What is NLP?

You may have heard of neuro-linguistic programming, or NLP, but what is it?  And why is it useful?

Neuro-linguistic programming is a set of concepts and practices originally discovered and/or developed by two researchers named Richard Bandler and and John Grinder, back in the 1970's.  They didn't start out planning to invent a new science.  Rather, they wanted to figure out why some mental health therapists are so very successful at what they do. 

To answer that, Bandler and Grinder started to study several different mental health professionals.  More specifically, they interviewed those professionals and observed them as they worked with patients and clients.  Each professional had been extremely successful but with different approaches.  Bandler and Grinder wanted to determine how they were able to help patients, many of whom had been deemed "incurable" by others.  Their goal was to see what those professionals were doing differently than everyone else, to give them such high success rates.

What they found with these professionals was unexpected, but profound.  Rather than simply being better than their colleagues in their individual specialties, all of these successful people had accidentally discovered various ways to tap into their clients' subconscious minds.  Furthermore, these mental health professionals were regularly and reliably accessing the subconscious in ways which helped heal their clients' various limiting beliefs and self-sabotage behaviors.  Once free of such destructive mental programming, their clients were able to move forward in life without the burden of their past destructive behaviors.  

When Bandler and Grinder realized what they had found, they began to assemble all these practices and concepts into a single collection of techniques, then systematize the collection so that it could be taught to others.   They called that system of success "Neuro-linguistic programming":

• "Neuro" reflected the universal nature of the subconscious principles and practices that govern our minds.
• "Linguistic" reflected the language they developed to access the subconscious mind.
• "Programming" reflected the fact that any given person's mindset is malleable, and can be changed.

So what exactly determines a person's mindset?  And why is that such a big determinant for a person's ability to succeed?  To summarize hundreds of years' worth of psychological research, including Bandler's and Grinder's research, let's talk briefly about what constitutes a person's mind.  Mind is any given person's unique collection of conscious thoughts, memories, experiences, subconscious beliefs and values. 

This collection is so large, that the conscious mind cannot store it all.  This is where the subconsious mind comes into play.  The subconscious actually stores the bulk of our personalities.  A modern-day analogy is that of a vast library full of books.  The conscious mind, by contrast, is that very small subset of books that any given person can read at any given time.  Many people mistakenly believe that our minds are only what we consciously think from one moment to another.  When we think of it as that vast library full of information, and how we only use a tiny fraction of that information consciously at any given time, it becomes clear how limited the conscious mind really is by comparison.  Furthermore, it becomes even more clear how vast our subconscious mind really is, and how valuable NLP is, giving us access to that library in a controlled manner.  Bandler and Grinder essentially developed the "user's guide to the mind".  With NLP, we can tap into anything that is interfering with our potential, and modify it so that we can move forward un-encumbered by those limitations.  

How do we learn these patterns to begin with?  Any given person, by the time he or she is 6-8  years old, has already absorbed many beliefs, values, convictions and assumptions about how the world works, thanks to family, friends and the world around them.  Those beliefs may be limiting, or empowering.  These beliefs show themselves indirectly, through behaviors, spoken statements, self-talk, and most importantly, results (positive, negative or somehow off-target).  Most people go their whole lives driven by subconscious expectations and assumptions about how the world works, without ever being conscious of that programming. 

That individual will then use those beliefs, values, convictions and assumptions as a roadmap for how to move through life.  When those beliefs and values are limiting, the person will face one obstacle after another, and will rarely if ever achieve their goals.  When those beliefs and values are empowering, that person will be able to reach his or her full potential.

The best news is that ALL of the above can be modified as needed if those limiting beliefs begin to interfere with a person's ability to reach his or her own goals. Bandler and Grinder discovered how.  They assembled this collection of techniques that safely and reliably identify and change any given person's limiting mindset. 

When Bandler and Grinder began to publish their results, psychology and psychiatry professionals were quite skeptical.  However, 40 years of academic research, clinical practice and real-world results has confirmed the validity of their work.  

How To Apply NLP To Your Own Life

Let's consider another analogy: the iceberg.  The conscious mind, just like the visible tip of an iceberg, only contributes a small fraction to who you are. The subconscious mind, like the iceberg below water level, is many, many times larger.  Researchers have actually determined the relative size of the conscious vs the subconscious in the human mind.  The subconscious composes approximately 99.994% of your mind.  That’s where your identities, beliefs, and values are stored, along with your memories, your imagination, your creativity, and all the sensory information you receive (sight, sound, smell, taste and feel).  Your conscious mind is the other 0.006%.  That's a big difference!  No wonder fighting against subconscious beliefs is so tiring!  

We've all heard the phrase that we just "need to apply our willpower" to make changes, overcome hurdles and reach your goals.  Another phrase is "use a little elbow grease", ie, personal effort.  But, it's crucial to understand that such an approach is an exercise in frustration.  Your subconscious mind is the primal force driving your actions, and no amount of conscious willpower is strong enough to change that. 

To make enduring improvements, a shift within your subconscious is necessary. You need to access and modify these underlying patterns that your conscious mind cannot easily touch upon. While your conscious mind can't do that on its own, NLP techniques can help you achieve those changes.  The good news is that these techniques are easy to learn, easy to use, and give you absolute control over the results you get.  So let's take a look at some of the more common NLP techniques.

The Swish technique, for example, is a classic technique in NLP, designed to help reprogram your subconscious mind to dissuade yourself from unwanted behavior and encourage a preferred one. It's as if you are painting a new reality over an old one.

Anchoring is another NLP technique that associates a physical touch or particular gesture with a state of mind to trigger or recall that state naturally. It's akin to creating intentional Pavlovian responses in your favor.

The above techniques are just two of the many NLP methods you can use, to make subtle yet powerful changes within your subconscious mind.  

NLP techniques are entirely safe and don't involve altering your fundamental personality traits, only the limiting beliefs or behaviors that are holding you back. However, if it feels overwhelming to learn and practice by oneself, NLP coaching is a great option.

You have the capacity to learn and apply NLP techniques to help yourself. But sometimes, a DIY approach seems a bit daunting.  The hindering factor might just be you being too close to the problem to see the required changes.  or perhaps you are nervous that you'll "do something wrong" and make things worse.  Thankfully, there's an answer: working with an NLP-certified coach.  

Working with a Certified NLP Coach

Think of the coach as a guide who uses NLP techniques to help you identify your challenges, tap into your subconscious, and make any needed changes. Working with an NLP coach has many advantages, by providing an external perspective, quickly identifying the core issues, and safely initiating the changes in your subconscious mind. Your path to reaching your goals then becomes easier and more efficient than if you tried to work it all out by yourself.

In contrast to traditional behavioral modification therapy, NLP techniques have emerged as faster, easier, and more cost-effective. A single session for one particular issue can often yield remarkable results, sparking transformative changes that can help you achieve your goals more promptly and effectively.  If you have multiple issues to address, working through them one at a time with an NLP coach can be an extremely powerful way to move forward.

We all encounter personal setbacks and frustrations. We're all navigating through the maze of our minds, trying to overcome limiting beliefs and achieve our dreams. The journey doesn't have to be such a struggle. Neuro-linguistic programming, whether through self-application or coaching, offers a scientifically supported, safe and influential tool for personal development.

Ultimately, embracing neuro-linguistic programming is about acknowledging the power of your subconscious mind. It is about understanding that you can overcome hurdles and reach your ambitions, not by sheer force or willpower, but by reshaping what lies beneath your conscious existence. NLP techniques can help you navigate the labyrinth of your subconscious, alleviate obstacles, and bring your goals to life.

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