Deri's Blogs

What is NLP?

I am often asked ?what is NLP??? I became a certified practitioner of NLP (Neuro-Linguistic Programming) in 1991.? After a brief exposure to it through a colleague, I instantly recognized how NLP could be useful to me ? in my work and in my life.

NLP is an approach to positive personal change.? It? provides a set of tools to help deal with unhelpful patterns of thought and behaviour, while?simulatenously introducing new,?helpful?patterns.??NLP (Neurolinguistic Programming) was created by Dr. Richard Bandler and Dr. John?Grinder in the early 1970?s.? As the name suggests, NLP is about the relationship between the brain (neuro), verbal and non-verbal language used to communicate?(linguistic), and the unique way they come together to create?behaviour (programming).

You have some?personal programs that work for you; and others that work against you.? NLP allows you to keep the ones that work for you and change those that do not.? The key, of course, is in being able to identify the program?NLP is about increasing your self-awareness, and then taking control of your thinking.

One enlightening NLP exercise has to do with recognizing and shaking limiting beliefs.? A limiting?belief generally begins with one of the following:

?I can?t???

EXAMPLE: ?I can?t speak in public.?

?People should??

EXAMPLE: ?People should be friendlier.?

?Everyone thinks??

EXAMPLE: ?Everyone thinks communication in this company is poor.?

?People never??

EXAMPLE: ?People never listen to me.?

Whenever you hear yourself making one of these statements, try this strategy.

Step 1: Challenge the belief: Where does this belief come from?? Is this belief still valid?? What evidence do I have to support this belief?? What evidence suggests the belief is untrue?

Step 2: Find an alternative belief: Consider many possibilities.? Try on new beliefs that are more positive and choose the best one for you.

Step 3: Integrate the new belief:? Imagine how things will be different with the new belief and?consider how you will?feel about this change.? imagine yourself doing going through your life, interacting with others,?with the new belief.? How do you feel?? Is this motivating for you?

Even though the name is long and looks complicated, the strategies of NLP are quite easy and straightforward.??The key is repetition and attention.? In the strategy above, if the belief is?well ingrained in your thinking (if you have held the belief for a long time or if it is associated with a?significant experience or memory), you?may need to repeat the process about several times before you can fully integrate the new belief.? Then, attend to the new results in your thinking, feeling and behaviour.

Do you have a belief that is getting in your way?? Send your story after you try the strategy above.? What new results are true for you?

What Clients Say...

“Deri, you are the best! Not a dull moment and the time went too fast!”
Linda Borbridge, Manager, Aboriginal Peoples Television Network
“I’m often asked to recommend a professional speaker who will captivate and motivate, and without hesitation Deri Latimer comes to mind. Deri has a reputation for a no-nonsense, energetic, synergistic approach. Her cutting-edge sessions are the perfect combination of science and inspiration and will have you moving into a new groove.”
Dr. Lewena Bayer, CEO, Civility Experts Inc.
“Deri is the personification of quality, style, and enthusiasm in her message. She delivered a message with our group that heightened their awareness and ability to share success. My hope is that you too will seek her out as a keynote, connector, and catalyst for change.”
Joseph Bork, Program Director, St. Mary’s University
“I am usually the type to sit in the crowd, quietly take it all in, and take notes, notes that end up in a binder, often never to be seen once I return to work. Deri was engaging, fun and as real as they get. I was so moved by her session that I shocked myself by approaching her after the session to chat. During the session I didn’t need to take notes because her concepts hit home and stuck with me. I have already taken her advice and acted on her tips and tools to be more positive. Her positivity is contagious and her message is one that everyone should take time to listen to.”
Amy Normal, VP, Corporate Services, Said Business School, University of Oxford
“I had the privilege of hearing Deri keynote at our conference. She captivates, motivates, and positively engages an audience with her unique combination of wisdom about neuroscience and positive behaviors that can be life changing when put into action. I would recommend her without any reservation for those seeking a speaker who can move an audience – from associates on a manufacturing floor to members of an executive leadership team – into action. Her takeaways are designed for positive impact. Prepare to laugh, to be curious, to be hungry for more time to listen to Deri.”
Vickie Maris, Host, Agile Digital Business
“Deri, your seminar truly resonated with our team. You took the time to learn about our roles, our challenges and opportunities and created an inspiring and motivating seminar just for us and made an impact with every person there. Having your book to use as a tool in our day-to-day has also been very valuable and has enhanced the results we got out of the time with you. We all hope that we will see you again at the next conference!”
Chantelle Arsenault, GBA, Great West Life Assurance Company of Canada
“It was an absolute pleasure to have Deri speak at our AGM. Deri brought an amazing level of passion and energy as she engaged our members with her talk on growth mindset. If you are looking for a speaker to connect with your audience, I would highly recommend that you reach out to Deri. Thank you, Deri – we were lucky to have you!”
Rob Chester, Director Information Security, Wawanesa Insurance
“A wonderfully authentic speaker with an infectious positive energy, Deri takes the crowd back to the roots of inspiration by sparking something within the humanity of the people in the room. Her fantastic sense of humor and knowledgeable way of integrating experiential learning opportunities into an inspirational message makes her a speaker not to miss!”
Ashley Collette, Social Work Officer, Canadian Armed Forces
“I forgot to take notes because I was taking it all in and feeling change take hold…”
Derek Rumboldt-Delouche, Director, Children’s Wish Foundation of Canada
“That was fantastic! That was the most energized I have ever felt leaving a conference!!”
Barb Spurway, Principal Consultant, Protegra
“I cannot exaggerate how positively our Forum delegates reacted to your presentation. You set the perfect tone for the entire conference and left a lasting impression on our delegates and CPA staff alike.”
Sarah Marshall, President, Canadian Physiotherapy Association
“You changed people.”
Michelle Kletke, Human Resources Manager, TNG, Jim Pattison Group