Source: Robert Dilts

Create four locations for states.

Step into location #1, Dreamer.

Step into location #2, Realist.

Step into position #3, Critic.

Select an outcome that you really want to achieve.

Step into position #2, Realist. Associate into your scenario of realizing the important goal.

Step into position #3, Critic. Is anything missing or off track?

Step back into position #1.

Repeat this cycle a few times.

Continue repetitions

This pattern helps you use the creative idea-generating talent of the famous animator, Walt Disney.

Step 1: Create four locations for states. #

Start with your meta-position and step into it. The main three will be “dreamer,” “realist,” and “critic.”

Step 2: Step into location # 1, “Dreamer. #

" Think of a time when you freely and creatively dreamed up some great new ideas. Relive this experience.

Step 3: Step into location # 2, “Realist. #

" Think of a time when you were in a very realistic frame of mind and devised a clear, realistic plan that you were able to put into action. Relive this experience.

Step 4: Step into position #3, Critic. #

Think of a time when you criticized a plan in a constructive way. You had criticism that would be put to use in a positive or even an inspired state. Relive that experience. It helps to have position # 3 far enough from the other positions so as not to interfere with their anchored states.

Step 5: Select an outcome that you really want to achieve. #

Step into position #1, Dreamer. Imagine from a third position (watching, dissociated) that you are achieving this goal. Experience and think about it in a free-wheeling way.

Step 6: Step into position # 2, “realist. #

" Associate into your scenario of realizing the important goal. Experience, one at a time, the perspective of each person in your scenario of success. Now, experience the events leading to your success as a storyboard (a series of images that are in order of occurrence, as in the pictures used to prepare for a movie).

Step 7: Step into position #3, Critic. #

Is anything missing or off track? Turn any criticisms into questions for the dreamer (the you that you are observing).

Step 8: Step back into position No. #

1.  Answers to your critic’s questions should be brainstormed.

Step 8: Repeat this cycle a few times. #

Once you are satisfied, finish by thinking of something completely different that you enjoy and are good at. While you do this, walk through the three positions again.

Step 9: Continue with repetitions. #

Continue cycling through steps five, six, seven, and eight until your plan feels fitting at each of the locations. It is somewhat useful to use the perspectives of the realist, the dreamer, and the critic in other NLP patterns. However, make sure not to identify yourself with any of them. Keep all perspectives as resources, not as belief systems. The reason is that you do not want to be a dreamer most of the time, or a realist most of the time, or worse, a critic most of the time. You want the freedom and flexibility to use any of these perspectives according to whatever is suitable for the outcome you’re pursuing. Walt Disney is known to be non-judgmental when it comes to crazy ideas. The strangest stories and the strangest, most outrageous ideas can bring to life a new idea that will be successful. So do not put an X on any of your thoughts. You can use Edward De Bono’s “Po!” strategy to come up with outrageous ideas. Simply step into the dreamer’s perspective, think about the problem or challenge you’re facing, and say, “Po!” + the strangest visualization you can come up with.  Oh, no! What if every person on earth could learn all of the NLP ideas and methods for the price of a book instead of five certification seminars? Oh, wait a minute, that gives me an idea!!!  What if there was an NLP sourcebook of all the successful methods?! There you have it, in your hands!