''How to have kick-ass ideas''. A book recommendation.

While searching through my girlfriends book collection looking for something to read I came across a book by the title "How to have kick ass ideas" and on the front of the cover there was a picture of a naked man jumping in the air; it instantly intrigued me.

After quickly flipping through the book I recognised that all the ideas and techniques in the book were mainly NLP techniques. I did a bit of research and discovered that the author is an NLP Master Practitioner, and a very good one at that. The book teaches you how to be creative and how to do this in a very creative way.

I am recommending this book as it’s a lot of fun to read, easy to follow, with a large amount of pictures (no more naked men) and it promotes having a go yourself.  I love the use of strange and interesting suggestions, ideas and ways for you to be creative yourself with “poo sticks” being one of the books more interesting and successful ideas.  The book is sure to make lot’s of money!!

After reading the book, I used some of the ideas (mixed with my own interpretation and style) to help a group of school children be more creative and to solve problems. The children loved the exercises (the teacher looked worried when I suggested everyone should have a 5 minutes sleep (you become more creative while sleeping as you start to engage the unconscious mind). All of the children and myself had a lot of fun during the lesson thanks to some of the exercises in this book.

Highly recommended.

To view this book click the link under NLP BOOKs

If you have read a really great book which has inspired you and you would like to recommend it to the group, please tell us about it and we will add it to the blog.  Email: nlppracticegroup@gmail.com

The Swish Technique

Developed by Richard Bandler, The Swish technique enables us to quickly dissolve the feelings attached to unwanted thoughts and to deal with un-useful responses (reprogramming the brain to work in a different way.)

In the Swish we replace the unwanted thought or response with a more useful and appropriate one because 'the swish' gives new instructions to the brain.

Often the Swish is used to break habits such as compulsions to eat chocolate, smoke cigarettes, bite finger nails, etc. After the using the Swish pattern, the client will still have the option for doing the behaviour, they just won't feel compelled to do it anymore.

The technique in practice:-



1.  Think of a behaviour or response you’d rather not have (for example, unwanted habit)

2.  Identify a 'Cue' image for a situation that triggers the response.  What is it that you respond to? How do you know when to have the unwanted response or reaction? Ask yourself what actually occurs just before the negative or unwanted state begins? (It helps if this is a visual picture in your mind.)

3.  Now imagine how you would be if you didn’t have this habit or unwanted behaviour, as if you were the kind of person who felt this was not an issue for you.  Ask yourself  'How do I really want to be instead?'.

4.  Imagine a new you; a more resourceful, confident and capable version of you.  A new you who is free from the negative response you no-longer want.  You don’t have to know how you got that way, just enjoy this new positive feeling.

5.  Enhance the detail and the quality (the submodalities) of this image until it is very compelling. Make the feeling brighter, louder, faster, etc.

6.  Put a frame in front of you and put your original 'Cue' image into  it.  In the corner of this frame place the resourceful image, shrink it so it ends up around the size of a postal stamp (it will now be small and dark.)

7.  Now you will make both of the images change simultaneously in one fast, powerful movement, the large 'cue' images becomes small and dark, and the resourceful image becomes big and bright. Say 'Swish' as you do this.


8.  Repeat the swish around 10 times, between each swish make the frame go blank.  Each time you swish, speed it up until you are swishing within a second.

9.  Test to see if you can restore the 'Cue' picture.   If you find it either wont come back or the image is dark and dim, then the swish has worked.  If not start again (you may need to check which submodalities are prominent in your cue picture and ensure these are added to your more resourceful you image.)




Good Luck with the technique and let us know how you get on with it.

Tonights NLP Practice Group - 13/01/10

Hi all,  just to let you know that this months NLP Group is still taking place this evening, same time, same place.

We will be practicing the 'Swish' technique.

Hope to see you there.

Best Wishes,

Sandie and Chris

VKA - Study Tips

Do you become stressed when studying? Is nothing "sticking"? Many people often study in one style, often this is the style they have been taught at a young and this is not often their natural learning style.


Use your learning style (VKA) preference to increase your study input


Audio – Study Tips

• Explain the topic you are trying to learn to a friend
• Read explanations and important facts out loud
• Make up songs (Daft and crazy songs work best) to the study topic
• Record and listen to lectures and sessions
• When learning new information, discuss the topic and answers out loud
• Say words in syllables.
• Make up and repeat rhymes to remember information
• Join a study groups/book clubs
• Write sequences out in sentence form and then read them out loud.
• Use audio CDs etc

 

Kinesthetic – Study Tips

• Hold the book in your hand while reading rather the on a table
• Write notes while you are reading or talking
• Sit near the front of the classroom to keep focused
• Use a computer to reinforce learning by using the sense of touch
• Write lists repeatedly
• Use practical experience when possible
• Stand up when giving explanations
• Use rhythm and beats to memorize or explain information
• Use gestures when giving explanations
• Make models
• Make and use flashcards (keep them in order)
• Use role-playing
• Associate feelings with information

Visual – Study Tips

 

• Take notes while listening to lectures and sessions
• Use colour-coded highlighting
• Create charts and diagrams that demonstrate key points
• View any photographs or diagrams in your textbook
• Use visual metaphors to associate information
• Write explanations down
• Make and use flashcards
• Use illustrations
• Use visual analogies to associate information
• Watch videos/programmes specific to the course you are studying
• Use guided imagery

What is NLP?

"It's whole body is covered in hair"

"It's bigger then a human"

"It bangs it chest with its fist"

"Its black"

"It has a flat nose"

"It must be 5 times heavier then a human"

"It makes a really loud sound a bit like a grunt"
Trying to describe a Gorilla to someone who has never seen one is hard, all the descriptions above are true but you never really get a true sense of the animal until to see it for yourself.
It's the same with NLP; I am often asked "what is NLP?" where do you start....

"A science of how the brain codes learning and experiences"

"A model of how we retrieve, receive and store information"

"A system for describing, restructuring and transforming a person’s meaning and cognitive understanding of the world they live in"

"A user’s manual for the brain"

NLP has been described in many ways over the years; it has been called A Science, A Process, a Model of Excellence, A technology, and much more.

As you read the description above (Gorilla) you would have created your own image/picture/film and this will give you a taste of what NLP is. The more NLP techniques you read about and practice the more you understand NLP.

N - Neuro; This relates to Neurology, the way we process information from our five senses through our brain and nervous system.

L - Linguistic; This relates to our use of Language Systems, this includes words, gestures, postures, etc and attributes meaning to our internal representation of our world and to communicate both internally and externally.

P - Programming; This relates to how we store, code and transform information. Just like with a PC if you delete or upgrade information/software you can change the way you think and act.

We experience the world through 5 senses (Sight, Touch, Hearing, Smell and Taste) As we gather so much information everyday our brain will FILTER the information through our values, beliefs and experiences. Information can be deleted, distorted and generalised. In the end we end up with our own INTERNAL MAP of the world.

Finally our STATE (the state which we are in) will affect our behaviour and how we communicate with the world.