NLP is the study of how people organize their thinking, feeling, language and behavior to produce the results they do. The co-creators’ of NLP, John Grinder & Richard Bundler had an insatiable desire to discover and replicate the structure of excellent performers’ behavioral patterns and teach others to do the same, short circuiting the years of development and learning of the experts. This process is called modeling and is central to NLP. They called their work Neuron Linguistic Programming which is about understanding the structure of how the human nervous system (neuron) transforms data received through the 5 senses into mental descriptions (linguistic) and then unconscious behavior (programming).” With NLP, you have a model for understanding the unconscious thinking processes that drive behavior. This has two enormous benefits, firstly you can easily learn to do what others are doing well, and model it. Secondly you can identify the limiting patterns in yourself and others and use NLP patterning to move on.

Modeling is at the centre of much of NLP, and then there are the patterns and techniques which originate from the modeling projects. NLP patterns are a synthesis of powerful change interventions, language models, and behavioral designs based on self-improvement and achieving excellence. The NLP patterns have been modeled from geniuses who were getting amazing results working in the field of psychiatry, psychology, and psychotherapy. Grinder and Bundler had little prior knowledge of this field yet soon found that they too could get equally amazing results as the people they modeled in a fraction of the time. They ran courses, and other people found by applying the patterning they could also get amazing results. The patterning grew into modern day NLP with new modeling projects stimulating new patterns and techniques over the years.

Formal Definition of Neuron Linguistic Programming (NLP)

Neuron refers to our nervous system/mind and how it processes information and codes it as memory inside our very body/neurology. By neuron we refer to experience as inputted, processed, and ordered by our neurological mechanisms and processes.

Linguistic indicates that the neural processes of the mind come coded, ordered, and given meaning through language, communication systems, and various symbolic systems (grammar, mathematics, music, icons).

Programming refers to our ability to organize our sensory-based information (sights, sounds, sensations, smells, tastes, and symbols or words) within our mind-body organism which then enables us to achieve our desired outcomes.

Taking control of one’s own mind describes the heart of NLP. NLP has become famous for the techniques it offers to bring about effective and lasting change. For example, NLP has a technique called The Fast Phobia Cure developed by Richard Bundler. Using this this technique, NLP can cure a phobia in a very short period of time (often in 10-15 minutes). We have used the procedure to cure phobias of water, bees, lifts, heights, public speaking, small places, aero planes, etc. The fast phobia cure represents just one of many techniques for such change.

We have used a technique called Time-Line Processes to remove traumatic pictures from the minds of traumatized people. Additionally, we often use certain NLP techniques conversationally, which means that we do not have to use these techniques in an overtly "therapeutic" way.

What is NLP?

Neuron-Linguistic Programming (NLP) explores the inner workings of the human mind; how we think, how we develop our desires, goals and fears and how we motivate ourselves, make connections, and give meaning to our experiences. NLP presents specific skills and patterns necessary to make positive changes, create new choices, be more effective with others, break free of old habits, self-destructive patterns and behaviors, and think more clearly about what it is we want and how to get it.

NLP is the study of the structure of subjective experience - The relationship between the mind, language, emotions and patterns of behavior. It is a psychology of interpersonal and intrapersonal intelligence and communication.

NLP is a fairly recent development, originating at the University of Santa Cruz in the mid-seventies when a group of talented people (namely, the afore mentioned Richard Bundler & John Grinder) came together to share information and insights across disciplinary boundaries. It incorporates insights from behavioral and Gestalt psychology, family therapy, hypnotherapy, linguistics, information theory and anthropology among many other disciplines.

Unlike other schools of psychotherapeutic thought, which concentrate on how problems arise, NLP started from studying people who are exceptionally good at what they do, and finding out how they do it so that anyone can get similar results by doing the same things. It aims to move beyond remedial change (fixing specific problems) to "generative" change, which empowers you to achieve more in every area of your life.

Often people find that when they learn a new skill or make a breakthrough in one area of their life, problems seem to disappear or seem less important.

NLP in A Nutshell

To be successful you only need to remember three things;

Know what you want; have a clear idea of your desired outcome in any situation.
Be alert and keep your senses open (sensory acuity) so that you notice what you’re getting.
Have the flexibility to go on changing what you do until you get what you want.
If you go on doing what you’ve always done, you’ll always get what you always got.

Some Principles of NLP

All experiences are subjective - we respond to our internal representation of events, not to the events themselves

Each person is unique and uniquely valuable

Everyone has all the resources they need for success - there are no unremorseful people, only unremorseful states

Everyone makes the best choice available to them at the time

Behind every behavior is a positive intention

There is no failure, only feedback

A person’s behavior is not the person

The meaning of a communication is the response you get

Mind and body are part of the same system

Experience has a structure - change the structure and you change the experience

I am in charge of my mind and therefore my results

The History of NLP

"NLP is an attitude and a methodology that leaves behind a trail of techniques." - Richard Bundler

Neuron-Linguistic Programming (NLP) represents a relatively new discipline dating back only to the mid-70s. Behind NLP stands a respectable body of knowledge. NLP originated from several different intellectual disciplines as organized by two co-founders - Richard Bundler and John Grinder.

It happened once upon a time when Dr Grinder served as a professor of linguistics at the University of California in Santa Cruz. Bundler came there as a student to study mathematics and computers. Dr Grinder, in fact, had already published several books in the field of linguistics known as Transformational Grammar.

Bundler discovered he had a natural gift for modeling and hearing patterns. He discovered he could detect and replicate patterns in Gestalt Therapy (a form of psychotherapy) from minimum exposure. He became an editor for several of Fritz Purls’ books in Gestalt therapy. Being familiar with Purls’ work, Bundler began to study Purls’ techniques. As he discovered that he could model Purls’ therapeutic procedures, he began experimenting with clients using the techniques.

After enjoying immediate and powerful results from that modeling, Richard discovered that he could model others. With the encouragement of Grinder, Bundler got the opportunity to model the world’s foremost family therapist, Virginia Stair. Richard quickly identified the "seven patterns" that Virginia used. As he and John began to apply those patterns, they discovered they could replicate her therapies and obtain similar results.

As a computer programmer, Richard knew that to program the simplest "mind" in the world (a computer with on and off switches) you break down the behavior into component pieces and provide clear and unambiguous signals to the system. To this basic metaphor, John added his extensive knowledge of transformational grammar. From transformational grammar we borrow the concepts of deep and surface structure statements that transform meaning/knowledge in the human brain. From this they began to put together their model of how humans get "programmed," so to speak.

Thereafter, world-renowned anthropologist Gregory Bate son introduced Bundler and Grinder to Milton Erickson, MD. Erickson developed the model of communication that we know as "Erickson Ian Hypnosis." Since 1958, the American Medical Association has recognized hypnosis as a useful healing tool during surgery. As Bundler and Grinder modeled Erickson, they discovered they could obtain similar results. Today many of the NLP techniques result from modeling Erickson Ian processes.

From these experiences and their research into the unifying factors and principles, Bundler and Grinder devised their first model. It essentially functioned as a model of communication that provided a theoretic understanding of how we get "programmed" by languages (sensory-based and linguistic-based) so that we develop regular and systematic behaviors, responses, psychometric effects etc. This model went further. It also specified ways for using the components of subjectivity for creating psychological improvement and change.

From that point, NLP expanded. The model expanded by incorporating material from other disciplines: cybernetics (communication within complex systems both mechanical and living), philosophy, cognitive psychology, studies of the "unconscious" mind, and neurology. Today, NLP has institutes worldwide and numerous authors have applied NLP to medicine and health, therapy and psychological well-being, business, education, athletics, law, Christian ministry, and more.

For more information about my work and my Personal Blog at on NLP & Hypnosis Tips & Tricks

Article Source: http://www.212articles.com/authors/196/Allan-smith