NLP stands for Neuro-Linguistic Programming. Neuro refers to your neurology; Linguistic refers to language; Programming refers to how that neural language functions. In other words, learning NLP is like learning the language of your own mind!
****Sarah is currently on long term sick leave. We hope she will feel better and return to us. But in the meantime we apologise for any inconvenience this has caused ****
Sarah first came across NLP whilst working on Drug and Alcohol projects in Merseyside. She did a taster session and was intrigued, going on to complete her practitioner qualification in 2001, and then the Master Practitioner qualification in 2007, whilst still working in various roles in the Drug and Alcohol field.
Sarah has used NLP informally in her work and then more formally when she was a mentor trainer with the NHS Northwest Mentorship Programme. In addition she has delivered workshops on NLP at regional NHS events for Local Authorities and also on private courses.
Sarah loves the fact that NLP doesn’t ask you to spend lots of time thinking about “your problems” but instead can very quickly give you a new perspective on how to move forward.
So what is NLP?
NLP stands for Neuro-Linguistic Programming. Neuro refers to your neurology; Linguistic refers to language; programming refers to how that neural language functions. In other words, learning NLP is like learning the language of your own mind!
Let’s make this simpler with an example:
Have you ever tried to communicate with someone who didn’t speak your language and they couldn’t understand you? The classic example of this is when someone goes out to a restaurant in a foreign country and they think they ordered steak, but when the food shows up, it turns out they actually asked for liver stew. This is the kind of relationship that most of us have with our own unconscious mind. We might think we are “ordering up” more money, a happy, healthy relationship, peace with our family members and being able to stick to a healthy diet…but unless that’s what showing up, then something is probably getting lost in translation.
In NLP, we have a saying: the conscious mind is the goal setter, and the unconscious mind is the goal getter. Your unconscious mind is not out to get you–rather, it’s out TO GET FOR YOU whatever you want in life. However, if you don’t know how to communicate what you want properly, it will keep bringing steaming bowls of liver stew out of the kitchen. In fact, go ahead right now and think if there was one thing you could change, one habit you could break, what would it be?
· Would you remain calm during work presentations?
· Quit procrastinating and spending so much time Facebook?
· Not devour a whole bag of potato chips or tub of ice cream in one sitting?
· Control and eradicate phobias that you have lived with for years.
Whatever it is, realise that your unconscious mind only does that because it thinks that’s what you want. (“Sir, here is your procrastination along with a side of anxiety. I’ve also told the valet to bring up your emotional baggage as per your request. Will you be needing anything else?”).
Neuro-Linguistic Programming is like a user’s manual for the brain, and taking an NLP training is like learning how to become fluent in the language of your mind so that the ever-so-helpful “server” that is your unconscious will finally understand what you actually want out of life.
NLP is the study of excellent communication–both with yourself and with others. It was developed by modelling excellent communicators and therapists who got results with their clients. NLP is a set of tools and techniques, but it is so much more than that. It is an attitude and a methodology of knowing how to achieve your goals and get results.