NLP for Personal Growth: A Practical Guide
Discover how to change your beliefs, behaviors, and outcomes.
Neuro-linguistic programming (NLP) is a set of principles and techniques aimed at enhancing self-awareness, increasing confidence, building communication skills, and motivating positive social actions. NLP was created by Richard Bandler and John Grinder in the 1970s. It became popular in the commercial and self-help realms; however, there is no regulation of NLP, nor is there a widely-shared definition of the techniques that constitute NLP. In this article, we will share with you 10 ways that NLP can be used as a personal development tool. We will also provide specific and practical examples along with sources for further reading.
1. Anchoring: This technique involves associating an external or internal trigger with a healthier response until it becomes automatic. For example, you can anchor a positive emotion to a gesture, such as clenching your fist or touching your earlobe. Then, whenever you need to feel that emotion, you can activate the gesture and trigger the response. This can help you overcome anxiety, fear, anger, or any other negative emotion that holds you back. For more information, check out our blog post on Anchoring.
2. Belief changing: This technique involves replacing negative thoughts or beliefs that prevent you from achieving your desires with more empowering ones. For example, if you believe that you are not good enough for a certain job or relationship, you can challenge that belief by finding evidence to the contrary, such as your past achievements or positive feedback from others. You can also use affirmations, such as "I am worthy of success and happiness", to reinforce your new belief.
3. Reframing: This technique involves putting a situation in a different context to elicit an adaptive reaction instead of following the same maladaptive behavioral patterns. For example, if you are afraid of public speaking, you can reframe it as an opportunity to share your knowledge and passion with others, rather than a threat to your self-esteem. You can also reframe failure as feedback, criticism as advice, and rejection as redirection.
4. Visualization: This technique involves forming a mental image of something you want to achieve or experience. For example, if you want to lose weight, you can visualize yourself being fit and healthy, wearing your favorite clothes, and feeling confident and happy. Visualization can help you create a clear and compelling vision of your desired outcome, which can motivate you to take action and overcome obstacles.
5. Visual-kinesthetic dissociation: This technique involves guiding yourself or someone else in reliving trauma by evoking an imaginative out-of-body experience. For example, if you have experienced a car accident, you can imagine yourself watching the scene from a safe distance as if it were a movie. This can help you detach yourself from the negative emotions associated with the trauma and reduce its impact on your well-being.
6. Rapport building: This technique involves establishing a connection with someone by matching their body language, voice tone, words, and breathing patterns. For example, if you want to persuade someone to agree with you or buy something from you, you can mirror their posture, gestures, expressions, and speech rate. Rapport building can help you create trust and influence with others, which can improve your relationships and communication skills.
7. Meta-modeling: This technique involves asking specific questions to clarify vague or distorted statements made by yourself or someone else. For example, if someone says "I always fail at everything", you can ask "What do you mean by always?" or "What is an example of something you have succeeded at?". Meta modeling can help you uncover hidden assumptions and meanings behind words, which can lead to more accurate and constructive communication. For more information, check out our blog post on the Meta Model.
8. Milton Model: This technique involves using vague or ambiguous language to bypass the critical faculty of the mind and access the subconscious level. For example, if you want to induce a trance state in yourself or someone else, you can use phrases like "You may notice..." or "As you relax more and more...". The Milton model can help you create positive suggestions and hypnotic commands that can facilitate change and healing. For more information, check out our blog post on the Milton Model.
9. Swish pattern: This technique involves replacing an unwanted behavior or state with a desired one by creating a mental image of both and then switching them rapidly. For example, if you want to quit smoking, you can imagine yourself holding a cigarette in your hand and then swish it with an image of yourself being healthy and free from nicotine addiction. The Swish pattern can help you break bad habits and create new ones that support your goals.
10. Neurological levels: This technique involves identifying and aligning the different levels of your experience, such as environment, behavior, capabilities, beliefs, values, identity, and purpose. For example, if you want to change your career, you can examine how each level affects your decision and whether they are congruent or not. Neurological levels can help you understand yourself better and make changes that are consistent with your core values and vision. For more information, check out our blog post on Neurological Levels.
These are just some of the ways that NLP can be used as a personal development tool. There are many more techniques and applications that you can explore and experiment with.
If you’re interested in adding some NLP techniques to your toolbox, check out our NLP Techniques Video Library.
Here’s the link: