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Limiting beliefs and thought viruses can be identified, held, and transformed in the same way we hold difficult feelings. There are several ways to do this.
To center and hold such beliefs in a broader field of resources.
Extend awareness into the neuro-linguistic programming structure that spawns them.
Find their positive intention or purpose.
Integrate them with other beliefs and programs.
Beliefs have a huge impact on our lives. Beliefs are a classic example of neuro-linguistic programming resulting from the integration of cognitive and somatic chains. They can also be held and transmitted through the relationship field, as we saw in the monkey experiments discussed above. Beliefs are considered one of the most fundamental levels of change and learning in NLP and one of the key components of our deep structure. They shape and create our surface structures in many ways. Our beliefs determine how we give meaning to events, they are at the heart of motivation and culture. Our beliefs and values provide reinforcement (motivation and resolution) that rewards or inhibits certain abilities or behaviors.
For example, everyone knows that if we sincerely believe that we can do something, we will do it, and if we believe that something is impossible, no facts will convince us otherwise. The power of persuasion is demonstrated by a curious study in which one hundred cancer survivors (patients in remission for more than ten years) were asked what their actions helped them achieve this. The survey showed that no particular treatment method is more effective than other methods. Some were treated with traditional methods, chemotherapy and / or radiation, others changed their approach to nutrition, and still others followed the spiritual path. There were those who focused on psychotherapeutic methods or did nothing at all. The one thing that all these people had in common was the belief that the method they followed would be effective.
This study, like the placebo effect, proves that beliefs have an incredible ability to validate themselves. They can be called self-fulfilling prophecies.
But belief is a "double-edged sword." Limiting beliefs can be just as persistent and as powerful as positive beliefs. There is an old story about a patient who went to see a psychiatrist. The patient did not eat or take care of himself. He claimed that he had already died. The psychiatrist spent many hours trying to convince him that this was not the case. Finally, the psychiatrist asked the patient if the dead man was bleeding. The patient replied: "Of course, the dead man does not bleed, because his body is no longer functioning." Then the psychiatrist convinced the patient to conduct an experiment. He will prick his finger with a needle, and together they will see if it will bleed. The patient agreed, because he had already died anyway. The psychiatrist gently pricked his finger, and of course, blood began to flow. The patient was shocked. He stared at his finger and exclaimed, “Wow! The dead man, it turns out, is bleeding! "
This story demonstrates that beliefs are very difficult to change using traditional logic or rational thinking. Moreover, the most powerful influence on us is exerted by beliefs that we are not aware of (like "thought viruses"). For example, consider the monkey experiment we discussed earlier. Some monkeys tried to "convince" other monkeys that a certain object is dangerous, simply by reacting to their behavior in relation to this object. This research demonstrates that beliefs can be held and transmitted through the relationship field, not just in direct communication and physical interaction.
Another interesting study has demonstrated the power of beliefs that are transmitted through such a field of relationships. A group of children with the same IQ was randomly divided into two identical groups. The teacher of the first group was told that these children are gifted. The teacher in the second group was told that the children in her group have learning difficulties. A year later, both groups were again tested for intelligence. As expected, the average IQs in the group of “gifted” children were higher than a year ago, and in the group of children with “learning difficulties”, the average IQs were lower than a year ago! Teachers' beliefs about students influenced their learning ability.
The process of transforming limiting beliefs can be compared to a tiger steak recipe. "First. Catch the tiger." In the next inner play exercise, we will explore how to "catch a tiger." But then, instead of killing him, we will tame him and turn him into a domestic cat. The energy that was contained in the conviction will be released and transformed. The next process is a way to discover and transform the beliefs that create barriers to our connection to resources, ourselves and others.
Remember a difficult situation in which it is important for you to be more fully present and stay in contact with yourself and others, but instead you involuntarily tense up, lose confidence, analyze the situation, lose access to your resources and experience unpleasant or painful feelings (you are in a state of CRASH). Find a point in space for this situation and enter it. Relive this situation.
Get out of this situation and find the point that represents the COACH state. Determine your desired state in this situation. What do you want to think and feel? How do you want to react? Reproduce this state as fully as possible in the body.
Keeping your attention on the feeling of the desired state, begin to slowly move towards the point representing the difficult situation. Pay attention to your physiological reactions and sensations in your body. Stop if you feel any changes or tension that begins to erode, depress or distort the resource state (barrier). Stop and keep your attention on these sensations. Try to answer the question: “What belief is associated with these feelings? How does it prevent me from staying in touch with myself and resources in this situation? "When looking for persuasion, keep your attention in the body, on unpleasant sensations, do not try to do it with your head. Once you've found a belief barrier, explore or acknowledge its positive intentions and goals.
Once you have found the belief barrier, re-enter the point representing the COACH state where you feel centered, present and resourceful. Ask yourself the following questions: “Given what I've learned about the barrier belief, what kind of belief do I need to stay in touch with myself and resources in this situation? What kind of bridge belief will help me stay COACH in this context? " Open up to the field and allow yourself to receive answers without analyzing or thinking. Notice what comes up in the field. “Neuro-linguistically program” the new belief by repeating it and retaining the sensations it creates in the body. Where is the best part of the body to hold this belief? Find a gesture or movement (somatic syntax) that expresses this bridge belief.
Remaining centered and present, hold the bridge belief in the body, heart, and head. Re-enter the problem situation, make a gesture that reflects the new belief, and hold on to it. How does your state change in this situation? What opportunities arise when you hold a new belief in your nervous system?
Robert Dilts "NLP-2: Generation Next"
