Anchoring in NLP

Anchoring is a technique in NLP which allows a particular circuit in an Client Landscape to be lit up when the anchor is "fired".

The anchor is some external stimulus, such as a physical touch, a word and tonality, or a look or other visual stimulus. When this stimulus is fired the internal circuit lights up and the state becomes available to the Client or to the Coach.

Shawn Carson

NLP Training in New York

Mantrams and EFT

What is the relationship between a Mantram and EFT?

A Mantram is a short phrase that we say which is anchored to, or acts as an anchor for, a state of peace.

EFT is a technique whereby we "tap" on acupuncture points, while repeating a certain phrase designed to elicit a certain state (i.e. the reminder phrase).

Both use repetition of a simple thing either:

• A phrase (Mantram) while (potentially) in the presence of a negative K; or 
• A "gesture" (i.e. "tap") plus a phrase (to invoke the negative K)
  

We have our personal map, or metaphor map. While we are in a particular state (say a K-), or while we are invoking this state using the reminder phrase of EFT, we begin to either "tap" or say a Mantram.

To the extent that the tapping or the Mantram acts as an anchor for a state of peace, then this technique is no different to collapsing anchors.

Meta Model and Non Verbal Communication

The meta model acts to clarify the meaning of the client's internal experience as specified in their verbal communication.

This implies that there are similar patterns for other non-verbal communications. So the question is:

• What are the verbal "meta model" questions for non verbal communication?
• What are the non verbal meta model "questions" for verbal communication?
• What are the non verbal "meta model" "questions" for non verbal communication?

What is the meaning of a non-verbal "question"? What about:

• "How is that? [indicating opposite gesture]
• "When is that?"
• "Where is that?"
• "Who is that?"
• ="what would happen if you did?"

cf Overdurf's "What do you [gesturing to resource place] think about that?"

Movement words in Symbolic NLP

The following words allow movement in issues:

• Release
• Let go
• Free

Client Reality - What I (don't) Want

Consider the following (real) transcript:

• C: "I want to be focused". Both hands move forward in a narrow corridor
• T: "And what's it like when your focused?"
• C: "Well I'm not scattered." Hands move out indicating a circle of space.
• T: "That's right your not...and what are you?"...Etc
  

This reality includes both the positive and the negative aspects of the concept "focused". Ie It includes "focused" and {not} "focused" (using predicate calculus)

It appears to be a common model that a concept includes its negative {not}.

This can be used as a useful check:

• And when you're feeling this [resource], what else are you not feeling?
• [Is the answer positive or negative {not}?]
• As you feel this [resource] what else are you becoming aware of now?
• [Is the answer positive or negative {not}?]
• And what else are you not aware of?
• etc

Possible Spatial Predicates

Narrow, focus, move through

Predicate Calculus

Particular - focus on one - deductive

All things other than {wider set} - inductive to much wider set

Shawn

NLP Training in New York

GRIT Technique and Symbolic NLP

The GRIT (Goal Repetition Induction Technique) technique is as follows:

• Ask your client about their goals, get some good words and tonality supporting the goal.
• Have the client distill the goal down into a single sentence. Make sure it is sensory and/or metaphorical to involve the right brain or unconscious mind, whichever metaphor rocks your boat (or as my wonderful teacher Melissa Tiers says "to squeeze some juice"). In any case ensure the sentence resonates with the client.
• Ask the client to repeat the sentence one word-one breath
• Repeat the sentence after the client, one word at a time. 
• Begin to mix up the order or combination of words, to create new associations, connections and ambiguity 

So what has this got to do with symbolic NLP? Well, if we accept that the words, pictures, and feelings we experience cybernetically create our inner experience, then the words the client selects are going to light up the rest of their inner experience. Repeating these words and phrases creates trance while lighting up these specific circuits.

Shawn

NLP Training in New York

Lexicon

1. Clean Language: A language model similar to the Meta Model, developed by James Lawley and Penny Tomkins based on the work of David Grove.
2. Consensus Reality: A reality which is shared by two or more people.
3. Meta Model: the NLP linguistic model that seeks to uncover "deep structure" of perceived reality from the "surface structure" of language. The Meta Model was developed from the transformational grammar of Noam Chomsky.
   
4. Milton Model: The model developed by Bandler and Grinder based on the work of Milton Erickson. The Milton Model is intimately connected to the Meta Model.
5. NLP: Neuro Linguisitc Programming, a tool box or techniques and a philosophy develped by Richard Bandler and John Grinder.
6. Reality: the external universe around us, whatever that is.
7. Symbolic Modeling: Developing the client's Symbolic Landscape using Clean Language or other tools.
8. 
   

Meta Model, Reality and Symbolic Reality

What is the relationship between reality, the meta model and symbolic reality?

We live in a complex reality. Millions or bits of information impinge on us every second, of which we are consciously aware of only a few. When experiencing our personal reality we use the three universal modeling processes:

• Deletion
• Distortion
• Generalization

When we speak to describe our personal reality we use the universal modeling processes:

• Deletion
• Distortion
• Generalization

Hence it seems we apply the universal modeling processes twice, once in creating our symbolic reality, and once in talking about it.

Given that we operate in (and represent) a cybernetic system then:

• our creation of a symbolic reality impacts upon the external reality that we experience
  
• our description of our symbolic reality (which is the only reality that we normally discuss) impacts on that symbolic reality, locking aspects into place, changing other aspects
• the symbolic reality we create impacts on the language we use
• the language we use impacts upon our perceived external reality

And so on

Cybernetics

Cybernetics is the study of complex systems. It it's simplest form it states that simple cause and effect is not an appropriate mechanism to use as a model in biological systems (such as a human being or system of human beings).

Cause and effect is of course a key element in formal logic and predicate calculus. Formal logic appears to be a system that to a greater or lesser extent is hard-wired into the human mind. Hence predicate calculus can be effective in utilizing these patterns to create change.

 

Recursive Reality

Reality is recursive.

How many meta model violations are there?

Chunking up and chunking down

Suppose we have a client who presents a certain negative emotion. One approach might be use use a reality strategy to chunk down on that emotion. "How do you know?"

Ken Wilber and AQAL

Ken Wilber created his "Model of Everything" or Integral Theory or AQAL to explain, or draw together different disciplines that discuss a similar topic.

AQAL has been useful to me in supplying a unifying framework within which to begin to understand different aspects of NLP and other disciplines.

The basis of the AQAL model is the four quadrant concept. The 4 quadrants equate to the NLP perceptual positions of:

• first person position (I)
• second person (you)
  
• third person (you and I)
• fourth person (system)

Questions for going meta

• Looking down on that...
  
• Stepping back from that...
• What underlies that...
• What is the relationship between...

The Symbolic Meaning of Meta

In NLP, "meta" generally refers to a "higher" state or position, in the sense of "about". Hence a meta emotion is an emotion about an emotion (for example: "I feel sad that I always get angry with my father").

Linguistically, meta means "among".

So how is meta represented in symbolic terms? The answer is "it depends". It depends upon:

• The person doing the representing
• The sensory system in which we are representing
• The context

For example, in a visual context meta might well be represented as "above", because we can then "look down on" the first issue.

In a kinesthetic system however, meta is more likely to be represented as "below" (as in "what underlies that"). Alternatively it may be represented by "stepping back" from the first issue.

Shawn Carson

International Center for Positive Change and Hypnosis

NLP Training in New York

A post script: it is interesting to note the relationship between meta and dissociation.

Meta Beliefs

We generally feel that we "have to" believe or disbelieve any concept we come across. We are constantly forming opinions from the best political candidate in an election we cannot vote in, to the existence or non-existence of UFOs, to the world's best actor, athlete, television personality.

There are certain beliefs that we have to hold in order to function, perhaps:

• The fastest subway to take to work is the "6 line"
• It is safer to cross the street on "walk" than on don't walk

There are certain other beliefs that directly support our goals, perhaps:

• I will be successful in business
• The universe is full of kind and loving people

However, other beliefs ossify into habits that limit our options:

• I don't like salads
• I prefer coffee to tea

Meta Belief

A meta belief is by definition a belief about beliefs.

• Suppose we believe that we do not have to form a belief about things, unless that belief is going to add practical value to our life?
  
• Suppose we were to believe that any belief we form (even one that appears neutral or even positive) actually directionalizes our thoughts and limits our choices.

How would our lives be different?

Shawn Carson

International Center for Positive Change and Hypnosis

NLP Training in New York

Meta Model Violations and Symbolic Landscapes

The Meta Model is a powerful NLP tool for reconnecting a client with their "deep structure" based upon their "surface structure". In English this means that when we talk about our experiences we by necessity omit (delete), change (distort) or generalize like crazy (if you will excuse the expression), simply because words cannot capture the detail, complexity and uncertainty of reality.

Meta Model Violation: Impossibility

Meta Model violations are (or more accurately are contained in) language patterns that inherently contain distortions, deletions or generalizations. One example might be:

"I can't do that". This implies there is some impossibility to the action "that".

Meta Model Violations have a direct impact on the symbolic landscape. Let's return to the example above:

In term of the Symbolic Landscape the meta model violation "I can't" suggests impossibility and implies either

• There is an obstacle between "I" and "that" to prevent the "I" from "doing" the "that" or
• The "that" cannot be "done", it is fixed or locked in some way or
• The "that" could be done but requires some resource that the "I" does not have

The standard meta model question is:

• What stops you?

Having asked this question we hope to have more information about the type of impossibility that exists in the client's landscape.

John Overdurf's Predicate Calculus

The basis of John Overdurf's predicate calculus is the use of predicates to direct attention and hence change experience.

Predicate calculus is essentially based upon formal logic in mathematics. Of course the difference is that in change work is that we are dealing with human beings who are not necessarily logical.

Predicate calculus in logic uses the following concepts to build ideas:

• {for all}
  
• {there exists}  
  
• {not} 
  
• {and}  
  
• {or}
  
• {implies}
  
• {if and only if}
  
• {exclusive-or}
  

 These concepts will prove useful as we move forward.

Beliefs in Symbolic NLP

Beliefs come in several colors, including deep beliefs, limiting beliefs and positive beliefs.

Beliefs act like customs or cultural norms in our Symbolic Reality; beliefs allow us to accept easily anything that is aligned with them and make it almost impossible to accept or take in information that mismatches them. This is particularly true of deep beliefs which operate below the level of conscious awareness.

In NLP terms we would say a belief acts as a "filter" within the NLP communication model.

Group Beliefs

An interesting belief set is that of group beliefs. We are all part of certain social groups, from our immediate family, to wider family and friends, to social clubs, work colleagues, neighbourhoods, towns, cities, democrat or republican, etc etc.

By associating with "like minded people" we literally support their beliefs as we support theirs. We do this though conversation, books, magazines, television, as well as unconscious communication.

Where we have beliefs that do not support our goals then we must change these beliefs if we really want to achieve those goals. Where we are part of a group, and by necessity indulge in "group think", we should consider what the beliefs common to the group are, and whether and to what extent those beliefs support our goals.

If the group beliefs do not support our goals then we have several options.

• We can leave the group
• We can seek to change the beliefs of the group
• We can install a "canceler" to block out any negative beliefs of the group
• We can take a meta position of simply disavowing any and all beleifs unless they specifically support our life goals 
  

Metaphor People

Sometimes we create or bring people into our personal metaphor reality.

Where these people are non positive, we then run the following pattern:

• See person in outside world who triggers the metaphor;
• feel bad;
• anchor feeling bad to that person. 

We then wonder why we feel bad everytime we see that person. 

In order to change this response we can:

• change our personal metaphor reality to remove that symbol;
• become more consciously aware of our personal metaphor reality and choose not to recognize the negative triggers
  
• trigger a more resourceful state to that persons external reality
• Add a recovery strategy to the experience

To restate this, we can:

• Remove the negative symbol from our landscape
• Break the connection between the external stimulus and the negative stimulus
• Create an alternative path from the external stimulus to a new symbol
• Allow the path from the external stimulus to the internal symbol to remain, and to create  new path from the internal symbol to a more resourceful internal symbol

A final possibility suggests from the world of clean language and symbolic modeling. This would be to find a way to change the "negative" symbol into a "positive" symbol.

Elements of Symbolic NLP

The elements of SYmbolic NLP include:

1. Internal Representations
2. Submodalities of Internal Representations
3. Locus of attention 
4. Focus (direction) of attention
5. Time
6. Qualities of attention
7. Relationships
8. Verbal Patterns

• Time Path
• Movement of Fixedness of Time Path
• Spread of State through Time Path
• Spatial location
• Spatial location in respect of own body
• Spatial Relationship to Problems, Resources and other States
• Spatial movement
• Energy speed, direction
• Attention direction, diffusion
• Pictures and visuals
• Quality of visuals (submodalities)
• Sounds
• Quality of sounds (submodalities)
• Internal dialogue
• Word markers
• Linquistic relationships (eg cause-effect and complex-equivalence)
• Internal Kinesthetics
• Metaphors for all elements
• Metaphorical relationships

Time Paths

We will use the term "Time Path" to denote the Client's understanding or Metaphor for time. 

In NLP a Client's Time Path typically runs left to right and or front to back. Of course, based upon the individual Client this may be reversed or may be some other path or arrangement entirely.

Time Based Techniques (TM John Overdurf) are used to "move" a Client's experience forward or backward through time in order to experience or re-experience the past or future.

This movement through time may be accomplished consciously by instructing the Client to imagine moving along, above or beside their Time Path, or unconsciously by using appropriate language, verb tenses and prepositions.

Symbolic Modeling

Symbolic Modeling and Clean Language was developed by James Lawley and Penny Tomkins based upon the work of David Grove.

In Symbolic Modeling it is presupposed that the Client has a Metaphor Landscape, or Symbolic Landscape. This Landscape is deemed to "exist" in the space around and within the Client. By questioning the Client using "Clean Language" questions, the Landscape becomes "fixed" in place so that the Client can explore and change the Landscape. Changing the Metaphor Landscape leads to changes in the Client's Personal Consensus Reality.

Taken at its most inclusive, the symbolic landscape includes words, tonality, gestures, physiology, and relationships between these.

Shawn Carson

NLP Training in New York

Eye Accessing and Clean Language

In Clean Language the direction of a Client's gaze is deemed to indicate a direction in their Metaphor Map.  Noting their direction of gaze, the appropriate Clean Question would be:

"..and where do you go to...when you go there [indicating their direction of gaze]"

Internal Representations in NLP

Internal Representaitons (IR) in NLP are the pictures we form in our heads, our internal dialogue, our feelings and sounds that we hear inside our heads.

The NLPer calibrates to the Client's IRs using eye movements and predicates ("I see what you mean" etc) to determine the Client's IR at a given moment. Also by asking the Client what they see, hear and feel.

Within IR's there are qualities, called submodalities. Submodalities include things such as location, size etc.

Visual submodalities include:

• Size
• Location
• Color or black&white
• Framed or unframed
• Clear or unclear (foggy, hazy etc)
• Still or moving
• Associated or dissociated

Auditory Submodalities include:

• Location
• Volume
• Quality
• Persistence

Kinesthetic Submodalities

• 
  

Eye Movements and NLP

In NLP eye movements are deemed to be indicative of the representational system (visual, auditory, auditory digital or kinesthetic) and source (recall or created) of internal representations.

When a Client looks up it is supposed to be a sign that they are accessing visually. If they look to the side they are accessing auditorily. If they look down left they are involved in internal dialogue (so-called auditory digital), down left is kinesthetic (for a s0-called normally organized person). 

Consensus Reality

Consensus Reality (CR) is the generally accepted reality of the world. Having said this, and ironically, there is no commonly accepted definition of CR.

We will define CR here as a reality which is shared by two or more individuals. So, for example, a CR will include any Client reality where an NLP Coach is present, as the Coach will share the CR for these purpose, or will after she has the chance to explore that CR.

CR at one end of the spectrum could be said to be the world of physics and hard science, although the current status of quantum physics, relativity and other theories leaves it open as to what exactly CR means even in this frame.

In the middle of the spectrum CR could be said to be any widely held cultural belief system or reality, including religious beliefs or social mores. 

At the far end of the spectrum some writers have argued that CR includes various energy levels that can be reached via out of body experiences, see for example William Buhlman: Adventures Beyond the Body.

We will use the term "Personal Consensus Reality" to denote the Client's experiences, good and bad, which impact on the quality of their life.

John Overdurf's Model of Spatial Prepositions

John Overdurf is a brilliant NLP Therapist, Coach and Trainer, which the author can attest to having trained extensively with him.

Overdurf uses language patterns including extensive use of prepositions to directionalize his Client's thinking into (hopefully) more resourceful directions. He also has exquisite calibration skills and sensory acuity to determine where his Client is in their experience.

Overdurf uses temporal prepositions and spatial prepositions to move his Client's unconscious attention in a way that leaves the Client's conscious mind perhaps unaware of the communication, or of where the unconscious mind is moving.

Spatial Prepositions Include:

• Front/Back 
• Forward/Backward
• In front/Behind
• Up/Down
• Under/Over/On top of
• Here/There 
• Near/Far
• In/Out
• Inside/Outside
• Beside/At the side of
• Against
• With/Without
• On/Off
• Central/Peripheral
• Deep/Shallow
  

Once the observer becomes attuned to Overdurf's technique it becomes similar in feel to the more explicit movement in the metaphor map of Clean Language or Symbolic Modeling, but more elegant.

Once the Client's Metaphor Map has been discovered then the above prepositions can be used to lead them though their landscape. Examples might include:

• As you move above this and look down on the problem you had, how is it different?
• As you move forward, and see that behind you, what do you notice?

NLP and Symbolic Modeling

Clean language assumes and develops the Client's metaphor map.

The principal tool used in Symbolic Modeling is Clean Language. Clean language offers language patters (i.e. questions) which keep the therapist's or coach's views as far as possible outside the process. Of course, the coach is never entirely outside the process even with Clean Language; if nothing else the coach determines what question to ask next. However under Clean Language principles the Client is encouraged to develop and explore their metaphor landscape with limited instruction from the coach.

NLP on the other hand is quite directive. Clients are instructed on the pictures to make in their mind's eye, how to change the submodalities of sounds and feelings and so on. The NLPer uses his experience and intuition to direct the Client on the changes to make. The NLPer also uses his sensory acuity to calibrate whether the change he has instructed the Client to make has actually produced a more resourceful state in the Client.

Why Symbolic NLP

NLP has been defined as the study of subjective experience. It studies how we expeience the world, and how we can change that experience to live happier more fullfiled lives.

In order to achieve this NLP states that individuals make "internal representations" or "IRs", being pictures, sounds, internal dialogue and feelings inside our bodies. This is in contrast to the outside sensory experiences we have, ie things that we actually see, hear and feel.

While NLP provides a rich and detailed model of experience, it does not necessarily connect with other models of experience. In NLP terms the fact that the varied models do not interconnect (or at least not easily) is somewhat irrelevant as NLP is also considered to be the study of "what works", rather than what is true.

Let's us examine two models which differ from the NLP model:

One model used by hypnotists (such as David Gordon, and based on the work of Milton Erickson), and also by adherents of Symbolic Modeling, suggest that our internal experience is better described via metaphor. So Milton Erickson would assist clients in change by developing a metaphor, often based upon some activity that would be familiar to the client. By understanding how the "world" within the metaphor could change, the client could understand and accept that he too could change.

The metaphorical model is incorporated into NLP via NLP's "Milton Model". However this is something of a "bolt-on" piece of NLP and NLPers generally make little attempt to fully integrate it into other parts of NLP.

Another model of experience common among adherents of self-help argues that the world we see around us on a day to day basis curtains a deeper reality, inhabited by universal laws (such as the Law of Attraction) as well as ghosts, spirits, out of body experiences and so on.

Symbolic NLP seeks to build a model that fully incorporates traditional NLP, metaphor models, and "universal laws" or "hidden universe" models.