Neuro-Linguistic

Programming

NLP

NLP, short for Neuro-Linguistic Programming, is a toolkit for understanding how people think, speak, and behave, with the idea that you can change your habits, emotions, or ways of thinking by changing how you use language and how you focus your mind.

In simple terms, NLP is noticing how your thoughts and words affect your emotions and actions, and then learning how to tweak those to get better results in your life. People use it for personal growth, confidence, communication, motivation, and therapy.

How Does It Work?

NLP involves techniques that help you:

• Reframe negative thoughts

• Change limiting beliefs

• Communicate more effectively

• Break out of mental or emotional patterns that don’t serve you

Here’s a basic example: Let’s say you get anxious before public speaking. An NLP technique might help you visualise the situation differently (like imagining yourself being brilliant on stage), while changing the words you use in your head (“I’m excited” instead of “I’m terrified”). It’s a mix of psychology, communication, and mental rehearsal.

Another famous technique is called anchoring—pairing a physical action (like touching your hand) with a positive feeling, so that later you can trigger that feeling when you need it. Think of it like setting a mental shortcut key.

Where Did NLP Come From?

NLP was created in the 1970s by Richard Bandler (a mathematics and computer science student) and John Grinder (a linguist). They were fascinated by how some therapists got amazing results with clients, and they wanted to figure out how they did it.

So they studied famous therapists like Milton Erickson (a hypnotist), Virginia Satir (a family therapist), and Fritz Perls (founder of Gestalt therapy). Bandler and Grinder basically tried to “model” their language patterns and behaviours —like copying the code behind the success —and then taught others how to replicate it.

They weren’t interested in creating a new theory of psychology. They wanted something practical—what worked in real life, fast. NLP was born out of that mindset.

NLP is a mix of psychology, communication skills, and behaviour change techniques designed to help you understand yourself and others better, and change how you think, speak, and act to get better results in life. It’s not backed strongly by science, but it’s still widely used in coaching, therapy, and personal development.

If you’re curious and open-minded, you might find NLP tools helpful.

References

Bandler, R., & Grinder, J. (1975). The Structure of Magic I: A Book About Language and Therapy. Science and Behavior Books.

Tosey, P., & Mathison, J. (2009). Neuro-Linguistic Programming: A Critical Appreciation for Managers and Developers. Palgrave Macmillan.

Heap, M. (1988). Neurolinguistic programming: An interim verdict. In M. Heap (Ed.), Hypnosis: Current clinical, experimental and forensic practices (pp. 268–280). Croom Helm.

Witkowski, T. (2010). Thirty-five years of research on Neuro-Linguistic Programming. NLP Research Data Base. Polish Psychological Bulletin, 41(2), 58–66. https://doi.org/10.2478/v10059-010-0008-0

If you feel that NLP would help you,

Then