Hours of formal study and practical work, supplemented by readings on NLP, listening to CDs, watching videos, and attending live presentations, resulted in the inevitable that I have individualized aspects within the field of neuro-linguistic programming, NLP.

After all, there are not only the strategies within NLP that make it a powerful force for behavioural change, but there are also strong spiritual aspects aligned with some of the philosophies of NLP which we make our own according to our personal spiritual philosophies.

I’m not talking about denominational persuasions or any particular religion, I’m talking about how some aspects of our core self are affected, our personal values, those aspects which bring us in harmony with our higher self.

The programming part of NLP deals significantly with modelling, and thus we have a huge responsibility to be role-models in our day-to-day interactions with ourself and with others.

Inherent in NLP is that we need to ‘walk our talk’.

NLP is a living modality with resultant changes in language and thought that affect our behaviours. That is to say, it’s not like the Latin language which remains static, NLP evolves; it’s alive.

Before getting deeper into technologies inherent in Neuro-Linguistic Programming, I would like to clarify some terminology I use.

After all, NLP sanctions that we each have our own model of the world and as long as it’s ecological, that’s okay.

Ecological implies that before we make a decision and action, we need to apply the following logic.

Is the decision going to be:

1. Safe and good for me

2. Safe and good for others

3. Safe and good for the planet

If these three criteria are met, then chances are, that the decision will be actionable.

I recognize 3 levels of consciousness:

The conscious mind

The subconscious mind
 
The unconscious mind
 
The conscious mind is self-explanatory - the conscious, aware mind utilizes the left and right modes of the brain.  When these two modes operate congruently, we experience conscious harmony.

Before strategy, thought pattern or behaviour becomes an intrinsic part of your, it is given birth in your conscious awareness.

The subconscious pertains to that part of your mind functioning on a developed intuitive, archival level wherein have developed your habits, paradigms, values, beliefs, attitudes, limiting beliefs, empowering beliefs, limiting decisions, empowering decisions, and so on.

In the subconscious live all the behaviours that you no longer need to give much, if any, thought to as you go about performing those behaviours, for example, your morning routine before you leave the house, or on a business level, the pocess of logging on to you computer to start work.

Automatic, rote behaviours generate from your subconscious mind.

The unconscious level is your physiology that part of you we don’t think about.  It’s the part that continues to function despite your efforst - our respiratory system, renal system, cardio system, immune system, endocrine system, all your organs. 

In other words, the part that never sleeps, that keeps you alive.

Some experts have given a percentage value to these - the conscious mind making up 5% of you, and the nonconscious platform, 95%.

I wouldn’t like to estimate a percentage value of the unconscious in relation to the subconscious. What percentage would you give to the unconscious, the part that actually keeps you alive physically?

And what about the subconscious? What percentage could you give to the part that helps your habits operate mentally and physically on a second-by-second basis, that has automated many of your everyday functions and behaviours?

How many of you actually talk to or acknowledge on a daily basis that 95% that is you, your nonconscious part?

Most people underuse this valuable resource they have within them and only use the conscious 5% of who they are.

How many of you thank this 95% for looking after you?

Without the power of your immune system, whenever you cut yourself severely, you could bleed to death if your body didn’t heal itself, that part of you, that comprises 95%.

How many of you have that 95% play an active role in your thoughts during your day?

Or, does the conscious mind, particularly its left mode, dominate your decision-making, your discussions, and the choices you make?

What huge percentage of you are you not using on a daily basis?