Let me explain. At the heart of my point is their slogan,”I’m lovin’ it,” complete with that irritating  jingly meme, that’s designed, in a few notes, to bore their new and dubious connection with “love”,  into your unconscious mind. (Still not looking all the great on the personal development front, is it? Hang on in there with me…).

The thing is, at least here in the UK, the advert is so prevalent, that it’s beginning to have an effect on people’s language patterns. We always used to say, “I love X, ” or “I like Y.” And sometimes, we still do.

But more and more, I’m  hearing (and there it is again!) people, on TV and in real life, say, “I’m  loving X”, or “I’m liking Y,” about something that’s going on right in front of them.
If you subscribe to the idea that language patterns go on to affect thoughts and feelings, the effect of this new language usage is to put the speaker of the words in touch with what’s happening  for them right now. In other words, they become “more present”. Since becoming, “more present” is one of the age-old keys to personal development (and something that lots of us, including me,  still find pretty challenging), McDonalds could therefore, be said to be serving up something quite useful.

An experiment

If you’re sceptical about this, try an experiment for yourself. Think about something or someone you know that you truly do love in life, right now. Just to be unoriginal, that “something or someone” is “X” in the two sentences that follow.

Say to yourself, “I love X,” and notice how you feel.

Then (and preferably after giving yourself a little shake, to neutralise your system) say to yourself, “I’m loving X,” being equally aware of how you feel. Compare the two states for yourself, though I’m guessing (!) that there may well be a difference for you.

Does this development serve us?

Given that it’s probably pretty unlikely that those beneath the golden arches ever set out to make people more “present,” and in touch with themselves, what are we to make of this development? Should we refuse to use the language construction that’s in vogue, just because of where it’s come from, and potentially miss out getting, “present,” more easily? Or should we just accept that the universe sometimes moves in mysterious ways?

Myself, I’ll do the latter. Though I’m also still “lovin’” being a liberal vegetarian, thanks very much…

(And if you read that thinking,”This isn’t a religious blog, what’s she on about?!” relax. I’m talking here about the kinds of subconscious beliefs that run your life on default unless you consciously change them).

I know that this will be familiar territory to many people reading this blog, but, by way of explantion, if for example, a person believes that, “People always hate me”, then they’re likely to filter what they see and experience in the world to fit in with that belief, thereby collecting more evidence to support the belief, and unwittingly strengthening it.

However, musing on all of this whilst washing up, like you do, (or at least, as I do) it struck me that some beliefs are actually much more important than others. Even more important than the beliefs you can class as “values” and live by (or not), such as respect for others, needing to make a difference, etc.

Enter the “Super Beliefs”

And so, for the first time, something struck me consciously that I’d been unconsciously tapping into in changework, both inside and outside of the NLP framework.

Some beliefs, when changed, almost automatically change a whole slew of others at the same time.

For example, if you believe that “change is easy” this can potentially impact your life right across the board. So can your beliefs about the nature of “life”. For instance, there are no prizes for guessing whether the person who thinks of life as a, “game, ” or the one who considers it , “a slog”will have the happier all-round experience.

So, the hunt is on for more of these “super”, or “master” beliefs, that when changed, can change everything else at a stroke.

And if you have some favourite examples, please leave a comment.

I guess the next question (and one which I still keep being asked, so may answer in another post) is, which technique(s) is/are best for belief change?

But that’s definitely a post for another day.

Hope this helps.

More soon.

Clare

PS. Yes, the previous post was correct in that the goodies are nearly ready…We ran into another unforeseen problem, but I’m off to spend the rest of the day on the new-look Goodybag, so fingers crossed, it should be with you very soon, and I’m sorry for the delay.

I know, it’s a weird statement, but hear me out, especially if you, or someone you know, has been wanting to “move to the next level” in any area of their life.

You see, for a very long time, we’ve all been told that expansion and growth means moving past fear, overcoming psychological demons, and whatnot.

And obviously, there’s an element of that for many people.

But there’s also another element which it’s easy to overlook, and it’s this.

In order to achieve any existing level of success in any area, an individual will have been using one kind of strategy. For example, a person may at one timehave discovered personal development, NLP, and had a phenomenal breakthrough in their relationships and/or working life.

Trouble is, because it has been the basis for so much existing success, if the stepping-stone to something even greater requires a completely different approach (eg perhaps doing something academic, or something very practical, like moving house or country) the person concerned may resist the new change, and hence, the greater success.

Thoughts may run through their mind like:

“My [old ticket to success] has worked really well for me. I can’t risk giving up what I’ve already gained/ haven’t the heart to lay it aside when it’s done such great things for me.”

And so, previous success can actually get in a person’s way when they need to move on.

What’s to be done?

If you think that you, or someone you know, may be in this kind of trap, a mini-process that works goes like this:

1. Ask yourself, “When I last made a major change, what was the element, resource or strategy that I discovered, which made the change possible?

2. Then ask, “In what way(s) might overr-use of this resource or strategyy be holding me back now?

3. Then, “If I were open to any approach as a way of moving forward, what might I pick?” Really take time to think about how things might be if you used a totally new strategy with which to move forward.

4. When you have an answer to 3. which may conflict with the strategy/resource from question one, consciously “thank” your existing approach for all it has given you. Reassure yourself that you won’t be disgarding it, and that it remains in your toolbox for use whenever you need it, but that you need to bring in other tools right now, to move forward.

5. And then make your new choices.

Hope this helps

More soon

Clare

For example, they have now given official sanction to the idea that “talking therapies” often work better than drugs in treating depression for may people.

They also have a sunny new website, with pages that, seem to contain NLP-based ideas.

Why the change of heart? Who knows, though cost-effectiveness probably plays its part.

And in a sense, who cares, as long as the approaches that really work can be blended into the mainstream as much as possible.

More soon

Clare

It’s today’s post on the NLP blog at:

http://selfworks.net/nlpblog/?p=30

More soon!

Clare

It seems so. I’m talking of course, about a product, (rather than bath) plug, here. Specifically in fact, the latest version of our “NLP-for-Busy-People” course (plus all five related bonuses, which are like courses in their own right).

See for yourself at:

http://www.nlp-for-busy-people.com

And if for some reason that doesn’t float your boat (what is it with me all this water, today?) there’s also a new clutch of free goodies in the Goodybag (sign-up details below, as ever).

Hope this helps, and if you have any queries about it, please do leave a comment.

More soon

Clare

Drum-roll please….For the NLP Blog.

It’s designed primarily for people already using our online NLP-for-Busy-People course.

But although some areas are specially for them (and all will make the most sense for those people) everyone is welcome to sample the ideas there at any time.

Enjoy, and have a great weekend.

Clare

Here’s the thing. In theory, all these tomes that say people’s actions speak louder than their words have a point, whether they call that process “body language”, “tells” or whatever else.

The problem is though, that we don’t have a “one-size fit-all” body as a species.


So obviously, the language of each person’s body is unique to them.

Meaning that the real trick is to observe each individual as closely as you can (without making them uncomfortable). In other words, ask yourself in each case, “What’s the language of this person’s body?” (And yes, I accept that I have an NLP bias here, because that’s exactly what NLP’s “sensory acuity” is all about).

Better yet, see the “body language” as a part of the expression of the whole person as you concentrate on them.

Yes, it takes longer. But usually, it will help you form closer connections, and be more fun for both of you than ticking off a list of generalities from a book of the “one size fits all” persuasion.

Rant over! Trust this is still useful to you.

More soon

Clare

And even if you’re not one of the above, you just might be after the result of this post.

In a nutshell, Milton Erickson was the man mainly responsible for giving hypnosis a reliable name, especially in the clinical field.

His use of words and voice tone (plus a caring attitude) led him to be one of the people modelled by Bandler and Grinder when they put together the first NLP (neuro-linguistic programming principles) to help people transform themselves and others with more ease.

So…

So, what, you my ask, does this have to do you?

Well, as the great man died some years ago, recordings of him are few and far between.

But, by the miracle of youtube, (upon which, I admit, I’ve been idly browsingyou can still see him in action.

Yes, the recording is in black and white.

And yes, the sound quality could be better.

But despite those small quibbles, you’ll still get a great feeling for how Milton Erickson approached his work and helped people, via this link:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wekHYANNWLs

So many thanks to whoever posted this valuable resource up there!

Enjoy!

More soon

Clare

Some people tend to think in detail (“small chunks” in NLP-speak) whereas “big-chunkers” so the theory goes, take on the universe in one bite.

But as anyone who’s been human for longer than five minutes knows, it’s not as simple as that.

A person can be a big-chunker in one context, such as work, and a small chunker at home. Or vice-versa.

So far, so unremarkable. But stay with me, because here’s the thought.

Chunk-size can also depend on which of the five senses is most in use at the time.

An example

And yes, it involves my good old Long Suffering Spouse (LSS) for comparison again.

He, as he is willing to tell anyone, is frequently horrified at my “that’ll do, there’s life to be lived” approach to washing up.

I’m not as ashamed as I probably should be, to admit that I just don’t notice the odd mark here and there… (What’s that you say? “That’s the last time I have dinner at your house!”? Fair enough).

But, by contrast, our positions switch around in relation to the new MP3s I’m working on (and yes, that’s part of my erratic blogging of late). But I digress.

The fact is, no-one has heard these MP3′s yet, because at the slightest hint of a “crack” or “pop” (and we’re talking from the recording, not a cereal bowl) I re-edit for three hours and refuse to let anyone hear it.

One logical conclusion is that LSS is a greater perfectionist in his dominant (or “lead” in NLP-speak) sense, whereas I take that role for all things auditory.

Test this out for yourself. it may help to explain previously-unfathomed perfectionism in yourself or someone you know.

Hope it helps, anyway.

(And you’ll know when I’ve overcome the perfectionism when a recording appears on the blog!)

More soon

Clare