Neuro-linguistic programming (NLP) is a set of different practices fundamentally started to help human development. NLP is a mix of new age ideas with human potential. In the early days, NLP was focused on analyzing the techniques found in alternative forms of treatment such as in gestalt therapy, hypnotherapy and family therapy.

Practitioners can deal with a wide range of conditions that a patient may have from simple things like stage fright to more serious issues such as substance abuse. Physicians in other fields sometimes turn to NLP for help with training and practice standards. NLP is fairly popular nowadays in forms of motivational seminars and workshops, lectures and the Internet.

Each human being sees the world in a unique context. This context is molded by our beliefs, experiences and expectations from life. NLP deals with reproducing the structure that is language and behavior. If one uses NLP, he or she can find a successful part of their characteristics of behavior and model it on a part of them deemed not so successful to help them achieve a whole balance.

Each individual sees the world through his or her own unique map. Our mind, body and language determine how these maps are drawn out and determine feelings and behavior. As one way of approaching therapy, each person’s map involves patterns and structures. It is based on these patterns and structures that once we change our thinking into a positive attitude, these maps can change for the better.

Sometimes it is necessary to model your own map on someone else’s to fish out the positive structures one can see. It may be a small or a big change that occurs. Sometimes one just has to reflect on oneself to gain a better understanding of the map. One can model themselves on a person who the see as an exceptional person and try and map themselves out in a similar fashion. It does not have to be a complete copy, just a few elements to change the pattern of the map. It is not necessary to inform the person of this process that is taking place, as this is the art of NLP.

It is an interesting approach that is gaining popularity nowadays and seems a very simple way of bettering one’s attitudes in life without the need for artificial stimulation. For some people it works and for other it does not.