Start with these basic NLP exercises
The idea behind neuro-linguistic programming (NLP) is to naturally use the way that your brain works so that you can improve your life and start to get the results that you want. The best way to learn NLP is to immerse yourself in it and try some exercises.
You need to see your life as a journey made up of several steps. Each step that you take with NLP will lead you to bigger and better things in life. You must make a start, and if you try these two exercises below, you will be doing just that.
Images have significant power
In one of these NLP exercises, you will be experiencing the power of imagery. In order to get the most from these NLP exercises, you need to follow the instructions carefully and ensure that you are not distracted.
First Step – The first thing you need to do is to think of an image, something from your memory that brings you good feelings when you see it in your mind. You will need to pay close attention to how this image looks and the good feelings that you experience by looking at it.
Second Step – is to enlarge this image and bring it closer to you and make it brighter Just like you increase the brightness on your mobile screen, increase the brightness of the image in your mind. When you do this, do you notice any change in your feelings? Make sure that you do this properly, and note the change in your feelings before moving on to the next step.
Third Step – is to make the image smaller, more distant and dim, just like you zoom out any pic in mobile. If the original image was in color (this is always best) then turn the smaller image into black and white. If you had a movie going on instead of a still image, then stop the movie, and make it a still image.
Pay close attention to your feelings at this point. Are your feelings getting stronger towards the image now or are they are getting weaker? Are the feelings positive or have they become negative?
Fourth Step – is to start again and recreate the original image.
It is likely that when you made the image large, closer and brighter, the feelings you experienced good feelings that were the strongest and the most positive. When you made the image small, far away and dim, then this would have weakened your feelings and probably made them negative. You can feel good by doing this with many images each day.
Managing your inner critic
We all have an internal devil voice that can make us feel down sometimes. This voice will criticize you, remind you of your past mistakes, paint a negative image of your future and generally nag you about all the difficult things you have been through in life. This “inner critic” will use a tone of voice that is not friendly – so even when you should not listen it is difficult not to do so.
Let’s start by listening to these voices in your head.
- Focus on just one to start with. Where does the voice come from?
- Is it audible to both ears or just one?
- Do you recognize the voice?
- Is it your voice, and if so does it sound the same?
- Is the voice hostile or friendly?
- What is the voice saying to you?
Step two is to note how you feel when you are listening to the voice.
Do this now as it is a very important step.
Next, it is time to play with your inner critic. Try moving your inner voice to your left knee.
- How do you feel about it now?
- What about if you send your inner critic to the opposite side of the room?
Now alter the volume of the inner voice.
Add static to the sound so that it is hard to hear. Note your feelings at this point.
Next, alter the sound of the voice from hostile to loving and sweet.
Get creative here and change the voice by making it squeak, lisp or even whisper.
What feelings are you experiencing now?
Finally, talk to the voice and tell it that you will listen if the messages are positive and not when they are negative.
Also, the tone needs to be supportive instead of hostile.
What kind of response do you get?
This is not crazy. You can certainly change your relationship with your inner critic by having command over it. When your inner critic is supporting you and encouraging you, it will be a great ally to have in your quest for a better life.
Conclusion
We hope that you will practice these NLP exercises. Keep reading our other posts to learn the applications of NLP and how it can help you in your personal and professional life. NLP has been learned and practiced by a lot of well-known celebrities such as Oprah Winfrey, Sophie Dahl, Lily Allen, Gerri Halliwell, Jimmy Carr, and Russell Brand. If you want to take your life to the next level, do get training of NLP Practitioner & Master Practitioner. We wish you all the very best for your life, keep learning and keep growing!