The Empowered Learners is a series of interviews that were originally recorded as Instagram lives.

Do you feel exhausted and overwhelmed at the idea of learning/improving your French?

Does it feel like an insurmountable task which you don't really know how to tackle?

In this episode, Isabelle talks with Amrita Auer, BodyMind and NLP coach based in Nyon, Switzerland, about small, easily achievable steps and tips to shift a low energy into a more positive and active one.

To learn more abour Amrita's coaching services: http://www.amritaauer.com

Watch the interview with subtitles on our Youtube channel

Transcript:

Isabelle: And because we have so many followers whose mother tongue is not French, and perhaps you don't understand French, yet well enough to be able to understand what I was saying before, today's live will be in English. And, the reason for that is I really want everybody to be able to benefit from the advice that we will receive from our guest today.

So, as I said before 2020 and 2021 were challenging years for many of us for many different reasons. And so perhaps you've started 2022 with a low energy. And maybe not as much motivation as you used to have at the start of the year. And I can certainly relate to this because I personally felt quite demotivated when I started 2022. I felt quite a low energy and I also felt like I was a bit more lethargic and I didn't have the drive that I normally have. 

And so today we have a very, special guest, a very lovely lady. Her name is Amrita Tiana Auer. She is Swiss. She speaks French and English. And today the interview will be in English and together, just like she did with me. She helped me to get back my motivation and she's a wonderful coach. So I would like to welcome her to join us on the live. 

Alors Amrita, si tu veux nous rejoindre. So, as I said before, we're not going to do this live in French because we wanna make sure that everybody can understand all the great advice that Amrita has to share for us.

So Amrita, can you... so today the topic is how to get back, how to get your motivation back when you're feeling low. So before we talk about that, could you please introduce yourself? We would love to know a little bit more about yourself.

Amrita: Sure. Thank you so much for inviting me, Isabelle. I'm really pleased. And so I'm an international NLP coach and I work with the body, the mind and emotions. As a yoga teacher for the last 12 years, I'm used to helping people reconnect with their body, understand their emotions, navigate them, and find strategies to achieve whatever dreams or projects are important for them.

And, what else? Well, I was born and raised in Geneva. I'm Swiss, as you said. I also lived in different countries. And I really, really have a passion for helping people realize what, you know, makes them feel alive and come out in to the fullness to their potential because life is short and we can really choose, you know, what we want to create, what kind of creation you want to make with your life in fact.

This is really something I'm fascinated about. So coaching is focused about present moment and future, is not so much about becoming a specialist of your past and analyzing the past, but we do it to the extent that it helps to move forward. So that's how I work.

Isabelle: Super. I'm going to share some how we met Amrita. Okay? We are both based in Nyon in Switzerland, in the French speaking part of Switzerland. And so, I did a yoga class with Amrita at the Yoga Move studio, which is a wonderful studio. If you don't know, and if you live in the vicinity, I highly recommend it. It's beautiful. And the vibe is really nice.

And so, I did a yoga class with you, Amrita, the first one I had done with you, and at the end, there was such a good emotion, like a really nice vibe, a very, uh, positive energy. And in French, we say, Bienveillante, which means that there is a very positive aura, and it's, the person really wants the best out of you.

And I remember I even had some tears in my eyes, because I felt so good. And that was a beautiful moment. And then you told me, maybe NLP would speak to you, and I had no idea what NLP was, or PNL in French.

Can you tell us a little bit quickly, what does it mean exactly, PNL or NLP? 

Amrita: Oh, that's a big question, of course. Yes, um, so NLP is Neurolinguistic Programming, and, it's a beautiful way to communicate with yourself, with other people, understanding how the body works, how the unconscious and the conscious mind work together and how to use your emotions and your energy and your creative power, the way we can visualize and feel the reality we want to have, in order to make this happen, so NLP is a beautiful way to actually also change the focus of the mind instead of asking yourself, why do I have this problem?

You're going to focus on, okay, what do I really want? And given the circumstances, what is it that I will do? What am I ready to do now? The NLP is also a way of being. A way of being completely present and aware, using the five senses. That's why it's connected to yoga. And that's why when, when you came to this yoga class, I remember I used some specific words and techniques to help you really connect with what you were feeling, connect with your feelings and, and bring more light in that.

And that was a beautiful moment. I also remember that. It's so true. And I remember that what I felt stuck most with at the past moment when we met in September and even at the beginning of the year, as I was saying before, I felt stuck in a negative energy, whether it's lethargy or a kind of depressive feeling, or maybe, you know, just sadness, or, just discouragement, let's say.

You're learning French, and you feel it's overwhelming, it's too much, there's so much, the difference is so big between your mother tongue and the new language that you're learning, and you are in a bad space, you're just, in the wrong headspace, and this is why I invited you today with Amrita, with her techniques, with the NLP, you can really change the way you think about specific things, because these are unfounded beliefs.

It's not true that you cannot learn French. It's not true that you will never be able to learn French, for example. This is just a false belief. This is what you believe at the moment because you are stuck in that emotion. So if I believe that I am not good enough with languages or I will never be able to learn a language what can I do to change this mindset Amrita, using NLP or with your advice?

Amrita: Great question. If you believe that you're not good at languages, the first thing is to challenge this belief, you know? So when did it happen? When did you start believing that you are not good at languages? Why do you believe that?

But mostly the main question is why do you want to learn a language and what will it bring you? Let's imagine in a few months, in a few weeks, you are able to speak and you're able to express yourself and to understand others, so how does it feel and what does it bring you? You know, what's the value of that in your life?

So that's the question I would ask the person. And then I would also ask, okay, what prevents you to feel motivated? And we will focus on, okay, what is the obstacle there? So it can be limiting belief. It can also be non supportive lifestyle. It can be lack of concentration and focus.

So we will identify the obstacle, but also really creates the feeling of how it's going to be once the person is again, you know, motivated enough, so has reached the goal. So we focus on the end goal, and then we also define the roadmap to get there.

Like if we take your situation, for example, like a few days ago, you were not motivated. And you were in this lethargic state. So what is it that helped you shift?

Isabelle: You're asking me what helps me shift this lethargic...

Amrita: There was a connection glitch, so I lost you for a few seconds.

Isabelle: No problem. Can you repeat the question that you were asking me?

Amrita: Yeah, yeah. So when you were feeling in this lethargic energy and stuck and not really motivated a few days ago, and we had a conversation, what is it that happened in your representation of your world that created the shift that made you feeling motivated again?

Isabelle: That's a very good question. So, I think because of the false beliefs that I had, I was stuck maybe in my past way of seeing things, or I was stuck in this emotion from the past that I have associated with the past, and so when I focus more on what I have to achieve now, what is on my to do list and, and the person that I am now, that helped me to switch. But I would say it's a shift of energy.

For me personally, I need someone to kick my bum, let's say. If someone is too nice with me, then I tend to drift a little bit. But if someone can tell me, okay, you know, you need to be focused. You need to go back to the space. So I would say that coaching for me and having someone to guide me and accompany me when I'm not feeling very well, this is what helps me.

Because there are things we can do on our own, of course, but I find that having a guide to evolve and to just guide you through what you're experiencing is really helping with the motivation because you have someone who's accountable for your actions as well and to push you.

Amrita: Well, that's beautifully described, you know, and so you have described what happened in you. And instead of being stuck in the past and the memories you had of you, certain image, negative image of you, you came back to the present moment. So, you came back to who you are now today because the point of power is always in the now.

And then I kicked your butt with love, if I may say, that to help you remember... Yeah. Always with love for sure. I only want the best, you know, the best for my clients. And probably what happened is that you remembered who you are and your potential.

And that's my goal as a coach to make you remember of what's really possible for you. And I think I said something like, you can do much better. Something like that. And then you remembered, Oh, okay, in fact, I have done much more and I can do much more. And there's more for me to come in the future.

So it's kind of like a wake up call to come back to the present moment, and look at what's really important for you now. And it's action mode. So action is really the cure to, you know, to reduce and dissolve anxiety and to move out from lethargy. So really action is amazing. The highway to success is really action.

Iasbelle: Absolutely.

Amrita: And for you it took a very short time to remember that there was a lot you wanted to do, you could do, and you had plenty of ideas to to just, you know, rebound and continue.

Isabelle: For me, I'm someone who can really react very quickly because I know I'm like this. But if someone needs a little bit more time, let's say they are stuck in that kind of low energy, low motivation mode, is there a way to kind of start, to get the little hamster running again, you know, what would you recommend to start with for these kind of people who cannot just switch their mindset right away?

Amrita: The fastest way to shift your energy and the mindset is to connect with the body. So I have to invite the person to, okay, think about, you know, when was the last time you felt excited in your life and what were you doing, and what were you thinking? And I will help the person to remember and to feel that energy and that mindset. And then from that space to take action, like even if it's a very small step. So, that's what I would do in fact. 

Isabelle: It's a very, you know, this approach is so accessible to everyone because we've all, I hope that we've all felt excitement at some point in our life, whether it was, I don't know, one year ago, unfortunately for some people it can have taken a while, it could have taken a while, but we have all felt joy and excitement and we can relate to that moment.

And this is what I believe PNL does is that you associate the emotion that you want to feel with a moment of your life and then you can come back to it and there's a picture and it's just very accessible. I thought you know, coming from, I'm a very rational person. I'm usually, you know, a very straightforward, maybe square, but at the same time, very creative person.

And I had never heard of PNL. I'm from North America, from Montreal. This is not something we hear about. And what I love about Switzerland here, there are so many alternative ways of being treated just with homeopathy and kinesiology and osteopathy. And then this is like, a treatment for your mind, really,
with PNL, it's so true.

Amrita: No, it's true, because we take care of our body.  Why wouldn't we take care of our mental health and our mind, our spirit?

Isabelle: And I find with you, Amrita, I take care of my spirit, my mind, and my heart. And what you do is done so positively. And it's very accessible in the way that it's not something too complex that I cannot understand it or it's too, let's say, high in the air.

Amrita: Not at all. It's very accessible. And it's very effective as well. It's the NLP is really practical. So we, again, I'm gonna go back to your childhood or your, you know, the past we are gonna focus on, okay, what is it that you want? And, how can you get there the fastest way?

And most of the time, people, they wanna get something because it's gonna create a specific feeling. Like when I will, when I have reached my goal of making, I don't know, six figures, I will feel happy and proud. Okay. So what we're going to take a look at is how can you find a way to feel happy and proud now?

Because if you can feel happy, you can use that energy to move to your goal in the fastest way. And it makes the journey much more enjoyable. And life is about what happens between the moment you set your goal and the moment you reach the goal.

So this is what we will do to really empower you and help you realize there's so many hidden treasures inside that you already have in terms of all the times in your life where you already felt motivated, inspired, grounded, centered, creative, you can use all of that and this is what we do with NLP, to continue moving forward, and that's what's exciting. So NLP works when you have a goal to reach, either you want to do something or you want to become more of something.

It also works on who you are and your identity. And as you, as a mompreneur, as a business woman, for example, you know, from that, from that identity that you have, you know that you're going to take specific actions. You're going to have a certain attitude towards life and other people.

So who you are and who you want to become and who you want to be, this is going to define your actions also. And then NLP also work on that to define who you want to be, your being. And that's creativity. No, creativity is not only that we're going to paint a picture or play a song. It's really about creating your life day after day, creating the state of mind and the emotional state you want to be in, creating the relationships you want to have in your life, and the way you approach things.

So as you said in the beginning, it really helps to shift and widen your perspective and give you a sense of possibility instead of a sense of limitation. And you see, I'm so excited when I speak about it because it really changed my own life as a start. So now I'm fascinated to see the results in the people I help.

Isabelle: This is probably... You yourself, you felt you needed a change in your own way of seeing the world or your own attitude, and that's how you found out about NLP. Is that correct?

Amrita: That's correct. You know, I've done years of therapy. I've been raised as a therapist. And so I became a specialist of my own issues and dynamics and problems without really knowing how to change that. So it was, I was a specialist of my past, but I still didn't have the level of contentment and confidence and creativity I wanted to have. And when I discovered NLP, it changed my life, really.

Isabelle: You're coming from a very corporate world. If I remember well.

Amrita: Oh yeah, I'm trained as a lawyer. And then I worked for 15 years in the corporate world as an human resources specialist and outbasement consultant and career coach. So I know this world and it's a world that is interesting, and also where people tend to separate from the body. In the corporate world, it's easy for people to give all the importance to the mind and disconnect from the rest of their being.

But there's no separation, in fact, because how you feel is going to influence how you think. And what you say to yourself is going to influence how you feel at the same time.

Isabelle: You know, it's really interesting because a lot of our clients, they work for big corporations like this. They are expats, living in the French speaking part, so they are very busy with their work. They often have a family, so they have very little time for themselves. And so, when they contact us for the French lessons we really want them to make the most of their time with us. But if they're not in the right mindset, that could have an impact also on the way that they progress.

So if they start, let's say this year, January 2022 and they are already tired, they start, you know, with a low energy and it's hard to start the motivation. What would be your advice to them? If right now they're not in the best headspace. What could they do concretely? A small step to increase their level of energy if they're at their office and they have to have the French lesson and they're really tired right now and the lesson will start in five minutes.

Amrita: That's a great question. And it works not only when people have a lesson, but also if they have to give a presentation or make an important phone call. And I would really just again, revert to the body and physiology.

So a simple thing to do is I would invite them to raise their arms. And really, you can't really feel the fear. If you open your arms like that, Okay. And to take a few breaths, and I would invite them to stand up also. And then as they look in front of them, they can also, I would invite them to have a peripheral vision at the same time so that they're not only focusing on one thing, but they're opening up to a broader vision. And that takes two minutes.

There's also the Tony Robbins Power position that, you know, it's the CEO position. So you can also stand and have your face like that. Like a power position and take a few breaths. That makes the energy circulate in your upper body, in your heart, in your brain. And when you're standing, you feel the whole body, you're not, you know, cut in two. So standing a few minutes, two minutes breathing, and they will probably start to yawn. So that's, you know, kind of can happen. That's what I would do. Very simple.

Isabelle: Okay. And it's a good sign if they yawn because it means the body is relaxing. And it's so true because of the home office situation that we've had for over two years now we are always so focused on the computer, it's like a tunnel vision and we don't really see the whole picture.

So it's really, would you recommend that we stretch at least once an hour? We go for a little walk, even for 15 minutes outside in the fresh air. And then we come back if it's possible, you know, just to have... 

Amrita: Yeah, yeah, absolutely. And I'm laughing because I see people listening to us... I already said that it's great if you can before sitting at your desk, if you can start your day by a nice walk, 15 minutes walk, 20 minutes walk, and just, you know, breathing because there's a lot of the life force, prana we call this in the yoga language, is something we need.

So you need to breathe and feel your body moving and part of nature. And because of home office we tend to lose that. And if you were, you know, going to your office, you would walk a little bit, you would take a car or bicycle or... but to create as many little rituals as you can to structure your day.

So not only stretching, but also walking before you go to work or if you finish something important, go out and take a walk around the block or home office requires more discipline in a way than working in an office because you're alone there. Nobody's going to tell you, Hey, let's have a coffee. Hey, let's have lunch  outside.

You have to build your own routine and make it supportive to what you need to do. And fun. You have to make it fun. I didn't show you, yesterday, but I have a mini rebounder trampoline in my living room. Uh, yeah, I didn't show it to you yesterday when we met, but I use that in between sessions sometimes, jumping with music a few moments and having fun.

That is also relaxing, it's fun. It's, you know, shifting from right brain to left brain. So it really helps.

Isabelle: This is a great idea. You know what I do for me as well, when I feel my energy is low, I just put music which really makes me want to dance, like some Aretha Franklin music or I don't know. And then I just jump everywhere and you're alone in your apartment so nobody will judge, you know, but I find this really helps to shift a mood which is really low energy to something more excited, more sprightly and it brings the creative, the creativity inside. 

And that would be also an advice for me, because if you are feeling a bit exhausted or tired, and then you have your French lesson, just move a little bit, put some music on, dance a little bit at your desk, stand up, stretch, like you said, Amrita, and then you're in a different mood already to start your conference call, your presentation, your French lesson, whatever it is that you have to do. Uh, it's like a little preparatory music.

Amrita: Yeah, and you know what? I have a suggestion for your students. So language students, three questions to ask themselves after every class. And it's a question we can ask themselves every time we learn something.

So the first is, you know, what was fun in today's class? Because when we learn with positive emotions, we remember much better. So what was fun, what did I enjoy? That would be the first question.

Okay. Second, what was difficult? Part of the lesson that is more challenging, whatever difficult and that will, you know, bring the focus to what needs to be studied more.

And then what have I learned? What are my takeaways from today?

Isabelle: Yes, absolutely. And if you cannot answer, what have I learned, that means you're not with the right teacher. For sure. If you haven't learned anything, that's a good sign, it's an alarm bell. You're not at the right place. So the three questions to ask yourself at the end of your lesson, your French lesson.

What did I enjoy?
What did I have fun with?
What was difficult or challenging, which means I need to work on, and what did I learn today?

And hopefully you did learn a lot. That would be great. Well, we certainly did learn a lot with you today. Thank you so much, Amrita. That was a great pleasure.

If someone would like to work with you, and I can only recommend it because Amrita is a wonderful person inside out, a wonderful coach. She really helps you if you feel stuck in whichever situation you are in at the moment, and she's there for you. So if you're interested to work with her you can PM her. Send her a private message. And what else can they do?

Amrita: Well, you can go to my website. They will see how they come to contact me through WhatsApp or through an email. And yeah, I'm also on Instagram. So we would have a first conversation for sure.

Isabelle: Super. It was really great to speak with you today.

Amrita: Thank you so much for inviting me.

Isabelle: And I would like to wish a really happy Friday to everyone. I hope this IG live was helpful to help you find ways to feel more energized, more motivated, and with a happier, brighter, more shining light when you start this year, 2022. That's the whole goal, right?

Bonne journée tout le monde! Bon vendredi!

Bon vendredi, Amrita! Bye bye! Ciao, ciao!