Use Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP) for Inspiration and Motivation

By Winsome Coutts

To drive your ambitions NLP can be a surprisingly useful tool. Neuro-linguistic programming (NLP) refers to a communication and psychotherapy model that integrates the brain and how it works with the different forms of communication we use every day and the way information is processed by the brain and translated into life experiences, and our opinions and feelings about those experiences. Put simply NLP is all about how we perceive life, and what we think we are capable of in life. What’s great about NLP is that it doesn’t take a psychotherapist to use it. We can implement the ideas behind NLP in our lives to find inspiration and motivation every day.

The history of NLP

Neuro-linguistic programming was developed in the 1970’s by two researchers who were interested in knowing how successful people communicate and get results. They studied three successful psychotherapists to learn what tools and techniques each of these people used in their practices to achieve positive outcomes. While each therapist had a different style, there were underlying similarities in the way they communicated and worked with their patients. They used methods that helped patients to re-structure faulty thinking patterns and to learn to reshape thinking to ways that were helpful and positive.

How does NLP work?

NLP uses a variety of modalities and techniques for helping to reframe, reshape or re-do thoughts, and thought patterns for more productive positive outcomes, and while neuro-linguistic programming is a fairly vast subject, it can be summed up by saying that it allows us to see our negative thoughts and then gives us tools for reshaping them and forming new thoughts that bring inspiration and motivation.

Perspective changes for inspiration and motivation

Normally, we have a certain perspective that we view everything through. It’s just the way we’ve always done it. In most situations, this might be fine, but in some situations, it pays for us to use a different perspective, or even several different perspectives. We might find an answer to our quandary by looking at things from the view of another person, another person who is not attached to the situation i.e. the neighbor down the street, the teller at the bank, or your doctor, or by viewing the problem from the perspective of a bigger system – how does the Universe or God, or the solar system, or the entire city you live in see this? Looking at a situation from a completely different perspective often takes the emotion out of the situation and allows us to gain a lot of insight.

Meta-programs for inspiration and motivation

Now, let’s take a look at meta-programs. Meta programs are our programs of attention – what we pay attention to and what we ignore. The brain takes in millions of pieces of information every second, but it is said that it’s only capable of paying attention to about seven of those pieces of information at a time. How do we select focus? Is it an unconscious habit or do we decide in our conscious mind? By being aware that our mind has the ability to pick and choose and use techniques to banish unwanted thoughts and focuses, we can gain insights, motivation and inspiration through NLP, and draw what we want to ourselves. Here are examples of meta-programs (you’ll see how your mind has “either/or” choices). Neither choice is right or wrong, they just are. You will have to decide what is right for each situation.

• Toward vs. Away-From: With this technique, you either direct attention toward what is wanted, or away from what is not wanted.
• Internal Reference vs. External Reference: Depending on where your focus should be at the time; attention is focused on internal processes or external processes.
• Big Chunk vs. Little Chunk: Attention will be focused on the big, over-all picture, or the little picture.
• Options vs. Procedures: Attention is directed at either the options you have, or the procedures that need to be followed.
• Match vs. Mismatch: In match vs. mismatch, you look at the similarities or differences.

By understanding that the mind can consciously choose, you free it to operate in the way you want it to.

Neuro-linguistic programming is a big subject and bears exploration by anyone who wants more options for learning, growing, understanding and directing their lives. By recognizing that you have choices about how your mind works, and that these choices allow for flexibility, you have given yourself a great gift. Perspective and meta-programs are just a couple examples of the tools available through NLP. NLP is a tool for empowerment. You can inspire yourself to become the person you want to be by looking at life through other lenses. You can find motivation to achieve goals by using NLP techniques. Good luck and have fun using this great tool for inspiration and motivation.

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