This week I appeared on a podcast called the F Word, hosted by the brilliant Cornish professional services firm Whyfield and their visionary director Laura Whyte. It was another great chance to talk about some really important subjects, for business, for society and for individuals. We are all connected.
This episode I chose to talk about something very close to my heart - flying. 10 million people in the UK live with a phobia, making this the most prevalent anxiety disorder. Only 10% are seeking treatment (which is usually successful). And we're not talking about it.
3 million people are not getting on planes. It doesn't need to be this way.
What else are we not doing? It's a needless waste and a horrible experience for so many people.
15 years ago I helped someone with a fear of flying get back on a plane. It changed my life - because it worked. It was easy and very enjoyable, for both of us. And it wasn't the flying that made the biggest difference to her. It was the question she asked herself next: What else could I do that I didn't think I could? This didn't only transform her work - it changed her life.
That week I vowed to transform our society's relationship with fear. There are strong cultural factors. All the more reason to take charge of what we can - ourselves. We can choose how we respond. And we must.
To this day I'm working to remove fear where it doesn't need to be. There's a way to go yet... but I've learned that there are some repeatable, easy, enjoyable, actionable steps which make a deep difference in people's lives. And that journey is turning into the blueprint for my newest programme, "I RISE". It’s five steps:
I - personal change begins with awareness and responsibility
Reflection - focusing on strengths and wins instead of problems
Imagination - bringing to life a calmer, brighter future
Stillness - calming the nervous system so you can naturally focus on what matters, and move forwards
Expansion - growing naturally into the biggest and best version of yourself and extending the learning
You can do these steps in a session, in a day, in a journal, in a course. Over the next few weeks and months I'll be introducing more ways for you to do this - starting here. Maybe forward this email to someone who needs it. They can sign up to these emails and access my resources here:
Whenever you choose to take control, reflect on your strengths, use your imagination, still your mind and expand your perspective, you don’t just RISE. You FLY. You Fully Liberate Yourself, perhaps way beyond what you believed possible. And that freedom isn’t just about getting on a plane. I
t’s about how you live every part of your life.
I can't wait! How about you? Do let me know any thoughts.
Best wishes,
Adam
PS I'm not leaving Newquay - I'm spending half of my time here and half in London. There will be changes to my services, but good ones - like this - aiming is to make all the wonderful benefits of solution-focused hypnotherapy more accessible and even more valuable for everyone.
