Circle of Excellence

Neuro linguistic programming (NLP) encompasses three most influential componants involved in producing human experience viz neurology, language and patterning.In terms of  attitude, applying NLP involves an attitude of curiosity and experimentation and in terms of  methodology it adopts "Modelling", a process of duplicating excellent behaviours.

NLP  studies what successful  people or the ones you wish to model, do inside their heads (language, filters, programs etc.) to produce results. Richard Bandler, mathematician and John Grinder, linguist, founders of NLP initially studied and duplicated Milton Erickson (Hypnotherapist), Fritz Perls (Gestalt therapist) and Virgina Satir (Family therapist). The trail of techniques that came out of such modelling is what is called as NLP. The approach and tools of NLP are widely used to improve the management/ sales/ performance in organizations, interpersonal skills, rapport with students and personal development. NLP gives you the ability to choose your mental, emotional and physical states of well being.

In this post let us learn a very effective technique of NLP for enhancing performance- "Circle of Excellence."

Stand with about six feet of floor space in front of you
1 (a)  Imagine a circle on the floor immediately in front of you.Give the circle a colour , make it bright, shining or whatever that makes it visually attractive.

1(b)  Pick a word or short phrase that symblises an appropriately powerful state in you ( eg. "Go for it!", "Relaxed..."  "Yes!" or "Success!" ).

2   Now recall a time when you felt "on top of the world", "firing on all cylinders" or some other powerful state you wish to access. Go for a really good memory.

3  Imagine yourself back at that time - See what you were seeing then, hear what you were hearing, feel what you were feeling; also smell & taste relevant aspects of the  occasion.Notice what you were doing and what you were thinking at the time.

4  As your sense of being in this excellent state begins to build- take a deep breath, say your code word and step into the circle in front of you.

5  Stand in the circle and intensify the memory reliving those moments and enjoying those feelings that come naturally from doing something really well.
6  Now think of a future situation where you want to be at your best and imagine yourself performing in the same intense state you are experiencing now.

The more you practice this with memories from a variety of situations, the more it will become fixed in your neurology and therefore become automatic. Very soon, just taking a deep breath and thinking of your circle or saying the code word to yourself will bring the state of excellence flooding in to you.