Introduction
NLP: Neuro Linguistic Programming, this concept, brought to life by the linguist John Grinder and the information Scientist and mathematician Richard Bandler back in the 1970s has become more and more important with the passing of years, not only because of the growing curiosity in the topic but also because of the great impact it has in the improvement of our lives and how we live.
The importance of this concept, and actually its application, comes and exists because of the power it brings to our communication with others creating influence and with and to ourselves. NLP also helps us develop our logical, emotional and intuitive intelligence, which are particularly useful to survive and thrive.
In this post we will be covering what NLP is, how it came to existence and a few of its most popular tools that you could start using right after you finish reading this post.
What is NLP?
Let’s start with the formality of the definition. NLP stands for Neuro Linguistic Programming, that is a practice that helps understand how people think and feel, how we organise our thinking, language and behaviour to produce and get the results we get in life. Although this term is highly related with personal development and self help it also can be applied in other aspects such as business and overall success. NLP provides people with a methodology to model outstanding performances achieved by geniuses and leaders.
It is very important to note that we all create our very unique way of understanding and living life because of how we perceive reality through our senses (sight, touch, hearing, smell and taste) and how we interpret all that information stored through them.
After this small explanation let’s go over the words that compose this term:
Neuro
As I mentioned before, we all see and understand life in our very own unique way and the reason for that is mainly because we process the millions of bits of data being absorbed through the senses in different ways. Internal images, sounds, tactile awareness, internal sensations, tastes and smells constitute our first mental map of the world.
Linguistic
After we have processed information through our mental maps we assign personal meaning to the information. We form our second mental map by assigning language to the internal images, sounds and feelings, tastes and smells. The second mental map is called the Linguistic Map (sometimes known as Linguistic Representation)
Programming
After the first two processes and the filtering that happens within the process we then set the programs through the behavioural response that occurs as a result of the filtering processes and the subsequent linguistic map.
How did NLP come to existence?
As I said before, this concept came through the brilliant minds of John Grinder and Richard Bandler in the early 1970s who were fascinated with human excellence. With this in mind they charted a path in which people could be able to model the patterns that were created by the people who were able to achieve success.
This concept of modelling is at the core of this concept and its practice, because it is basically copying and replicating the language and behavioural patterns and structures of a given person that has a remarkable success or that is excellent in his or her field.
For the case of Grinder and Bandler, they decided to model three therapists: Fritz Perls, Virginia Satir and Milton Erickson, because of their outstanding work in the therapy fields. They all came from a place of unconscious excellence and because of this, Richard Bandlr and John Grinder were not presented with a step-by-step model of excellence but actually they absorbed their patterns unconsciously.
It was through this process (Modelling) that Bandler and Grinder coded the results in a language-based model using the patterns of transformational grammar as a descriptive vocabulary, and NLP was borned.
The presentation of this work was done through the two volumes of Structure of Magic, these two books put NLP in the map and actually raised the interest of people in this subject.
NLP Tools You Can Start Using Right Away
The first tool described and used by Bandler and Grinder was modelling, the process in which a person ‘mirrors’ that other person that is either a source of inspiration or, because of his or her doings, represents what the ‘modeller’ wants to become. This mirroring technique, named modelling by Bandler and Grinder, is copying every possible aspect of the other person’s attitude, posture and linguistic patterns.
Besides this main tool I will share with you two other tools that come from this useful linguistic programming tool.
Anchoring: Turning sensory experiences into triggers for certain emotional states. When you create an anchor you set up a stimulus response pattern so that you can feel the way you want to, when you need to.
Rapport: The practitioner tunes into the person by matching their physical behaviors to improve communication and response through empathy. Rapport is gained by understanding and respecting the way that another person sees the world. It is like speaking their language.
Closing
The continuous and increasing popularity of Neuro Linguistic Programming comes not only from the uses you could give to this tool but also the amount of very successful people, no matter the field of their expertise, that consider this a part of their non-negotiable bag of tricks.
NLP is called the science of excellence and performing at your best. This is a tool that definitely could change the way you see the world, the way you experience reality and in the end the way you could definitely arrive at that ideal place of your dreams.
Let us know in the comments how you think this set of techniques can help you improve your life.
Philippians 4:13: "I can do all things through Him who strengthens me."
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