Something to think about from Dr. Wil Horton

Intro to NLP Today E-Zine

NLP Today E-Zine is a monthly series of articles that will bring you the best information in the world of NLP and Hypnosis. We will bring you articles that have been proven in the real world. Heavy with techniques and information you can use in your daily life, whether it's as a therapist with clients, business or sales, or just for self-development. We will get you the information you want and can't get. We focus on proven applications, not theory. Our trainers all "do the work." This is the difference that makes the difference. We cut the fluff and bring the main course. Mental Food you can use. NFNLP is the leader in this type of technology.

This is a service of the National Federation of NeuroLinguistic Psychology and Dr. Wil Horton. We want people to achieve their highest potential, and NLP is the #1 tool for this. If you feel you have been added to this list in error, check out an issue, and then let us know if you would like to be removed.

You can achieve your dreams.

Captains Chair:

Well, we made it another year! As I look back, I am filled with a sense of gratitude. I have been truly blessed in so many ways, and I cannot give back as much as I have received. I was lucky enough to have been exposed to a technology that, not only saved my life, but gave me the life of my dreams. That is why I try to share this life-changing technology as often as I can. I ask that you, too, also share what you've been given whenever possible.

People often ask how I have achieved all that I have. Here is one of my fundamental practices that I would like to share with you.

As a year-end/beginning New Year exercise, look back over the year and take a fearless and searching inventory of where your life is currently, and what has taken place in the last 12 months. List all the areas of your life: personal, professional, educational, physical, emotional, and spiritual. This will give you a starting point.

Once you have done this, you can look forward to the next 12 months and plan where you want to go next. As you do this, it is important to be true to yourself. What do you want to have happen in the next year? Where do you really want to go with this gift called time?

Now look at your list of the areas of your life. Break down each area and decide where you would like to end up at the end of the year (i.e. your goals, your accomplishments, etc.) Write down these goals (That is very important.) and what evidence you expect to see that will confirm these achievements. What will you see, hear, and feel that will let you know that you have arrived at your destination?

Once you have done this, here comes the fearless part. Take a few of your goals and let people know what you plan to accomplish. Put yourself in a position of accountability. This is tougher than it seems.

A word of advice. Find people who are supportive; people who are positive and will not criticize. Remember, a lot of people do not understand the true power of what we do, the unlimited power of the mind.

Now that I have said this, here are some of my goals for the next year: ( I hope that you will see my progress as the year goes on, and hold me accountable.)

* I will get my Second Degree Black belt.

* I will compete in 2 tournaments.

* I will complete 3 manuscripts. 1 will be done and ready by the NGH conference, and another in rough form.

* My wife and I will dive in locations we have never been.

* I will spend more time in Florida.

* Will be debt free by December 2003.

* NFNLP will double in size, so we can impact the world.

* I will spend more time developing my spiritual life.

* I will let go of long held resentments.

* My wife and I will spend more time together.

* I will explore a new area of interest.

* I will double my income.

* I will get a sports car.

* I will share with others these wonderful techniques.

From the Road:

In the next few weeks I will be doing weight loss and stop smoking seminars in the following cities. You are invited to attend and may bring your cards to hand out. NFNLP, NGH, IACT, and IMDHA members get a $10 discount. Plan to attend and see NLP/ Advanced Hypnosis skills in action!

Grand Rapids, MI

Jan 8 Howard Johnsons 7 PM

Jan 9 Crowne Plaza 7 PM

* * *

Buffalo, NY

Jan. 11 Holiday Inn 4600 Genesee St. 10 Am.

Holiday Inn 1881 Niagara 7 PM

* * *

Rochester, NY

Jan 12 Marriott Hotel 10 AM

Holiday Inn 4PM

* * *

Syracuse, NY

Jan 14 Holiday Inn 7 PM

* * *

Albany, NY

Jan 15 Holiday Inn 7 PM

* * *

Saratoga Springs, NY

Jan 16 Sheraton Hotel 7PM

* * *

Schenectady, NY

Jan 18 10AM

* * *

Cleveland, OH

Jan 27 to Feb 1 Call for details.

* * *

Remember the NGH Solid Gold weekend February 8 & 9 in Las Vegas! I will be speaking on High Performance Hypnosis, for Sports and Performance. I will share some new never before revealed information! I will be teaching some new SPORTS SPECIALIZATION TECHNIQUES.

Theory into Practice:

Last time we talked about weight loss and boundary issues., I would like to explore that a little further this time. I am always amazed when I hear a hypnotist say they do not do weight loss, they do "real deep work." This lets me know two things: 1) this person is afraid of measurable results, and 2) they have never seen the truly life forming changes that happen when someone who has been fat most of their life, takes control of this area.

I will start by saying that when I talk to people about this, I use the word FAT, not "weight issues", "eating problems", or any of the other words that will make my work less effective. I know for a fact, when a person who is "overweight" looks in a mirror, he/she does not think, "I have gained some weight, I need to restructure my eating behavior." They think, "Damn, I have gotten FAT."

I believe you should mirror what that person is thinking and feeling. Do not soften it. FAT is FAT. That person wants to get the FAT off. If you could wave a wand and sing, and it works, they will throw money at you. Just watch the infomercials on TV. WE HAVE WHAT WORKS!

Weight issues can be quite complex, even though 80% of the clients will respond to the simple basic NLP/Hypnosis techniques. If you have done the basic protocol and the client is not responding, or has gotten stuck, then you may want to "dig" a little deeper and see what the problem is.

I suggest a Visual Squash, with an emphasis on the part that is holding them back. What is this part trying to protect with this weight? What specifically is this part accomplishing? What is the fear of being at the ideal weight and shape? You may want to do a mini-regression. (See Techniques)

According to Edward Abramson, Ph.D. author of "Emotional Eating, What you Need to Know before Starting Another Diet", states that intimacy and sexuality can be issues that need to be dealt with.

There is ample evidence that obesity can serve as a protection against sexual advances. Sexually abused women may have extra problems dropping weight than the norm. King, Pera, and Clark (1996) found that sexually abused women active in a weight loss program didn't lose as much weight as other members, and these women gave up more often.

I found often in a long-term weight program, women who got stuck may need to look at these and other issues of intimacy.

Are they happy in their relationship?

Do they find themselves "stuffing" feelings and eating when they are emotionally upset?

Are they afraid they will "stray" if they look good?

Does their partner support the changes that come with weight loss? (Higher self esteem, energy, sexuality)

Does their family of origin support the changes, or are they stuck in being fat? (It is not unusual to hear a client say that their mother told them, "We women just get fat in our family. That's just what happens.")

Do they hold any feelings of resentment against looking good, or have, as Albert Ellis would say, Non-Rational thoughts. "If he truly loves me, it will not matter if I gained 100 lbs."

This is the time of year where weight loss will draw clients into your office. Use your skills to help these people who need it.

Techniques and Tips:

The Visual Squash Exercise with Regression

After sorting a conflict into its two parts, the next step is to integrate the two by combining or integrating the anchors for the two sides. One way of accomplishing this is what is called the "Visual Squash."

1. Access and get outcome for side #1. (The part that wants to change.) "Put one polarity in the hand that is appropriate, seeing what that part of you looks like, hearing its tone of voice, and so on…Do you realize how this part is valuable to you?" … (positive outcomes or functions). Or "Ask the part what its positive function is." "Keep that part in that hand, as you turn to look at your other hand."

2. Access and get outcome for side #2. (The part that resists change.) "Do the same with the other polarity in the other hand. This part may help you to consciously remember the events that are holding you back, or you may only remember bits and pieces of this (or these) events. Now you might be surprised at how your pre-conscious takes you back to these experiences now… (Pause.)"

"Sometimes our pre-conscious minds misunderstand events or situations. It is not uncommon for a parent or authority figure to tell us to "work harder or you will never succeed," or "you’re a loser," and our minds only hear the negative. Sometimes an event that did not work out, a dropped ball, a bad move, a split second pause, can cause us to replay these events as if they were a part of us, not just something that happened that we can learn from."

"Now I invite this part to release this event and any others that may be holding you back. You may allow yourself to see these events or causes in a new light."

3. Mutual appreciation of outcomes. "Now look straight ahead, so you can see both hands. Watch both the parts as they turn to face each other. Ask each if it understands and appreciates the value of the other part. Have each polarity express some appreciation for the positive outcome, or valuable function of the other part."

4. Integration of parts. (Here are several possible verbalizations – you won’t need them all. ) "Now watch and listen to both these valuable parts of yourself, allowing your two hands to come together only as fast as those two parts can blend and integrate in ways most comfortable and useful to you… in such a way that neither part loses anything, retaining the usefulness and importance of both parts, each gaining from the other the qualities and capacities that are lacking in themselves and present in the other."

"You may be fascinated to observe some of the changes that occur in these two images as they start to come together …only as fast as they can comfortably assimilate these changes. You may also be surprised by the image that is created when the two images finally join and become a single image as they melt into each other and take on each other’s capacities. And notice what the new image looks like, because this new part represents a combination of abilities you’ve never had before…as such, this new part will have additional skills and abilities that you could never have guessed at, that you can enjoy … new ways of accomplishing all of these important outcomes simultaneously…"

Notice when the client is done integrating, both by observing the hands move together, and the accompanying changes in facial expression, breathing, posture, etc.

5. Associate with the new integrated part. "When you are ready, physically use your hands to bring this part into yourself – into your body somehow, so that it becomes a part of you and all your behaviors, easily and readily available. As you do this, you feel a surge of energy in your body as this part reunites with you… take a few moments to appreciate and enjoy the qualities of this unique new part."

6. Future-Pace. "Now think of the specific times and places where you want these integrated qualities and capacities to be fully at your disposal in the future…"