The Hidden Secret to a Stress-Free, More Successful and Happier Life
“Imagination is everything. It is the preview of life’s coming attractions.”
Last week, Female Lawyers’ Club hosted an insightful masterclass with Jowita Penkala, an expert in personal development and stress management, on how to reduce stress, achieve greater success, and cultivate happiness.
As female lawyers, we often juggle heavy workloads, demanding clients, and the ever-present pressure to do everything perfectly, first time round. The session was a powerful reminder that stress does not have to be a permanent feature of our careers – we can take control of our minds and reprogram our thinking for a more balanced, fulfilling life.
Here are the key takeaways from Jowita’s session that you can start applying today to boost your career and overall well-being.
Understanding your subconscious mind
Jowita explained that our minds operate on two levels – the conscious and the subconscious. While the conscious mind processes information and makes logical decisions, the subconscious mind governs the vast majority of our actions, running on automatic programming developed over years of conditioning.
Most of us are unaware of how much our subconscious dictates our daily lives. Negative thoughts, fears, and limiting beliefs are stored deep within, shaping our actions and ultimately our success. If we want to create lasting change, we must reprogram our subconscious mind.
The impact of stress and why we must take control
Stress is one of the biggest barriers to success and happiness. Jowita highlighted some alarming statistics:
76% of employees in the UK report experiencing moderate to high levels of stress.
The biggest causes of workplace stress are workload (73%), lack of control (31%), and lack of support (29%).
Chronic stress increases cortisol levels, weakens the immune system, and leads to burnout.
As female lawyers, we are often conditioned to believe that stress is simply part of the job – but it doesn’t have to be. Jowita encouraged us to shift our mindset and become masters of our brain rather than servants of it.
Rewiring your brain for success
So, how do we take control and reprogram our subconscious minds for success? Jowita shared several powerful techniques:
Stop feeding negative thoughts – The subconscious mind does not differentiate between positive and negative thoughts; it simply accepts whatever we focus on. The more we dwell on stress and self-doubt, the more they become ingrained. Instead, we must actively replace negative thoughts with positive ones. One way of doing this is to minimise our exposure to negative news.
Live from the inside out – Most people live from the outside in, allowing external circumstances to dictate their emotions. Jowita encouraged us to reverse this, focusing on cultivating inner peace and self-belief first. When our inner world is balanced, our external world naturally follows.
Use meditation to reprogram your mind – Meditation is a powerful tool to access the subconscious mind. Spending just 15 minutes in the morning and evening in meditation helps slow brainwaves from beta (busy thinking) to alpha (a relaxed, receptive state). This is the gateway to replacing limiting beliefs with empowering ones.
Harness the power of imagination – Many of us stop dreaming big because we are conditioned to rely solely on logic. Jowita reminded us that imagination is key to creating a successful future. By visualising our goals with emotion and clarity, we can reprogram our subconscious to make them a reality.
The secret to happiness
Many of us tie happiness to external events – a holiday, a new job, or a day off. But these moments are fleeting. Jowita urged us to shift our mindset and realise that happiness comes from within. By training our minds to focus on gratitude and positive emotions, we can create a lasting sense of fulfilment.
Taking action
Jowita’s session was a powerful reminder that we are not at the mercy of stress, fear, or limiting beliefs. We hold the key to transforming our lives by reprogramming our subconscious minds. Here are three small steps you can take today:
Start your day with 15 minutes of meditation to help you tap into a positive mindset.
Challenge every negative thought with its opposite – train your brain to focus on possibilities rather than limitations.
Visualise your goals with clarity and emotion – act as if you already have what you desire. Your brain will start to look for ways to make this your reality.
By making these simple but powerful changes, you can reduce stress, boost your success, and build a happier, more fulfilling career.
Enjoy the rest of your week.
Rachel