A Very Convenient Truth

Rediscovering the Greatest Source of Renewable Energy

Richard Bandler and John Grinder based their discovery of NLP on the process of modelling. They studied excellent communicators and looked to find what those people did that made them outstanding in their field. At the very heart of NLP is the idea that if one person can do something, then so too can anyone else. It’s just a question of working out exactly what it is that the person does and applying the strategies and skills to ourselves. It is useful at this point, to make the important distinction between resources and skills. We don’t necessarily immediately have the skills to run a marathon in under two and a half hours or pilot a commercial airplane but we do know that we have the ability to learn. Of course, we will need to acquire the practical skills first and work on them until we can do it too.

Furthermore, one of NLP’s basic presuppositions is that we all have the resources that we need within us. We don’t always realise this or make good use of these resources, but they are there.

• So what are some of the practical implications of this?


• How can we begin to quantify the renewable resources that we have within us?


• What can we do with these resources in the times of challenge and climate change in our daily lives?

Well here goes, so how ready are you for a roller-coaster ride?

• Start by making a ‘Strengths Inventory’

• Make a list of all of the things that you are good at. Keep going until you have filled three pages with bullet points. You have to be honest and some exaggeration is only to be expected! Include the things that are really easy for you and that you take for granted. Maybe you always remember people’s birthdays or you are great at recycling or you can always get the video or DVD working, or you are good at always going to see your favourite football team, no matter what the weather.
  
  
• When you get stuck for ideas towards the end of the third page, think back to all the things that you have learnt to do over the years. Add those to your list.
  
  
• Look at your list again and add what you think your Mum or Dad, your partner, your kids or your best friend would say about you.
  
  
• Think about your work situation. What value do you bring to your workplace?
  
  
• Again make a list and keep going until you get enough. Yes of course, it is all too easy to be aware of your weaknesses, so try something different. Decide to focus on your strengths for a change.
  
  
• Now think about exactly how you do what you do well and make a list.
  

This is the key stage. Here you will find all of the skills and strategies that make you successful at what you do.

• How exactly do you find it easy to tell great jokes?
  
• What is it that you do that makes you a great Dad?
  
• How exactly do you get your team 100% behind you on an important project?
  
• What is it that makes you a good tennis player?
  
• What techniques to do you use when you do your best presentation or negotiation?
  
• What is it that you do and do well, so that you get to the end of the month and have that something extra to put into the bank?
  
• If you had to explain to someone what to do to take over from you as your friends’ best friend, what would you say to them?
  
  
• Think about what it is that you do when things aren’t going right for you in those situations and how specifically you get things back on track.
  
  
• What strategies do you use to motivate yourself when you are having a less than successful day?
  
• When you do you do when you meet a stumbling block?
  
  
• Now take all that you have learnt about yourself and see how you can use your strengths in other contexts.
  
  
• How can you use some of these same strategies in other areas of your life where you are not so successful?
  
• What can you copy or repeat from another context and use here to get a different and better result?
  
  
• Think of one situation in particular that you are having a challenge with and that you would like to get a better outcome with.
  

This could be in any area of your life, personal or professional.

• Transfer the skills across and see how things look.

Imagine yourself dealing with that challenge but using all the skills and resources that you have from your lists.

• To what extent do you now notice that this previous challenge or situation now feels a somewhat different?
  
• How do you see yourself moving on from here?
  
• What steps are you now ready to take?
  
  

Have fun playing with the activity.

Make it a great week, it's your choice.

My best

Séamus