Personal Development Unplugged

Acting As If Without The Fake Welcome back to another Five Minute Quickie! You’ve probably heard the phrase “fake it till you make it”—but let’s be honest, it feels like a lie, doesn’t it? That’s because it is. When you try to copy someone else—how they walk, talk, or behave—you’re not acting as if, you’re acting as them. And deep down, you know it. You can’t fool yourself. So what’s the real power behind acting as if? It’s stepping into the version of you who has already achieved your goal. Not pretending, not faking—just allowing that future you to live in the present. That’s when you tap into the physiology and psychology of success. In this short FMQ, I’ll share why “acting as if” works, why faking never does, and how to make it real so you can accelerate your goals, your dreams, and your enjoyment of the journey.

No Regrets - Just Do It -Here's How Have you ever caught yourself holding back, waiting for the “perfect” moment, and later felt that sting of regret? The truth is, regret weighs far more heavily than failure ever could. Failure teaches you something. Regret leaves you stuck, wondering “what if?” In this longer episode of Personal Development Unplugged, I take you deep into how to break free from hesitation, silence that self-doubt, and finally step forward with courage. This isn’t about recklessness — it’s about learning how to live boldly, make choices you’re proud of, and stop letting fear dictate your life. You’ll discover: Why regret is heavier than failure (and how to free yourself from it) Simple mindset shifts to move from hesitation to momentum The one question that reframes fear and unlocks action A step-by-step hypnosis process to help you just do it — so you don’t just think about change, you actually experience it This is more than a conversation — it’s an opportunity to work with your

How To Consistently Do Your Best How often do you really do your best? Honestly? In this short 5-minute quickie, we dive into a simple but powerful way to consistently show up at your best — without pressure, without overthinking. It’s all about the magic of the pause. Just a few seconds between tasks can reset your focus, break negative carry-over from the last thing you did, and set the intention for doing your best on the next. You’ll learn: Why your “best” should be your baseline, not an exception How a 2-second pause can change the quality of your whole day The role of feelings and intention in achieving your personal best A quick reflection practice to avoid carrying stress from one task into another It’s not about constant improvement. It’s about consistency. And when you do this, life feels better, easier, and more rewarding. Give it a try today — and share this with someone who could use a reminder to hit their best more often. https://personaldevelopmentunplugged.com/fmq-515-how-to-cons

How to achieve your Dreams and Goals Want real results — not hype? In this episode of Personal Development Unplugged Paul Clough shows you how to move from wishful thinking to action that works. We dig into practical goal-setting, the feeling of the wish fulfilled, how to use your mind (RAS + visualization), and small, actionable steps that create momentum. Expect NLP-informed tips, a short guided hypnosis process to embed success in your unconscious, and direct coaching you can use today. Key takeaways Define success specifically: the clearer the goal, the faster the result. Use feeling of the wish fulfilled + physiology + inner dialogue to “act as if.” Employ the Reticular Activating System—focus your mind and notice opportunities. Build micro-steps (tiny wins) and schedule regular reviews to stay on track. Align goals with your values — ensure they’re ecological (good for you, others, planet). Quick practical guided hypnosis included — make this a daily habit. Share with one person who needs

Understanding Focus: The RAS Have you ever noticed that once you buy a new car, suddenly that model seems to be everywhere? Or you hear a new word and then it pops up all the time? That’s not magic – it’s your Reticular Activating System (RAS) at work. In this Five Minute Quickie, I’m breaking down the RAS in plain English. It’s the part of your brain that decides what to notice – and it’s powered by emotion. The good news? You can train it to look for opportunities, positivity, and success. The bad news? If you’re stuck in negative emotions, it will keep showing you reasons to stay stuck. So let’s flip the switch. Learn how to focus on what serves you rather than what drags you down. Because when you understand your RAS, you can use it to fuel your goals, dreams, and everyday happiness.  And keep listening – in the next longer episode I’ll guide you through a process (with a bit of hypnosis) to help your unconscious mind focus deeply on what you truly want. You could start by focusing on sharing. Here is a

How To Achieve and Have the Mindset of Success We hear it everywhere: “You need the mindset of success.” But what does that actually mean? And more importantly — how do you get it? In this episode of the Personal Development Unplugged podcast, I’ll take you beyond the vague definitions and straight into a practical process you can use right now. We’ll cut through the fluff and create a real mindset of success — one where your mind and body are fully aligned toward a specific goal. You’ll discover how to: Get ultra clear and specific about what you really want (not what you don’t want). Write it down in a way that seeds your unconscious mind. Identify the empowering beliefs that fuel your success. Step into the physiology and psychology of having already achieved your dream. Anchor it all with a simple word that triggers your success state whenever you need it. This isn’t about “thinking positive.” It’s about aligning your thoughts, feelings, and actions so you naturally move toward your goals. By the end of

Let's Flip Constant Striving For Improvement In personal development, we’re always told to chase “constant and never-ending improvement.” And yes, growth matters. But what if the pressure to always improve is actually holding you back? In this 5-minute quickie, I invite you to flip that idea. Instead of endlessly striving, take a moment to recognise the incredible skills and wisdom you already have. From communication, relationships, and problem-solving to resilience and creativity — you’ve built a lifetime of tools. Here’s the thing: if you don’t use them, you risk losing them. But by consciously using what you’ve learned — through selfless service, sharing, and living intentionally — you keep those skills alive, and they keep growing. So today’s muse is simple: stop chasing for a minute and start using. You’ll not only feel richer inside but also make a difference to others around you. Because personal growth isn’t just about “more” — it’s about sharing what you’ve already got. And sharing what you hear:

Keeping Negative Emotions At Bay Ever lost your cool over something small — then realised it wasn’t about the “thing” at all? In this episode of Personal Development Unplugged, I take you through a real-life moment where frustration turned into anger, then into something deeper… limiting beliefs like “I’m stupid” or “I’m not good enough.” Here’s the truth: those surface emotions are rarely the whole story. By peeling back the layers, you’ll discover what’s really driving them — and more importantly, how to release them. You’ll learn: How to spot the real emotion underneath anger or frustration A simple process to break free from limiting beliefs before they grow Why small learnings create massive change over time This isn’t about pretending negativity doesn’t exist. It’s about learning from it, dissolving it, and building stronger foundations for success — every single day. Takeaway: When you uncover the lesson behind an emotion, the emotion itself loses its grip. That’s freedom. https://personalde

Today Is A Special Day – Find Out Why Every single day is unique, but how often do we really live it like that? In this Five Minute Quickie, I want you to pause, reflect, and realise that today is the only one you’ll ever get. No repeats, no reruns. We’ll dive into: Why seeing today as a gift and a present changes your mindset How a little gratitude and intention can make ordinary days extraordinary Simple ways to create meaning for yourself and others in the moment This isn’t about waiting for the future or getting stuck in the past. It’s about recognising that today is special — because it’s all we really have. Listen in, share it forward, and let’s make this day one worth remembering. https://personaldevelopmentunplugged.com/fmq-512-today-is-a-special-day-find-out-why And the video link  https://youtu.be/rn3zxbj2LtU Shine Brightly

Letting Yourself Down: Thinking of Others – DON’T Do you put everyone else first? Always there for family, friends, even the ones who don’t always treat you right? That’s an incredible value to have — being dependable, supportive, and accountable. But here’s the truth: when you constantly put others before yourself, you’re letting yourself down. And when you let yourself down, you let everyone down. In this episode, I’ll guide you through a simple but powerful exercise to uncover your core life values — the foundation of who you are. Once you know your top three, you’ll understand how to live in alignment with them, stay true to yourself, and actually be a stronger support for those you care about. This isn’t about being selfish. It’s about knowing who you are, standing on that rock-solid foundation, and being accountable to you. From there, everything else — your goals, dreams, relationships — falls into place. Listen in and find out: Why putting others first can actually let them down. How to discover y

Spicing Up Success Ever wondered why some goals feel like a slog while others seem to flow? In this 5-minute quickie, I dive into Neville Goddard’s powerful idea of the feeling of the wish fulfilled—and then I take it further. What if you didn’t just imagine the emotion of achieving your dream… but also stepped into the psychology and physiology of already having it? How would you breathe, walk, talk, and think if your goal was done and dusted? This is more than just motivation—it’s how you train your unconscious mind to notice opportunities, attract success faster, and build unstoppable inner confidence. So if you’re ready to achieve your dreams quicker, richer, and with more certainty—hit play. And if you know someone chasing their goals, share this with them. It might be exactly the nudge they need.

Why You Don’t Succeed and How To Why do so many people fail to succeed while others break through and create the life they dream of? In this episode of the Personal Development Unplugged Podcast, I dive into four powerful questions that can change how you think about success, failure, and the choices you make every day. Are you just settling? Trying to move mountains? Wishing life was easy? Or constantly struggling? Here’s the thing — success isn’t about either/or. It’s about this AND that. It’s about striving, celebrating the plateaus, reviewing your values, and then springboarding forward with even more clarity and energy. You’ll discover: Why settling keeps you stuck in the “I wish I had” syndrome How moving mountains without balance makes you lose what you value most The secret power of the plateau and why it’s not failure but fuel How to build harmony (not balance) into your journey to success The five keys to success that pull it all together If you’ve ever felt stuck, stalled, or doubted yourself o

Breaking Out of the Herd Are you ready to step out of the herd and be you? In this five-minute quickie, I’m diving into the power of embracing your uniqueness. We all conform at times, but what if living your true self — with kindness, courage, and selfless service — is exactly what the world needs? Inspired by David Goggins’ words, this episode is about breaking free from the mould, shaking off imposter syndrome, and showing up as the uncommon person you really are. Because when you do, you don’t just change yourself… you inspire others to do the same.

3 New Hypnosis Tracks With My Compliments I’ve just re-edited and transformed three of my favourite podcast processes into real hypnosis tracks — multi-layered sessions designed to get deep into your unconscious mind. These tracks include: Making decisions with unconscious clarity Making anxiety your best friend Spinning anxiety away (weird, but it works!) They join nearly 70 free hypnosis audios I’ve created for the Personal Development Unplugged community — all downloadable, no credit cards, no catches.

Restoring Work-Life Balance (But I Hate the Word “Balance”!) Work-life balance. Sounds nice, doesn’t it? But let’s be honest — balance is boring! Life isn’t a flat line; it’s ups, downs, twists, and turns. What we really want isn’t balance… it’s harmony. In this quick 5-minute episode, we explore why chasing “balance” often leaves you frustrated and how to create the illusion of balance through harmony. You’ll learn how to spot those niggling “off-kilter” feelings, uncover hidden clashes between your values, and make small, powerful micro-corrections that bring life back into flow. Whether it’s work vs. relationships, health vs. ambition, or just feeling stretched in two directions — I’ll give you the tools to notice, question, and adjust. And the best part? These aren’t big life overhauls — they’re tiny shifts that keep your energy, motivation, and relationships thriving. So if you’ve been feeling pulled in all directions, this episode will help you realign without losing the spark that makes life exciting

But I Can't Afford A Therapist

In this short yet powerful Five-Minute Quickie episode, we're diving into a question that could seriously supercharge your personal development journey: "How often do you check your progress—and why?" Cloughie explores the sweet spot between over-checking (hello, obsession and lost motivation!) and under-checking (hello, complacency and drifting off-course). Whether it's your personal goals, weight, mindset, career, or even podcast stats, finding your ideal review rhythm is the key to staying on track, boosting motivation, and making real progress. You’ll learn: Why too much checking can destroy momentum Why not checking enough can cost you time and energy The hidden fears behind your review habits (fear of failure or fear of success?) A simple mindset shift to help you course-correct without self-judgment How to schedule reviews that actually work for you

The Alternative To Anxiety and Worry An empowering deep dive into how you can take control of anxiety and worry — and replace them with clarity, calm, and confidence. An empowering deep dive into how you can take control of anxiety and worry — and replace them with clarity, calm, and confidence. In this episode, Paul Clough (yes, me!) shares personal experiences and tried-and-tested NLP and hypnosis-based techniques to help you break the cycle of anxious thoughts, worry loops, and emotional overwhelm. Discover how to: Dissociate from unhelpful feelings, thoughts, and mental movies Rewire your internal voice to one of calm, strength, and clarity Use simple yet powerful visualisation and anchoring techniques Access the emotional states that truly support you Stop rehearsing failure and instead direct your own movie of success Prepare for real-life situations with ease and confidence You’ll learn how your unconscious mind can work with you rather than against you, so you’re no longer hijacked by im

Standing Still Is NOT OK – The Myth of ‘Maintaining A Five-MinuteQuickie from Personal Development Unplugged What if standing still is actually taking you backwards? In this short, sharp episode, we break the illusion of “treading water” in personal growth. You’re either moving forward or slipping back—and this 5-minute muse is a call to action for continuous personal development, even if it's just 1% at a time. Discover why consistent progress is essential for self-improvement, confidence, and mental well-being. Learn how applying small daily shifts in mindset and behaviour leads to lasting transformation—without overwhelm. This is real, doable self-growth.

Feeling a Failure – Let’s Solve It Ever felt like a failure? That heavy, gut-sinking emotion that says “I’m not good enough” or *“I’ve let myself (or others) down”? You're not alone. But what if I told you feeling like a failure is not a fact – it’s a signal. And better still, it’s something we can solve together. In this episode of the Personal Development Unplugged podcast, we go deep – but in only the way we can. I’ll walk you through how those thoughts of failure sneak in, what they really mean, and most importantly, give you simple, practical NLP and hypnosis-based tools to shift that feeling fast.  Learn how to: • Challenge and change the story you're telling yourself • Turn emotional feedback into empowering action • Reclaim confidence and self-worth (without toxic positivity) • Use the language of success to rewire your internal dialogue • Start new habits that build momentum, not guilt This isn’t about pretending everything’s great. This is about acknowledging the feeling, finding the real intention