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| Pre Suppositions |
*. Energy flows to were we are focused on
We must make sure we are not wasting our valuable energies on thoughts and beliefs that are not beneficial for us. We create our own reality.
*. The past does not equal the future
We can always turn things around and there is always hope whatever the current reality is.
*. The past does not equal the future
We can always turn things around and there is always hope whatever the current reality is.
This may well be the single most important pre-supposition in the whole of NLP (originally developed by Alfred Korzybski, the founder of General Semantics).
In very simple terms it means that we are always slightly separated from 'reality'. We draw maps, but the map is not actually the place it depicts and we need to be responsive to what is actually happening around us rather than complaining that things aren't as they "ought to be".
Similarly, we need to understand that words are only a kind of shorthand for the things they describe. To get an inkling of what this means in practice, just look at the words on a banknote. What exactly does "promise to pay the bearer" really mean?
*. There is no such thing as failure, only feedback
When something doesn't go as we planned we tend to see that as failure. Depending on the seriousness of the situation we might then get angry, irritated, sad, depressed, worried, guilty or whatever.
None of which serves any useful purpose.
When something doesn't go as we planned we tend to see that as failure. Depending on the seriousness of the situation we might then get angry, irritated, sad, depressed, worried, guilty or whatever.
None of which serves any useful purpose.
*. The person with the greatest number of choices in a given situation is likely to get the best outcome
This is related to the idea of the BATNA (best alternative to non-agreement. If you go into a negotiation session with only one outcome in mind - and you don't achieve that particular outcome then you're up a dead-end street. If, on the other hand, you have several outcomes in mind (prioritised from "most preferred" to "least preferred", of course) then it is likely that you will achieve at least one of your outcomes.
This is related to the idea of the BATNA (best alternative to non-agreement. If you go into a negotiation session with only one outcome in mind - and you don't achieve that particular outcome then you're up a dead-end street. If, on the other hand, you have several outcomes in mind (prioritised from "most preferred" to "least preferred", of course) then it is likely that you will achieve at least one of your outcomes.
*. If one person can do something, anyone else can learn to do it
One of the key activities in NLP is the modelling of people who are recognised (by their peers) as being excellent in some field of activity in such a way as to identify what they do that gives them such remarkable results.
*. You cannot not communicate
People often imagine that they can avoid personal responsibility by simply saying nothing. This pre-supposition points out that we are constantly communicating, by what we do say, by what we don't say, and by a host of non-verbal signals.
On this basis it may be obvious that there is more to be gained by accepting responsibility for one's actions, than by trying to stay aloof.
*. If you go on doing what you're doing now you are very likely to go on getting the same results as you are getting now
The pre-supposition here is that we are each responsible for our own lives.
Though we may not be able to control what goes on in the world around us, we can always control how we respond to those events. If we always act/respond in the same way then the most likely result is that we will maintain the status quo.
This is why making a decision on the basis that "that's the way we've always done it" is often the prelude to disaster.
*. People respond to their experience, not to reality itself
We do not know what reality is. Our senses, beliefs, and past experience give us a map of the world from which to operate. A map can never be exactly accurate; otherwise it would be the same as the ground it covers. We do not know the territory, so for us, the map is the territory. Some maps are better than others for finding your way around. We navigate life like a ship through a dangerous area of sea; as long as the map shows the main hazards, we will be fine. When maps are faulty and do not show the dangers, then we are in danger of running aground. NLP is the art of changing these maps, so we have greater freedom of action.
*. Having a choice is better than not having a choice
There are at least 3 choices in any given situation. Always try to have a map for yourself that gives you the widest and richest number of choices. Act always to increase choice. The more choices you have, the freer you are and the more influence you have.
*. People make the best choice they can at the time
A person always makes the best choice they can, given their map of the world. The choice may be self-defeating, bizarre or evil, but for them, it seems the best way forward. Give them a better choice in their map of the world and they will take it. Even better give them a superior map with more choices in it.
*. People work perfectly
No one is wrong or broken. They are carrying out their strategies perfectly, but the strategies may be poorly designed and ineffective. Find out how you and others do what they do so their strategy can be changed to something more useful and desirable.
*. All actions have a purpose
Our actions are not random; we are always trying to achieve something, although we may not be aware of what that is.
*. Every behavior has a positive intention
All our actions have at least one purpose - to achieve something that we value and benefits us. NLP separates the intention or purpose behind an action from the action itself. A person is not their behaviour. When a person has a better choice of behaviour that also achieves their positive intention, they will take it.
*. The unconscious mind balances the conscious; it is not malicious
The unconscious is everything that is not in consciousness at the present moment. It contains all the resources we need to live in balance.
*. The meaning of the communication is not simply what you intend, but also the response you get
This response may be different to the one you wanted. There are no failures in communication, only responses and feedback. If you are not getting the result you want, change what you are doing. Take responsibility for the communication.
*. We already have all the resources we need, or we can create them
There are no unresourceful people, only unresourceful states of mind.
*. Mind and body form a system. They are different expressions of the one person
Mind and body interact and mutually influence each other. It is not possible to make a change in one without the other being affected. When we think differently, our bodies change. When we act differently we change our thoughts and feelings.
*. We process all information through our senses
Developing your sense so they become more acute gives you better information and helps you think more clearly.
*. Modeling successful performance leads to excellence
If one person can do something it is possible to model it and teach it to others. In this way everyone can learn to get better results in their own way, you do not become a clone of the model – you learn from them.
*. If you want to understand - Act
The learning is in the doing.
One of the key activities in NLP is the modelling of people who are recognised (by their peers) as being excellent in some field of activity in such a way as to identify what they do that gives them such remarkable results.
*. You cannot not communicate
People often imagine that they can avoid personal responsibility by simply saying nothing. This pre-supposition points out that we are constantly communicating, by what we do say, by what we don't say, and by a host of non-verbal signals.
On this basis it may be obvious that there is more to be gained by accepting responsibility for one's actions, than by trying to stay aloof.
*. If you go on doing what you're doing now you are very likely to go on getting the same results as you are getting now
The pre-supposition here is that we are each responsible for our own lives.
Though we may not be able to control what goes on in the world around us, we can always control how we respond to those events. If we always act/respond in the same way then the most likely result is that we will maintain the status quo.
This is why making a decision on the basis that "that's the way we've always done it" is often the prelude to disaster.
*. People respond to their experience, not to reality itself
We do not know what reality is. Our senses, beliefs, and past experience give us a map of the world from which to operate. A map can never be exactly accurate; otherwise it would be the same as the ground it covers. We do not know the territory, so for us, the map is the territory. Some maps are better than others for finding your way around. We navigate life like a ship through a dangerous area of sea; as long as the map shows the main hazards, we will be fine. When maps are faulty and do not show the dangers, then we are in danger of running aground. NLP is the art of changing these maps, so we have greater freedom of action.
*. Having a choice is better than not having a choice
There are at least 3 choices in any given situation. Always try to have a map for yourself that gives you the widest and richest number of choices. Act always to increase choice. The more choices you have, the freer you are and the more influence you have.
*. People make the best choice they can at the time
A person always makes the best choice they can, given their map of the world. The choice may be self-defeating, bizarre or evil, but for them, it seems the best way forward. Give them a better choice in their map of the world and they will take it. Even better give them a superior map with more choices in it.
*. People work perfectly
No one is wrong or broken. They are carrying out their strategies perfectly, but the strategies may be poorly designed and ineffective. Find out how you and others do what they do so their strategy can be changed to something more useful and desirable.
*. All actions have a purpose
Our actions are not random; we are always trying to achieve something, although we may not be aware of what that is.
*. Every behavior has a positive intention
All our actions have at least one purpose - to achieve something that we value and benefits us. NLP separates the intention or purpose behind an action from the action itself. A person is not their behaviour. When a person has a better choice of behaviour that also achieves their positive intention, they will take it.
*. The unconscious mind balances the conscious; it is not malicious
The unconscious is everything that is not in consciousness at the present moment. It contains all the resources we need to live in balance.
*. The meaning of the communication is not simply what you intend, but also the response you get
This response may be different to the one you wanted. There are no failures in communication, only responses and feedback. If you are not getting the result you want, change what you are doing. Take responsibility for the communication.
*. We already have all the resources we need, or we can create them
There are no unresourceful people, only unresourceful states of mind.
*. Mind and body form a system. They are different expressions of the one person
Mind and body interact and mutually influence each other. It is not possible to make a change in one without the other being affected. When we think differently, our bodies change. When we act differently we change our thoughts and feelings.
*. We process all information through our senses
Developing your sense so they become more acute gives you better information and helps you think more clearly.
*. Modeling successful performance leads to excellence
If one person can do something it is possible to model it and teach it to others. In this way everyone can learn to get better results in their own way, you do not become a clone of the model – you learn from them.
*. If you want to understand - Act
The learning is in the doing.
