WHAT IS NEURO-LINGUISTIC PROGRAMMING

Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP) is both the simple and the dynamic at the same time. It is a term and a science that has been in existence over five decades and spread around the world many times. Yet there is still those that take caution at the simple mention of the term. Why? Unfortunately no reason other than not knowing what such a long name means.

NLP began at Southern Cal University as a study in Gestalt Therapy. As more research into working methods of other successful therapist became a part of the study, there evolved the awareness of patterns. The development of NLP then began to focus on the patterns instead of the therapist. In following the definition of science, NLP involves the “study of the structure and behavior of the physical and natural world through observation and experiment.” (From the definition of science in the Oxford Dictionary. https://www.lexico.com/en/definition/science ) 

From that humble beginning a series of “systematic” methods developed that were both testable and predictable.  

NLP is actually a science resulting in a methodology to assist individuals in making dynamic and even immediate change in their life actions.   The “study” encompasses the three components of a human’s experience: the nervous system (neurology), the language system (both internal and external communication) and the resulting actions (programs) we repeat in our lives. Thus the name Neuro-Linguistic Programming.

The resulting discovery of patterns that an individual runs leads to the method or strategy of making change.  The change in itself uses the same functions of the body that form the behavior to make change in a persons actions through a series of procedures.

SO LET’S RENAME IT for those folks that think it is something scary. We could actually take the acronym, NLP and assign it to a new name: Noticing Life Patterns. Why is this important? Our patterns of how we think creates the patterns of how we act. The science of NLP is a carefully constructed set of tools that discover those patterns and apply an alternate method of self-programming which results in changed behavior.

It is the focus on the process of thought rather than on the content.

What’s the Difference Between Content and Process?

People have a tendency pay more attention to or focus on the content. If a person is asked what happened around an event, a time or situation they will give all the details. The more times they tell the story the more they will get into the details.  And the more times they tell the “details”, the more they convince themselves of the story. Notice referance to the “story”.  What is meant is they get lost in the drama of the telling what happened, how bad they were hurt, what awful thing took place, etc.  They lose sight of the circumstances that could change to relieve the pain or suffering. They literally “can’t see the forest for the trees”.

If they could, however, put their attention in an opposite direction and look toward the bigger picture there might, just might, become aware of the interconnections between the details at which they had been telling. When there is attention to the bigger picture, it is possible to find the interconnections and repeated behavior. By looking toward the process or the structure of the details, then we can begin to see the patterns.

As an NLP Practitioner we put our attention in the opposite direction to discover the bigger picture. It is about seeing the interconnections between the details that have been the source of focus and the patterns behind the behavior. So, the NLP Coach is not as much interested in content as in process. We look for patterns, listen to the structure, feel the process and do not get involved in the content.

MORE SCIENCE – MORE PROOF

As the world of Quantum Science along with the study of Epigenetics and Neuroplasticity continue, proof of the effectiveness of NLP continues. We now find that the beliefs seated in the study of DNA from the 1950’s is actually not true. We are not a victim of our DNA. (Epigenetics)  In fact our DNA strands are actually switched on – or off – by out thought processes. Disease, addiction, body shape, personality is no longer thought to be at the will of a person’s DNA, rather at the “will” of a persons thought process. But what makes the thought process so difficult to change?

The most predominant reason, the actual design of our brain and its process of thought through the minds proves that we are only in our conscious thought process 5 to 10% of our day.  So what of the remaining 90 to 95%?  Automatic programs, learned and stored in the subconcious mind run our lives.  These studies find that most of these programs were “learned” before the age of 6 years old and for the rest of our lives the mind was gathering information to support and engrain those often falsely learned beliefs and behaviors.

“I can never be rich.” “All the women in my family are overweight.” “Some people of just lucky, not me.” “Addictive behaviors just run in my family they are just a part of my DNA.”  How many lies and limiting believes do you have about yourself?

The processes and procedures of NLP use the same thought lines that formed and continue the distructive behaviors to change our actions to more desired outcomes.

What this means to you is a skilled NLP Practitioner is able to recognize the patterns through special questioning and testing then devise methods of making change.  What kind of change?  The quote from one of the developers of NLP is both the impact and the solution:

“It’s never too late to have a happy childhood.”

Richard Bandler, Co-Developer of Neuro Linguisti programming

The resulting behavioral change is often immediate, regardless, when change happens it can last for a lifetime.  It is the patterns that we do continuously which create our challenges and the resulting problems that manifest in our lives. The learning of those patterns and the methods of changing how we “run” them has both immediate and lifelong benefits.

Where can this be used?

  • Individual and Family Issues
  • Business Training
  • Sales Training
  • Family dynamics
  • Goal Setting
  • Team Building

… and much more.

Your practitioner, Rev Robert Conger, is not only a practitioner of NLP, but has been a Certified Master Practitioner for over a decade.  Want to find out how dynamic NLP really is in your life?  Schedule your first appointment today.