NLP Hypnosis – What’s It All About

What is Neuro-Linguistic Programming or NLP for short? It is the most effective form of hypnosis. The reason behind its success is the way the treatment is performed. In NLP, suggestions are not provided to our subconscious. Instead, in this technique, thought patterns are provided in areas which are causing us concern. These new thought patterns are used to eliminate the problem.

NLP is based on three components: NLP anchoring, NLP flash and NLP reframe. NLP anchoring means a way “anchoring” the desired state, such as a feeling of self esteem in our body. For example, recalling and visualizing a time when we are admired or rewarded for a perfect job. With the help of NLP we can regularly raise our sense of self-esteem or we can self-motivate ourselves.

A stimulus is used to trigger the response, memory, behavior or feeling desired. An anchor is established by using a unique stimulus. Something very familiar and general cannot be used. For instance, a handshake would not be appropriate since it is a common occurrence. Touching the forehead or pulling an earlobe could be stimulus examples.

We use these stimuli everyday. While driving, a yellow or red light initiates a certain response. Smelling apple pie baking makes us recall being at grandmother’s house with the family. Hearing an old song makes us remember the feeling we had dancing with Mary at the teen-age canteen.

With anchoring, we attach a particular feeling, happening or event to a particular stimulus and can recreate that situation at any time by using the stimulus.

NLP flash is a little bit different from NLP anchoring. It means the hypnotist can train a body to abstain from using cigarettes and coffee. This is one of the most effective techniques if somebody just wants to quit smoking or lose weight.

With NLP flash, thoughts are changed, or flipped in the unconscious mind. Thoughts and experiences that once created stress or a particular action are now used to create relaxation or a different action. For example, if you smoke while talking on the phone, you will unconsciously reach for a cigarette when the phone rings. NLP flash will help you replace the cigarette thought with another response when the phone rings.

NLP reframe allows you to replace negative beliefs, behavior and events with different, positive ones. Events and situations on their own have no meaning. We apply our own beliefs and values to provide meaning.

Changing the way we view events is reframing. When we change the meaning we also change the response and behavior which makes for a different outcome.

If we change the green color of a room to a beige, or a red picture frame to a blue, our concepts will change which will alter the meaning, or the way we think of the room or picture. Change the thought ‘my husband works all the time’ to thanking him for working to allow us to get a new home will definitely improve relationships [outcome].

When looking through a large hole in a fence, our perspective changes from the one after looking through a small hole. We reframe our concept of what’s on the other side of the fence. This change will alter our decisions, choices and outcomes.

The outcome is the important part, not how we got to the outcome. How we change our belief at the unconscious level is not important as long as the desired result occurs.

NLP gives us very effective personal development tools which help us become more influential and effective communicators while changing the way we think and make choices which gives us better outcomes.