Positive Change with the Alexandrian Practice

How long is a piece of string? Maybe it depends on how positive you are about the change you are measuring?

Did anyone see the BBC Horizon programme on 17th November? It was one of those programmes that managed to capture my attention and provide a real positive challenge. It was able to reinforce my view that it is important to consider the world from different views, changing your perspective means that you can choose a path that is right for you. Make a choice, select the outcome you desire and see how that positive change occurs.


The actor and comedian, Alan Davies was attempting to measure a piece of string. It would be easy, one would think, to use a rule or some other simple yardstick. However, nothing seems quite so simple. It depends, so the friendly scientist said, on what you are trying to measure. The more accurate you wish to make your measurement the more problematic the issue became, especially as the accuracy approached the size of an atom. How can you measure the size of an individual particle when you cannot be sure if it’s there or somewhere else?

This was the general introduction into the wonderful world of Quantum Physics and the famous theoretical experiments of Prof Schroedinger. They outlined his thought experiment as follows. Imagine a cat in a closed box where it is next to a vial of poison. The poison is released in association with some event such as the absorption of a single photon, the smallest unit of light. However, the programme had nicely shown that light photons can simultaneously be in two places at once. They arrived at this conclusion from observing the interference patterns observed from a laser shinning through two slits of light.

How do you know if the cat is alive or dead within the box? Well if a single photon of light can be in two places at once, then there is a distinct possibility that the cat could be both alive and dead. It is difficult to imagine, but before one has opened the box, this duality is a distinct possibility. It is only when the observer opens the lid to make an assessment that the status of the cat can be confirmed. Therefore, the story went on, the effects of merely observing an event can modify its outcome. The status of the cat depends on what the observer can see when the box is open. In the infinite variety of all possible outcomes it would seem that there could be a separate universe where the cat is observed to be the opposite from your observations.

As Henry Ford had said “If you think you can or you can’t, you will”. A question struck me as I was watching the programme; could this age old statement from Henry Ford really be quantum mechanics in action? If you think about the idea of the observer choosing the fate of the cat in the box, choosing a positive outcome means that perhaps we can select the most positive change for ourselves, the choice that can bring the best for our self and those we care most about. To create the positive change we most desire we must believe in want we want and that we can find all the necessary resources we can to reach our goals. If we truly believe we can reach our targets, perhaps on a subconscious level our conscious and sub-conscious makes the most appropriate choices we need to get there. Some people may even suggest that the subconscious mind holds the majority vote in this debate which means, focus on our objectives and choose our state of mind. Focus on the positive to create the change we need. This will allow our subconscious mind to make the right decisions in a blink of an eye.

If there are really many parallel universes, with all possibilities existing in parallel universes, why not focus and choose where we want to be. Make the future happen for ourselves by being present in the moment and taking the right choice to reach our dreams. Our everyday lives sometimes produce many challenges that affect how we respond. They maybe touching on past experiences and memories on which we have built some reactionary patterns. Take a step back, focus on your goals. Being curious about your environment and your experiences and you may be amazed on how you can start to see the best choice that can bring the change that is most positive for you.

posted by Alexandrian Practice for Positive Change @ 10:14 0 Comments

The power of your belief in positive change

2009 is a remarkable year as it is the 200th anniversary of the birth of Charles Darwin, the amateur scientist that was able to challenge the status quo of the established order and provided an alternative theory to explain the wide variety of species that inhabit the earth. He published his work in the Origin of Species 150 years ago. His findings of Natural Selection still provide fuel to a heated debate regarding those who propose the work of a higher being or intelligent design and those that believe in the power of environmental selection.

Picture an imaginary discussion between proponents of each of these ideas, how can each of them prove to the other the validity of their beliefs? What evidence could help prove a theory to each of the individuals? What evidence can disprove the others hypothesis? How could each of these individuals make a positive change in the others beliefs?


Perhaps this shows the power of beliefs. Is belief the power of how our expectations can modify how we bring meaning to facts, figures and our general observations around us?

 The power and mystery of belief is also not the sole repository of the religious or spiritual communities. Scientists believe in an idea or hypothesis and then attempt to find evidence to support them. How many economic models have societies followed in the belief that they can predict future trends and developments in International Trade? Carl Sagan, a famous American Astronomer/Physicist thought that we would be contacted by extraterrestrial life forms and spent many hours listening for it. The tension between belief and proof therefore seems to be a natural conflict.

However by having a positive belief of how you wish to change you maybe surprised and how you can change. Many International Athletes realise they must believe in themselves to perform, to provide a positive change in their performance to allow them to find the right zone to excel in their performance. This is not only during competition but throughout their training.

Starting to have expectations about your performance, your training and your belief in your ability helps you develop the skills and capabilities you will need to perform. This is perhaps a simple step to finding a way to make the changes you need to be positive and reach your goals. The converse also seems to be true. If you don’t believe you will succeed in your goals, should you be surprised if you never do? Cognitive hypnotherapy, NLP and EFT can help you find the right techniques that allow you to find the zone, to be able to positively perform in a way that allows you to reach your goals and dreams.


The power of belief to help you make the right positive change for you can also provide support in your business life and ability to live positively. Being mindful of how your beliefs may affect your perception of your past and present can shape your future. You might be surprised, belief in your abilities to reach your dreams and future wishes can really help you make the right decisions, see the right opportunities and listen for the best that feels right for you. Dare to dream and have the imagination to reach out for what you want and desire.

posted by Alexandrian Practice for Positive Change @ 15:32 0 Comments

Can we choose our future?

I have been watching the HBO network programme “Flashforward” as it has been broadcast in the UK on channel 5. What great entertainment, people see a vision of the future and it seems to affect the way people think and act in everyday situations. This vision therefore has a potential impact on the choices the characters make. They potentially give up striving for the things that make them happy and wait for the future to turn into reality.


Can the future depend on the choices we make right now? Is it possible to change our futures by the choices we make day to day? The great Baseball player Yogi Berra said when you come to the fork in the road – take it! Perhaps this means don’t wait to see what happens but to me it shows that by making a choice we are shaping what happens next, what happens in the future and being mindful of the changes we make will provide the best result for us today.

How can we be mindful, what does that mean? Mindfulness as a concept has gained a lot of popularity over the last few years and is currently a hot topic of research and clinical practice. There maybe many different definitions but to me mindfulness is about being in the here and now, making a connection between the past and what you want in the future. A holistic approach that is focussed on the integration of our past experiences, our future wishes and our sensory map of the world to bring a meaning to the actions we choose. By being present in the moment it helps us make the positive changes we need to reach our goals and dreams.

By focussing on our dreams and seeing ourselves living our aspirations we can subconsciously make the choices we need to take the right path. It affects our perception of the environment, the context of the choice we need to make and any trade-offs that need to be made. By being here in the now, we can take all we need from our past experiences and align them to where we want to be.

The characters in Flashforward who want their futures are happy in the Present; they have a firm vision of what they desire. The Doctor, who finds life is better than he thought, is suddenly energised for the future and making positive choices to change his direction. Could we do the same if we can really see what we want?

I think we can and it certainly seems better than waiting for the future to change our directions. If we don’t want what we can see in the future, do we sabotage the choices we make to make sure they never will and then end up with something we really don’t want, out of control and drifting to the whims of fortune?

By being in the moment, we can fully realise our wishes by making the most of what our senses are telling us. How many of us have found ourselves “on automatic” when we are driving or some other familiar task. Making choices in these modes is like working to a prearranged script. Using techniques from Cognitive Hypnotherapy, NLP and EFT it is possible to be more in the moment, taking control of our choices and making a positive choice so you can change direction and realise your dreams.

I am keen to see what happens next in the TV series, but also a little frustrated. Just like when you are watching a horror movie and the lead character decides to walk alone down a poorly lit haunted house and you want to shout “don’t do it”. Watching “Flashforward” sometimes makes me want to shout “don’t to it, think positive and make the change you need, be mindful and in the moment. Dare to dream because you can get there”.

posted by Alexandrian Practice for Positive Change @ 00:03 0 Comments