Neuro-linguistic programming allows you to understand the way in which your mind establishes its neural routes based on the ways in which you behave from day to day. This process can be understood with an analogy to water. Water may flow into slight depressions in the ground. Over time, more water will deepen the depression, creating a ditch and then a canyon. The water will continue to flow in the same direction after the ditch or canyon has been formed. Even though you might have a similar path established in your mind, it is possible to change it with NLP techniques. The life coach at Premier Life Coaching can use different methods to help you to change your own neural paths in more positive directions.
While most people understand, getting rid of bad habits can take a long time because it is done unconsciously. NLP allows you to take control so that your bad habits can be eradicated in as few as 10 minutes. Some of these techniques include changing your submodalities, anchoring, swish techniques, and Time Line Therapy®. Here are seven ways that you can start to train your brain to act differently to work towards reaching your goals and taking your life in a more positive direction.
1. Identify the habit that you would like to change.
In order to truly get rid of a bad habit, it is important for you to recognize what it is that you would personally like to change. It is common for people to state that they would like to make changes based on feedback from others that they have a problematic habit. When your motivation is only internal, it will be difficult for you to change. Internally, you might simply not care. However, if you truly want to rid yourself of your bad habit both consciously and unconsciously, you are likelier to succeed.
2. To eliminate a bad habit, you first need to discover what you are getting out of it.
People continue in their bad habits because they get something in return from engaging in them. Neuro-linguistic programming refers to this as a secondary gain. Think about what your bad habit is providing to you. For example, people who have food addictions are often substituting foods for something else in their lives that they lack. To help you with this step, write down whatever it is that you are feeling right before you eat non-nutritious foods or before you engage in some other type of bad habit. This helps you to bring it into your consciousness.
3. Identify the mental picture.
When you are experiencing a craving for a certain food, a cigarette, or something else that is bad for you, ask yourself a simple question. You should question what picture you have in your mind when you think about the food or another thing that you crave. Close your eyes and observe the picture closely. Look at whether it is close up or far away as well as where it is positioned on your inner screen.
4. Change the mental picture.
After you have identified your mental picture, take it and move it to various distances away from you in your mind. Make it very small or black it out. After you have moved it far away from you and blackened it, leave it there, and do not recall it to its former position.
5. Focus on doing something different other than your bad habit.
Think about something that you also like doing but that is a more positive and healthy choice. Create a mental picture of it and examine it closely. Make changes to the picture so that it becomes more attractive, using beautiful colors. Bring it closer in focus on your inner screen so that it predominates.
6. Choose Time Line Therapy® to rid yourself of the need to engage in your bad habit.
Time Line Therapy® is a newer NLP technique that helps you by using your internal timeline to change your bad habits so that you no longer need them. If you know how to use this therapeutic technique, complete the limiting decisions process with your memory of the very first time when you engaged in your bad habit.
7. Think of what type of behavior you will engage in instead of your bad habit.
Think forward into the future about what you will do instead of engaging in your bad habit. Be specific, visualizing yourself actively engaging in the positive behavior. For example, if you quit smoking, picture yourself being more active, drawing in the air more deeply, and being cough-free. See yourself going for a morning jog with a new focus on health.
At Premier Life Coaching, we help people to conquer bad habits quickly so that they can live healthier and more fulfilling lives. To learn more, fill out our online contact form today.