What is Neuro Linguistic Programming and what can it do for you?

The Structure of Magic

To break it down for you, Neuro refers to the nervous system, linguistics refers to language and it’s structure, programming refers to behaviour and the patterns we play out in life. It is an approach to communication, personal development and psychotherapy, that first appeared in the Bandler and Grinder 1975 book The Structure of Magic I. I absolutely love this title, refering to how we can create our own magical changes in life!

The most amazing thing I learnt about Neuro Linguistic Programming was how much energetics plays a role in the outcome. I first experienced NLP when I had some coaching with a beautiful friend of mine, Sonya. The therapuetic work we did in a short 8 weeks blew my mind, I was learning new concepts, about how my mind worked and the energy shifts I felt were incredible.

I had been doing energy work with Meditation and Reiki for 20 years but I never knew that such profound shifts could happen with NLP. The beautiful thing about coaching work, is that you are taught about energetics from a psychotherapy framework, so it feels magical, but is simply working with your mind.

Neuro Linguistic Programming began it’s rise in the 1970’s, with two brilliant minds Richard Bandler and John Grinder. They were simply observing, analysing and creating practical techniques for therapy, based on the idea of modelling. Observing a successful person and modelling their thoughts, beliefs, language and actions to achieve a desired result. There are literally hundreds of different Neuro Linguistic Programming techniques a coach can choose from to apply to any situation. And every coach or mentor has their favourite ones of course.

Definition

“NLP comprises models, techniques and strategies to help us understand how the language we use influences the way we think and the results we get!

A literal translation of the phrase ‘Neuro Linguistic Programming’ is that NLP empowers, enables and teaches us to better understand the way our brain (neuro) processes the words we use (linguistic) and how that can impact on our past, present and future (programming). It gives us strategies for observing human behaviour and learning from the best (and worst) of that!

Simply put, change is possible – all you need is a desire to change and a willingness to learn new ways of being…with yourself, your thoughts and with others. NLP has been defined as the “users manual for your mind” because NLP gives us insights into how our thinking patterns can affect every aspect of our lives.” ANLP.org

The 3 most important things Neuro Linguistic Programming has taught me, that I come back to nearly everyday is “The mind and body are interconnected and affect each other”, “The map is not the territory,” meaning that people respond to their experience, not to reality itself”, and “The meaning of your communication is in the response that you get”.

The 1 teaching from Neuro Linguistic Programming I offer you today is,

You are the captain of your ship, if you don’t know where you’re heading, you will be adrift at sea.

What is it you want? Take steps to get there.

If you want to be calm, do something that calms you. If you want to be confident, look at what it is that is stopping you from being confident and work on that.

If you need help in being who you want to be, and living the life you want, let’s chat about how one on one coaching with me, can help you get there.

Peace and Love, Toni xx