To show what is an example of Neurolinguistic Programming, let’s view NLP as a study of the subjective experiences of individuals and how they internally organize their reality.
One of the best ways to experience NLP is by understanding that we use our senses to construct our internal reality. The language we use is a representation or a symbol of an internal experience that is different for everyone.
As a practical example, if I say ‘dog,’ take a moment and internally represent what that means to you.
- Do you get a mental image?
- Do you see a certain kind of dog? A Rottweiler, a German shepherd, a Beagle?
Imagine you are in a room with 50 other people, and I say the same word, ‘dog‘; the representation will be different for everyone. Some people will see the same dog as you but may not represent it the same way.
When I said the word ‘dog‘ earlier;
- Did you get an image in your mind?
- Did you see a movie in your head of a dog running or playing?
- Did you get any audio with that? Is the dog barking or growling?
So, we have more features of what’s happening inside your mind representing the word ‘dog.’
If you had a childhood dog and it was pleasant, you may get pleasant feelings from imagining a dog. You may feel fear or dislike if you have been traumatized by a dog. So, I want you to hold on to this image of the ‘dog‘ you have in your head.
Now, I say the word ‘wet dog.’ I want you to compare the image/video you have now with what you had before with the word ‘dog.’ You’ll discover that the representation of the two terms is a bit different. You may not even be imagining the same kind of dog. You may be imagining two different dogs.
So, where does Neuro-Linguistic Programming come in?
The exercise above aims to show you the subjective experiences that occur internally when we use language and words.
Neuro-Linguistic Programming considers this to help us understand that the language we use helps other people interpret internally what we are trying to communicate. One of the presuppositions in NLP states the meaning of the communication is the response that we get.
My intention to communicate something will not always be received the way I want it to be received because the other person has a different internal representation of the language that I am using and the ideas I am using.
So, Neurolinguistic Programming helps us understand subjective experiences and also improves communication.
If someone doesn’t understand what I’m saying, I need to alter my communication, whether it’s the way I communicate, my language, or my body language. Of course, the responsibility is also on the other person to express their ideas and pay attention to ensure we are discussing the same thing.
Final Thoughts
The above scenario perfectly answers the question ‘What Is an Example Of Neurolinguistic Programming?’
Within this concept, once you understand that there are a lot of techniques and strategies to define and influence how we receive and send information, it will help our communication process advance. To learn more about NLP, check out these Free NLP Courses.