Presuppositions of Neurolinguistic Programming (NLP).

Coaches use different methods and techniques in order to be effective in their efforts to improve the performance and quality of life of their clients. Neuro-linguistic programming (NLP) has become a popular model for achieving behavioral change.

NLP can be applied to address a wide range of difficulties related to anxiety, stress, phobias, interpersonal relationship problems, insecurities, low self-esteem, dysfunctional work situations, learning difficulties, addictions, among others.

NLP starts from the interpretation and the relationship that the person has with reality and focuses on the structure of thoughts, the generation of emotions and the use of language to achieve a positive change in your life. He believes that we can train our brain to creatively and successfully face daily challenges. And for this he relies on a set of assumptions.

Why are NLP principles called presuppositions?)

The postulates or hypotheses on which NLP models are built are called presuppositions. They are so called because they are something we take for granted before we experience them, and with which we face difficulties. It is a way of using language for therapeutic purposes.

These statements serve to give meaning to human behavior, not to justify it. They are based on the direct observation of people's behavior, on their learning capacity and on the way they perceive and interact with the reality that surrounds them. They are useful because if we manage to internalize them they help us to achieve a change in behavior. They constitute a starting point and if we consider them as if they were certainties, they can be a guide and a resource to maximize the possibilities of success.

What are the assumptions of NLP?

These presuppositions are not standardized as such. Their wording depends very much on the coach's school of training and the coach's style. They still retain their essence and are the fundamental principles to facilitate the integration of NLP.

The map is not the territory: this is a basic assumption of NLP. Where reality would be the territory and our individual experience with it would be the map. We cannot perceive reality in its entirety or accurately. People make sense of the world and create their own map according to their perception and experience, that is, according to their neurological and social characteristics. The way they represent their reality (map) is language.

The mind and the body are systemic processes: they are connected and indivisible, both interact continuously and influence each other. A change in one affects the functioning of the other. This applies to the relationship between our mental or mood states and our physical health. It also tells us that when we modify our thoughts and emotions we can change our behavior, and vice versa.

Each person is a world: Depending on our perception and experiencing the world on our terms makes us different and unique. It is necessary to approach others with respect, using their own map of reality. This establishes the basis for communication: attention and empathy.

Each behavior can serve in a certain context: A behavior is a resource and is used according to the environment in which it is applied. If it is taken out of context it will be meaningless.

We already have all the resources we need: a resource includes both the internal response and the way of externalizing it through behavior. Each person has his or her own resources to achieve the change he or she desires. Resources that have been incorporated, consciously or not, thanks to experience. And if you do not find a specific one, you still have the most precious resource: your ability to learn, inherent to every human being. NLP has several models that work on these functions, both to recover and to create new resources.

Every action has an intention: behind a behavior is the search for a benefit. People only act according to the tools, information and resources they have. Not knowing the objective, the behavior may seem positive or negative to us. It is useful to separate the intention from the action itself. This gives us the possibility to overcome bad habits or limitations.

Divide a goal and you will conquer it: you can achieve anything you set out to do if the steps are divided sufficiently and done in the right order, from least to most difficult. NLP ca