. You sit at a desk. There's a book in front of you called: My Life, My Adventure. The past chapters are written. You acknowledge them. You thank them. And then… You begin writing the next chapter. Not perfectly. Not dramatically. Just intentionally. You float outside yourself. You see yourself writing. You feel support from the people who care about you. You see yourself through loving eyes. And then you ask one powerful question: What small step can I take now? Because the magic isn't in dreaming. It's in deciding. What I Want You To Take From This You are not stuck. You are not finished. You are not defined by previous chapters. Responsibility is not blame — it's power. Your future starts now. And remember… Even if you do nothing differently today — you're still writing a page. So why not write it on purpose? If This Resonates Subscribe. Share this with someone who needs it. https://personaldevelopmentunplugged.com/475-creating-the-life-you-havent-lived-yet And take one small step. Have more fun than you can stand. Wallow in pleasure. Shine Brightly 🌟 Paul Hey there! I'd love to hear from you—questions, feedback, requests—all welcome. Drop me a line or leave a comment. If you've enjoyed this episode or any other, please share and subscribe! You can reach me at [email protected]. Subscribe to the Podcast Ready to subscribe? Click here to explore your options. Or, if you're on Apple Music or iTunes, you can go straight to subscribe or leave a review here. Special Programs for You For tools on developing Supreme Inner Confidence, finding Freedom from Anxiety, or specialized Hypnosis Tracks, visit PaulCloughOnline.com. Free Hypnosis Tracks Want access to my FREE hypnosis tracks? Head over to paulcloughonline.com/podcast. Connect with Me Follow me on Twitter: @pcloughie Remember: I'm a therapist, but I'm not your therapist. This podcast and any of my online resources are for educational purposes only. Never use the hypnosis tracks or exercises if you're operating machinery, driving, or if you have epilepsy or psychiatric conditions. Always consult a healthcare provider if you're unsure. Find Us on Other Platforms Catch the podcast on Spotify, Castbox, iHeart Radio, YouTube, or on our Libsyn page. Stay tuned, and keep shining brightly. ✨ Music Credits Music by Wataboi from Pixabay, Music by DreamHeaven from Pixabay, Music by ccjmusic from Pixabay, Music by freegroove from Pixabay, Music by prazkhanal from Pixabay. And the transcript WARNING if you're a lover of the written word this may make you frustrated, or angry - you have been warned - is it an 'ism Hey, so welcome back. It's Longer Dive, creating the life you haven't, you haven't lived yet. And there's a few things that surround what I'm going to be talking about. It's like my intention and a few observations I've made about the subject. And looking as if you were looking down on this subject, my thoughts were, this starts now. It starts right now. And you don't have to be ready, by the way, you don't have to be ready. You just have to start now. And what I want to tell you is, you know, this is your choice. Of course, it's your choice. But you get the right to choose. And the thing is, I believe in you. I believe in you. I want to support you in this. Yeah, bit hammy, isn't it? But that's what I'm going to do. That's why I'm here. How do I want you to feel through all of this? Well, that feeling is, I want is, I can do this. I can do this. And why is it so important? Even though you don't know what I'm going to talk about, why is it so important? Because it's our responsibility, yours and mine. No one else's. No one gets involved in this. It's our responsibility to create this life we haven't yet lived yet. And that's what we're going to do. You see, I talked on the last FMQ about everyone's got a book inside them. But not everyone has to write it, not write it physically out there. You can do, you can do. Awesome. If you feel like you've got a book, but this is like taking that metaphor of the book of your life. And I've got a lovely process that I want to, I've adapted, that I was going to help yo

Writing Your Future Everyone says, "There's a book inside you." But what if that book isn't about writing your past… What if it's about writing your future? In this Five Minute Quickie, Paul takes the metaphor of "the book inside you" and flips it into something powerful — a way to consciously create the next chapters of your life. Your past chapters? Already written. Some brilliant. Some messy. All done. But the unwritten chapters? They're rich with possibility. And here's the key — you are the author. In this short episode, you'll begin to: Reframe your past through learning and growth See your future as unwritten potential Fire up your imagination intentionally Start designing the emotional tone of your next chapters Prepare for a deeper process in the upcoming longer episode This isn't about fantasy. It's about engaging your unconscious mind through metaphor — the language it understands best — so it can begin spotting opportunities aligned with your dreams. The only limit? Your imagination. And you're in charge of that. Listen now — and become the author of your life, not lived. Share what you hear https://personaldevelopmentunplugged.com/fmq-526-writing-your-future Shine Brightly 🌟 Paul Hey there! I'd love to hear from you—questions, feedback, requests—all welcome. Drop me a line or leave a comment. If you've enjoyed this episode or any other, please share and subscribe! You can reach me at [email protected]. Subscribe to the Podcast Ready to subscribe? Click here to explore your options. Or, if you're on Apple Music or iTunes, you can go straight to subscribe or leave a review here. Special Programs for You For tools on developing Supreme Inner Confidence, finding Freedom from Anxiety, or specialized Hypnosis Tracks, visit PaulCloughOnline.com. Free Hypnosis Tracks Want access to my FREE hypnosis tracks? Head over to paulcloughonline.com/podcast. Connect with Me Follow me on Twitter: @pcloughie Remember: I'm a therapist, but I'm not your therapist. This podcast and any of my online resources are for educational purposes only. Never use the hypnosis tracks or exercises if you're operating machinery, driving, or if you have epilepsy or psychiatric conditions. Always consult a healthcare provider if you're unsure. Find Us on Other Platforms Catch the podcast on Spotify, Castbox, iHeart Radio, YouTube, or on our Libsyn page. Stay tuned, and keep shining brightly. ✨ Music Credits Music by Wataboi from Pixabay, Music by DreamHeaven from Pixabay, Music by ccjmusic from Pixabay, Music by freegroove from Pixabay, Music by prazkhanal from Pixabay. And the transcript WARNING if you're a lover of the written word this may make you frustrated, or angry - you have been warned - is it an 'ism FMQ 526 Writing your future Welcome my friend, welcome to another FMQ. A seed, a seed that I want to sow to generate, create a richness in your life. A life to come, because you've already lived a good chunk of your life, or a part of your life, or what, well you've lived anyway because you're listening here. But we've got a runway, a runway that needs to be filled I guess, needs to be filled. And I heard the other day, and I forgot to make a note of the guy's name, but someone said, everyone, everyone has a book inside them. I thought, you see I get it when people say that, and people literally think, well I've got this book inside me, I've got to write it. And some actually do write it. I've written a book, I'm not going to say it's a very good one, but it was all about me giving therapy to myself when I went through a dark period. And it was called It Doesn't Have to Be This Way, because that's the way I felt. I didn't want it to be this way, and then I created processes to get me out of that. I know another guy, a friend of mine, who's written five books, five, five books, and none of them have ever been printed yet, because he's writing them for himself. He has books inside him that he wanted to write just for himself. Maybe one day he'll let them out, who knows. But taking that aside, that literal view, everybody's got a book inside them, you know, not everyone wants to write a book, do they? No, not everyone. But I do believe in the metaphor now, because I've got a different take on that. And in this different take, or with this different take, I'd like to use the metaphor to create something special. I'd like to be able to create a process using the metaphor, if you've got a book inside you, to create the life you dream of, to allow those dreams to become your reality. And that'd be good, because we all have dreams, don't we? And I'm here, well, I'm supporting your dreams. That's one of my aims for this podcast, to support your dreams and support you in achieving those dreams. You know, get you through the naysayers, the people who throw, metaphorically, throw rocks at our dreams. Sometimes they try to just hold us back, because they don't want to let us go. But we've all got dreams inside us.

Vulnerability Starts Here – Inside Everyone's talking about vulnerability… But most of it starts in the wrong place. In this episode of Personal Development Unplugged, I slow it right down and take the pressure off. Because real vulnerability isn't about oversharing, trauma-dumping, or spilling your guts to the nearest person who'll listen. It starts inside. This episode is about learning how to be honest with yourself first — safely, simply, and in a way that actually creates change. Inside this episode, I guide you through two powerful, practical steps you can use whether you're struggling right now, carrying something from the past, or just want better emotional resilience for whatever comes next. No forcing. No reliving trauma. No pressure to "open up" before you're ready. Just awareness, understanding, and control. What you'll experience in this episode: Why vulnerability is often misunderstood (and why oversharing isn't the answer) How being honest with yourself changes everything A simple internal process to acknowledge emotions without drowning in them How to work with the part of you that's been "pushing it down" A powerful visualisation to safely explore honesty with someone you respect How to gain insight without needing anyone else present Why vulnerability doesn't have to be uncomfortable, messy, or embarrassing How small internal shifts create real-world confidence and connection This episode includes guided internal processes and creative visualisation, designed to help your unconscious mind let go of what it no longer needs — gently, respectfully, and effectively. If you've ever thought: "If only they knew how I really felt…" …this one's for you. Listen. Experience. Then pay it forward. https://personaldevelopmentunplugged.com/474-vulnerability-starts-here-inside Key Takeaways Vulnerability starts with honesty to yourself, not exposure to others Acknowledging emotions is different from accepting or reliving them Internal safety comes before external sharing You can gain insight and relief without involving anyone else When you feel safe inside, vulnerability becomes natural, not forced Your Call to Action If this episode resonated: Subscribe so you don't miss the deeper dives Share this episode with someone who might need it Email me at [email protected] if there's something you want help with Shine Brightly 🌟 Paul Hey there! I'd love to hear from you—questions, feedback, requests—all welcome. Drop me a line or leave a comment. If you've enjoyed this episode or any other, please share and subscribe! You can reach me at [email protected]. Subscribe to the Podcast Ready to subscribe? Click here to explore your options. Or, if you're on Apple Music or iTunes, you can go straight to subscribe or leave a review here. Special Programs for You For tools on developing Supreme Inner Confidence, finding Freedom from Anxiety, or specialized Hypnosis Tracks, visit PaulCloughOnline.com. Free Hypnosis Tracks Want access to my FREE hypnosis tracks? Head over to paulcloughonline.com/podcast. Connect with Me Follow me on Twitter: @pcloughie Remember: I'm a therapist, but I'm not your therapist. This podcast and any of my online resources are for educational purposes only. Never use the hypnosis tracks or exercises if you're operating machinery, driving, or if you have epilepsy or psychiatric conditions. Always consult a healthcare provider if you're unsure. Find Us on Other Platforms Catch the podcast on Spotify, Castbox, iHeart Radio, YouTube, or on our Libsyn page. Stay tuned, and keep shining brightly. ✨ Music Credits Music by Wataboi from Pixabay, Music by DreamHeaven from Pixabay, Music by ccjmusic from Pixabay, Music by freegroove from Pixabay, Music by prazkhanal from Pixabay. And the transcript WARNING if you're a lover of the written word this may make you frustrated, or angry - you have been warned - is it an 'ism #474 Vulnerability starts here - Inside So welcome. Vulnerability starts here. If you listen to FMQ 525, you'll have got into a little bit where we said, or I said, it seems to me like everyone, everyone and his bloody dog seems to go on about being so bloody vulnerable. You know, just spill it all out there. As if it's that easy. Just spill it out. Just all out to anybody, whoever's there, whoever's close enough to listen. Now, for most of us, it's not that easy. Because it's private, isn't it? Don't like to share these things. And really, sometimes and most of the time, it's not usually appropriate because maybe the circumstance or the context is not appropriate, or the person you're sharing with. It's not an appropriate person to share it with. And most of all, you need to be, well, be vulnerable. You can't be vulnerable to every dick, Tom or Harry or Tom, Dick and Harry, as we say in the UK. And I want to take the pressure off. Because I know you're not one of these people who just, you know, spill it all out. Because that's inappropria

They Don't Know I'm Suffering We talk a lot about vulnerability these days — maybe too much, and often in the wrong way. In this Five Minute Quickie, I challenge the idea that vulnerability means oversharing or spilling everything too soon. Because for most people who are suffering — anxiety, overwhelm, feeling broken, or just "not quite right" — the real issue is this: People don't know what's going on inside. And we're embarrassed to tell them. This episode plants the seed for a deeper dive into: Why "suck it up" beliefs don't keep you safe How your unconscious mind is trying (and failing) to protect you A healthier, simpler way to understand vulnerability What freedom from inner suffering could feel like This is for everyone — whether you're suffering a little, a lot, or not right now at all. The deeper dive is coming next. Please share this with others so we can all come together on the longer episode https://personaldevelopmentunplugged.com/fmq-525-they-dont-know-im-suffering Shine Brightly 🌟 Paul Hey there! I'd love to hear from you—questions, feedback, requests—all welcome. Drop me a line or leave a comment. If you've enjoyed this episode or any other, please share and subscribe! You can reach me at [email protected]. Subscribe to the Podcast Ready to subscribe? Click here to explore your options. Or, if you're on Apple Music or iTunes, you can go straight to subscribe or leave a review here. Special Programs for You For tools on developing Supreme Inner Confidence, finding Freedom from Anxiety, or specialized Hypnosis Tracks, visit PaulCloughOnline.com. Free Hypnosis Tracks Want access to my FREE hypnosis tracks? Head over to paulcloughonline.com/podcast. Connect with Me Follow me on Twitter: @pcloughie Remember: I'm a therapist, but I'm not your therapist. This podcast and any of my online resources are for educational purposes only. Never use the hypnosis tracks or exercises if you're operating machinery, driving, or if you have epilepsy or psychiatric conditions. Always consult a healthcare provider if you're unsure. Find Us on Other Platforms Catch the podcast on Spotify, Castbox, iHeart Radio, YouTube, or on our Libsyn page. Stay tuned, and keep shining brightly. ✨ Music Credits Music by Wataboi from Pixabay, Music by DreamHeaven from Pixabay, Music by ccjmusic from Pixabay, Music by freegroove from Pixabay, Music by prazkhanal from Pixabay. And the transcript WARNING if you're a lover of the written word this may make you frustrated, or angry - you have been warned - is it an 'ism Hey, welcome to the five minute quickie. Well, it's not five minutes, but it's a seed for a longer, deeper dive into something that I think is quite serious. You see, I get confused. I am confused. Why am I confused? Because every man, every man, his dog, wife, family, relations, talk about vulnerability, bloody vulnerability. It's over-talked. And to me, it starts, and the way they talk about it, it starts too far in. And those who follow that, and when I say follow that, I mean, they go overboard, don't they? And it's embarrassing. They give out so much personal stuff. And it's intense. And it's probably too soon. And it's just too much information. Too much. And it becomes embarrassing because what do you do? What do you do when you hear it? You know, for me, it's like, and I'm a therapist, not their therapist, but, and I could go into therapy mode, but I think, you know, this is not the, we're in the, maybe in a bar, pub. This is just too much. Sometimes you've only just met the buggers and it's like, gosh, you see, this is what I think in reality, when we suffer issues, experiences, you know, they could be large, could be small. Doesn't really matter inside. We would like other people to know that we are suffering because you can't see it. Can you? It's not as if you're limping or something like that. It's inside. You're suffering inside, large or small. Could be just anxiety. Could be, could be something massive. And they don't, don't know. And we just, we would like people to know, don't you? You do. I do. I know I do. I feel, you know, I'd love to be able to speak to you, but no, no, no, no. You see what happens is I think it's embarrassing to say it. It's embarrassing to let it out, you know, because we've got these things called like, suck it up, suck it up, buttercup. You know, you push it down, push it down, man up, woman up, get on with life. Just get on with it. And then there's old limiting beliefs. Those old limiting beliefs that go, well, they'll think less of me. They won't understand me. They just, you know, if I show weakness, that's a real bad thing. And it isn't by the way, it isn't. But here's the thing. They are all excuses. They're excuses. And you're choosing to use those excuses. And now in my notes, I thought to myself, fuck, that's hard, Cluffy. That's a hard one to take. But I have to take it myself because I do the same thing. And when I look back and I can look

Your Hypnosis Track to Bliss and Joy So following on from episode #473 Experiencing Joy and Bliss - A Creative Visualisation, I have remastered the visualisation process into a deep hypnosis track to engage your unconscious mind even more. It's only around 20 minutes long so we can all find time to experience deep feelings of Bliss and Joy and use them to direct our unconscious mind to find more in the waking world. Yay! If you've already signed into the complimentary 60+ hypnosis and NLP track,s then use the same link and it'll be at the top of the list. If you haven't yet signed up (no credit card or personal details asked), go to https://paulcloughonline.com/podcast and get all that free personal development 'stuff'. And it's all downloadable, so you can use it anywhere and anytime. Please share https://personaldevelopmentunplugged.com/473-1-your-hypnosis-track-to-bliss-and-joy Enjoy Shine Brightly 🌟 Paul Hey there! I'd love to hear from you—questions, feedback, requests—all welcome. Drop me a line or leave a comment. If you've enjoyed this episode or any other, please share and subscribe! You can reach me at [email protected]. Subscribe to the Podcast Ready to subscribe? Click here to explore your options. Or, if you're on Apple Music or iTunes, you can go straight to subscribe or leave a review here. Special Programs for You For tools on developing Supreme Inner Confidence, finding Freedom from Anxiety, or specialized Hypnosis Tracks, visit PaulCloughOnline.com. Free Hypnosis Tracks Want access to my FREE hypnosis tracks? Head over to paulcloughonline.com/podcast. Connect with Me Follow me on Twitter: @pcloughie Remember: I'm a therapist, but I'm not your therapist. This podcast and any of my online resources are for educational purposes only. Never use the hypnosis tracks or exercises if you're operating machinery, driving, or if you have epilepsy or psychiatric conditions. Always consult a healthcare provider if you're unsure. Find Us on Other Platforms Catch the podcast on Spotify, Castbox, iHeart Radio, YouTube, or on our Libsyn page. Stay tuned, and keep shining brightly. ✨ Music Credits Music by Wataboi from Pixabay, Music by DreamHeaven from Pixabay, Music by ccjmusic from Pixabay, Music by freegroove from Pixabay, Music by prazkhanal from Pixabay. Personal development [self improvement] [self development] [NLP] [Hypnosis]

Experiencing Joy and Bliss - A Creative Visualisation What if joy and bliss weren't things you had to chase… What if they were already inside you, waiting to be remembered? In this deeper episode of Personal Development Unplugged, Paul guides you through a powerful creative visualisation designed to help you experience joy, bliss, and deep personal pride – not just think about them. This is not about forcing positivity or pretending everything is perfect. It's about sending a clear emotional signal to your unconscious mind: "This is how I want to feel." Using imagination, memory, sensory awareness, and gentle NLP-style anchoring, you'll explore what joy truly feels like for you – and how that feeling can begin to influence your future choices, goals, and direction in life. This episode works best when you can set aside around 20 minutes with no distractions. It's an internal experience – subtle, safe, and deeply personal. In this episode, you'll: Discover why feelings, not goals, are the real compass of personal development Experience a guided creative visualisation for joy, bliss, and personal pride Learn how imagination can bypass internal resistance and unlock change Anchor empowering emotional states you can access whenever you choose Begin building a "base camp" for future growth and deeper work Explore how joy can become a signal your unconscious mind follows This episode gently sets the foundation for upcoming deeper dives into joy, purpose, and removing what gets in the way of feeling truly alive. Best enjoyed somewhere comfortable, safe, and uninterrupted with headphones Your Key Takeaways Your unconscious mind often knows more than your conscious plans Joy and bliss are states, not rewards Imagination is a valid and powerful route to emotional change You can consciously anchor empowering feelings Feeling good isn't selfish – it's ecological Your Call to Action Subscribe so you don't miss the upcoming deeper dives Share this episode with someone who could use more joy in their life https://personaldevelopmentunplugged.com/473-experiencing-joy-and-bliss-a-creative-visualisation Explore Paul's hypnosis and visualization tracks at paulcloughonline.com/podcast Send feedback or suggestions to [email protected] Shine Brightly 🌟 Paul Hey there! I'd love to hear from you—questions, feedback, requests—all welcome. Drop me a line or leave a comment. If you've enjoyed this episode or any other, please share and subscribe! You can reach me at [email protected]. Subscribe to the Podcast Ready to subscribe? Click here to explore your options. Or, if you're on Apple Music or iTunes, you can go straight to subscribe or leave a review here. Special Programs for You For tools on developing Supreme Inner Confidence, finding Freedom from Anxiety, or specialized Hypnosis Tracks, visit PaulCloughOnline.com. Free Hypnosis Tracks Want access to my FREE hypnosis tracks? Head over to paulcloughonline.com/podcast. Connect with Me Follow me on Twitter: @pcloughie Remember: I'm a therapist, but I'm not your therapist. This podcast and any of my online resources are for educational purposes only. Never use the hypnosis tracks or exercises if you're operating machinery, driving, or if you have epilepsy or psychiatric conditions. Always consult a healthcare provider if you're unsure. Find Us on Other Platforms Catch the podcast on Spotify, Castbox, iHeart Radio, YouTube, or on our Libsyn page. Stay tuned, and keep shining brightly. ✨ Music Credits Music by Wataboi from Pixabay, Music by DreamHeaven from Pixabay, Music by ccjmusic from Pixabay, Music by freegroove from Pixabay, Music by prazkhanal from Pixabay. Music by Will Marshall Music And the transcript WARNING if you're a lover of the written word this may make you frustrated, or angry - you have been warned - is it an 'ism Hi there, just before we dive into exploring bliss, joy, I just wanted to say this is like creative visualisation. So you may, well maybe closing your eyes, it's certainly maybe better to do that so we can really get in touch with some intense feelings of joy and bliss and wonderful personal pride. So to that end, if you're doing things or have things that need your attention, it's probably best to listen to this at another time, put say 20 minutes aside, because that's all it's going to take. So where you can just be comfortable and listen, inside, outside, but nothing that needs your attention. Okay, just want to say that before we start, because I want you to enjoy this experience. So intense and have a wonderful experience too. Okay, so here we go. So as we move into a new year, and it doesn't really matter whether we're moving into a new year or not, I wanted to explore something first. Because I always think that we're not clever enough to know exactly what we want. You, me, we think we do. We have this idea, this aim of the things we'd like to do, the things that maybe we think will give us the passi

Heading For Joy - Wanna Come With Me What if personal development wasn't about fixing what's wrong… but about deliberately heading for joy? In this Five Minute Quickie, I share where we're heading next on the Personal Development Unplugged journey — and it's all about creating a life that feels worth living. A life with joy, intention, and chapters you're proud of. We explore: Why joy might be the most underrated success metric The "book inside you" and how you're already writing it A different take on vulnerability (not the over-sharing nonsense) Why empathy isn't quite what people think it is A powerful question about suffering… and why you don't have to do it alone This episode sets the direction for the deeper dives to come — using mindset, imagination, and inner work to let go of suffering and create more joy, one seed at a time. If you're up for less struggle, more meaning, and a lot more joy… come with me. Oh! And bring others along, too, by sharing this https://personaldevelopmentunplugged.com/fmq-524-heading-for-joy-wanna-come-with-me Shine Brightly 🌟 Paul Hey there! I'd love to hear from you—questions, feedback, requests—all welcome. Drop me a line or leave a comment. If you've enjoyed this episode or any other, please share and subscribe! You can reach me at [email protected]. Subscribe to the Podcast Ready to subscribe? Click here to explore your options. Or, if you're on Apple Music or iTunes, you can go straight to subscribe or leave a review here. Special Programs for You For tools on developing Supreme Inner Confidence, finding Freedom from Anxiety, or specialized Hypnosis Tracks, visit PaulCloughOnline.com. Free Hypnosis Tracks Want access to my FREE hypnosis tracks? Head over to paulcloughonline.com/podcast. Connect with Me Follow me on Twitter: @pcloughie Remember: I'm a therapist, but I'm not your therapist. This podcast and any of my online resources are for educational purposes only. Never use the hypnosis tracks or exercises if you're operating machinery, driving, or if you have epilepsy or psychiatric conditions. Always consult a healthcare provider if you're unsure. Find Us on Other Platforms Catch the podcast on Spotify, Castbox, iHeart Radio, YouTube, or on our Libsyn page. Stay tuned, and keep shining brightly. ✨ Music Credits Music by Wataboi from Pixabay, Music by DreamHeaven from Pixabay, Music by ccjmusic from Pixabay, Music by freegroove from Pixabay, Music by prazkhanal from Pixabay. And Will Marshall And the transcript WARNING if you're a lover of the written word this may make you frustrated, or angry - you have been warned - is it an 'ism FMQ 524 Heading For Joy - Wanna Come With Me You're going to come with me? You see, I'm trying to set out a few episodes ahead now. Give you an idea of where we're heading. And obviously, personal development is an intention, isn't it? You have your own intention of where you want to go. But to me, sometimes it's more about how you want to feel. And if you think about it, if you've got joy in your life, you're doing pretty well. And you'll probably be doing things that are really, really good because they're providing joy in your life. So, think about it. I want you to think about a few things before we head into the deeper dives. Here's the things I want you to think about. You see, everyone has a book inside them. Well, not everyone wants to write a book. Do you want to write a book? Hmm. But in a deeper dive, I want to uncover the book that's inside you. Because there is one. You're living the bloody thing. And with a little bit of hypno, hypnosis, maybe visualisation, a little bit of internal work, we can find out the remaining chapters of your book. So, you don't have to write it. But what you have to do is live it and create the chapters of your life to come. So, at the end of the book, you can say, yeah, that's a life well lived. I lived it with passion. I lived it with intention. And I'm fucking proud of me. Yeah, and that's what I want for you. So, that'll be one of the deep dives we're doing. Then, this is what gets me sometimes. These thought leaders. These fucking influencers. You know, they spout off about, you have to live a life of vulnerability. You have to be oh so bloody vulnerable, spilling your guts out, spilling your life out to anybody and everybody, because that's the only way to live. Is it? Have you ever been with anybody who gives too much, too soon? It's embarrassing, isn't it? And it's not comfortable, is it? It's not a comfortable place to be. So, where are we going to go? Well, I have a different way of being vulnerable and how to work with vulnerability. And yes, we'll dive into it. And of course, I'm going to say it again, probably say it again, with a little bit of hypnosis, with a little bit of visualisation and just diving deep into our unconscious mind. So, that's another deep dive. So, what else? You see, I want to talk about empathy, because empathy is a good thing to have.

If You Thought This Was Bad Including deep hypnosis If you thought this was bad… it isn't. And that's actually good news. In this deeper dive, I'm talking honestly about what happens when life feels overwhelming, when things get pushed down instead of talked through, and why "suck it up, buttercup" is one of the biggest myths we've ever been sold in personal development. This episode is about not being broken, even when you feel like you are. It's about understanding that feeling low, anxious, lost, or like a failure is not the end — it's a starting point. A platform to move from, not a prison to live in. Inside this episode, we explore: Why suppressing emotions only makes things worse How feeling "not good enough" can actually be the best place to begin change The difference between pity and genuine support Why imagination is one of your most powerful tools for transformation How to reconnect with the best version of you — even if you can't see it yet And embedded within this episode is a deep guided hypnosis / guided imagery process designed to help you: Let go of limiting beliefs and emotional weight Reconnect with your inner strengths and qualities Experience what it feels like to be your best self Begin acting as if change is already underway You don't need to be "fixed". You don't need to be perfect. You just need the right tools — and a bit of encouragement. What You'll Experience A safe, grounded hypnosis process (eyes closed, no distractions) Powerful imagery to reconnect you with confidence, ease, and self-belief A reminder that growth doesn't have to be hard — it can be fun Practical encouragement to start using the tools you already have And I've got your back. Call to Action If this episode resonated: Subscribe so you don't miss future episodes Share this podcast with someone who might need it Pay it forward — growth shared is growth multiplied https://personaldevelopmentunplugged.com/472-if-you-thought-this-was-bad/ Shine Brightly 🌟 Paul Hey there! I'd love to hear from you—questions, feedback, requests—all welcome. Drop me a line or leave a comment. If you've enjoyed this episode or any other, please share and subscribe! You can reach me at [email protected]. Subscribe to the Podcast Ready to subscribe? Click here to explore your options. Or, if you're on Apple Music or iTunes, you can go straight to subscribe or leave a review here. Special Programs for You For tools on developing Supreme Inner Confidence, finding Freedom from Anxiety, or specialized Hypnosis Tracks, visit PaulCloughOnline.com. Free Hypnosis Tracks Want access to my FREE hypnosis tracks? Head over to paulcloughonline.com/podcast. Connect with Me Follow me on Twitter: @pcloughie Remember: I'm a therapist, but I'm not your therapist. This podcast and any of my online resources are for educational purposes only. Never use the hypnosis tracks or exercises if you're operating machinery, driving, or if you have epilepsy or psychiatric conditions. Always consult a healthcare provider if you're unsure. Find Us on Other Platforms Catch the podcast on Spotify, Castbox, iHeart Radio, YouTube, or on our Libsyn page. Stay tuned, and keep shining brightly. ✨ Music Credits Music by Wataboi from Pixabay, Music by DreamHeaven from Pixabay, Music by ccjmusic from Pixabay, Music by freegroove from Pixabay, Music by prazkhanal from Pixabay. And the transcript WARNING if you're a lover of the written word this may make you frustrated, or angry - you have been warned - is it an 'ism transcript copy #473 If You Thought This Was Bad So the deeper dive today. Welcome. The deeper dive. If you thought this was bad, you're wrong. If you thought you have to suck it up, buttercup, keep it to yourself. Remember we talked about that on the previous FMQ. You see, it's a new year, isn't it? It's a new year. And some, some people are following or failing in their new year's resolutions. And you know, I hate new year's resolutions with a vengeance. For some, life's shit. It is at the moment. It's too hard. Maybe we've got this belief that I'll never succeed anyway. I shouldn't be here and all that rubbish, all limiting beliefs, one of a positive intention, but they're limiting. And I can remember, I can remember this a long time ago, saying to myself, why the fuck bother, Clive? It's not worth it. Too far down. Can't do it. But when I said that to myself, what I didn't do, I didn't suck it up. I didn't suck it up, buttercup. I wasn't a buttercup and I didn't suck it up, but I did keep it to myself. I did man up by pushing it down. Cause that's what men and women do. We man up, women up and we push things down. We suppress them. Don't tell people about them, do we? We don't say, I need help. Can you help me? Suck it up, push it down. What a load of old bollocks. It's a waste of time. Such a waste of time. Cause it just causes more problems, doesn't it? More problems. You need help. Ask for help. And that's where we're going. Cause if yo

Lets Start Over A brand new year often brings pressure to reinvent everything. But in this Five Minute Quickie, Paul invites you to start over without throwing everything away. This episode is about recommitting — to your growth, your tools, and your intention to become the best version of yourself. Not by chasing pity or staying stuck, but by choosing encouragement, responsibility, and action. With over a thousand episodes behind him, Paul explains why revisiting the fundamentals of personal development isn't going backwards — it's how real mastery is built. You may have heard it before… but you're not the same person listening now. Inside this FMQ, you'll explore: Why "starting over" doesn't mean starting from scratch The difference between healthy honesty and unhelpful pity Why reminders are often more powerful than new information How mastery comes from doing what you know — consistently The importance of sharing what you learn to deepen your growth This episode sets the tone for the year ahead: practical tools, encouragement, personal responsibility, and meaningful change — for you, and for the people around you. And if you want a say in where this podcast goes next, Paul invites you to get involved. Let's share this message and ask others to do the same https://personaldevelopmentunplugged.com/fmq-523-lets-start-over/ Let's start over — properly. Shine Brightly 🌟 Paul Hey there! I'd love to hear from you—questions, feedback, requests—all welcome. Drop me a line or leave a comment. If you've enjoyed this episode or any other, please share and subscribe! You can reach me at [email protected]. Subscribe to the Podcast Ready to subscribe? Click here to explore your options. Or, if you're on Apple Music or iTunes, you can go straight to subscribe or leave a review here. Special Programs for You For tools on developing Supreme Inner Confidence, finding Freedom from Anxiety, or specialized Hypnosis Tracks, visit PaulCloughOnline.com. Free Hypnosis Tracks Want access to my FREE hypnosis tracks? Head over to paulcloughonline.com/podcast. Connect with Me Follow me on Twitter: @pcloughie Remember: I'm a therapist, but I'm not your therapist. This podcast and any of my online resources are for educational purposes only. Never use the hypnosis tracks or exercises if you're operating machinery, driving, or if you have epilepsy or psychiatric conditions. Always consult a healthcare provider if you're unsure. Find Us on Other Platforms Catch the podcast on Spotify, Castbox, iHeart Radio, YouTube, or on our Libsyn page. Stay tuned, and keep shining brightly. ✨ Music Credits Music by Wataboi from Pixabay, Music by DreamHeaven from Pixabay, Music by ccjmusic from Pixabay, Music by freegroove from Pixabay, Music by prazkhanal from Pixabay. And the transcript WARNING if you're a lover of the written word this may make you frustrated, or angry - you have been warned - is it an 'ism FMQ 523 Lets Start Over Welcome to a brand new year. Yeah, brand new year. And it's got me thinking because I do like to review where we're going, what we're doing. And that's why the title of this FMQ is Let's Start Over. But I'm not starting over, over. You see, something got me. I heard on... Well, I heard, I think it's a Navy SEALS type thing that they say to themselves. And it's, suck it up buttercup. Keep it to yourself. And I'm going to guess, in a hostile environment, you can't show your emotions. So you do have to suck it up. You do have to keep it to yourself. But then I thought, there's another, another place that we should suck it up buttercup, keep it to yourself. And that's if you're looking for pity. And if you're looking for pity, you don't want to be here. Okay? Because this is a place where I know you and I are looking to change the way we feel. Looking to change the way we think and look to change any limiting beliefs and negative emotions. Well, how we feel, but then those limiting beliefs change what we believe. And maybe we want to have access to tools, help, things that will help us change and encouragement. And that's what I've been thinking about here in this little old unplugged mind of mine. You see, there's over a thousand episodes here in Personal Development Unplugged. Over a thousand. That's massive. Don't know where or how it all came out of this little brain of mine. But the thing is, I want to continue to help. And when I say continue to help, I'm helping me as well. So it doesn't matter where you are on this adventure. This adventure of personal development, self-improvement, looking to be and stretching yourself to be the best version of yourself. Because there's always going to be something here for you. I have challenges. And I've been doing this stuff for bloody years. Still get challenges. But I also have the tools to help me with those challenges. And I want to share them with you. Because you see, on this adventure of personal development, self-improvement, you're looking for you

Your Free Hypnosis track from #471 The Secret Ingredient To Being Your Best Self Let's go deeper than the longer podcast episode with the remixed version of the hypnosis process and install that secret ingredient into your unconscious and conscious minds. It's available for downloading, so you can listen anytime and as many times as you choose. Where Do I Get It? Visit https://paulcloughonline.com/podcast to obtain your unique link. Alternatively, if you already have a link from a previous visit, you can use it. You'll find all this content, plus 60+ other hypnosis and NLP processes, all available with my compliments. Shine Brightly 🌟 Paul Remember: I'm a therapist, but I'm not your therapist. This podcast and any of my online resources are for educational purposes only. Never use the hypnosis tracks or exercises if you're operating machinery, driving, or if you have epilepsy or psychiatric conditions. Always consult a healthcare provider if you're unsure. Hey there! I'd love to hear from you—questions, feedback, requests—all welcome. Drop me a line or leave a comment. If you've enjoyed this episode or any other, please share and subscribe! You can reach me at [email protected]. Subscribe to the Podcast Ready to subscribe? Click here to explore your options. Or, if you're on Apple Music or iTunes, you can go straight to subscribe or leave a review here. Special Programs for You For tools on developing Supreme Inner Confidence, finding Freedom from Anxiety, or specialized Hypnosis Tracks, visit PaulCloughOnline.com. Free Hypnosis Tracks Want access to my FREE hypnosis tracks? Head over to paulcloughonline.com/podcast. Connect with Me Follow me on Twitter: @pcloughie Find Us on Other Platforms Catch the podcast on Spotify, Castbox, iHeart Radio, YouTube, or on our Libsyn page. Stay tuned, and keep shining brightly. ✨ Music Credits Music by Wataboi from Pixabay, Music by DreamHeaven from Pixabay, Music by ccjmusic from Pixabay, Music by freegroove from Pixabay, Music by prazkhanal from Pixabay. Personal development [self improvement] [self development] [NLP] [Hypnosis]