What is NLP?

Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP) is a practical model of human behaviour that has, at its core, specific interest in the patterns of behaviour that distinguish excellent performance from average performance. The three letters in the acronym NLP refer to:

• Neuro relates to our nervous system where our behaviour, our thoughts, our feelings and the state of our bodies reside.
• Linguistic implies that it is mainly language that enables us to both internally store our inner experiences as well as share them with the outer world. It is through language that we create our map of reality.
• Programming is the ability to change behaviour patterns and feelings in such a way that they become useful and constructive to our personality as a whole, thus fostering our growth and health.

NLP is solution-oriented. Every problem carries within it a solution. The solution is often a question of perspective and the flexibility to integrate our own new perspectives. Solution-oriented thinking and acting that is supported by NLP provides more playroom for the decision making process.

NLP is resource-oriented. NLP presupposes that everyone already carries within them all the resources they need for mastering their life. The treasures must first be uncovered. Those in touch with their strength, their talents and their abilities possess the energy to easily achieve their goals and ambitions.

NLP teaches you how you do what you do: How you take in the information from the world around you, what you do with that information inside your head and how what you do results in states such as happiness or depression; a body that is healthy or dis-eased and behaviour that supports you in getting what you think about (which is not necessarily what you think you want).

How does NLP work?

As human beings we live in a five sensory world. We take in all information through our five senses. Now if we absorbed everything that comes to us at the rate of 3 million bits of information per second, we'd fry our circuits. So to deal with it - to make the pieces of information into small enough chunks to deal with - we filter the information.

Some of the filters are our perceptions of time and space, energy and matter, the language we use and our understanding of words and meanings, our memories, the unique way we go about making decisions, the patterns we look for when selecting information, our values and beliefs and our overall attitude. And we delete, distort and generalize information according to our unique filters. Once we have passed incoming information through all these filters, we take what has got through and we make it an internal representation of it. This internal representation is in the form of a sensory perception: a picture with sounds, feelings, tastes and smells. The next thing that happens (instantaneously) is that we react to the internal representation and enter a corresponding state.

What is a state?

Being happy is a state; so is depression. Being "fired up" is a state, so is tiredness or lethargy. Many people are familiar with the expression "It's a state of mind" but what's really interesting about the state is that it leads us to choose corresponding behaviour.

The "fight or flight" syndrome is the best known example of this. There's the caveman walking along the path and out jumps a saber-toothed tiger. The caveman's body immediately reacts: survival instinct kicks-in, there's a surge of adrenaline into the system, the breathing rate goes up and more oxygen enters the lungs, the heart pumps the blood stronger and faster through the system and simultaneously the blood drains away from the extremities, not only so that it can be used more effectively internally but so that if the caveman decides to fight, he won't bleed so much should he be bitten. Now his body is ready to maintain his survival, ie - running or fighting.

These days many people live much of their lives in the "fight or flight" mode, ie - stress. This response of the nervous system is only meant to be activated in times of emergency. Frequent and long term surges of adrenalin into your blood stream cause major health problems and premature aging. NLP teaches simple methods of controlling your state and transforming the "triggers" which cause dis-ease.

In a nutshell then, we have a process which starts with information (conscious and unconscious language) and ends with behaviour (responses and reaction) and physical manifestation (healing or damaging).

What will NLP do for me?

NLP is widely defined and reliable approach to 'running your own mind' for greater satisfaction and ease with far more rapid results.

How is NLP used?

Although the initial models developed in NLP were based on brief therapy, the applications of these models were soon found to have application across a very wide spectrum of human endeavour.

Some of these areas are:

Business:
Coaching, Training, Negotiation, Sales, and Leadership Development. NLP provides the "how to do it" for all the "what to dos" of the other leadership models.

Education:
Classroom management; incorporating the concept of different learning styles: Visual, Auditory and Kinaesthetic, including values and other deep structural "filters" that influence each individual's interest and capacity to learn; accelerated learning technologies; photo reading; spelling and other strategies to enhance learning.

Therapy:
Highly effective Brief Therapy models to treat: phobia, trauma, post-traumatic stress, habit & addiction cessation, allergic response, relationship problems, grief, depression, healing of negative emotions, ADD, ADHD and more.

Sports Performance:
NLP is renowned for its capacity to enhance performance in Golf, Tennis and Diving. NLP is also used extensively in enhancing sports performance for athletes from the amateur to the world class level. Both individuals and teams can benefit greatly by including NLP principles in their training.

Who uses it?
People from all walks of life use NLP personally and professionally.

For example:
Businesses can use NLP to foster world-class sales and customer service results - and to implement organizational change effectively.

Educators can study the verbal and nonverbal language of every child to identify how each one learns best. As classrooms become increasingly diverse, NLP skills are becoming more essential.

Counsellors & Coaches can help clients become more functional in a shorter time frame. NLP methodologies are essential for helping professionals who want rapid and lasting results with their clients.

Medical and Dental Professionals can mitigate patients' fears and anxieties about procedures. This translates to higher client satisfaction.

On the personal side, NLP will enable you to:

Enjoy far greater control and freedom over your own state of mind, responses, and interactions with others. You'll find it much easier to clarify your dreams for the future and identify barriers that may be holding you back. Change the unwanted habits and behaviours that are standing in your way. Understand you partner's and children's needs and communication styles more fully. Enhance rapport and communication with others. Recognize how others are using language to influence you. You'll find it easier to achieve your personal and professional goals, because you'll gain greater access to your internal resources.

What is Humanistic Neuro-Linguistic Psychology (HNLP)?

Humanistic Neuro-Linguistic Psychology creatively integrates quantum physics, modern neuro science, hypnosis, accelerated learning, spirituality, and common sense with classic NLP. Humanistic Neuro-Linguistic Psychology is the study of how Mind creates reality through language and behaviour. One of the basic premises from which they work is that everyone and everything is interconnected. They are not alone; quantum physics and all major spiritual systems support this. In the past, some people have criticized Neuro-Linguistic Programming for lacking a sense of connection and being too oriented toward techniques and "programming." While NLP techniques are quite effective, they are not the final answer. People and their interconnectedness are the answer. Humanistic NLPsychology recognises that we are all on the path to Self-Actualization, whether we know it or not! All paths lead to the same place...back to you...back to the One.

HNLP was developed by NLP Master Trainers - John Overdurf and Julie Silverthorn of Neuro-Energetics USA to describe their branch of NLP. Jevon is certified as a Trainer of NLP, HNLP and Hypnotherapy by Neuro-Energetics.

Jevon offers the Neuro-Linguistics.Net Wellness Coach certification program in South Africa and Europe. Additionally he presents short courses and seminars based on the principles of NLP worldwide. Jevon also offers Hypnotherapy and Master Hypnotherapist certification training and co-presents NLP Practitioner, NLP Master Practitioner and NLP Coach certification trainings in South Africa in collaboration with Advanced Human Technologies.

(See events calendar for scheduled trainings)