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Neuro Linguistic Programming: An Intro to NLP

By: Kurt Schmitt

Neuro-linguistic programming, or NLP, was developed by Richard Bandler and John Grinder in the 1970s. What started out as a study of why some very successful psychotherapists were so effective turned into its own method for self-improvement.

NLP is different from traditional self-growth methods, positive thinking, and psychotherapies in that it focuses on what work, and relies on a method called modeling to copy and teach success. It sometimes disregards what we might believe to be true or false, and works off of certain presuppositions.

For example, NLP presupposes that you have all the resources that you need in order to effect positive change. An additional assumption is that failure does not exist. In other words, no matter what you are successfully producing results, even if those results are unwanted.

It doesn't matter whether or not the presupposition is true as long as it is useful. For example, have you ever used a hammer? Is a hammer true? Well it doesn't really matter if a hammer is true or false in order for it to work.

NLP also assumes that people are not broken. In fact, they work perfectly. Even burglars, thieves, and alcoholics work perfectly.

Some therapies seem to operate on the premise that there is something wrong with people and they need to be repaired in some way. This can be disempowering and tends to turn people into victims by reinforcing a belief that they're in some way damaged or broken. This, in turn, gives people an excuse to repeat negative behavior in the future.

As an example, think about a negative belief you have about yourself and how it might be holding you back. Many of our negative beliefs are reinforced by years of listening to others. Take the case of someone who has been told all of their life that they're a poor learner. They become a victim of their own self-limiting belief and spend their time on trying to fix their perceived learning problems instead of accomplishing their goals.

With neuro-linguistic programming, you would simply accept that whatever your results with learning have been in the past, it has been perfect. Remember also that another presupposition of NLP is that you have all the resources at your disposal to make a change. In other words, you can learn anything you want to learn right now, regardless of past results.

Life coaches, even those who don't rely on NLP, use a similar approach wherein there is a belief that the present is perfect. Instead of being a victim, you accept that things are as they should be, and empower yourself to make the necessary changes in your life.

NLP tells us that if someone can accomplish something, then someone else can do it as well by modeling those who are successful. It's also flexible in that it says that if your current processes aren't achieving the results you want, then try something different.

Neuro-linguistic programming was adapted and put into practice by Tony Robbins. Tony made his own brand of NLP-based self-improvement, and became very well known for showing people how to achieve quick turn-arounds.

There are a number of resources online where you can learn the basic techniques and principles, and many life coaches and NLP practitioners you can work with to take things to the next level. If you're looking for a practical and effective approach to life change, then NLP may just be for you.

Article Source: http://directoryjam.com

Author Kurt Schmitt writes for a website on inspirational sayings and motivation with a number of articles on how to learn neuro-linguistic programming Click here to get your own unique version of this article with free reprint rights.

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