Most of us know the value of setting goals. Some of us recognize the importance of goals being SMART: specific, measurable and meaningful, achievable, realistic and timed. Of course, well-formed goals are stated in the positive, focused on the process, stated in specific, sense-based terms, based on one’s own actions and focused on present and future.
- Not this: I will not eat desserts and I will only eat health foods.
- But this: I will enjoy eating delicious foods that are good for me.
- Not this: I will feel good about myself because my family and friends support my healthier choices.
- But this: Regardless of how others around me respond, I will stay motivated to a healthy lifestyle.
- Not this: I will lose X pounds by X time.
But this: By exercising a minimum of thirty minutes per day I will achieve my ideal weight.
When you are working with patients or clients, it is especially helpful for you to also help them avoid disappointment or giving up by building in cognitive flexibility. This can be done with language, and a very good example of this benefit can be seen in the Imagine Healing process.
Using the opening phrase, “Although it won’t happen exactly as you imagine it …” have your patient or client make images of taking the actions that achieve the goals.
- Although it won’t happen exactly as you imagine it, see yourself enjoying regular exercise …
- Although it won’t happen exactly as you imagine it, imagine yourself fully physically and emotionally fit …
- Although it won’t happen exactly as you imagine it, make an image that proves beyond a doubt that you are able to recover completely …
You can download the comprehensive instructional guide of the Imagine Healing process for professionals at SurgicalSupport.info for $10. The key is that you will see more powerful results as the brain responds to the direction of goal setting. Although it won’t happen exactly as you imagine it, your learning to notice your effective language use is assisting others will also give you better feelings.
Send your questions about how other-than-conscious communication skills can hurt or help your patients and clients to Joel P. Bowman (Joel@SCS-Matters.com) or Debra Basham (Debra@SCS-Matters.com), co-developers of Subtle Communication Systems. We will provide answers to those for you. For more information about Neurolinguistic Programming (NLP), Hypnosis or Hypnotherapy, or about the Imagine Healing Process, visit:http://ImagineHealing.info or http://SurgicalSupport.info.
Healing with Language: Your Key to Effective Mind-Body Communication is available for a limited time for $10 plus $5 shipping within the U.S. For volume orders and overseas shipping, check with Debra. See the Table of Contents and List of Exercises in PDF format for more information about this comprehensive text and training manual.