How to Use NLP

Neurolinguistic Programming (NLP) "takes advantage of the naturally occurring patterns found in language, both verbal and non verbal," according to Full Spectrum Communications. "Neuro" refers to the mind, "linguistic" to language and "programming" to how the mind and the way we phrase things program our behavior and our body. Every person has a dominant sense: visual, auditory, kinesthetic (touch), olfactory (smell) or gustatory (taste). NLP makes use of these channels, especially the first three.

Instructions

• 1

  Neurolinguistic Programming (NLP) started out to be a kind of therapy for people with addictions or disabilities and grew to be a tool everyone could use for personal growth. You can use NLP to improve your life, your relationships, your performance in a particular activity or your success in business. Moreover, methods of altering unconscious messages that you can use on yourself can also be used with clients or others to improve communication and to influence their responses and behavior.

• 2

  Examine your belief system. The creators of NLP identified people who were more successful in their field than others and studied their beliefs and behaviors. Some people believe that, no matter how many setbacks they encounter, they can accomplish anything they set out to do, while others believe that they are destined to be victims of bad luck and limited success. According to NLPInfo.com, "once you understand that you create your internal world, you realize you can change it."

• 3

  Change your map. Since you were a baby, you have been making sense of your world by associating things. You have created a map of your world, reinforced by sights, sounds, feelings and smells. A successful person continues to learn and update her map. This may be difficult because beliefs about and associations with existing paths are very strong. NLP helps to gently rearrange associations so that you can improve your map.

• 4

  Choose an anchor. An anchor is a feeling state, a new stimulus-response pattern for yourself. Identify very specifically the way you want to feel, such as calm and confident. Recall a time when you felt that way and mentally go back into that situation. Be aware of what you hear, smell, see and feel. Notice when the state is strongest as you relive the memory and situation. Revisit that place frequently.

• 5

  Set the anchor. Visit your anchor again and this time create a hand gesture to associate with the state you want to be in. Next find a word or phrase that describes this state of being. Finally, picture someone who represents this state in a positive way. Repeat this process many times to build a strong anchor you can use anytime and can initiate with any of the tools: the hand gesture, the phrase, the visualization. Use them all, and practice.