NLP in action

NLP works (or was atleast made to work) on the premise that we can align our thinking, our daily actions and consequently change ourselves keeping in mind our larger objective in life. So, first you have to identify one personal problem that you face and would like to get rid of. These may include inabilty to focus, lack of courage in admitting something and such stuff.

Once the specific problem has been identified, we have to think and meditate to understand the environment, our behavior focussing on an instance of that problem. Jot down the feelings like anger, and behavior like shouting,screaming which you may experience when faced with the problem. Then try and correlate your experience with your skills, capabilities, beliefs and values.

Identify yourself with a symbol - something that defines you-like a bird in flight, a moon in the night sky or a star. Identify one phrase that would define you and your vision in life - like say, jack of all trades, or something like that.

Now work backwards towards your problem and revisualize the environment and your feelings and seek new insights into it. Do the whole thing slowly, taking about an hour.

This self-exercise is supposed to give one a better understanding of his/her self. For example, you drop a glass of water, your friend says, " How clumsy you are". Now, this is a comment relating to your behavior and many of us take it to the level of our identity and believe , "I am clumsy".

Though the exercise gave such insights into one's self, the class is still smarting under the psycho-babble that was delivered on a sleep-inducing Thursday afternoon and some have pledged not to attend such discourses which forced them to write "Child is the father of man","Pen is mightier than the sword" etc., for want of a better phrase, as their vision in life!!