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What is Neuro-Linguistic Programming
(NLP)?
NLP is the study of effective patterns in communication. It was
started by Richard Bandler and John Grinder who wanted to
methodically reproduce the success of Milton Erikson, father of
modern-day hypnosis, Virginia Satir, internationally famous for
family therapy, and Fritz Perls, founder of Gestalt Therapy.
The methodologies in NLP have been applied to many diverse
areas, including: therapy, public speaking, politics, sports,
teaching, student learning, marketing, business negotiations
and sales.
NLP covers a wide range of topics, including: word choices in
speech and thought, body language, trance states for teaching
or learning, goal setting, story-telling and more. Indeed, any
arena where words are used to give information, alter opinion,
or elicit decisions have been influenced by NLP. NLP helps to
provide choices as to how that information affects us and
understand how and why others may react differently to the same
information.
Communication is the message received - not your intentions.
We've all been involved in some communication where the message
received was completely different from what we intended. For
example, someone once commented to me on how small my textbook
is. I started to get defensive, when they clarified themselves
that they appreciated the brevity and succinctness of the book.
It is ultimately your responsibility for the communication as
it is received by the listener.
Approximately two million bits of information are bombarding
our senses every moment [1]. Since we can only handle between 5
and 9 pieces of information at a time [1], we handle all this
input by generalizing, deleting, or distorting each piece of
information. This process is performed differently by each
individual based on their own experiences, values, beliefs, and
attitudes and produces an emotional state within the individual
which in turn affects the way they behave. By carefully
choosing our words, we can help ensure the communication is
received as we intend.
References - [1] Miller, George A. 1956. "The Magical Number
Seven, Plus or Minus Two: Some Limits on Our Capacity for
Processing Information", The Psychology Review, vol. 63.
by Elizabeth
Boese
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Elizabeth Sugar Boese is a certified trainer of NLP, Hypnosis,
and Time Empowerment. She teaches seminars and sees clients for
hypnotherapy and intensive breakthrough sessions. She is the
owner of both Succeed In Every Way seminar business as well as
Life Realignments therapy business. In her spare time, she is
the author of several books on a variety of topics, has
traveled to over 60 countries around the world, and competes in
24 hour mountain bike races as a solo racer. You can find her
at: http://www.SucceedInEveryWay.com
and http://www.LifeRealignments.com.
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