Some foundational ideas are underneath Neurolinguistic Programming (NLP). The first of these presuppositions (considered “useful” rather than “true”) is that the “map” or internal representation is not the same as the “territory” of external reality. The expression was coined by Alfred Korzybski in his introduction to general semantics (1933).
From the standpoint of communication, the problem is that when individuals assume that what they perceive with their senses is accurate, if others have a different perception, the other must be wrong.
It is really helpful to remember that within every observation, we delete some things, we distort some things, and we make generalizations. Some of the deletions, distortions, and generalizations are based on sense limitations, and some are based on belief systems. If you have an established opinion about health, disease, and medicine, for example, new information you receive is filtered through your current belief. It is not so much, “Seeing is believing,” as it is, “Seeing when believing.”
Maybe it is not always the case, but, in general, patients and clients will have different perceptions of and beliefs about procedures and outcomes than physicians. To help patients and clients move beyond the resistance that come from their internal representations (maps), help them provide you with understanding about current perceptions and beliefs: What does “reality” look like from the their perspective? What are their desired outcomes? What are their fears? What are their current beliefs about their condition?
The cost of a treatment is seen as a wise investment when a belief in the benefit is held. When a problem is recognized as reversible, a different set of choices become available. When relief can be expected to occur, the process becomes much clearer. Your facilitating a change in the person’s belief about a process or procedure naturally creates a climate in which their behavior will more easily change. Skillful use of language is a natural way for this to happen.
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.