Neuro Linguistic Programming (NLP) is an evolving and practical framework and field of study, for behavioral and communication analysis, that centers on comprehending and exerting influence over the interrelationships among our cognitive processes, linguistic expressions, and behavioral patterns.
NLP, at its core, enables people to replicate the successful strategies of others who have already achieved greatness in their respective fields. Whether you want to be the world’s best golfer or the highest-paid salesperson, NLP can help you get there by revealing the secrets of those who have already reached the pinnacles of success. In essence, NLP assists you in unlocking their wisdom and realizing your untapped potential.
The essence of NLP is found in the meticulous modeling of countless outstanding clients. NLP practitioners have identified common threads that drive these outstanding people’s achievements by analyzing their patterns and traits. These accomplished clients have unique ways of motivating themselves and inspiring others to greatness. They excel at making deep connections with people, which is useful in roles such as management, psychotherapy, and sales. Furthermore, they have mastered the art of resilience, overcoming adversity with unwavering determination and using it as fuel for unrivaled success. NLP gives people the ability to transform challenges into powerful sources of motivation, like jet fuel propelling them towards their goals.
However, NLP has the potential to be even more transformative than these incredible revelations. NLP, at its core, offers a set of powerful techniques for behavioral change and personal development. If the thought of speaking in front of a large group makes you nervous, NLP can change your perspective and help you evolve into someone who enjoys public speaking. It has the power to change your mindset, allowing you to enjoy the thrill of speaking in front of large groups while also fueling an insatiable desire to engage even larger crowds.
Richard Bandler and John Grinder created Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP) in the early 1970s. Richard Bandler studied mathematics and computer science at the University of California, Santa Cruz. John Grinder was a linguistics professor at the same university.
Bandler and Grinder first collaborated when they both attended a Gestalt therapy workshop led by Fritz Perls, the founder of Gestalt therapy. Perls’ therapeutic techniques and the effect they had on participants captivated them. Inspired by Perls’ methods’ efficacy, Bandler and Grinder set out to model and comprehend the patterns of excellence displayed by successful therapists.
They began studying not only Fritz Perls, but also family therapist Virginia Satir and renowned psychiatrist and hypnotherapist Milton H. Erickson. Bandler and Grinder carefully observed and analyzed the therapists’ language patterns, nonverbal cues, and therapeutic techniques.
Bandler and Grinder identified common patterns of communication, behavior, and thought processes that they believed were responsible for the therapists’ successful outcomes with their clients based on their observations and analysis. To develop the foundational principles of NLP, they combined concepts from various fields, including linguistics, cognitive psychology, cybernetics, and family systems theory.
Their first book, “The Structure of Magic,” published in 1975, presented the linguistic patterns and therapeutic techniques they had discovered through Perls and Satir modeling. The book drew a lot of attention and laid the groundwork for the growth of NLP as a distinct field.
As NLP grew in popularity, other powerful people became involved in its development and expansion. Robert Dilts was one such person who contributed significantly to the advancement of NLP and its applications. Dilts helped develop the NLP technique “Neurological Levels” and contributed to the field’s investigation of beliefs, values, and systems thinking.
NLP has evolved since its inception, and many practitioners and trainers have contributed to its growth and adaptation. Many other experts and contributors from a variety of fields have incorporated NLP principles and techniques into their work, broadening its applications in therapy, coaching, communication, education, business, and personal development.
The impact of NLP goes far beyond simply changing how we think or do things; it also elucidates the mechanisms of how to change. NLP acts as a knowledge beacon, guiding people on their transformational journey. While modeling remains the fundamental methodology, NLP encourages practitioners to go beyond convention and embark on an adventure of experimentation and exploration. This training lays the groundwork for powerful techniques, but NLP fosters a culture of curiosity and discovery, encouraging practitioners to explore uncharted self-improvement territory.
Embracing a curious mindset fuels personal and professional development, as each new challenge presents an opportunity to advance to higher levels of mastery. Every new client or customer becomes a mentor on the path to personal growth and success.
Advantages of learning and practicing NLP:
NLP instills a profound sense of wonder in clients, prompting them to question, probe, and discover the hidden treasures of their potential. As the journey progresses, the willingness to experiment serves as a catalyst for mastery.
The intention to achieve extraordinary results is central to the NLP philosophy. Practitioners can weave the magic of NLP into every aspect of life if they have the knowledge, techniques, and an unwavering desire to succeed. NLP enables people to amplify their strengths, refine their skills, and access their reservoirs of resilience. It is a transformative adventure in which the boundaries of personal growth are only defined by one’s aspirations and imagination.
There is a popular fable, told in NLP training programs worldwide, for the last 40 years. An old wise man traveled in the desert on his home from a trip, riding his camel into a small village one evening. Exhausted and dehydrated, he asked desperately for a drink of water from one of the villagers, who agreed instantly and quenched his thirst. Feeling indebted, the man asked whether there was anything he could do to help pay back the generous villager for such kindness.
“Actually, yes,” said the villager, walking up to the camel. “We have a bit of a problem, you see, and would like to get a second opinion. As it is now, I am the youngest of three sons, and our father recently passed away. All that he had left us was seventeen camels. In his will, he decreed that one half of the herd should go to my eldest brother, one third to my middle brother, and one ninth to me. But how can we divide a herd of seventeen? I pray we do not have to resort to chopping up these camels.”
The man pondered for a moment before announcing, “Please take me to your house.” The man entered the house and witnessed the two older brothers arguing furiously near a fire. The youngest brother explained the situation, and the now mediator said, “Gentlemen, I have a solution. Please take my camel as a gift. Now, you have eighteen camels in total. Nine will go to the eldest brother. Six will go to the middle brother. Finally, two will go to my friend here.”
“Mister, mister! There are only seventeen camels allocated, there’s one extra camel…”; “Yes, and if you would possibly gift this camel back to me, I shall be on my way.” The three brothers gratefully returned the camel to the man.
At its core, Neuro Linguistic Programming (“NLP”) aims to do what that man does. In many chemical reactions, there are catalysts that speed up the reactions. In other words, the catalysts make the reactions work – usually – and the catalysts are not consumed by those reactions. Similarly, the man introduced a change in that human system that consisted of the three brothers and ended up optimizing the system. In the end, he gets his camel, his catalyst, back and rides off into the sunset, without leaving a trace.
NLP demonstrates the limitless potential of human potential. It is a beacon of hope for those who aspire to excel despite their limitations. The journey of self-discovery and empowerment becomes an exhilarating odyssey with NLP as your guide, where the pursuit of greatness becomes an ever-expanding horizon of possibilities. If you embrace the spirit of NLP, you will be on a true adventure that will lead you to the limitless reservoirs of your inner brilliance.