In the last few episodes we’ve been talking about strategies. I’d like to round off this section by mentioning a powerful NLP technique for doing things better or installing new strategies – the New Behaviour Generator.
As far as I know, this method was developed by Richard Bandler. It’s like positive mental rehearsal on steroids!
These are the steps:
- Describe a behaviour you would like to be able to do, or how you would like to be able to do something better. Start from a belief and internal dialogue of ‘I can do this’.
- Create a mental ‘movie’ in which you see yourself doing the new behaviour the way you want. Make sure the picture is big, bright and vivid. Add sound so that you see and hear yourself. Adjust the movie until you are satisfied with the new behaviour. (Extra tip: for many people, looking up and to your right as you do this will help. For a few people – usually if you’re left-handed – looking up and to your left will work better. And I should probably add that some people won’t notice much of a difference, but you won’t know until you try it.)
- Step into the ‘movie’ and check how this feels. Make any further adjustments you need to until you feel the way you want. (Extra tip: for most people, looking down towards your dominant hand will help you get in touch with what you are feeling).
- Imagine seeing yourself use the new behaviour in three or more opportunities in the future to generalise the new ability out. Again, looking up will help you to visualise.
Some extra refinements:
- Use a role model: When you create your mental movies you can use a ‘role model’ who you know can do the desired behaviour well. Run a dissociated movie of that person performing the behaviour (Step 2) and then ‘become’ that person in Step 3. Then repeat Steps 2 and 3 with yourself in the movie, making any changes you need to.
- Use resources from your past: if you have dealt with similar situations well in the past, see yourself doing that and then transfer that skill into the new situation.
- ‘Chunk’ the behaviour down: if you need to, break the desired behaviour down into smaller steps and run through the dissociated and associated mental movies on each.
- Use a timeline: lay a timeline out on the floor, from past to future. See yourself enjoying the results of the desired behaviour and place this goal on the timeline. Step into it, get the good feelings, and notice the steps and any new behaviours associated with them leading up to the successful achievement of this goal.Step off the timeline and notice where each new behaviour step is on the timeline.Repeat the dissociated and associated mental movies for each new behaviour. Finally walk up the timeline from now, associating into each step, until you reach your goal. Store your goal and the new behaviours associated with it wherever feels right for you.
- Create alternatives: before you run the mental movies, ask your unconscious mind to create at least 3 options for new behaviours. Try out each and select the most appropriate.
So, why not select something you’d like to do better and give the New Behaviour Generator a try? Leave a comment to let us know how you got on!
Duration: 4m54s
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