If you want to break a pattern or change a negative thought process, it can be done using NLP.  Neuro Linguistic Programming. “Neuro” refers to the mind and how we organize our mental life. “Linguistic” is about language, how we use it and how it affects us. “Programming” is about our sequences of repetitive behaviour and how we act with purpose. So NLP is about connection, for our thoughts, speech and actions and what connects us to others, the world and the spiritual dimension. NLP is about action, so it gives you choices in your mind and body, so it frees you to explore spirit.

The starting point of NLP is curiosity and fascination about people. It is the study of structure of subjective experience. How do we do what we do? How do we think? How do we learn? How do we get angry? And how do outstanding people in any field get their results? To answer these questions NLP explores how we think and feel and studies or “models” excellence in every walk of life. The answers can then be taught to others. The goal is excellence for all.

NLP began in the early 70’s when Richard Bandler, a student of psychology at the University of California, Santa Cruz, began working with John Grinder, then Assistant Professor of Linguistics. Together they modeled three people. Fritz Peris, the innovative psychologist and originator of Gestalt therapy; Virginia Satir, the prime force behind family therapy; and Milton Erickson, the world famous hypnotherapist, whose ideas are continued in Ericksonian hypnotherapy. They also drew on the insights and ideas of many others, particularly Gregory Bateson the British writer and thinker on anthropology, cybernetics and communication theory. Their first models dealt with verbal and non-verbal communication skills. Consequently, NLP has given rise to a trail of techniques that can be used both personally and professionally. They are used internationally in fields such as sports, business, sales and education, and enable us not only to reach out and influence others, but also to reach in and unify the different parts of ourselves.

Our body and mind seem constant, but are changing all the time, moment by moment, change is inevitable, yet overall something at a deep level is the same. Thoughts and physiology are intimately connected: what and how we think affect our physiology, and our physical health and well-being affect our thoughts.

Our mind, body and spirit meet in our beliefs. What we believe deeply affects what we think and how we act. NLP sees beliefs not in terms of true or false, but in terms of useful or not useful. What are the consequences of your beliefs? What actions flow from them? As we cannot know everything about the world, in many areas our beliefs are simply our best guess at the moment. I invite you to look at your beliefs and see how they serve you.