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Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP)
What is Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP)?
Neuro: The nervous system (the mind), through which our experience is processed via five senses:
- Visual
- Auditory
- Kinesthetic
- Olfactory
- Gustatory
Linguistic: Language and other nonverbal communication systems through which our neural representations are coded, ordered and given meaning. Includes:
- Pictures
- Sounds
- Feelings
- Tastes
- Smells
- Words (Self Talk)
Programming: The ability to discover and utilize the programs that we run (our communication to ourselves and others) in our neurological systems to achieve our specific and desired outcomes.
NLP studies the structure of how humans think and experience the world. Obviously, the structure of something so subjective does not lend itself to precise, statistical formulae but instead leads to models of how these things work. Many of the models in NLP were created by studying people who did things exquisitely well. When one breaks down thoughts, behaviors and beliefs and incorporates it into their own life using NLP techniques this provides a diverse set of tools for creating change within yourself.
Someone who wanted to create a model for learning to drive a car really well, might approach a expert in the field something like this: Instead of asking an expert driver, "How do you drive?", they would be concentrating not on the content of what they did, the underlying structure such as how they represent driving in their mind, the beliefs and attitudes they had about driving, the strategies they used in making decisions among other factors.
What are some beliefs of NLP?
(This is a short list summarizing some of the thinking behind NLP)
- People are not their behaviors. Accept the person; change the behavior
- People have all the resources they need to succeed and achieve their desired outcomes
- The meaning of the communication is the response you get
- Everyone is doing the best they can with the resources they have available
- We are in charge of our minds and therefore our results
- There is no failure, only feedback
Who might use NLP?
NLP is widely used in business to improve management, sales and achievement/performance, inter-personal skills; in education to better understand learning styles, develop rapport with students and parents and to aid in motivation; and of course, NLP is a profound set of tools for personal development.
So how does NLP help?
The reason I like NLP is that it shifts the way we speak, listen, see and think to our self. It helps unite the conscious and subconscious on subjects that create battles within our self or areas we want to improve, but some how can never achieve.
For example, let's say I want to stop eating X food, my conscious knows it's not healthy for me. It has heard and read all the reasons why I shouldn't eat it. I have even made up my conscious mind and got up enough will power to focus myself not to eat it for about a week or two, then just when I was beginning to think it was safe or I get too pre-occupied by something else the subconscious mind slips it into my month :-( and I beat myself up for messing up, feel trouble and hey since I messed up I might as well over indulge myself with more of it, blah.
When we are able to make a decision by including the subconscious mind change comes easier and sometimes effortlessly. That's why I love incorporating two powerful tools together, NLP and EFT to create a dynamic change in clients life, both mentally and physically.