NLP - Neuro Linguistic Programming
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Who's Driving the Bus?” asks Richard Bandler, the co-founder of NLP, in his book ‘Using Your Brain — for a CHANGE’. “most people are prisoners of their own brains. It's as if they are chained to the last seat of the bus and someone else is driving. I want you to learn how to drive your own bus.”
NLP (= Neuro-Linguistic Programming) is a collection of techniques to get you firmly in that driving seat. Replacing worn-out negative thinking with a new positive mental attitude really is the key to achieving everything you want in your life, and opening the door to your truly unlimited potential.
In simple terms, NLP is all about what you say to yourself, both consciously and subconsciously, because whatever the conscious mind thinks and believes, the subconscious will go ahead and create, for better or worse. We do, indeed, subjectively create our own realities. And like attracts like. The future can be positive or negative, optimistic or pessimistic, enthusiastic or dull, happy or sad, and the biggest difference between people is in their attitudes. Change your attitude, change your life. As Abraham Lincoln shrewdly observed
"Most folks are about as happy as they
make up their minds to be."
The first step in changing your attitude (the ‘neuro’ element i.e. how we think) is to change your inner dialogue (the ‘linguistic’ part) – and this is where NLP can help, by changing the ‘programming’. If you can visualise the brain as a mighty computer, then the mind is the software. Often, through negative past experiences and feedback from parents, friends, society and ourselves, we may be unconsciously putting ourselves down and holding ourselves back through poor self-image and pessimistic world-image. The longer this goes on unchecked, the worse it becomes. But change the software – and the results can be amazing and very far-reaching!
“The message is clear...if what you're doing isn't working -- do something else.
"Yes, but how?" you might ask. Unlike other approaches that tell you what you need to do, NLP is a ‘how to’ technology. It tells and shows you how to achieve what you want and how to become the person you want to achieve your goals. So you can have the personal success you want now!” (from Penny Tompkins and James Lawley ‘NLP: The Science of Excellence.. The Art of Change’ published in Personal Success Magazine, September 1993.)
Keep your thoughts positive,
because your thoughts become your words.
Keep your words positive,
because your words become your behaviours.
Keep your behaviours positive,
because your behaviours become your habits.
Keep your habits positive,
because your habits become your values.
Keep your values positive,
because your values become your destiny.
~ Gandhi ~
Practical applications of NLP include:
NLP for Life Coaching
The Logical Levels (Dilts) is a remarkably effective process to help you stand back and review every angle of where you are now on your life journey, and, most important, where you’re going. This helps identify any aspects you need to reconsider and change. Well Formed Outcomes and Future Pacing (along your Time-Line) are powerful ways of helping you to manage those changes.
NLP for Personal Development
By gaining valuable insight into what makes you - and others - 'tick', you can learn how to manage your own thoughts, moods and behaviours so effectively that you can cope with any situation in a positive manner.
NLP for Dilemmas
By reconciling your internal conflicts, NLP will help you to make your choice when faced with a dilemma.
NLP for Relationships
The NLP process known as Perceptual Positions helps you to see a relationship from both sides, and from the viewpoint of a detached observer. This gives a much clearer insight in resolving any issues.
NLP for Career Development
In such a competitive world, your progress may well depend on your personal qualities, and how you project yourself to others, which, in turn, reflects your self-image. Learn how to give yourself the edge by perfecting your performance and your presentation skills. Come across so well in meetings and interviews that you will positively inspire the powers that be.
NLP for Management, Leadership & People Skills
Powerful techniques to harness your natural abilities to communicate, motivate and manage, and to bring out the best in yourself and others. Bring NLP techniques into the workplace, including time management and stress management, for better productivity and a happier (and healthier) workforce.
NLP for Sales Success
You don’t need to be ‘pushy’ to be a super salesperson. NLP is designed to bring out the best in you and your prospective customers, so you develop relaxed rapport, and attract new business like a magnet. Success is really a state of mind!.
NLP for Excellence in Sport
If you want to win in sport, a positive mental attitude is critical, because the mind affects the body. With the right programming, you can be confident of achieving your best performance.