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Monday 17th January @ 19:00 GMT I will be conducting a FREE Teleseminar with the Author of the Book ‘Provocative Hypnosis’ Joergen Rasmussen.
The Topic ‘Running an Impossibles Practice’…
Following on from the work of Bandler & Grinder who ran their own impossibles practice back in the day Joergen decided he wanted to work as far away from any ‘so called’ scope of practice, and set up his own practice based on a no change no fee policy… You will learn from someone who spent 8 years working specifically in private one to one sessions with the ‘impossibles’. As a result Joergen quickly had to adapt and modify his work and flexibility for the wierd and wonderful clients he encountered along the way…
Share the Successes, Mis-Takes and outright failiures as you go on a journey into the world of private practice and having to get real good real quick to survive… Learn how you can avoid some of the pitfalls Joergen found along the way and learn how you can learn to develop your own successful private practice.
Joergen will cover some of the following topics in the 60 minute Teleseminar:
Learn…
1. Insider secrets from running an impossibles practice.
2. Why set up an impossibles practice, and how to do it.
3. The benefits of running an impossibles practice
4. How to rapidly develop your skill-set and personal growth
5. Pitfalls and troubleshooting tips of an Impossibles Practice
6. Some learning strategies that Joergen uses in his daily practice.
You can also ask questions before the interview or during and for anyone subscribing to the umami newsletter I will be having the audio transcribed for your continuing learning.
You can go to the hosting site here: Running an Impossibles Practice
This Teleseminar can be listened into via you computer by clicking the link above or you can actually dial in and listen via telephone or skype. If you’d like instructions on how to do so then please e-mail me:
wayne.marsh@umamiuk.com
This is the first in a series of new and unique events we have lined up and I sincerely hope you take a lot from your experience with us…
Wayne
January 16th, 2011
Posted in Provocative Hypnosis | No Comments »
A while ago my 6yr old son ‘Sonny” came to me with one of those things that, (in my mind) every parent sometimes dreads…
A look of absolute fear in his eyes as he said to me “Daddy can you help me to get rid of a bad dream”?
“Sure I can son tell me about it…”? I said, knowing this was a bad dream…
Then I realised after a couple of days that this wasn’t going away… Not one of those things that you can sometimes pass off as a flash in the pan… The kid was distraught, frightened, haunted by something that had happened in his sleep… It was overwhelming his thoughts…
No more sleeping alone, happy to close his eyes, but in our bed every night whilst trying his best to stay awake…
Now I have created an audio of a conversation I had with him just tonight. To pre-frame prior to this I had offered him some ideas… The main one being…
Maybe you can discover how to ‘change your dream and possibly offer help to other children in how they can do the same’…
Can you step into the minds of the people in the dreams?
The interview is 16 minutes long and I love it… But I would wouldn’t I because he’s my son?
Oh and before I start he said “i’ll give the magic away dad as long as you keep me anoniminous”…
However, the thing is I think there’s possibly a lot of scope in this from a variety of different angles. Moreover it’s probably one of the best ways of journalling as I work with my son to give him the best possible opportunity I could give…
Now I am going to meta comment on this audio (this is raw) and would be really gratefull of your thoughts on my thoughts and what I’m about to embark on… What do you think?
I’ll leave the feedback to you, and where you think feedback is most appropriate, but I would like you to adopt the filters of numerous people… Possibly parents, NLPers, Children etc… etc…
16 Minutes and he not only got rid of his dream but offered advice to others in ways to help themselves…
Childrens imaginations should be nurtured not taken away and sometimes I think parents (including myself) impose limits on their children… Don’t get me onto teachers…
You can listen in here…
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January 5th, 2011
Posted in NLP - Hypnosis | 3 Comments »
Quite a while ago I was reading some of Gregory Bateson’s work and I came across a really interesting piece he wrote about the concept of ‘Power’. Gregory Bateson I’m led to believe heavily influenced the field of NLP and although his writing can be hard going at times some of his work in my mind is pure brilliance.
Now I read the piece that I am sharing below in Christina Halls Language Manual and transcribed it so I could consider it from time to time (with my dictionary at my side). As I’ve reflected on it I’ve also thought back to some of the different people I have known that seemed to adopt that kind of ‘necessity’ to exert control over others. Probably caused a certain rebellion to authority in me from time to time even though I’ve also recognised my own vulnerabilities as I’ve considered the idea.
Here’s what our Gregory has to say…
The use of “power” represents an epistemological error that is self-evaluating and potentially pathological. The myth of power always corrupts because it proposes always a false (though conventional) epistemology.
To say that people “attempt control over one another” is not a way of describing two individuals relating; rather, is a way putting a “need” into them as individuals – a category mistake. Power is a metaphor when used as “personal power.” The use of the words “personal power” is appropriate only for a physical, rather than mental, description of nature. This is not a game of intellectual semantics. What is true is that the “idea of power’” corrupts and power corrupts most rapidly those who believe in it and it is they who want it most.
This is epistemological lunacy and leads inevitably to various sorts of disasters. This criticism of power addresses and explores the unexplored and questionable assumption that more power will always be more powerful. This idea in its strictest sense is not applicable to ecology. Such an assumption is potentially toxic and may lead an individual (e.g., in the role of a trainer, coach, therapist) in becoming less and less flexible… less and less creative and less and less effective. The belief in the myth of power is self-verifying since it is a habit of punctuation. Power is a dangerous metaphor to be mistrusted.
There are serious consequences of an epistemological habit of punctuating the world in terms of power: Such a punctuation reinforces greed and corruption in all those who believe in the reality of “power,” and whether they think they have it or not. Preventing such pathology requires avoiding the use of the power metaphors to punctuate the biological world. In cybernetics, power belongs to locomotives and nuclear generators, not to mental processes.
An alternative to the metaphor of power is the ecological metaphor of “part in an ecosystem.” An individual is always part of that system and is therefore subject to all the constraints and necessities of the particular part-whole relationships in which he/she exists. This perspective describes a person’s presence in the ecosystem he/she treats as “part” or “part of” the system rather than an outside spectator, manipulator or power broker or power enabler. “Control” refers to the whole self-corrective system. The most a person can do is vary his/her behavior, recognize the subsequent behavior of those in the surrounding social field and modify his/her reactions to their reactions.
‘Excerpt From Gregory Bateson 1972’
It could be the authoritarian boss at work that tries to keep the people down and stamp out their creativity because it’s how they’ve learned to get things. Not just the CIA and large government agencies utilise the concept as even the local builder that comes to mend your damaged wall or the plumber to fix your leak knows of it. Maybe there’s someone you know of that acts as if it’s their way or the highway as a way of travelling through the world. As I think about it now it’s a bit like the common cold as in everybody’s most likely had it… Maybe it’s a thought virus… Have you ever caught it?
Personally I think it boils down to intentions and if the intention is to control by exerting what Bateson calls ‘the illusion of power’ onto others it can and does work… I mean you only have to look at the government to see that it works don’t you?… Or maybe here is where Bateson’s idea gains in strength because although the government keep stamping their authority there seems to be more leaks than the collective plumbers of the universe can handle…
I think that our general idea of power can be useful in some contexts. What I believe Bateson is alluding to is a bit like someone having the odd pint of beer opposed to 30 pints a day. In that sense (A pint a day not 30) it can be a useful illusion dependant upon the purpose, or on how it could possibly serve others in a particular context.
So for what purpose ‘Power’?
Even though I say I think it boils down to intentions, what I mean here is that the intentions may not be negative (they’re mostly under the persons radar). They may have never even looked at themselves and how they are relating to the world and to the people that share it with us… Some people have their way of doing things and criteria for how they should be done and that’s that. Meaning if you fit the persons criteria or rules for how they view the world then you’re the star pupil… If you don’t you’re the dunce…
I have a young son and he’s pretty much a sponge and at school what the teacher says goes… We as parents within the educational system entrust our children into the system. What about the teacher at school that believes they are there ‘only’ to teach our children? Therefore imposing deep rooted and invisible limits to themselves and to the opportunity of being taught. This particular type of teacher when questioned would tend to defend their worldview instead of opening up to the possibilities of discovering more. You see as Bateson says attempting control over others is not a way of relating but more like a way of putting ‘needs’ into others based on their own inherent ‘needs’.
Imagine being an authoritarian teacher that’s overly identified with what they think a teacher ‘should’ be… Looking through those lenses at the person who questions them for eample as a ‘rebel’ who’s distracting the class because they ‘just don’t get it’. However, in reality the child is the one that really is getting it and questioning his teacher’s assumptions. That’s why he challenges because he wants to relate and share uncommon ground. However, the teacher in defending their sense of self and what they think they understand starts dismissing the childs challenges as rudeness, cheek and distracting to what’s being taught. The child must conform and shut up or else… Moreover running the risk of being labelled distracting, naughty, rebellious, rude, disrespectful, repeat to fade…
Off they go blindly into the staff room and if they can exert their ‘power’ in-between the tea and biscuits the other teachers listen to stories about how rude and dis-respectful the child is and others start to believe the lies too. The boy turns up with his English books sits quietly at the back because words fascinate him so much and only to be chastised by the teacher. The teacher thinks I’ll get him before he gets me and the process goes on… And on… And on…
Hopefully the child maintains the ability to have his/her own mind and go beyond the teachers teaching whilst accepting the teacher’s limitations. Shudder the thought of them starting to believe that what was once a simple question developing into a negative sense of self… Must try harder… Has difficulty concentrating… Falls asleep in class…
So if you teach… And you do, because we all do… Are you also not the student?… Because you are… We all are…
How can we take a look at what we do and how we do it and notice where we might be drinking 30 pints a day instead of the odd tipple?
And ask for what purpose?
How does this serve me?
How does it serve others?
Can I fix the leaks or do I need to call a team of plumbers?
You have the power to do that, don’t you…
In fact I said to someone today what you resist persists so why not try letting go for a while and notice the difference…
DISCLAIMER:
I love my teachers from old and new in fact I see everyone as a teacher that may be able to teach me something new. I appreciate feedback no matter how cutting it may seem at the time… I also appreciate that nothing I say is the truth but it holds weight for me in this moment…
Mr Murphy you were the most inspiring person and form teacher I ever encountered at school and I’m eternally grateful for you teaching me about compassion, kindness and empathy… I’ll skip the maths…
Mrs Dinsdale I never ended up being in and out of prison for the rest of my life… I hope your not still locked in yours!
This thread was inspired by post I read earlier today by Judy Rees and you can read it here… Frame Control ~ The power of context
December 31st, 2010
Posted in NLP - Hypnosis | 3 Comments »
In this 7 min video Joergen Rasmussen speaks to the delegates about a concept that he utilises as a fundamental aspect of his work ‘Role Projection’.
The video is taken from the provocative hypnosis training in April 2010.
Jorgen is back in the UK 21st of April 2011 to deliveries unique and groundbreaking training…
Provocative hypnosis…
Enjoy… Wayne
December 22nd, 2010
Posted in Provocative Hypnosis | 2 Comments »
I’m curious as to the way people construct and relate to their own theory of mind and would be interested in hearing the most common way you’d describe it if asked the question: What’s the mind like?
1 It’s like a ….
2 As you look back to when you first made the distinction how have you refined it through time?
Now i’m reading a fascinating and thought provoking book called ‘The Master & His Emissary’ by Ian Mcgilchrist and this book inspired me to ask the questions above and I’d really appreciate you input.
An example from me would be…
The mind is like a computer.
The conscious mind can be likened to RAM Memory and is volatile. The hard disk is the main storage area where everything that is inputted is stored in different partitions and can be retrieved.
As I thought about it more and constructed more relationships through time…
Some files are easier to get at than others but with the right data mining software you can retrieve almost anything. That doesn’t mean to say you’ll understand all you retrieve but you will be able to analyse it.
There are certain programs that run in the foreground that we have easy access to and others that are the platform from which to run those programs. Mostly stable depending on whcih platform is used but sometimes prone to crashing where sometimes even a new installation is required…
We have realised that our current technology has the ability to dual process and the CPU is one of the core components of a computer that can make huge calculations in fractions of a second…
Now I could go on because I’ve considered this metaphor at length. It’s probably largely due to the fact I have a background in IT whilst also the fact that the product I’m relating to mind is man made.
There is so much correlation I have found and most likely can find new things as I chunk into the detail. However, I’m more interested at present in ‘how’ I came to form these Ideas and ‘how’ as a result of their formation I subsequently built on them…
More interestingly for me though is ‘how’ you did the same in order for me to contrast with my current thinking and explore further.
Robert Anton Wilson says “What the thinker thinks the prover proves”…
John Grinder says “If you walk round with a hammer you’ll find nails”…
Ian Mcgilchrist says (something like) The more you feed your left brain with information the more it will take control of certain aspects and the more real it will become to you…
In this context meaning that the more you relate to your metaphor of mind the more true it becomes for you… If you think the mind is like a machine then for e.g your thinking may become mechanistic…
I hope I’ve framed it in a way that encourages some opportunities to experiment with our stories and hopefully wear some ideas from anyone contributing to this thread…
After all the mind is like a spoon… Because it can scoop what’s required whilst it’s designed to reach some parts other utensils cannot reach…
Or maybe it’s like a can of carlsberg… Now that would probably be the best mind in the world…
Wayne
December 7th, 2010
Posted in NLP - Hypnosis | 1 Comment »
As you probably already know I work closely with Joergen Rasmussen The author of the highly acclaimed book ‘provocative hypnosis’.
I’ve previously attended his four-day training delivering what he calls an eclectic approach and his favorite formats for change-work. I’d like to share something about my experiences of utilising his approach and how it all came together for me not so long ago.
After I first attended the provocative hypnosis training my initial comments were “It felt like I had been split into 1 million different parts and when I tried to put them back together again, they wouldn’t fit anymore”. It really was that powerful for me, but how about for others in say for example a one to one client session where Joergens style was originally created?
I was looking at the training from a personal development point of view, partly because it totally transformed the way I thought and subsequently the ways in which I lived my life on a day-to-day basis and how they changed. However, I had no real reference point other than self application purposes as I keep my client base low due to other business commitments…
For anyone curious about provocative hypnosis I found myself saying that this was not something that you ‘put on’ from time to time like you would an evening garment. This was more something that you could really embody and incorporate the principles as part of your natural everyday being.
That being said I’d also not really encountered any cases that were as extreme as some of the ones described in Joergen’s book (The Impossibles). So although I was utilising the tools and techniques in a variety of different contexts I hadn’t really had an opportunity to put his work to the ultimate test until a couple of months ago.
That was all about to change…
Through the grapevine somebody had heard about my work and as a result was curious to speak with me to see if I could actually help in any way. The person whom for the sake of this article I will call ‘Terry’ eventually contacted me. Now anyone that has done provocative hypnosis training will note that Joergen places a lot of emphasis on dealing with people on the telephone and getting commitment. So, scanning for hypnotic capacity, role projection, getting commitment, framing to name but a few things he stresses are vital when dealing with potential clients. My chance had come and I took this opportunity to embrace the whole provocative style and incorporate it into my work with this particular client.
Meet Terry…
Terry was in his early 50s and had what he described as ‘mental issues’. The initial conversation I found out that Terry had been under a psychiatrist for 10 years where initially he had suffered a suicidal breakdown. He also had attempted suicide on two other occasions the last one being some weeks before our conversation. The psychiatric team had intervened but in Terry’s words they couldn’t be around all the time. He was diagnosed by his psychiatrist as having seasonal affective disorder (SAD), recurring depression, social phobia and a few ‘labels’ more for good measure…
Terry had also had 13 counseling sessions where in his words he was expecting a miracle but all they did was make it all worse. Terry described perfectly how every time he went for a counseling session and talked about his problems they worsened session by session. His so called ‘mental issues’ had escalated through being told that most of what he was experiencing was from childhood so he started adding his childhood to his experiences. As he backtracked through his personal history he started describing certain situations where he thought the problems started and the counsellor had sadly clarified all this for him…
The words he said described his experience the most were… No friends, No hope, No future…
Time to step up to the mark…
Now, I didn’t buy into any of the frames that Terry had been given by his predecessors. However, I did buy in to Terry as a person and to me contrary to what he believed about himself, seemed warm, friendly and intelligent… I accepted him as a client only when I was confident that I could really make a difference rather than add weight to his existing assumptions…
The work began over a period of 3 x weeks and a total one to one time of approximately 9hrs. In-between the periods I set tasks for him and he also wrote a daily Journal based on the differences that he was noticing in his day-to-day life. I have also kept in constant contact with Terry in order to make sure that the changes he made continued to be generative, through time and also to provide my support whilst the changes solidified. Its been over eight weeks and Terry has made significant changes in his life and continues to do so. I still receive the Journal from time to time and we will be meeting up after Christmas for my favourite tipple… Costa Coffee…
The process was not easy for either of us but the journey was well worth it. With hard work, commitment, determination and profound inner resolve, Terry re-viewed, re-cognised and make the necessary changes. However, not just with me but by using the tools and techniques that he learned and are now part of him.
A new realm of learning…
The main reason I have written about this particular case is that it gave me a real insight into the troubleshooting aspects of Joergen’s work. You see it’s like I didn’t really understand how powerful it actually was until I got the opportunity to apply it in a situation I believe many people could have walked away from, and justifiably so. At one time I would definitely have walked (or run a mile) away from this case as fast as my legs could take me. I would have feared I didn’t have the capacity to get the desired results.
I mentioned this to Joergen the other night in a conversation as it really highlighted a previous post of mine FEARS-FRUSTRATIONS-FAILIURES that I’ve been working through and he encouraged me to write about my experiences.
Provocative hypnosis does what it says on the tin… Yeah I know you’re probably thinking “you would say that” and I promise you I wouldn’t if I didn’t really mean it. It’s like a mix of all the elements that are not normally included in NLP/hypnosis trainings along with the subtle nuances and major refinements to sharpen up your work. I would also describe it as something that seems to fill in all the gaps whilst giving you the edge so that you can transfer your knowledge to your clients. I transferred my know how to Terry and Terry embraced embodied and taught me more than he could ever imagine… That’s one of the things that I love about this work…
Below is a testimonial from Terry ~Note: Minor edits for Identity purposes – No grammatical corrections.
Before i met Wayne i was struggling to cope with life. I had no confidence, very low self asteem, thought people were judgeing me as soon as i went out my front door, i was the ugliest person ever, i was thick, had social phobia, hated women, didn’t trust anyone at all, thought my parent’s hated me, blamed myself for the way my ex wife treated me, infact i blamed myself for any problem throughout my life, everything was my fault, i even thought i was put on this earth to be miserable and all i cared about was other people being ok, was it was too late for me. I was in a very very dark place.
The last suicide attempt was in april i had 300 paracetomals in front of me. Of course they were taken away from me, but we suicidals are clever as it is easy to start collecting another stash, beause it made us in control, if we had are suicide pack at the ready we felt safe and at peace, we could make that one decision to end are suffering, you have to be in that dark place to understand it. It is not being a coward we are being strong, we are in control. I have cried buckets over the year’s and eighteen month’s ago i started getting anger problems. Even my driveing suffered, i started to get road rage, if driver’s didn’t indicate i would put two finger’s up at them or swear loudly tooting my horn, i started speeding, and worse of all if someone was going too slow i would have this evil look on my face and drive up there backside so they started feeling nervous.
In the supermarkets i was looking for a fight, i always had a go at someone I accused an old man in town of being a pervert because he got in my way and he was looking at women getting there hair done, my daughter thought it was funny. I nearly smacked one of my dauhter’s friend’s a year ago right outside of the post office she upset my daughter that was it, i had to be pulled away, she avoided me for months as she was scared of me, they are friends now but she won’t get on the wrong side of me.
This is just a brief story about my life before i met Wayne. After my first meeting with Wayne i noticed small changes, smileing at people, happy feeling’s in my body, feeling’s of hope at last. I even experienced all differen’t emotions i felt everything, it wasn’t alway’s easy i had to let thing’s from the past go, i was angry, happy, sad, crying, screaming, throwing thing’s and even worse i started drinking, but after 51 years of my 54 age i had to go through that to let go.
I even blamed Wayne for opening all those wound’s. I could walk down the street and think wow no-one is looking at me so i started feeling comfortable and started to hold my head high, i noticed my surrounding’s the leaves falling from the tree’s, passer’s by, a lovely pair of shoes in a shop I was noticing everything. Each day got better, i became more positive and could see a future, i started makeing plans, started to fancy women again, wanted to take more care with my apperance, joined weight watcher’s, people started to notice big changes.
Now it has been four week’s since i first met Wayne i am now confident and it is noticed by others, i am looseing weight, i want to meet women again, i smile most of the time, and hold my head up high, i have started my English with Learn Direct, i can see a future and I want to live. I am restless and want so much to find a job so i can help people, sitting in front of the tv on an evening is now boreing, i have gone off soap’s, i love the radio on all day, i don’t feel sad or blame myself for other people’s problem’s, i have a right to a happy life like other people, i want to have fun, and as each day goe’s by i get more restless to do thing’s.
Life is wonderful we should treasure it, my positive attitude is catching, when i get a bad day i quickly discover what has caused it, i use the tool’s Wayne taught me, i journal my feeling’s and thought’s, i feel re-born, the journey has had it’s up’s and down’s, but i am now a strong person because of it, this was the perfect learning to get control of my life and would advise anyone to learn with Wayne he is good at his job and understand’s your thoughts more than yourself. Without me making this commitment i would have given myself another year at the most before my life would have ended and this is not bullshit. Sadly my daughter’s told me last week if this didn’t work they thought they were going to loose me and they couldn’t have done anything to stop me. So here we have a new found life and it work’s i am living proof of this. (Terry)
Seeing people make dramatic changes and owning them cannot be purchased at any price…
I hope you enjoyed reading this article and If you have any comments please post them below…
Wayne
November 30th, 2010
Posted in Provocative Hypnosis | 5 Comments »
Introduction & backtrack
Last month I wrote about the Dragon Dictate software in the article Naturally Speaking Hypnotically. I touched on some of the available commands that you can utilise to train your voice by using tonality and intonation amongst other things.
One of my interests in writing is to experiment in a variety of different ways in how to utilise NLP-based language and make an impact at multiple levels. The overall theme for last month’s article was the NLP presupposition ‘The meaning of the communication is the response you elicit’.
I had quite a lot of fun writing the article and also reading some of the feedback. Many of the people who were familiar with the DragonDictate software commented on the intricacies and the power of the software and read the document and took it literally. Others commented on the metaphoric nature of the writing and after speaking to numerous people I was amazed at how many interpretations that came to light. By the way there are no right or wrong answers in fact some of the interpretations to my delight, were much better than mine…
The fascinating thing for me is that even though I wrote it, what it meant to me changed as I listened to other people’s comments. Sometimes, when you backtrack through certain writings you can notice subtle nuances that you never noticed before. I don’t know if you can backtrack through the last article and if you didn’t spot the theme before realise how it is now, or even more than that what do you get from re-reading things…
Now, normally when I write a piece of work I read it three or four times always making adjustments and always thinking this will be really cool. However, cool ‘according to whom’ is the question because I’m sat here on my own… Therefore until the work goes out & the responses come back how on earth will I know if it’s worth reading or not? Well, I think this is where many a writer sometimes encounter a block and the only way for me is to put it out there and come what may there’s always another opportunity.
Wake up and sleep:
Anyway back to the software and there are two commands that I would like to speak about briefly today. The first command (and I love this one) is the “sleep” command. This command is so so powerful because you can be talking away on your dictation software and from time to time no matter how much you speak and try to get your message across the software doesn’t seem to understand. The “sleep” command sends the software into the background so that any thing that you say from thereon gets ignored by the Dragon dictation software and you can make any adjustments and tweaks in the process.
The alternative command is “wake-up” software can wake up at any time and you can continue with your dictation. It’s a bit like the software is listening but it’s not listening at the same time. So you have the best of both worlds really because you can chat away and if you’re flowing and the software is interpreting your words correctly there won’t be many adjustments to make. However, if you really want to tweak, adjust, and modify certain aspects then you send the software to La-La land whilst you do so.
Start Scratching:
The last command that I’d like to talk about today and this is the command when I developed my own technique is the “scratch that” command. Now I have to be careful when I say the words “scratch that” because if I do not leave a long enough pause the last string of words that I speak are deleted automatically by the software. So when the software doesn’t listen properly or moreover I do not communicate properly to the software I can just say “ scratch that” and then repeat what it is I really wanted to say.
So whilst I was exploring the different commands and noticing how many ways the dictation software was isomorphic to this fascinating field I decided to test an idea and in the process created myself a technique which I’d like to share with you.
Called… Wait for it… (The scratch that pattern)…
Now I’m very selfish when it comes to NLP and I’m very much into the self application of the tools and techniques derived from NLP modeling. It’s all well and good being able to track the communication of other people and derive meaning from what they are saying. However, what about yourself? Originally when I first learned the meta-model I became a meta-monster. Every opportunity I got I would be asking “when specifically”, “how specifically”, “what would happen if you could” much to the annoyance of plenty of people, more specifically my girlfriend…
What about tracking your own language and meta modelling you?
This is where the journey for me became so exciting because by tracking my own language I could make adjustments on-the-fly in order to create better experiences for myself… So where does the scratch that pattern come into play?
Well, whilst becoming more aware of your own language and how you communicate your own internal experiences to the outside world you can start to notice some more of the things that you say… With a little bit of tweaking here and there you can adjust your world on-the-fly, in the moment and notice the difference it makes.
Here’s an example, let’s say you came in from work or play and you put down an item somewhere and later on you need it. How many times have you said to yourself ‘ I can’t find x’ or ‘ I don’t know where x is’ or even heard other people say that and offered the friendly “If you could where is it” or “if you did know” etc… ?
The Scratch that pattern:
As I tracked my communication I initially started with the ‘can’t’ and the ‘don’t knows’ and if I caught myself communicating in those ways I’d say “SCRATCH THAT” and then choose some words that serve me better. If I sit down and think (I don’t know what to write) I now have a simple way of deleting what I just said in my mind by saying “SCRATCH THAT” and then following up with for e.g ( if I did know what to write what would it be) or words to that effect…
(I can’t find my car keys) SCRATCH THAT (Where are my car keys) ~ Open up a whole new world of opportunity for yourself and save plenty of your valuable time!!!
Now you can scratch it for as long as you want and you can scratch it in a variety of different ways but the learning is in the doing…
I know it sounds simple and believe me I was one of those people that searched for the mother of all complex NLP patterns because the swishes were just too easy. Then after many a moon I chunked back down and realised how profoundly complex some of the simple patterns could be. I promise if you practice this simple pattern you’ll be startled by the results just be willing to test the idea and notice the responses…
If you listen to your self with precision you will develop super sensory acuity in the process… A win win…
We learn by doing:
Not many years ago I began to play the cello. Most people would say that what I am doing is “learning to play” the cello. But these words carry into our minds the strange idea that there exists two very different processes:
1 learning to play the cello;
2 Playing the cello
They imply that I will do the first until I completed it, at which point I will stop the first process and begin the second. In short, I will go on “learning to play” until I have “ learned to play” and then I will begin to play. Of course, this is nonsense. There are not two processes, but one. We learn to do something by doing it. There is no other way.
‘John holt’
Looking forwards to your feedback or any other ways in which you can use patterns like i’ve described…
If you find this useful and you go on to teach it to others I’d appreciate a mention as I had to scratch it for a good while before I gave it away !
And If you didn’t like what I wrote then…
DELETE ALL 
Wayne
October 30th, 2010
Posted in NLP - Hypnosis | 9 Comments »
This particular section has been written utilising my Dragon Dictate software. It’s an extremely powerful voice recognition program where you can just speak into a microphone and the words automatically get transcribed to your word processor or appropriate program.
Now there are numerous commands that you have to familiarise yourself with to get the best from the software. The more familiar you become with how to use your voice the more effective your communication is enhancing whilst the software increases in precision. Initially I was amazed at how good the software was at transcribing but sometimes the accuracy rate led me to having to edit the document and sometimes spending more time than it would have taken me to actually type.
However, before throwing the software in the bin and discarding it as an ineffective program I was motivated to delve deeper and explore more. I think the motivation also had a lot to do with the fact that the software cost about £100 but that’s another story.
So being interested in the art of communication and fascinated by the written word I have enjoyed playing about with the software and testing the results. One of the really cool things about training your voice that you can notice that the software actually recognizes intonation patterns. It really can give you an insight and a brilliantly practical way to engage in the process of training your voice. As an example, to insert a (full stop) the command is (full stop). As I am dictating to my software now I have just said the words (Full stop) on three separate occasions. However, not until you change your intonation does the program recognize when to insert a ……. Full stop…
You see above I’ve just commanded the software using vocal intonation and in between as I raised my intonation the software altered itself accordingly. The more practice that you put in the more you seem to be able to connect and flow. Another interesting thing is that you don’t have to speak like a robot in order to be understood. In fact the more you can float with your words (or flow) the more natural you are whilst achieving a greater response.
In the last sentence the software made a mistake (or was it me). When I said the word (flow) the software came up with the word (float). Now if we track your own communication and calibrate to the responses we receive then we get an opportunity to change the way we speak the words. Therefore the software understands and in the future the mistake is a thing of the past. That’s pretty cool don’t you think?
Mind you, I thought (float) was a word that could be deemed appropriate in that particular sentence and you probably could have left it there just floating around most likely going under, around, or through your conscious filters. I suppose that all depends on the intention of your communication and the message you intend to get across as to what interpretation the software gives to what you say.
Moreover, whilst knowing that you can backtrack and correct any mistakes not only teaches the software how to listen as well as giving you valuable insights into the subtle intricacies that can sometimes be the ‘difference that makes a difference’.
Where there’s a will there’s a way and I don’t know how many examples you can notice of hypnotic language as you read this work and transcribe it into your own thoughts?
What particular contexts can you start to think of now where you can practice, practice, practice (italics) in a variety of different ways?
Next month I will be sharing a very simple NLP pattern that I developed after engaging with the software and learning just how easy it is to create your own models from a variety of weird and wonderful places.
Wayne
P.S you can follow my blog on facebook by just following the link http://tinyurl.com/2u58p47
September 30th, 2010
Posted in NLP - Hypnosis | 5 Comments »
FEARS – FRUSTRATIONS – FAILURES?
I’ve been thinking quite a bit of late about my NLP training, and since the ‘how much have you spent thread’ and even the latest one about using the ‘Meta Model for changework’ and ‘reflections’ on NLPConnections the direction of my thoughts have changed somewhat.
Now before we start I love and cherish the continuing journey and the constant process of learning and discovering new things. However, there were times that I doubted what I was doing and if it was at all of any real benefit. These doubts could be described as my Fears, Frustrations & Failiures (taken from ross Jeffries). I am more than willing to share and express my own (3-F’s) as the thread takes form but initially thought I’d pose the questions that have been bobbing around in my mind.
Please consider the following in the context of working with clients and hopefully feedback:
Looking back at your NLP training what are some of the Fears, Frustrations & Failiures that you encountered?
What did you perceive as some of your biggest shortcomings as you think about it now?
Maybe even now In the context of where you apply NLP with clients what are some of your Fears, Frustrations and failiures?
Where do you feel you come up short the most?
There are areas that I’ve learned and built on my skills (although through having to) for e.g ‘Meta Model’ where in my Prac/Masters training it wasn’t given much attention at all. Afterwards I put this down to the huge amounts of emphasis placed in other areas that sometimes may be of more importance to the trainer, or just down to the length of the trainings etc. etc…
I mean it could have been that the training was structured around one huge ‘Meta Model’ installation and it took me five years to realise how powerfull its application actually was when I actually chunked back down?
If so then why didn’t someone point it out and guide me to explore it more thouroughly? Instead of allowing me to chase the holy grail and forget about the foundations in my quest for the biggest baddest pattern of all patterns?
Ok I can feel the frustration kicking in 
What says you?
Wayne
September 28th, 2010
Posted in NLP - Hypnosis | 5 Comments »
To “Trance’ or not to ‘Trance’… Hypnotically questioning the question…
From time to time in I have recognised in life there have been certain experiences that have stood out as monumental turning points in my development both personally and professionally. The more I’ve journeyed personally with NLP & Hypnosis the more these experiences have helped me not only shape my life in the directions I want to go but moreover, do the things I love to do. The change phenomena event can definitely be attributed to that particular category and I’m relishing the thought of getting in the flow and sharing my experiences…
A few months ago my friend and colleague Joergen Rasmussen (Author of the excellent book) ‘Provocative Hypnosis’ told me he had been invited to speak at an event ‘Change Phenomena’ and deliver a presentation with regards to his uniquely developed eclectic style of ‘Provocative Hypnosis’. This event was a new idea formed initially by Anthony Jacquin & Kevin Sheldrake that would allow not only themselves, but others to share their passion for their chosen fields and associations with ‘hypnosis’. Their vision was to create an event that utilised a variety of experienced hypnotists lecturing on their current thinking, approaches and techniques.
The lineup of hypnotists looked very impressive whilst seemingly extremely diverse. From Ex Computer Hackers & people that sometimes nonchalantly tell people in public that their clients are Homosexual, through to professional pickpockets and entrepreneurs all sharing a unique passion (The art of hypnosis). Add to that mix a very charismatic and what I would describe (now there’s some distance from his hypnotic skills) an old school Hypnotist that is reputed to have worked with a staggering 30,000 clients… Guess what… He didn’t look a day over 21!!! Ok 41 but I hope you get my drift…
So let’s delve a little deeper here and go from back to front or front to back depending on where my mind takes us as I write this. These people have their own unique stories about how they got to enter the world of magic. Magic in this sense meaning that each individual had their own special and yet unifying model of what their work meant to them, and for them. Also how it could provide us with a glimpse into the world through their eyes, to hear their stories & grasp their many aspects of thinking.
James Tripp:
So let’s try and put this writing into some particular order and start with the first presenter of the morning James Tripp… I spoke to James prior to his presentation and asked him what specifically he was going to be presenting. He said to me “there’s such a wide variety of participants I want to gauge what exactly the audience wants before I go in any particular direction”. Now there’s a challenge for anyone presenting and also a deeper sense of curiosity for me as to how the day would expand. I don’t think James was ready for this but just before his presentation commenced Tina Turner’s track (simply the best) started booming out of the speakers and whilst that was going on one of James’s (so called friends) had utilised his professional abilities to create a voice-over that anyone following that introduction would have to deliver something very special… Imagine that X-factor style voice over here when Simon Cowell’s just about to enter stage!
So the atmosphere was in creation before the event with the foresight of a little humorous creativity. Let’s get the show on the road and it wasn’t long (probably around 10 minutes) before the first audience participant was sat at the front with their hands stuck to the table, their bum stuck to the chair whilst having amnesia for their name… Yeah real hypnotic phenomena that would work great at parties, and you’d be right it would work a treat.
However, there was a dazzling twist, because although this could be classed as ‘great entertainment’ (and it was). There was also a deeper understanding of the principles behind the phenomena. In James’s words “Precision-based processes that allow for the elicitation of hypnotic phenomena without the need for ‘altered-states’. Get that? Well we did in a simply complex jargon free demonstration as we were guided step by step, moment by moment to the thoughts behind the thinking and structure of how best to use them…
So the precedent had been set, James Tripp mission accomplished, and now it was time for a break until the next speaker took to the stage Anthony Jacquin…
Anthony Jacquin:
What can I say, well I’ve read the book ‘reality is plastic’ and I’ve seen some video footage of the Manchurian Approach and I’ve also been quite skeptical of deep trance phenomena and if it really can be induced in the ways Anthony Induces it. Well as Joergen mentions later in his presentation; a ‘real sceptic’ has to be as skeptical of his own thoughts and assumptions as he is of the thoughts and assumptions of others.
Booom, it’s not long before he asks the audience a question and he raises his own hand (BTW a great way to get others who may have not dared to raise their hand to raise them). I find myself with my hand raised and Anthony points over to my direction and all of a sudden I’m ready to paint the room with my insides. “No not you Wayne” he say’s, as my bowels instantaneously say thank F**K and the guy sat directly behind me heads of for the stage. It’s times like this I really start to get the idea of the power of hypnosis and the power that the hypnotist has. You see I’m one of those that (at the moment) can do ‘trance’ whatever that is, but in the same token don’t think I can be made to talk to a slipper in japanese or laugh like an old lady whilst my hand is stuck to my forehead. Then and even now as I write this I’m thinking but I can be made to nearly shite myself when a hypnotist points in my direction. I just love paradox, don’t you?
Again a marvelling experience led by stories of how he came to do ‘Street Hypnosis’ but also having a strong background in therapeutic hypnosis strongly influenced by his ‘Dad’ Freddy, you know the one I told you about earlier. Wow imagine having a ‘Dad’ as a hypnotist for a moment… That Paradoxical part of me is saying again you did have a hypnotist as a dad in fact we all did only we’re not on stage presenting hypnosis in front of ours. That’s how being a hypnotist was framed, “it’s simple and the first part to being a hypnotist is believing with every cell of your body that you are”…
Again demonstrations, bouncing pulses, and my favorite live example of a hand stuck to the forehead whilst eliciting uncontrollable laughter that emanates via the hypnotee through to little old me sat at the back, bowels intact, chuckling at his experience… I’m really starting to enjoy this experience, it’s quite hypnotic…
Like all the other presenters Anthony is no ‘one trick pony’ and his background speaks for itself as he subtly moved on to talk about his latest developments and passion for out on the streets ‘The Manchurian Approach’ & ‘The Trilby Effect’. Actively engaging with the audience, constantly displaying fluidity and flexibility in his presentation whilst delivering his thinking in a friendly and refreshingly modest ‘anyone can do this you just have to DO IT’ style.
Freddy Jacquin:
Freddy Jacquin may be described by me as an old school hypnotist however not in the form of his thinking and thought production as he seemed ageless in every way shape and form. Especially when stating he liked to “keep things simple” whilst then proceeding to work with ‘phobias & limiting beliefs’ with approximately 8 x people (all at once) in front of the live audience and video production team.
I wonder if he knew how much influence he was having on me, probably not but I was really keen on seeing him in action and here’s why. Well this is the oldest of the bunch with a wealth of experience with a wealth of clients. How would he cope with all the young guns? Would he be wincing and non verbally suggesting that his way was the right way? Would I see an example of old ideas and beliefs held onto like scrooge before his epiphany. You see I want to grow old whilst expanding my range of thinking and although I’d like my children to stand on my shoulders and tell me how far they can see I’d like to bee able to see it with them. Thankfully, Freddy stepped up to the mark and I have to admit he was the most observed person (by me) of the day.
Not only did he perform on the stage like a true master with his content free version of dealing with multiple phobias but off the stage as well. (I did warn you I was watching you Freddy), and it was a pure delight to see him as enthralled with the other presenters presentations whilst walking his talk as he delivered his own. His words sometimes echoed the words of his son or visa versa, “you have to know that you have the ability and that each and every one of you possesses it”.
It all started to remind me of an old vampire film ‘Fright Night’ where the vampire confronts the old man that ‘was’ a priest and was searching for his faith and the vampire suddenly grabs his crucifix and with an arrogant growl says “YOU HAVE TO HAVE FAITH MR VINCENT” knowing he’s soon to be drinking the blood of his weak victim… Then… all of a sudden the priest summons up the faith or whatever you want to call it and wipes the look of evil to fear as his belief grows and burns the hand of the now wimpy looking flop of a vampire…
Oh sorry where was I?
Oh yes 3/3 and this is proving to be one hell of an event… In fact where’s my cross because it’s truly becoming divine… And Inspiring… And next it’s…
Joergen Rasmussen:
Firstly let me start by saying I have a vested interest in Joergen Rasmussen both as a friend and business colleague, me being the sponsor for any of his ‘Provocative Hypnosis’ training events. Secondly, people may assume that there will be a tendency for ‘bias’ towards his work and his presentation on Saturday in my writing. Thirdly, if that’s a good enough pace for the majority of people reading ‘YOU’RE RIGHT’ and I’m aware that I have certain biases… and aware that occasionaly I get the chance to look at them.
Curiously though Joergen allows those biases to enter the foray and then flips them over and demonstrates their limitations. Examples of where our unconscious biases can sometimes influence us into distorted perceptions and instead of “looking through” these filters he encourages you to step out and “look at them”. Careful to pace the audiences minds and lead into how we carry our own assumptions just by the way we often frame interventions. Identity and role projection and how we can artfully influence just by creating a role that is unique for the client in order to provoke and facilitate long lasting generative change.
Overall though creating his own role as a fellow explorer, willing to listen, eager to watch and keen to learn what everyone else had to offer and building on those foundations to make a memorable event.
For the people that were at the event I’m not talking about getting someone up at the front and utilising previous hypnotic anchors to get people hallucinating Alsatian dogs or Hypnotists with just a head thats visible to the amused hypnotee (although he also demonstrated that).
What I hope that people who had access to his presentation had an experience of was Joergens in depth knowledge and capacity to deliver concepts that sometimes go out of the realm of traditional thinking. Delving into a startlingly complex arena of thought and knowledge that captured everyones mind and delivered in a fluid form that left moments to ponder, assimilate and connect.
Awkward in a room full of professionals with their own extensive backgrounds, knowledge and expertise? Nah, not at all… This was anything goes… No holds barred… Learning, sharing, developing…
James Brown:
Well what can I say other than if your going to start a chain of events and your expectations have already been delightfully surpassed then can it get any better?
Let me set the scene, there have been four excellent presentations, a bunch of brilliant participants and a wealth of fun, laughter and excitement. Add to that people glued to chairs and tables, pulses bouncing through peoples bodies, people hallucinating giant dogs and it’s now near the end of the day… Was there anything more to add was floating in my mind…
James Brown entered the stage and introduced himself as a Magician, hypnotist and professional pickpocket. “I don’t work with clients in a therapeutic context and I’ve not really been practicing hypnosis that long”. So we were going to get some magic “cool” I thought to myself as James then proceeded to give an insight into the way he thinks and the frames he sets for himself when doing his stuff… Funny thing was at the level in which he spoke it could all be easily transferred to a client context but yet again like all the others he does what he loves doing the most… It comes shining through…
Without further ado another audience member is fired into ‘Hypnosis’ with a pattern interrupt that travelled faster than the speed of a bullet and the hypnotic journey begins again. It’s not long before the blend of skill that is only learned through application is available for all to witness and without going to much into the act which was absolutely amazing I’d like to round up on what James amplified and passed to everyone in pure style.
Instilling the passion to be go getters, to be prepared to fail miserably was the message that spread like a tidal wave throughout. But not that there was any form of failure in view as his skills are that finely honed whilst respecting being part of ongoing mastery ensures that you can bounce back from anything and utilise everything in the moment. It’s evident that precision has not been gained in the sense of purchasing another book, or seeking help from others, although that’s always a choice. The main message received was to get out there and if at first you don’t succeed then wipe your mouth, maintain your focus and get right back in there and do whatever it takes….
Now, I was mesmerised by these performers and it didn’t stop there as after the event we hit the city of London, and guess what?
The practice continued and the passion for life stayed throughout the night… I was probably recognised for constantly saying “I’ve never seen anything like this before in my life”. I genuinely hadn’t or (only on TV) but there was no editing here and I felt privileged to be part of a group of people who are prepared to constantly push the boundaries and enter new territories of thinking…
Change phenomena was ‘not affiliated with any specific hypnosis body or organisation’ and therefore was open to anyone. This writing is I hope an insight into what kind of event you will hopefully get the opportunity to encounter – don’t miss it. I feel affiliated to a bunch of people from a wide range of backgrounds that have taught and continue to teach me that there are no boundaries and ‘reality… really is… plastic’
Oh by the way have you seen the Manchurian Approach?
I have but only in black & white…
Wayne
September 9th, 2010
Posted in Reviews | 12 Comments »
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