NLP stands for Neuro-Linguistic Programming. Neuro refers to your neurology; Linguistic refers to language; programming refers to how that neural language functions. In other words, learning NLP is like learning the language of your own mind!

Let’s make this simpler with an example: Have you ever tried to communicate with someone who didn’t speak your language, and they couldn’t understand you? The classic example of this is when someone goes out to a restaurant in a foreign country and they think they ordered steak, but when the food shows up, it turns out they actually asked for chicken.

This is the kind of relationship that most of us have with our own unconscious mind. We might think we are “ordering up” more money, a happy, healthy relationship, peace with our family members, and maintaining a healthy lifestyle… but unless that’s what showing up, then something is getting lost in translation and it's a very common problem. Our conscious mind thinks it's in charge, but actually a huge amount of subconsciously stored attitudes, beliefs and habits are running our lives, often without us even realizing it.

For example, what happens if you say to yourself: 'I mustn't eat cake today.' Just keep repeating that to yourself - do you find that all you can think about is cakes in all their forms? I can already see a chocolate cake covered in cream and I'm getting sooo hungry for it! This ilustrates two useful areas that an NLP Coach can help you address (amongst a myriad of others):

1> Your subconscious doesn't hear negatives (it ignores the 'mustn't'), so all it's focussing on is the cake! Thus, we always talk and set goals in positives not negatives. (Next time you nag your kids, tell them what they should be doing rather than what they shouldn't be doing!).

2> To your subconscious, your imaginaton is more real than reality - notice how you can see the details of your cake, covered in chocolate, cream, sprinkles or whatever your particular cake fantasy is? And now you can taste the wonderful flavours and textures on your tongue? So, using NLP and your wonderful imagination, I would help you to change your desires to healthier options and to turn you off of those less healthy!

In NLP, we have a saying: the conscious mind is the goal setter, and the unconscious mind is the goal getter. Your unconscious mind is not out to sabotage you, it’s out TO GET FOR YOU whatever you want in life. However, if you don’t know how to communicate what you want properly, it will keep bringing chicken instead of steak, or make you desire cakes instead of salads!.

In fact, go ahead right now and think if there was one thing you could change, one habit you could break, what would it be?

Not being able to delegate work? Impulse buying?
Checking your phone too often? Being unable to ignore sweet treats in the office?

Whatever it is, realize that your unconscious mind only does that because it thinks that’s what you want. Part of you may want it, but another part doesn't. An NLP coach helps you to identify the programs running in your subconscious and redirect them. Neuro-Linguistic Programming is like a user’s manual for the brain, and working with an NLP Coach is like learning how to become fluent in the language of your mind so that the ever-so-helpful “server” that is your unconscious will finally understand what you actually want out of life.

NLP is the study of excellent communication–both with yourself, and with others. It was developed by modelling excellent communicators and therapists who got rapid results with their clients. NLP is a set of tools and techniques, but it is so much more than that. It is an attitude and a methodology of knowing how to achieve your goals and get results.