As you start to read this you'll realise you already have so many untapped skills.

We all have strengths, weaknesses and skills that we use in everyday situations. It's time to learn how you can unlock these skills.

I was always the quiet one, at school I’d get on with my work, pretty much keeping myself to myself. In my first job, I tried to speak out once and suffered bullying by a senior member of staff, choosing to keep quiet and not tell anyone.

I never got promotion because I became afraid to speak out; I perceived it as my weakness, my Achilles heel. So what changed?

I learnt that my perceived weaknesses were actually my strengths.

The quiet shy person actually observes a lot more than most. When I sit quietly in the corner I am observing the body language, the energy of the individual as well as the words.

It was this that made me decide to become a hypnotherapist. Often when an individual comes to see me there is a barrage of underlying beliefs and behaviours triggering the reason for their visit.

I make it my mission to empower as many people who walk through the door to my office as I can. I do not try to control them. What I do is help them to show fear the door and realise that anxiety is ok, as long as they’re in control of it.

A great example is one of mine. I could never have imagined standing on stage talking to a crowd of people. Yet three years ago, I hired an auditorium and spoke to an audience about weight loss for over two hours.

A few years ago the thought of this would have sent me running, my voice would have speeded up to almost break the sound barrier and I would have glowed like a tomato from the head down.

How did I learn to control it?  My breath. I learnt how to slow it down and as I did, the redness, my speeded up voice and my anxiety disappeared. I also realised I was actually enjoying myself. I was making jokes and the audience were laughing back.

If you had to list your strengths, what would they be?
Mine would be:

Great listener with my eyes, ears and awareness.
Compassion. I am a helper but I also learnt not to be a doormat.
Quirkiness. I am liable to dance in the rain, sing out of key, and make a joke or two.
Many years ago, I would have seen the quietness as a hindrance but now I see it as a super-power, allowing me to see beyond what others see.

My compassion also used to feel like a burden around my neck. Now it feels like wings that let me to take my message to the highest heights.

And my quirkiness? For many years it was like a hidden treasure, only seen by a chosen few close friends. Now I stand on mountain tops, singing songs and blowing my trumpet loudly.

Make a list of things that you feel have been holding you back.
On the other side of the page make a list of how you can change them to make then your uniqueness.​

Because that’s exactly what I did and so can you.

If you need some more help, look at my page on Hypnotherapy for Self-Belief.