philmandel

Spelling, Anxiety Strategies

Mon, 01 Feb 2021 15:32:46 GMT

Everything we do requires a strategy - from picking up the car keys to eating a meal.

Spelling requires a strategy as well, and as one might expect, some strategies work better than others. In the English language, there are so many exceptions to the maze of spelling rules that it is difficult to spell phonetically (auditorily). Even the word "phonetics" isn't spelled phonetically!

The problem is that many people learned to "sound out" words phonetically. This leads to many spelling errors and if there is negative reinforcement to boot, it can lead to bad feelings as well. "Sounding out" words is still taught in most spelling classes.

Fortunately, there are spelling strategies that are not only more accurate but easy to learn. The NLP Spelling Strategy involves visualizing each word in a certain way - the way that's best for the individual (not for the teacher) - and recognizing when the word is being visualized correctly. Many people are amazed when they not only can spell words they didn't think they knew how to spell, they can spell them both forwards and backwards!

"So why do I (or my child) need an NLP Practitioner to improve spelling? What about a tutor?" Tutors serve a very important role, helping people drill, memorize, and understand the "rules" of spelling and grammar. However, drilling and memorizing using a strategy that is not optimal can compound the problem, which then requires more drilling, and so on. With NLP , we have a model of how the mind works that lets us teach someone a better strategy. Usually, after practicing the new strategy a few times, learning and memorization become easier, making the time spent drilling or tutoring much more effective. Children's grades often improve dramatically after just a few sessions.

Anxiety is the result of a different strategy, usually the result of an unconscious image that results in the feeling of fear. Since the image is in the unconscious mind, we aren't aware of it.

When the image is brought to consciousness via a gentle NLP questioning strategy, it can often be transformed using an NLP technique called the Swish pattern into something much more useful. The Swish pattern works because the mind is always moving, always seeking a direction. Whenever it is shown a direction that works better than what it was doing before, the mind always chooses the more useful direction. The NLP Swish pattern is an effective process for giving the mind a new direction and overcoming anxiety.

You can learn more about both the NLP Spelling Strategy and the Swish pattern in "Heart of the Mind" (Andreas and Andreas); check the bibliography for information on where to obtain this and other NLP books.

Contact Phil Mandel, tel. (503) 887-0889 , to schedule your free consultation and find out if the NLP Spelling Strategy, the Swish pattern or other NLP procedures and techniques are right for you

Stress Reduction

Wed, 20 Jan 2021 08:09:21 GMT

One of the NLP trade journals recently had an interesting article on stress management using timelines ("Stress Management: More Time for NOW", Pearson, Judith E, PhD, Anchor Point, April, 1999, pp. 11-17).

As Dr. Pearson points out, "people can reduce stress by being fully open to the present moment, something stressed out people rarely do. Instead they try to accomplish as much as possible in as short a time as possible; concentrating more on getting things done, than on the doing itself. Their sense of being gets confused with a sense of doing. In an effort to accomplish efficiency, people begin to compress their present moments."

Dr. Pearson wondered if there was some way to expand a person's sense of the present using NLP . She developed a technique and has used it successfully with several of her clients. I will share her technique with you here. I'd appreciate receiving feedback from you as to the benefits you experience using this technique.

First, make sure it's okay with all parts of you to make a change and participate in a visualization process that will reduce stress by increasing the sense of the present.

Next, find out how you represent your timeline. In other words, is your past to your left, future to your right? Past behind you, future in front? Both past and future in front but at different angles? Take a moment to visualize your unique way of representing your individual timeline, so that you have a sense of where your past is and where your future is.

Once you have a sense of your past and your future, and where they are with respect to your body, ask yourself the following questions: "Where is NOW?" Find out where you represent "now" as part of your timeline. Is it slightly in front of you? Directly under your feet? How big is it? Is it barely an inch wide, or is it six inches wide? Just find out what it is for you, without judgement and without trying to make it into what you might think it's supposed to be.

Hold the "now" in your hands, in relation to your past and your future. If it is only a few inches wide, and if it gives you any feeling of discomfort or tension, you could benefit from an expanded sense of "now". (The next paragraph will have the most effect if you have someone read it to you slowly and softly while you do the exercise, but if no one is available to read it to you, there's no harm in proceeding by yourself.)

Hold your "now" in your hands and SLOWLY draw your hands apart, expanding your "now" while staring at the space between your hands and being aware of your feelings as you do so. Notice any shift or changes in your body and your feelings. Continue to move your hands apart until it feels just right for you. If you move them so far apart that you begin to feel "spacey" or uncomfortable, just allow your hands to find the most appropriate distance for you. Ask inside if any part of you objects to using this new representation of "now", knowing that you can change it back to where it was any time that may be necessary. [pause]

When the spacing is just right for you, and there are no objections from any part of you, you can allow yourself to be surprised and delighted whenever you have a realization about how your "now" in this new representation has changed and benefited your life and increased your ability to relax and remain resourceful in many varying situations, over the days, weeks, months, and years to come. You can allow yourself to begin using this new representation now.

You might start noticing some relaxing effects of this exercise immediately, with follow-on effects to come in the future. However it works for you is the right way. Again, I'd appreciate it if you'd let me know what your experience is - that is, when you have the time.

Self-Talk Works!

Wed, 20 Jan 2021 08:03:31 GMT

You can easily combat nervousness and anxiety when meeting new people or speaking in front of large or small groups. Just follow these simple steps to give yourself a "Thought Inoculation" against nervousness and create a sense of joy, warmth, enthusiasm and confidence.

First, set the foundation: Understand the best kept secret in the speaking business: The audience wants you to succeed. Why? Because if you succeed, then they succeed and their time will have been well spent.
Next, finish the foundation: Reframe those sensations that you used to call "nervousness". How? Answer this question: What experience, other than nervousness, can cause butterflies in your stomach your heart to race? Excitement! Anticipation! So, take those sensations that you used to call "nervousness" and interpret them as Excitement instead!
Now for some self-talk. Say to yourself, "I'm glad I'm here." If you're genuinely glad you're here (wherever "here" is), you will automatically feel a sense of joy and ease.
Add to that, "I'm glad you're here." This produces feelings of warmth, concern and sincerity.
Say to yourself, "I LOVE what I'm doing." If you love what you're doing, you can't help but feel enthusiasm and passion. Keep in mind that enthusiasm is like a smile it's contagious.
Finally, say to yourself, "I know that I know." This will cause you to feel confidence, conviction, and a sense of authority. Confidence is the great motivator. It tells your listener you're in control.

Repeat these self-talk phrases to yourself over and over, in sequence ten times, a hundred times if you have to:

"I'm glad I'm here."
"I'm glad you're here."
"I LOVE what I'm doing."
"I know that I know."

These four simple phrases, along with the foundation of knowing that your listener wants you to succeed and you're not nervous, you're Excited, will help you inoculate yourself against nervousness. Use them whenever you want to feel joy, warmth, enthusiasm and confidence, whether in social gatherings, business meetings, or formal presentations. You'll be amazed at how effective it is!

I had the opportunity to speak on this topic at the recent Oregon Speakers Association annual Showcase on March 19, 2001 in front of a very receptive and grateful audience. Credit goes to Dorothy Sarnoff, author of "Never be Nervous Again," 1987, Ivy Books, NY, NY.

The Power of Breath / Practice Now and Feel Better!

Wed, 20 Jan 2021 07:59:24 GMT

The act of breathing is the body's most vital and basic function, yet many of us pay little attention to our breath. We have never learned how to breathe correctly!

Learning to breathe properly can greatly improve your health and reduce the impact of stress on your body.

You've probably heard someone say to you when you are upset, "Take a deep breath." That is good advice! Our emotions are directly linked to our breathing. The next time you are upset or angry notice how you are breathing. You may not be breathing at all! If you take the time to learn Yogic Breath it can become a tool to reduce the impact of stress on your body.

When we breathe deeply, the impact of negative emotions on our bodies is greatly reduced. Also, every organ in our bodies needs oxygen to function properly. When we practice yogic or three-part breath, we oxygenate our blood so that the every organ in the body begins to function better. Deep breathing also calms the mind, which creates a sense of well-being and leads to vibrant health.

TRY THIS EXERCISE

Take a moment to close your eyes and notice how you are breathing. Yes, take a moment to do it now.

What did you notice? Is your breathing deep or shallow? What part of your torso are you breathing into? Does your belly move when you breathe? Does your rib cage expand?

Yogic Breath is sometimes called 3-part breath because we breathe into 3 areas of the torso to facilitate getting a complete breath.

Step One - Belly Breath

To begin, sit up straight and tall (sitting in a straight back chair with your feet firmly on the ground works well) and place your hand on your belly. Exhale fully while pulling your belly in to expel all of the stale air out of your lungs. Once all of the air is out, relax your belly. Notice how the belly automatically wants to expand as the air comes in. Let the belly blow up like a balloon as the air comes in. Continue breathing into the belly for a few more rounds. The belly goes in as the breath comes out, and the belly goes out as the breath comes in.

Step Two - Thoracic Breath

Now let go of the belly breath and place your hand on your rib cage, under your arm. As you exhale, allow the rib cage to contract. As you inhale, expand the rib cage. Let the breath be slow and full without any sense of straining. All the breathing should be through your nose. Try it a few more times.

Step Three - Upper Chest Breath

Let go of the thoracic breathing and place your hand on the soft area above your clavicle. As you breathe in, notice how the clavicle rises slightly. Allow it to rise without lifting your shoulders. As you breathe out the clavicle falls. It should feel like the air is coming down to an area just above the breasts. Try it for a few more rounds. Remember to breathe slowly. If you feel light headed or dizzy, increase your exhalation and decrease your inhalation.

Step Four - Combine Three Areas into One Long Breath

Place one hand on your belly and the other on your rib cage, under your arm. Sit up nice and straight and relax your face and jaw. Take a couple of relaxed breaths. Now exhale fully, pulling the belly in as you exhale. When you cannot exhale any further, relax the belly and allow the air to fill your belly. The belly will blow up like a balloon. Once the belly is full, allow the air to begin to expand the rib cage. When this area is full, continue breathing in and let the upper chest fill, the clavicle will rise slightly. As you exhale, it is just the opposite. The air goes out of your upper chest, then middle, then lower.

It may be helpful to image a glass of water. When the water is poured into the glass, it fills the bottom then middle and then top. When you pour it out, it goes out of the top, then middle, then bottom. The breath is the same.

Learning to breathe properly is a little bit like learning to play an instrument. It takes time and practice to perfect it. It's best to start slowly and attend to the details until you can feel each area filling during a single breath. Over time it will become easier. If the diaphragm and other muscles used in breathing have not been used in a long time, they may need to build up strength and flexibility gradually. I suggest practicing Yogic Breath first thing in the morning before you get out of bed. Take the pillow out from under your head and time yourself. Five minutes a day of yogic breath will have a dramatic impact on your health and sense of well being.

From: http://www.selfgrowth.com/articles/phelan.html

Post 9-11-2001 thoughts

Wed, 20 Jan 2021 07:55:01 GMT

My Friends,

As we continue to recover from the events of September 11, let me offer the words of Albert Einstein:

"A human being is a part of the whole called by us 'universe'. . . a part limited in time and space. He experiences his thoughts and feelings as separated from the rest a kind of optical delusion of his consciousness. This delusion is a kind of prison for us, restricting us to our personal desires and to affection for a few persons nearest us. Our task must be to free ourselves from this prison by widening our circle of compassion to embrace all living creatures and the whole of nature in its beauty."

So, to better embrace the warmth and joy of the Holiday Season, let me offer some suggestions of my own:

Drink more water than alcohol or coffee.
Listen more than speak.
Speak only kindness, truth and love.
Remember, always, who and what are important to you.

May the blessings of the Season be with you, now and always.

Perceptual Positions

Wed, 20 Jan 2021 07:50:32 GMT

Some of the basic concepts of NLP have been in use for quite some time by some unlikely scientific celebrities, such as Nobel Prize nominee Dr. Jonas Salk (1914-1995), developer of the Salk vaccine for polio. Dr. Salk used the concept of "perceptual positions" in his work with viruses and cancer cells. Here are Dr. Salk's own words, from Anatomy and Reality: Merging of Intuition and Reason (Columbia University Press, NY, NY, 1983):

"I do not remember exactly at what point I began to apply this way of examining my experience, but very early in my life I would imagine myself in the position of the object in which I was interested. Later, when I became a scientist, I would picture myself as a virus, or a cancer cell, for example, and try to sense what it would be like to be either. I would also imagine myself as the immune system, and I would try to reconstruct what I would do as an immune system engaged in combating a virus or cancer cell.

"When I had played through a series of such scenarios on a particular problem and had acquired new insights, I would design laboratory experiments accordingly. I soon found myself in a dialogue with nature using viruses, immune systems, and other phenomena to ask questions in the form of experiments and then waiting for the answer. Based upon the results of the experiment, I would then know what questions to ask next, until I learned what I wanted to know, or until I went as far as I could go. When I observed phenomena in the laboratory that I did not understand, I would also ask questions as if interrogating myself: "Why would I do that if I were a virus or a cancer cell, or the immune system?" Before long this internal dialogue became second nature to me; I found that my mind worked this way all the time."

Of course, Dr. Salk had no knowledge of NLP when he developed the polio vaccine since NLP had not yet been created. Nevertheless, he found himself using "second perceptual position" as a way of acquiring new insights. In NLP, second position is a particular way of stepping into another person's shoes. By contrast, when I am in first position, I am fully in my body, knowing my own feelings, needs and desires. When I put myself in second position with another person, I imagine what it is like to be that person - with his family history, employed in his job, being his age, and so on. If done fully and completely, it provides a rich, full representation of what it is like to be the other person, providing an understanding of his feelings, needs and desires. What Dr. Salk did was to go second position with virus cells, cancer cells, and the human immune system. Clearly, he was able to make use of this skill to great advantage since it helped him develop the polio vaccine. The vaccine has likely been responsible for reducing the incidence of polio as much as 95% and preventing innumerable cases throughout the world.

With NLP, in addition to first and second positions, we also commonly use the perspective of "third position," which is an enlightened observer perspective - like the proverbial fly on the wall, but with true knowledge and empathy gained from having first experienced the other two perspectives.

An NLP process called "Aligning Perceptual Positions" provides a way for an individual to experience each of these three perspectives to gain insight and compassion for others, particularly when there is a relationship of difficulty. I sometimes use this process with clients when they have trouble standing up for themselves in a personal or professional relationship, or when they are stuck in one particular position (for example, co-dependence is the state of being stuck in second position).

I invite your questions and comments on perceptual positions or any other NLP-related topic. As always, if there is a particular issue you would like to address with me, please don't hesitate to ask.

Naturally Slender Eating Strategy

Wed, 20 Jan 2021 07:47:16 GMT

Did you know that the average Americans weight gain during the Holiday season is fifteen to twenty pounds? Would you like to have a sure-fire method of keeping that down to five pounds or less?

Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP) is a methodology that lets us model successful strategies some people have. In the case of food, we have modeled a successful eating strategy. By contrast, one woman had an eating strategy that went like this: SEE food . . . EAT food. It's no wonder she was 100 pounds overweight! Once she learned the Naturally Slender Eating Strategy, she was able to bring her weight down to a healthy level. This is the strategy that people who are naturally slender seem to use automatically, while people who have trouble keeping their weight down do not.

The Naturally Slender Eating Strategy:
Briefly, the Naturally Slender Eating Strategy works like this: Imagine that you are eating a portion of food. Get a sense of how that changes the feeling in your stomach. Most important, imagine how it will feel not only just after you eat it, but OVER TIME over the next few hours. If you like that feeling, set it aside for a moment and think about a different food choice. Get a feel for what that will be like in your stomach not just after you eat it, but over the next few hours. Like that feeling better than the first food choice? Keep it in place of the previous choice. If not, toss it and keep the previous choice for now.

Then, think of another food item, and continue this process for awhile until you find which food seems like it will feel best OVER TIME in your system. Toss out the other choices since they're not as satisfying, and use the one that feels best over time. If none of the available choices seems like it will feel good over time, you've probably eaten enough and it's time to STOP EATING!

As you probably know, NLP can be used successfully to help people change their strategies for any number of things, such as eating, shopping, selecting jobs or relationship partners. Of course, just changing a strategy is not always what's called for. Sometimes, a change is needed at the Beliefs or Identity level. There are hundreds of procedures in NLP to help people deal effectively with many different kinds of difficulties. But often, simply engaging a new strategy like the Naturally

Managing Holiday Stress

Wed, 20 Jan 2021 07:43:58 GMT

Studies have shown that the Holiday season can be one of the most stressful. People get anxious about getting the right presents for their friends and family members, fixing the right meals, getting to Church on time and for some, memories of childhood experiences can creep up and cause some distress. Here are a few hints to not merely survive the season, but enjoy it:

Take care of yourself
The best way to relieve stress is to live a healthy lifestyle. That includes good exercise, regular and adequate sleep and balanced meals. The reason why these three things work? Aerobic exercise helps burn off the excess energy that stress can produce. Sleep helps us tackle problems in a refreshed state. And good nutrition, including fruits, vegetables and lots of water (not too much alcohol or caffeine!), keeps your body tuned and strong.

Manage your time
Set realistic goals and deadlines and plan activities accordingly. Do "must do" tasks first. Schedule difficult tasks for the time of day when you are most productive. And finally, tackle easy tasks when you feel low on energy or motivation.

Take time off
Take time to rest or enjoy a long weekend. During the day, take short breaks to stretch, walk, breathe slowly and relax. Also, learn to set your limits and, when necessary, say "no" to additional tasks in a friendly but firm manner.

Choose your battles
Don't argue every time someone disagrees with you. Save your argument for things that really matter.

I hope these hints help, and I wish you and yours a happy, safe Holiday season!

Don't Give Up on Illness

Wed, 20 Jan 2021 07:40:50 GMT

The most important thing about illness is that a person not give up when they get a diagnosis from a doctor. So often people do!

One medical doctor's opinion is that people need to take care of treating the illness and then start examining what the learning is in the illness. So, physicians are starting to say some of the same things we've been saying all along in NLP . Do the medical interventions, but if you don't examine the cause of the illness, you're just putting band aids on top. It may pop up in some way later on in your life.

We have some guesses about that - in terms of cancer in particular. Research shows that cancer often occurs in people who are in internal conflict - and it is usually a self/other conflict. That is about, "Do I meet other people's needs at my own expense?" People often meet other people's needs at their own expense. Take the case of a young lady years ago. She was 30 years old and had a strange cancer in her neck so that she couldn't hold her head up. She had to wear a neck brace. She had three little kids and she was helping to support her husband, who was in school.

Her mother asked an NLP Practitioner to talk to her. When asked, "What's important to you?" her responses were enlightening. She said, "My church. Doing my church work and doing what it takes to get me exaltation." "What else," asked the Practitioner. "Children. Taking care of my kids' needs." Less important than that was her husband and making sure she was a good wife and supporting his needs. The Practitioner then asked, "And where are you in all this?"

At this point the elicitation of her hierarchy of criteria, she looked down and said, "Oh, well - there's no time for me." Using a little sleight of mouth, the Practitioner said, "Don't you realize that if you don't take care of yourself, you can't meet any of those other needs?" She had her church work at the top of her needs, and she herself was virtually non-existent.

So a prevalent behavior found in people who have cancer is self- neglect, as in this example. The cancer goes on growing and the immune system doesn't even notice. The person has neglected themselves and the body doesn't know how to respond.

Of course, cancer is not always the result of an internal conflict or of putting others' needs before our own. Sometimes, taking care of others is the most important thing in the world. The point is that putting ourselves first is not an act of "selfishness", it's an act of love I can't take care of others, at least not for long, unless I take care of myself first.

Take care of yourselves until next time . . .

Diagnosis doesn't mean give up!

Wed, 20 Jan 2021 04:12:45 GMT

The most important thing about illness is that a person not give up when they get a diagnosis from a doctor. So often people do!

One medical doctor's opinion is that people need to take care of treating the illness and then start examining what the learning is in the illness. So, physicians are starting to say some of the same things we've been saying all along in NLP. Do the medical interventions, but if you don't examine the cause of the illness, you're just putting band aids on top. It may pop up in some way later on in your life.

Of course, cancer is not always the result of an internal conflict or of putting others' needs before our own. Sometimes, taking care of others is the most important thing in the world. The point is that putting ourselves first is not an act of "selfishness", it's an act of love. I can't take care of others, at least not for long, unless I take care of myself first.

Depression and Beliefs

Wed, 20 Jan 2021 04:09:21 GMT

Placebos are 59 per cent as efficient in relieving depression as the tricyclic psychotropic drugs. (Morris, J., and Beck, A., 'The efficacy of antidepressant drugs,' Archives of General Psychiatry 30 (1974), 667-74). What impact are your beliefs having on your health?

In February 2000, I completed the NLP Health Certification Training at Anchor Point Institute in Salt Lake City. Three of the best trainers in the world were our teachers Robert Dilts, Tim Hallbom, and Suzi Smith (authors of "Beliefs: Pathways to Health and Well- Being"). In this intensive training, we learned about identifying and changing limiting beliefs, resolving internal conflicts, recovering from compulsions and addictions, and much more. I look forward to discussing relief from depression or other unpleasant states with you or your acquaintances, friends and family members.

Darwin's Thinking Path

Wed, 20 Jan 2021 04:09:19 GMT

An article in Natural History magazine* provides a simple but powerful example of the relationship between patterns of movement and the way we think. The article is a reflection on the country estate of Charles Darwin (1809 - 1882), the English biologist and naturalist whose theory of evolution revolutionized our understanding of natural history and shifted our perception of human origins.

Darwin acquired Downe House a few years after his return from his historic voyage aboard HMS Beagle. He spent some 20 years after returning from his travels on the HMS Beagle working out his theories and their relationship to the evidence he had gathered and the observations he had made. It was at Downe House that he wrote his classic works "Origin of Species" and "Descent of Man".

In describing the estate, the author of the article notes: "Soon after settling at Downe, Darwin constructed a sand- covered path known as the sandwalk that still winds through the shady woods and then returns toward the house along a sunny, hedge-lined field. He strolled it daily, referring to it as "my thinking path." Often he would stack a few stones at the path's entrance and knock one away with his walking stick on completing each circuit. He could anticipate a "three-flint problem," just as Sherlock Holmes had "three-pipe problems," and then head home when all the stones were gone."

Reading this description, it is easy to imagine Darwin, deep in thought, strolling along his sandwalk and contemplating some key aspect of his theory of evolution and natural selection. The fact that Darwin called the sandwalk his "thinking path" indicates that he considered his walks along this path to have some significant connection with his thinking process. It seems as though repetitive physical movements and activities involving major muscle groups (such as walking, swimming, biking, playing tennis, etc.), influence our overall state of mind and provide a rich context for our thinking processes.

Other historical greats had "thinking paths" of their own. Einstein played the violin during times of productive thinking, claiming that it was in some ways an extension of his thinking and that it helped him to solve particularly tricky problems. Einstein also loved to sail regularly, reportedly hastily scribbling away in his notebook whenever the wind died down. Leonardo da Vinci played the lyre. Mozart claimed that many of his best musical ideas came while he was walking or riding in a carriage. Similar to Darwin, other famous thinkers, such as Emmanuel Kant, walked as part of their daily regimen.

Robert Dilts (NLP developer and trainer) interviewed the founder of a large Scandinavian shipping company. The founder claimed that he used different physical activities to help him solve various problems. For certain issues, he would go out and play golf to get into the frame of mind required. For other problems, he would ride his bicycle. He was so specific about which type of physiology to use that he would say, "You can't golf on that problem. That's one that you have to ride your bicycle on."

Do you have a "thinking path" that you use? I wonder if there is an activity you enjoy, that you could do every day, to help stimulate your thought processes and creativity. There is an New Guinea proverb which states, "Knowledge is only a rumor until it's in the muscle." Do you churn and concentrate when solving problems so intently that you develop muscle tension and headaches? If so, you might want to take more frequent breaks and walk, jog, or otherwise use your major muscle groups to open up your state of mind and relax your mind/body. As Boston's Museum of Science used to advertise, "It's amazing how a relaxed mind perceives relationships."

*Keeping Up Down House, Milner, R., Natural History, August, 1996, pp. 54-57

Page updated 01/20/2021

Count Yourself to Sleep

Wed, 20 Jan 2021 04:00:30 GMT

Did you know that you can count yourself to sleep? No, not by counting sheep (although if that works for you, stay with it!). Here's the plan:

If you're in bed and haven't been able to fall asleep for a while, start counting backwards from 100. Do it slowly, about once a second, 100 . . . 99 . . . 98 . . . and so on. Take your time.

The trick is this: If you get lost or forget what number you're on, you need to start over again from 100. Every time you get lost, gently start over. Don't allow yourself to become frustrated, just be gentle with yourself and start back over from 100. Yes, even if you're all the way down to 6 . . . 5 . . . 4 . . . and your mind wanders, start again from 100.

Why does this work? For one, it takes a reasonable amount of concentration to count backwards and do it slowly, much more than counting forwards. This will help keep your mind from thinking other thoughts, and isn't it those other thoughts . . . the "radio station" in your mind . . . that's keeping you awake? Doing something that takes a little mental concentration (the word "little" is important here) should help calm your mind.

For another, it's monotonous and therefore mildly hypnotic. Since your goal is to become unconscious (otherwise known as "asleep"), this little bit of self-hypnosis can help. Note that it's not hypnosis in the usual sense, such as "you are getting sleepy". Rather, you're just doing something monotonous with your mind that will have the effect of making you sleepy.

When I have trouble falling asleep and use this simple exercise, I am almost always asleep before successfully counting down to zero the first time. If I happen to make it all the way to zero without losing my place, I start over at 100 again. I will almost always be asleep before I make it to zero the second time. If not, I just start over and do it again.

Want to make this process even deeper? Do this: Visualize each number while you do the backwards-counting in your mind. Imagine the number "100" somehow appears in your mind's eye while you hear "one hundred" in your mind's ear. Then, imagine the number "99" somehow appears in your mind's eye while you hear "ninety-nine" in your mind's ear. Keep doing this for each number until you either fall asleep, get lost and start over at 100, or get all the way to zero and start over at 100. This will engage both your visual system in addition to your auditory system, making the process that much more self-hypnotic.

I hope this helps! Let me know how it works for you. I'm grateful to Mike Dennis, president and founder of Oregon Aero, Inc, for this little trick. Oregon Aero makes wonderful comfort products for aircraft, other motor vehicles and home use. Check them out at www.oregonaero.com .

Sweet dreams!

Change your Mind, Change your Body

Wed, 20 Jan 2021 03:55:56 GMT

Significant eyesight changes have been found in people with multiple personality disorder (MPD)*. In some cases, one personality** has good vision while another is nearsighted. (Goleman, D., 'Probing the enigma of multiple personality', The New York Times, 28 June 1988.) This means that eyesight is not constant or all the personalities, sharing the same eyes, would all have the same vision.

Other physiological changes have been documented in people with MPD, including:

Eye color changes between personalities Severe allergies in one personality but not in another Asthma in one personality but not in another Diabetes in one personality but not in another Even x-rays can differ between different personalities

NLP Practitioners who work with people who have physical ailments know that people can, in a sense, "re-program" themselves to deal with and sometimes cure their own ailments. I know of several people who have recovered from diabetes, asthma, allergies, and who have changed their vision back to 20/20 when medical doctors and optometrists told them they were stuck with their ailments for life.

While conventional wisdom would say that's not possible because these are physical ailments, my ears perked up when I heard that people with MPD sometimes have physiological changes when they change personality. If multiples can do it by accident, it seems plausible that we who are lucky enough to have some control over our moods and minds can do it on purpose. Again, NLP Practitioners know from both training and experience that the mind has tremendous influence over the body (some would say they are same). What excites me about the physiological changes that people with MPD experience is the scientific evidence it provides that, in a sense, explains how it is possible for something like NLP to affect people's physical ailments.

In my own experience as a Practitioner, I recently helped a young woman with exercise-induced asthma recover from her ailment and be able do vigorous exercise without the need to rely on her inhaler. She gained fifteen pounds of muscle in her first two months at college on a full basketball scholarship how's that for vigorous exercise and only needed to use her inhaler once.

*Note: MPD has been renamed by the American Psychological Association as Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID).

Brain Power

Wed, 20 Jan 2021 03:53:10 GMT

The human brains consists of more than 100 billion neurons (nerve cells) through which the brain's commands are sent in the form of electric pulses. These pulses travel at more than 400 km/h (250 mph), creating enough electricity to power a light bulb. The brain consumes more energy than any other organ, burning up a whopping one-fifth of the food we take in.

It is estimated that the mental capacity of a 100-year old human with perfect memory could be represented by computer with 10 to the power of 15 bits (one petabit). At the current rate of computer chip development, that figure can be reached in about 35 years. However, that represents just memory capacity, not the extremely complex processes of thought creation and emotions.

Our brains work harder that the rest of our bodies. Although the brain comprises little more than two per cent of the body's weight, it uses up 20 per cent of the body's energy.

We remember particularly well the things we go over in our minds before we go to sleep at night. And consider this: for all the complexity of the brain, you still have only one thought at a time. Make it a positive thought.

Wishing you Positive Thoughts and a Happy Life!

Beliefs and Immune System

Wed, 20 Jan 2021 03:50:06 GMT

Often, I find goodies from outside of NLP-land that fit with my philosophy and NLP's presuppositions. One such nugget comes from this month's Personal Growth and Wellness E-Zine. The paragraph under "Did You Know" (below) talks about the effect of beliefs on people's immune systems, echoing the NLP presupposition, "Mind and body are part of the same system and affect each other."

I thought I would share the E-Zine with you, and because of the publisher's copyright notice (under "A Request", below), I am including the entire E-Zine, rather than cutting and pasting the parts I consider relevant. Besides, there's more good stuff in the E-Zine in addition to the "Did You Know" paragraph. For example, the "Feature Article" is a reprint of Erma Bomeck's famous lines, "If I Had my Life to Live Over." The Holidays seem like a good time to be reminded of these words. And the "Book/Video Review" talks about the healing power of love.

********************* Did You Know ... ********************* The more people believe they can cope with challenge, the less stress takes a toll of their bodies. People with this belief have stronger immune systems. (Bandura, A., 'Perceived self-efficacy in the exercise of control over AIDS infection', paper presented at the National Institutes of Mental Health and Drug Abuse Research Conference on Women and AIDS, Bethesda, MD, 1987.) ********************* Feature Article *********************

IF I HAD MY LIFE TO LIVE OVER

by Erma Bombeck

I would have talked less and listened more.

I would have invited friends over to dinner even if the carpet was stained and the sofa faded.

I would have eaten the popcorn in the "GOOD" living room and worried much less about the dirt when someone wanted to light a fire in the fireplace.

I would have taken the time to listen to my grandfather ramble about his youth.

I would never have insisted the car windows be rolled up on a summer day because my hair had just been teased and sprayed.

I would have burned the pink candle sculpted like a rose before it melted in storage.

I would have sat on the lawn with my children and not worried about grass stains.

I would have cried and laughed less while watching television and more while watching life.

I would have gone to bed when I was sick instead of pretending the earth would go into a holding pattern if I weren't there for the day.

I would never have bought anything just because it was practical, wouldn't show soil or was guaranteed to last a lifetime.

Instead of wishing away nine months of pregnancy, I'd have cherished every moment realizing that the wonderment growing inside me was the only chance in life to assist God in a miracle.

When my kids kissed me impetuously, I would never have said, "Later. Now go get washed up for dinner."

There would have been more "I love you's" ... more "I'm sorry's" ...but mostly, given another shot at life, I would seize every minute ... look at it and really see it ... live it ... and never give it back.

************************* Book/Video Review *************************

The Healing Power of Love

Dr Dean Ornish Video 70 mins. SRP $19.98

Dr. Dean Ornish was recently named by Life Magazine as one of the fifty most influential members of his generation. He is known for his work on diet, lifestyle and stress particularly as it relates to preventing heart disease. In this video - The Healing Power of Love - he explains the impact that loving relationships can have on our health.

Apparently, recent research shows that even severe heart disease can reverse when changes are made in diet and lifestyle, and that no other factor has a greater impact on our well-being than love. Loneliness can increase the risk of premature death by three to five times. Dr. Ornish says "We are touchy-feely creatures" and we need community. Loneliness can impair immune functioning, and those who report feeling loved and supported by their spouse show less arterial blockage when all other factors are taken into account. Apparently even the effects of even the big risk factors we all know about, cholesterol and lack of exercise, can be reduced by loving relationships.

In this video, Dr. Ornish shares something of his own spiritual journey and how on his fortieth birthday he was highly successful with many accomplishments but he felt lonely and isolated. Why? Because he was afraid to open his heart. He goes on to suggest ways to enhance intimacy through communication. Words matter; Dr. Ornish says that those who argue most have compromised immune systems. Words matter, and it's feeling that connects us. Emotions influence us more than thoughts which tend to keep us stuck in the past or the future.

Demonstrating his ideas through interacting with two married couples in the studio audience, Dr. Ornish encourages us to increase our communication skills and hence our intimacy. Relationships are about power, he says, when a person feels put down they want to either attack back or to act in passive-aggressive ways. Using a simple three-step process may not get you what you want, but will increase your intimacy with your partner or friend:

1. Distinguish between thoughts and feelings.

2. Share your feelings.

3. Listen to and acknowledge the other person's feelings.

Other areas that Dr. Ornish identifies where we can increase our well-being include; being part of a group; having compassion for ourselves; touch; even touching non-human animals can be important; meditation; altruism/service. This is a thought-provoking and informative video which gives concrete directions for increasing love and intimacy for greater health and balance. Made for television, it is well-crafted with excellent production quality.

Dr Ornish sums up his experience in the words of Swami Satyananda, "Nothing can bring you lasting happiness, but you have that already, if you stop disturbing it."

Submitted by; Caroline Hall of New Era Video which offers a unique library of inspirational and informative Personal Growth and Wellness videos to buy or borrow. Visit http://www.NewEraVideo.com. E-mail: NewEraVid@aol.com

********************************************

Personal Growth - http://find-it.hypermart.net/wellness.htm

Personal Growth and Wellness E-Zine Volume 1, Issue 9, December 16, 1999

Contents Of This Issue:
- Editor's Notes
- Thought for the Day
- Did You Know ...
- Sponsor Message
- Feature Article
- Reader Feedback
- Sponsor Message
- Humor
- Sponsor Message
- Book/Video Review
- Sponsor Message
- A Request
- Subscribe / Unsubscribe

********************** Editor's Notes **********************

We wish you the best of the Holiday Season and much happiness in the coming year. As you glide through the shopping and wrapping and visiting and eating, remember ... Breathing is Good!

This is a FREE newsletter, issued twice a month, that will feature articles and information from a wide variety of areas, including (and not limited to): Aromatherapy, Feng Shui, General Health, Homeopathy, Meditation, NLP, Polarity Therapy, Qigong, Reflexology, Reiki, Yoga, etc. The opinions expressed in this newsletter are those of the individual authors and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the editor. The contents herein should not be considered as a form of therapy or advice. There is no guarantee of validity or accuracy. We assume no responsibility for injury and specifically disclaim any warranty, express or implied for any products or services mentioned. If expert assistance or counseling is needed, services of a competent professional should be sought.

We have a number of interesting articles lined up for you in the coming months and we are also looking for new articles. If you would like to submit an article or book review, please visit http://find-it.hypermart.net/articles.htm for more information.

Please share this newsletter with a friend. Our website is located at http://find-it.hypermart.net/find-it.htm

********************* Thought For The Day *********************

If an unusual necessity forces us onward, a surprising thing occurs. The fatigue gets worse up to a certain point, when, gradually or suddenly, it passes away and we are fresher than before! We have evidently tapped a new level of energy. There may be layer after layer of this experience, a third and fourth "wind". We find amounts of ease and power that we never dreamed ourselves to own, sources of strength habitually not taxed, because habitually we never push through the obstruction of fatigue. William James

********************* Sponsor Message *********************

Nightingale-Conant On-line is a great place to find videos, audiotapes and books presented by internationally recognized authors such as: Deepak Chopra, Anthony Robbins, Brian Tracy, Wayne Dyer, and Napoleon Hill. Topics include: Business, Health & Wellness, Mind Technology, Personal Development, Spiritual Growth, Wealth Building, and Christianity. Certainly worth a visit. Click here! http://www.nightingale.com/index.asp?wci=tHome&source=aff47

********************* Sponsor Message *********************

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************************* Humor *************************

Famous Church signs....

Free Trip to heaven. Details inside!

Try our Sundays. They are better than Baskin-Robbins.

Searching for a new look? Have your faith lifted here!

Have trouble sleeping? We have sermons - come hear one!

People are like tea bags - you have to put them in hot water before you know how strong they are.

God so loved the world that He did not send a committee.

Come in and pray today. Beat the Christmas rush!

When down in the mouth, remember Jonah. He came out all right!

Fight truth decay - study the Bible daily.

How will you spend eternity - Smoking or Nonsmoking?

Come work for the Lord. The work is hard, the hours are long and the pay is low. But the retirement benefits are out of this world.

Looking at the way some people live, they ought to obtain eternal fire insurance soon.

This is a CH_ _ CH What is missing? UR

Forbidden fruit creates many jams.

Running low on faith? Stop in for a fill-up.

If you can't sleep, don't count sheep. Talk to the Shepherd.

********************* Sponsor Message *********************

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********************* Sponsor Message *********************

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************************** A Request **************************

If you enjoyed this newsletter, please share with your friends/colleagues. You may reproduce, copy or distribute this newsletter only in its entirety and provided copyright is acknowledged.

********************* Subscribe / Unsubscribe *********************

To subscribe or to view previous issues, please visit http://selfgrowth.listbot.com. You may also subscribe by sending a blank e-mail message to selfgrowth-subscribe@listbot.com

To unsubscribe, send a blank e-mail to selfgrowth-unsubscribe@listbot.com

******************** Sponsor Message ****************************

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Beliefs about Aging can Affect Heart

Wed, 20 Jan 2021 03:35:49 GMT

Medical researchers can now show that how you feel about aging as you get older influences the health of your heart. In what they call "the first study of its kind," investigators led by epidemiologist Becca Levy of Yale School of Medicine found that exposing study participants to positive ideas about aging lowered their blood pressure readings during times of mild stress. Conversely, those exposed to negative ideas about aging subsequently registered higher values of systolic and diastolic blood pressure.

Levy's team structured the 54-participant study to deliver subliminal messages via flashes of words across a computer screen. Positive words included "wisdom" and "creative," and negative words included "senile" and "dying." Levy says, "The study suggests that negative stereotypes of aging may contribute to health problems in the elderly without their awareness." She and her team publish the findings in the Journal of Gerontology.

Above article excerpted from: Personal Growth - http://find-it.hypermart.net/wellness.htm Personal Growth and Wellness E-Zine Volume 2, Issue 13, July 16, 2000

NLP Practitioners frequently help clients deal with limiting beliefs, whether they be about aging, health, self-worth or relationships. One of my workshops, Change your Beliefs, Change your Life, specifically addresses limiting beliefs. I invite you to browse my website for more information on my workshops or contact me if you have any questions or concerns.

An excellent book that discusses limiting beliefs from an NLP perspective is Beliefs: Pathways to Health and Well-Being, by Dilts, Hallbom, and Smith, Metamorphous Press, 1990.