Walking The Talk

In a previous post we talked about what is involved in Modelling and how the process of observing and mapping the successful behaviours of other people in order to apply them to ourselves and others can support us in getting great results.

Here is a short yet powerful story which shows the importance of walking the talk.

A woman took her son to see Mahatma Gandi, who asked what she wanted. "I'd like you to get him to stop eating, " she replied.
"Bring the boy back in two weeks' time," replied Gandi.
Two weeks later the woman returned with her son. Gandi turned to the boy and said, "Stop eating sugar."
The woman looked surprised and asked, "Why did I have to wait two weeks for you to say that?"
Two weeks ago I was eating sugar, " Gandi replied.


from: NLP At Work - Sue Knight

You Are A Genius

The Genius Movie

The State of The Union - The Union of The States

The United States of Resource

We spoke recently about the fact that one of the main presuppositions of NLP is that within us, we all have the resources that we need to be successful in anything that we want to do. Owen Fitzpatrick, in his book 'Conversations - Freedom is Everything & Love is All the Rest', suggests that there are eight different resource states, and that if we can master getting into those states we can be more effective, more quickly and more often. Three of the states are referred to as input states and the other five as output states. The input states allow us to successfully take in information and learn from the world, whereas the output states help us to effectively act and behave in the the world.

Input States

• Awareness - Pay attention to what is happening in the world and get an insight to what is happening in your head.


• Openness - Be open to new ideas, new experiences, new learning.


• Curiosity - Always ask questions and wonder about things.

Output States

• Flexibility - The more flexible you are, the more choices you have. It is this that gives you more ability to deal with the situations that you are in.


• Perseverance -Never give up, see failure as a way forward.


• Pragmatism - What is the most useful thing that you can do right now?


• Responsibility - Be accountable for what is happening in situations and use and improve on your ability to respond.


• Creativity - Use your imagination to be more effective in what you do.

Over the coming weeks we will look at these different resource states and discuss what we can do to maximise our ability to really get ourselves into a state!

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

My best
Séamus

Owen Fitzpatrick is one of the co-founders of The Irish Institute of NLP. They offer a variety of courses and training in NLP.

How To 'Make It' As A Teacher or What Do Teachers Make?

This pretty much speaks for itself really!

Survey on Support & Development Structures in Teaching

Hi everyone,

I would also like to take this opportunity to let you know about a surevy I am undertaking around support and development structures in teaching.

The survey is short and can be taken online at www.teachersupportsurvey.useyouredge.com I would appreciate any comments and feedback that you would be kind enough to leave.

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

My best
Séamus

Tiger Woods - Born To Reign

Some time ago in a post we spoke about 'The Tiger Woods Effect'.

Here is an extract from a biography of Tiger I came across recently which shows the power of positive affirmations.

Tiger was a kid but not in the traditional sense. When he was only six, he listened to tape recordings with subliminal messages to help him develop a stronger sense of self-control and discipline. Earl (Tiger’s father) had seen them in a store and bought them for his son, carefully explaining why he should listen to them. The boy understood. He played them on a cassette player in his room, hearing only the flow of water down a creek, or soft music, but the messages began to imbue themselves in his sub-conscious.

I will my own destiny.

I believe in me.

I smile at obstacles.

I am firm in my resolve.

I fulfil my resolutions powerfully.

My strength is great.

I stick to it, easily, naturally.

My will moves mountains.

I focus and give it my all.

My decisions are strong.

I do it with all my heart.

These messages were inscribed on paper as well, and he tacked them to the walls of his room as reinforcement. He listened to the tapes so often he wore them out. He began to apply them instantly. He was still only six when he went to the Optimist Junior World ‘ten and under’ division at Presidio Hills in San Diego, his first international tournament. At the first tee, his father reassured him that whether he won or lost was not the point – either way he should have fun. Tiger then ripped his shot down the middle.

Later Earl asked Tiger what he was thinking about as he stood over the ball on the first tee. “Where I wanted the ball to go, Daddy,” he said, shocking his unsuspecting father, who wasn’t sure the subliminal messages would take hold so quickly. The negative thoughts that invade the minds of young, uncertain athletes were not there. Tiger was nervous – even today he acknowledges an uneasy stomach at the first tee – but he suppressed his nervousness by visualising the shot, an instrumental part of professional golfer’s routine.

(John Strege – from Tiger: A Biography of Tiger Woods)

And here is Tiger doing what he does best at the age of two!!

The World's Greatest - Float Like A Butterfly, Sting Like A Bee!

It's been a while since we had a post with a 'song for the non-conscious mind'. This time around we have a pretty good song by R. Kelly from the film 'Ali', starring Will Smith. It has been said that we can understand the non-conscious mind to be like a 7-9 year old kid working for our benefit. You may like the song more or less the first time you hear it but the message for the mind is, without doubt, absolutely fantastic. We all have a favourite song or favourite songs and oftentimes, those songs work as anchors and bring back memories or states. What states do you bring to mind with the music and song you actively listen to or have in the background of your daily life?

• Songs for the non-conscious mind

Check out the lyrics to 'The World's Greatest' here

and the video here.

A few words from the big man

Champions aren't made in gyms. Champions are made from something they have deep inside them - a desire, a dream, a vision. They have to have last-minute stamina, they have to be a little faster, they have to have the skill and the will. But the will must be stronger than the skill.

Only a man who knows what it is like to be defeated can reach down to the bottom of his soul and come up with the extra ounce of power it takes to win when the match is even.
Muhammad Ali