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.: Introduction > What is NLP
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Chances are you will receive a variety of answers to this question. Neuro Linguistic Programming is a host of informational material, which is about how the human mind works. It is a modern psychology, developed in the USA in the 1970`s by Dr. John Grinder and Dr. Richard Bandler, whose wishes were to develop practical tools to create change. "NLP is about how we people make meaning out of our existence" --Gillian R. Godtfredsen NLP builds upon the knowledge of our inner communication, our thoughts - i.e. the way we create our thoughts and what this means for our feelings, our states and not to mention our actions. NLP is about the way you use yourself as a person. It rests on the fundamental knowledge that we, ourselves, are responsible for what happens in our lives and that we, by changing ourselves, also change our actions. In fact, it is possible to change thoughts and beliefs about what we are capable of and what we are worth. "Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic" --Arthur C. Clarke NLP holds masses of techniques within communication, negotiation, outcome setting and personal growth. All NLP techniques contain strategies for change and new behavioural patterns. NLP answers fantastically to the developments of today where the demands from us, as individuals - both privately and professionally - are growing and growing. NLP today is not what it was yesterday - and tomorrow it will not be what it is today. It is an aesthetic art and science under constant development, which makes it possible for individuals to make decisions that lead to phenomenal positive changes, which again promise a future with innumerable enriching opportunities. "NLP is an attitude and unquenchable curiosity about people and a methodology which leaves behind a multitude of techniques." Dr Richard Bandler, creator of NLP NLP - The Subjective experience of reality! NLP - A user manual for the brain! NLP is about communication One of the main principles in NLP is that we at all times communicate and that a large proportion of our communication consists of something other than words. So, what are we communicating? Is it true that what we are trying to communicate is what the listener understands? If not, how do we register this and adapt it? Research results show that 6 out of 10 people desire to be better communicators. NLP contains practical tools to enable you to become a more efficient communicator. NLP is about language Language influences how we think and how we react. The actual process, which involves "translating or transferring" what we experience into language, involves a process of having to delete, distort and generalise how we experience the world. The full richness of an experience can never really be spoken into existence effectively. NLP contains questions and ways of thinking which makes for effective and congruent communication. NLP teaches us to understand how language influences us. There are many pitfalls in our language for the imprudent communicator. For example, if I ask you NOT to think of a kangaroo, now. You will most likely think of a kangaroo - which was the opposite of my intention! Listen to the use of the word "but". For example: " I like the way you did the work, but" The listener has a tendency to forget everything that was said before "but" in the expectation of a problem. Because the advertising industry, media and politicians use language to put forth their point or product, the teachings of NLP can raise your level of awareness and can function as a firewall for your mind! NLP is about modelling excellence NLP techniques/strategies are a result of the revelation of how experts or immensely clever leaders do what they do and how others can learn how to gain these abilities. Modelling-skills, based on detailed observations and careful questioning regarding beliefs and values is the key to excellence in NLP. To learn the specific components of how someone else accomplishes something will help you gain new choices in your life and it will give you an accelerated learning ability. The NLP spelling strategy (developed by Robert Dilts, USA) was modelled from the ones who were naturally talented at spelling and is easy to learn for children as well as adults. As an experiment in strategies; if you find it hard to get up in the morning, - ask someone who does not find it hard to get up in the morning how they motivate themselves to do it. Other useful areas for the application of NLP are education, coporate work, law, performing arts, health & well -being, sports and personal growth - and many more. NLP is about mastering your mind NLP describes, in practical terms, the pictures, sounds and feelings which our inner and outer world consists of. How do we know what we know? How do we do what we do? For example, how do you know that a pleasant memory is pleasant? How do you know when to feel scared or happy? How do you like or dislike someone? How do you learn something easily, or not? NLP can be likened to a user-manual for the brains. And the techniques demonstrate how we "code" our experiences. When we understand the specific ways our mind separates and conceives differences, it's easier to achieve change and to learn to communicate efficiently. NLP is the study of inner experience NLP is also a tool to calibrate and understand how an individual makes a meaningful existence. It studies individual experiences, how our thoughts, actions and feelings work together to create an experience. NLP does NOT pre-suppose that we all do this in the same way. Nor does it promote any formula for body- language or eye-movement without understanding the individual. In NLP we know that each person has a unique way of learning and their own ability to perceive and react to the world. NLP has the deepest humility when it comes to these crucial differences. NLP - How and where can I use it? NLP has a broad spectre of uses for practical application in the workplace, for example: leadership, employees, sales, guidance, training,)law, medicine, health, farming, writing, art, sports, parenting, hobbies and personal development. - Anything where inter-human communication and excellence is important. The more interested you are in communication, personal efficiency and development - the more you will benefit from NLP. NLP in Industry Fundamental NLP skills which increase and improve communication and outcome setting are widely used in the corporate world and have proven extremely positive results. Specific skills for communication with people who experience the world differently from you will help you to enhance your relationship with them, and you will build bridges over cultural differences in multinational businesses. Many leaders and advisors in the corporate world have applied the creativity of NLP as an inspirational source in organisational development, quality leadership, motivation, team building and strategy planning. NLP technology and skills form the basis for what is used in 60-70% of management training today. Modelling is used in many areas of the corporate field. Presentation and speaking skills are an integrated part of the industry today. NLP self-command-techniques, language patterns and objective setting are essential when it comes to effective speaking and optimal achievement. NLP in care-work Much of the earlier modelling in NLP focused on how outstanding therapists helped their clients change. Most of the therapist's behaviour and language was beyond their conscious awareness: The analysis and modelling of the therapists techniques generated masses of practical information. Personal breakthrough techniques are many and powerful. The most famous is probably the Fast Phobia Cure , initially developed by Grinder and Bandler and further developed by Bandler. There are also techniques that help clients with eating disorders, freedom from dependency, freedom from unwanted behavioural patterns and limiting beliefs. Common for all these techniques is that they follow a precise language-pattern and a careful, systematic procedure in order to check the ecology and ensure that the change will support the client's value-system and other areas of his/her life. NLP' s dynamic world is constantly developing and more techniques are at present being added by Dr John Grinder in the form of New Code NLP. This new technology aims seeks to facilitate integration so that people are able to achieve the changes they desire. NLP offers tools for:
NLP in healthcare The application of NLP is important for people working within medicine and healthcare, as well as for those who are interested in personal health and well - being. In the fast changing health areas of today professional medics are in need of more and more technical skills. They are increasingly expected to be able to demonstrate better communication abilities and flexibility as well as negotiating skills, leadership and conflict resolution. NLP can offer all of these applicative areas so that one may become better able to communicate clearly and efficiently with patients and co - workers. Research within NLP today focuses on maintaining personal health, reducing stress, increasing awareness of the body's ability to heal itself and re-establish equilibrium, and defining the relationship between health and beliefs. NLP and creativity Artists, writers and creators find NLP training valuable because it offers insight regarding what inhibits and what frees the creative spirit. Application of NLP strategies, especially the Disney strategy developed by Robert Dilts (USA), provides powerful "downloading" of creativity. NLP in education and the classroom NLP' s practical application consists of the understanding of how we teach and develop strategies, for students as well as teachers, by using our five senses. Through NLP, trainers, teachers and parents can apply accelerated learning strategies in order to help students achieve even more. Teachers are now integrating key areas in NLP during their training period to achieve control in the classroom. NLP and personal growth Many people apply NLP in order to free themselves from limiting beliefs and dependency. NLP attitudes and techniques offer freedom from old, unwanted behavioural patterns, fear, limiting beliefs and it offers strategies to gain new and more effective ways to function in the world. NLP offers a larger scale of choices in your communication as well as in how you react or feel. When you are given more choices you can make more precise decisions. If you have not lived the life you desire, NLP offers you choices which lead you to new and more satisfactory alternatives. NLP and parenting NLP skills and principles help with the achievement of meaningful communication between children and parents. You will experience how you can define what you want in a more positive way by communicating clearly so that your child understands and reacts on a basis of his/her choices. For example: To tell a child what NOT to do can result in them doing exactly that. The reason for this is because in order to interpret your message the child firstly has to think about what you DON'T want him/her to do. To tell a child "don't worry" can lead to worrying. As an alternative, let your child what they should do. "Be careful" or "enjoy your spare time". By really listening to our children and working with how they describe their lives, we can reveal how they construct their own worlds. To teach a child to visualise can help them increase their learning abilities and levels of achievement in today's educational system. You will also learn self-control. Parents who learn NLP can teach their own skills to their children and give them good habits when it comes to clear and effective communication, and tools for learning and building of self esteem and self confidence. How was NLP created? Neuro Linguistic Programming was first defined by Dr. John Grinder (Professor of Linguistics and Richard Bandler, (Mathematician). These two personalities worked together at the University of California during the early 1970's. Grinder and Bandler asked the important question: "What is it that makes up the difference between somebody who is competent and somebody who is exceptionally competent within the same field? " "It is the thread that runs from me to people that is really the strongest thing that NLP is about. It's based about an attitude. And the attitude says that things can get better and that things should be based on doing the right thing for the right reason." --Richard Bandler, co-creator of NLP Grinder and Bandler chose to model outstandijng therapists, Fritz Perls (gestalt therapy), Virginia Satir (family therapy) and Milton Erickson (World famous therapist who gave his name to a certain form of non-authoritative hypnosis). They could just as easily have modelled high achieving industrial tycoons or scientists. Grinder and Bandler modelled the therapists' language, physiology and mental processes and went on to identify the patterns (rather than theories) which could be coded and taught. NLP used many existing directions of study including Chomsky's work in linguistics, Korsybski's work in semantics, Ashby's work in systematic thinking and many, many more Later Grinder, Bandler and their colleagues turned their attention towards areas concerning health and asked: " What is the difference that makes the difference between somebody who spontaneously recovers after an illness or mental condition and somebody who remains ill? " "My work is about making humans rise above the dung of society - not to be better that other people, but to be better human beings, better than they were the day before, and better the next day than they were the day before that. " --Richard Bandler |