344 Part VI: The Part of Tens
Seriously though, NLP has much to offer you if you want to stay healthy,
because it recognises the inextricable connection between mind and body.
NLP views a person like a system that needs to stay balanced in order to be
healthy.
Have you ever had a time when you had too much to do, not enough time to
do it, and not much say about when and how it was done? Perhaps you’ve felt
like a hamster on a treadmill going nowhere? Most people go through tough
times – peaks and troughs are normal. The danger zone hits when people don’t
recognise what’s happening and their lives spiral out of control. When this
happens, the body steps in with a braking mechanism. Chronic fatigue, tension
headaches, neck and back pains, as well as outbursts of anger and anxiety, can
all be warning flags from your body that you’re not in control of your own life.
NLP helps people to stay centred and focused on their core values and
self-awareness, and so remain in tune with their health.
Using tools such as the Milton Model (see Chapter 16), metaphors and stories
(see Chapter 17), and anchors (check out Chapter 9) can help in reducing
stress and fears around illness. Unless you have medical training, however, be
very sensitive when using NLP with anyone with chronic health issues. Never
attempt to ‘fix’ someone or override the physical symptoms, which are
important messages that need professional attention.
A delegate on Romilla’s ‘Beyond Di-Stress’ workshop, named Cassy, had worn
herself to a frazzle, trying to meet her commitments at work where she had
been recently promoted, and trying to satisfy the demands of her family.
During the workshop, Cassy realised that she was pandering to the demands
of her boss and her family because she had a deep need for love that stemmed
from the fact that she’d been adopted. Despite loving adoptive parents and a
very stable and happy childhood, Cassy had always felt as if she was one of
life’s rejects, because her biological mother had given her away.
Another delegate heard Cassy’s story and reframed her perspective as ‘but
you’re really one of the chosen’. The change in Cassy was palpable and
pleasant to see, as she processed this positive slant on her identity. After the
workshop, Cassy was able to say ‘no’ to a lot of people in her life, and one of
the unforeseen benefits was that her children became more responsible for
their own lives.
Connecting to Your Audience: Advice for Trainers and Educators
NLP has expanded its reach into education with specialist NLP programmes
for teachers and educators. In addition, people who want to lead business
workshops can also benefit from NLP training.
