Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP) is the study of excellent communication and is often described as a “user manual for your conscious and unconscious mind.” It was developed by modeling strong communicators and therapists who got results with their clients.
The authors of NLP: The Essential Guide to Neuro-Linguistic Programming write that NLP is “a revolutionary study of the PROCESS of human thought. In other words, it’s the study of what’s actually going on when we think. I don’t mean the physical or electrochemical reactions, but what we would notice if we looked at the step-by-step activity of thinking…NLP is an understanding—not of the brain—but of how the mind, using the brain, expresses itself in your life and creates what you call your experience.”
NLP can be a powerful, transformative tool for reframing your “inner monologue” and the “movies you play inside your head.” This reframing leads to more positive, effective interactions with others, which improves relationships, work quality, and overall emotional health.
I use NLP for myself and with clients. Among the numerous NLP techniques, three have been especially beneficial (click on the hypertext for each to take a deeper dive into the technique):
- Setting Well-Formed Outcomes:
- Changing the Foreground and Background:
- Changing Perceptual Positions:
I’ll discuss additional NLP practices in future blogs.
Next Steps to Consider
I help individuals and organizations enhance personal and business relationships and results through:
- Mindful Content (Books, Blogs, and Resources)
- Mindful Executive or Life Coaching
What do I mean by “mindful?”
Mindfulness is my core organizing and unifying practice for every moment and dimension of life–including self-care, family, friends, community, and professional work. It also fuels and informs my advocacy for anti-racism, feminism, and climate stewardship.
In a nutshell, mindfulness is the continuous observation of moment by moment internal and external experiences, without judgement, focused on the body, feelings, mind states, and the impermanent, selfless nature of all created phenomena.
The ultimate goal of mindfulness is awakening to one’s true nature of pure awareness and happiness, and being liberated from the dissatisfaction found in craving, aversion, and delusion. Some of the most common mindfulness practices include breathing meditation, mindful eating, mindful walking, reciting mantras, and doing a “body scan,” but there are many more.
I’ll admit that mindfulness is tough to do without ongoing practice. Most of us are facing similar pain points that were already significant before the COVID-19 pandemic and the increasing awareness of the United States’ history and present reality of systemic racism: nonstop change, accelerating economic and technological disruption, accelerating climate change, and the collective “noise” of information overload that grows louder each day.
The impact of all of this, for so many of us, has been confusion, distraction, and stress.
Mindfulness can be your game-changer and world-changer. There’s more research (such as this Forbes article) on the benefits of mindfulness than you or I can ever hope to read, but here’s the highlights of why mindfulness is worth doing:
- Reduced stress
- Increased focus and concentration
- Increased productivity
- Healthier relationships
- Increased happiness and inner peace
I bring extensive cross-industry experience, education, and credentials to these services I offer. To inquire about my background and services, sign up for a free exploratory coaching session, or subscribe to free monthly content, please contact me here. You can also visit my LinkedIn profile and check out this post on my career journey.
Thanks and take good care,
John
