How t o Chang e

Be lie fs Using NLP

Subm odalit ie s
 How to Change Beliefs Using NLP Submodalities

Conte nts
0 1 In t r od u ct ion
0 2 Su b m od a lit ies
0 3 Belief
0 4 Con clu sion

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 How to Change Beliefs Using NLP Submodalities

Introduction

In t h is eb ook, we sh all d iscu ss t h e fu n ct ion of su b m od alit ies as car r ier s

of m ean in g an d t h e ob ser vat ion t h a t in d ivid u a l p eop le u se d iffer en t
su b m od a lit ies fr om ea ch ot h er t o cr ea t e m ea n in g for t h eir r ep r esen t a t ion s.
We sh a ll st a r t b y d escr ib in g r ep r esen t at ion an d r ep r esen t at ion al syst em s.
We sh a ll r ela t e su b m od a lit ies t o t h eir r esp ect ive r ep r esen t at ion al
syst em s, d escr ib e su b m od a lit ies a n d list a n u m b er of t h e m ost com m on ly
a p p lied su b m od alit ies for each syst em . We sh a ll follow t h e p r in cip les of
a su b m od alit y ch an g e p r ocess a n d t h en d iscu ss t h e Submodalit y Be lie f
Chang e proce ss.

Th e p r eviou s eb ook d iscu ssed t h e Swish Pa t t er n , wh ich is a ch a n g e p r ocess

u sin g a p er son ’s own an alog u e d r iver su b m od a lit ies. Su b m od a lit ies a r e
t h e su b com p on en t s of each r ep r esen t a t ion a l syst em . Ou r r ep r esen t a t ion a l
syst em s a r e t h e in t er n a l exp er ien ce of sig h t , h ea r in g , feelin g , t a st e a n d
sm ell. Th ese cor r esp on d t o ou r ext er n a l sen ses a n d a llow u s t o r em em b er
p r eviou s exp er ien ces an d t o im a g in e scen a r ios.

Rep r esen t in g sen sor y in for m a t ion is a n or m al p ar t of ever yon e’s t h in kin g
p r ocesses, b u t n ot ever yon e is a wa r e of t h e exp er ien ce of h ow t h ey a r e
t h in kin g . Most r ep r esen t at ion s occu r a t h ig h sp eed , so ou r or d in a r y
exp er ien ce is of for m u lat in g id ea s a n d a ccessin g kn owled g e wit h ou t
a wa r en ess of h ow it is b ein g com p iled .

Som e p eop le fin d it d ifficu lt in it ially t o access t h eir in t er n al

r ep r esen t at ion s, b u t it can b e lea r n ed b y m ost p eop le, a n d ca n b e a ver y
r ewar d in g skill. For exam p le, if you wa n t t o im a g in e com p let in g a p r oject
or wh at you wou ld look like in a p a r t icu la r ou t fit , it h elp s t o h a ve im a g es
t h at ar e lar g e en ou g h t o see in d et a il. However you ca n on ly d iscover t h e
size an d loca t ion of you r im a g es if you ca n see t h em con sciou sly.

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 How to Change Beliefs Using NLP Submodalities

Som et im es, ju st h avin g t h is in for m at ion is su fficien t t o p r om p t exp lor at ion

a n d d iscover y. If you wou ld like t o see a n im a g e, t h in k of a fa vou r it e it em
( flower , an im al, you r car ) an d look u p wa r d s. Lookin g u p wa r d s fa cilit a t es
seein g in t er n a l im a g es.

In t h e 1980s, t h er e was a p er son al d evelop m en t g r ou p for wom en , wh er e

t h e p ar t icip an t s wer e in st r u ct ed t o p er for m a wa lkin g m ed it a t ion . Th ey
wer e t old t o r ep eat t o t h em selves, “I a m a m a g n ificen t , r a d ia n t , su ccessfu l
wom a n a n d I exp r ess m y b eau t y fr eely”. Sim u lt a n eou sly, t h ey wer e
r eq u ir ed t o en visag e an d r et ain a n im a g e of t h em selves a s t h a t p er son .
Th is wa s t h e on ly in st r u ct ion t h ey r eceived a p a r t fr om t h e r eq u ir em en t
t o walk b r iskly for 20 m in u t es r ep ea t in g t h e t ext wh ile t h ey st a r ed a t t h e
im ag e.

Som e of t h e p ar t icip an t s h ad r ewar d in g exp er ien ces wit h t h eir walk, wh ile
ot h er s fou n d it ar t ificial an d p oin t less. Wit h a wa r en ess of t h e wor kin g s
of r ep r esen t at ion s an d su b m od a lit ies a n d t h eir r ela t ion sh ip wit h p sych o-
p h ysiolog ical st at es, t h is m akes p er fect sen se. Un for t u n a t ely for t h e
u n sat isfied p ar t icip an t s, t h e fa cilit a t or d id n ot kn ow a b ou t su b m od a lit ies
a n d fr a m ed t h ose wh o b en efit t ed fr om t h e exp er ien ce a s b ein g m or e “op en
a n d evolved ”.

To m a ke an exp er ien ce of t h is n a t u r e r ewa r d in g for a ll, a n u m b er of

d iffer en t fr am es n eed t o b e set . For a st a r t , t h e t ext sh ou ld b e ch osen a n d
wr it t en b y each p ar t icip an t an d sh ou ld r eflect a d esir ed st a t e of t h eir own
t h at is m ean in g fu l t o t h em . Som eon e else’s t ext is on ly a p p lica b le t o t h e
wr it er . Th is also ap p lies t o b ooks of a ffir m a t ion s. Th ese a r e t h e a u t h or s’
wor d s a n d t h e au t h or s’ m ean in g s, yet t h ey h a ve sold in h u g e n u m b er s. No
d ou b t m an y r ead er s h ave fou n d m ea n in g for t h em selves a n d if so, t h ey
m ake t h eir own r ep r esen t at ion s a n d a p p ly t h eir own su b m od a lit ies t o fit .

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 How to Change Beliefs Using NLP Submodalities

Th e im ag e a p er son u ses t o accom p a n y t h eir own t ext sh ou ld b e la r g e

en ou g h t o see in d et ail an d lar g e en ou g h t o en a b le t h em t o st ep in t o
t h em selves in t h e im ag e an d wear it com for t ab ly. Close t o life size is id eal
for t h is. Th en t h e p er son can h ear an d feel t h e am b ien ce as well as ob ser ve
t h e act ion . Th e con t en t of t h e im a g e is t h em selves in t h eir d esir ed st a t e,
wh ich r elat es t o t h e t ext . Th e im a g e a n d t h e t ext ca n b e cr ea t ed in eit h er
or d er as t h e u ser ch ooses.

For a wa lkin g m ed it at ion t h er e is a n ot h er elem en t t h a t wa s m issin g

fr om t h e p er son al d evelop m en t g r ou p . If you ar e cr eat in g lar g e, lifelike
r ep r esen t at ion s t o walk in an d you wa n t t o g ive it you r fu ll a t t en t ion ,
you n eed som eon e wit h you if you a r e g oin g ou t in t o t h e st r eet s. Th is is
n ot a r ecom m en d a t ion for t h is p ar t icu lar exer cise, sim p ly a d escr ip t ion
of h ow t o m ake it wor k for p eop le. Th er e a r e sim p ler wa ys t o exp er ien ce
d esir ed st at es, t h ou g h m an y of t h em in clu d e a ssocia t ed r ep r esen t a t ion s
of b ein g in t h e d esir ed st at e for a b r ief p er iod t o t r y it on . Th e p oin t h er e
is t o illu st r a t e t h a t d elib er a t e u se of su b m od alit y sh ift s will ch an g e you r
exp er ien ce an d can b e ver y u sefu l.

If su b m od alit ies ar e t h e su b com p on en t s of r ep r esen t at ion s, wh at

sp ecifica lly d o t h ey d o? In t h e visu a l syst em , su b m od a lit ies in clu d e b u t a r e
n ot lim it ed t o:

- Size
- locat ion
- b r ig h t n ess
- colou r sat u r at ion
- focu s
- m ot ion
- d ist an ce
- hue
- g r ey scale or colou r

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 How to Change Beliefs Using NLP Submodalities

- p an or am ic or fr am ed im ag es
- sin g le im ag e or sp lit scr een
- t r an sp ar en cy or op aq u e
- lifelike or d ist or t ed

Au d it or y su b m od alit ies in clu d e:

- Volu m e
- locat ion
- sin g le or m u lt ip le sou r ce
- p it ch
- r eson an ce
- lifelike
- d ist or t ed

Kin a est h et ic su b m od alit ies in clu d e:

- Tem p er at u r e
- p r essu r e
- locat ion
- a r ea
- volu m e
- t ext u r e
- sin g le or m u lt ip le sou r ce
- t ou ch
- in t er n al sen sat ion
- in t en sit y

Ta st e a n d sm ell ar e g en er ally in clu d ed wit h t h e kin a est h et ic syst em

u n less t h ey ar e im p or t an t , for exa m p le in cookin g , win e m a kin g a n d scen t
m akin g .

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 How to Change Beliefs Using NLP Submodalities

CHAPTER 1

Submodalitie s

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 How to Change Beliefs Using NLP Submodalities 01

SUBMODALITIES

THE FUNCTION OF SUBMODALITIES

Su b m od alit ies en ab le p eop le t o m ake m ean in g of t h eir m em or ies an d

im ag in in g s a n d t o kn ow t h a t t h ey b elieve cer t ain t h in g s ab ou t t h em selves
a n d t h e wor ld t h ey live in . Wh a t is im p or t a n t t o a p p r ecia t e is t h a t
d iffer en t p eop le u se d iffer en t su b m od a lit ies fr om ea ch ot h er t o cr ea t e
t h e m ea n in g t h ey wan t for t h eir exp er ien ces. All of t h is t a kes p la ce
a u t om a t ically, wit h ou t con sciou s a wa r en ess a n d m ost p eop le live q u it e
a d eq u a t ely wit h ou t kn owin g su b m od a lit ies exist . However , a wor kin g
kn owled g e of r ep r esen t at ion s a n d su b m od a lit ies ca n en h a n ce m em or y,
cr eat ivit y an d en ab le p eop le t o m a ke a va r iet y of ch a n g es t o t h e q u a lit y of
t h eir exp er ien ce, in clu d in g ch an g in g wh a t t h ey b elieve a b ou t ju st a b ou t
a n yt h in g .

THE IMPORTANCE OF ECOLOGY:

In t h e in t er est s of p er son al safet y, r elat ion sh ip s an d life ch oices, t h is class

of ch an g e sh ou ld b e fr am ed wit h ca r efu l in for m a t ion g a t h er in g t o en su r e
t h e r esu lt h as b en eficial in t en t ion s a n d con seq u en ces for t h e in d ivid u a l
in t h eir life. Th is is kn own a s Ecolog y a n d it p r op oses t h a t t h e in d ivid u a l
b ecom es awar e of t h eir own ou t com es a n d in t en t ion s for m a kin g t h e
ch an g e t h ey ar e con t em p lat in g . Su b m od a lit y wor k d oes n ot con t a in a n y
in h er en t sa feg u a r d s t o su p p or t ecolog ical ou t com es, t h er efor e it is u p t o
t h e ch an g e ag en t t o p r ovid e ecolog ica l ch ecks.

DRIVER SUBMODALITIES

To m a ke ch an g es u sin g su b m od a lit ies, it is u sefu l t o fin d t h e on es t h a t

ch an g e m or e t h an ju st t h em selves. Not a ll su b m od a lit ies h a ve

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 How to Change Beliefs Using NLP Submodalities 02

t h is p r op er t y. If you ch an g e a su b m od a lit y, su ch a s b r in g in g a n im a g e
closer t o you , t h at m ay t h e ext en t of it . If t h a t im a g e b ecom es b r ig h t er
( or d im m er ) , lar g er ( or sm aller ) or feels m or e ( or less) in t en se
wh en you b r in g it closer , t h en for you , d ist a n ce is wh a t is kn own a s a
Dr iver su b m od alit y. Dr iver su b m od alit ies in flu en ce ch an g e in an ot h er
su b m od a lit y wh en t h ey a r e a lt er ed . Th is m a kes t h em p a r t icu la r ly u sefu l
for cr ea t in g ch an g e. Not e t h at t h e Swish p at t er n in t h e p r eviou s eb ook
r elies on fin d in g an d ap p lyin g t wo a n a log u e d r iver su b m od a lit ies t o m a ke a
ch an g e for t h e in d ivid u al.

ANALOGUE AND DIGITAL SUBMODALITIES

An a n a log u e su b m od alit y sh ift s in cr em en t ally, like a d im m er swit ch or

volu m e con t r ol. An im ag e b ecom es b r ig h t er or la r g er or m oves a cr oss a
sp ace. It ca n a lso b ecom e sm a ller , d im m er , fla t t er , ch a n g in g fr om a life
like scen e t o sm a ll, fla t d issociat ed im ag e. A sou n d m oves acr oss a sp ace or
p asses like t h e sou n d of a p assin g ca r or t h e p it ch ca n sh ift in a g lissa n d o
or b e m or e like a d op p ler effect wh en a sir en ch a n g es n ot e a s it d r ives
a wa y.

A d ig it a l su b m od alit y is like an on -off swit ch ; all or n ot h in g or p ossib ly

st ep p ed . An im a g e b ecom es lit wh en t h e lig h t is t u r n ed on in a p r eviou sly
d ar k r oom . Mu sic is swit ch ed on wit h t h e volu m e a lr ea d y set h ig h . A ca r is
st ar t ed .

INTRODUCING SUBMODALITIES AND

ELICITING PERSONAL DRIVER SUBMODALITIES

For m an y p eop le, lear n in g ab ou t t h eir own su b m od a lit y u se is ea siest u sin g

t h e visu al syst em . For a fir st d elib er a t e exp er ien ce, t a ke a r ecen t m em or y

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 How to Change Beliefs Using NLP Submodalities 03

t h at is m od er at ely p leasin g b u t h a s n o g r ea t va lu e a n d look a t you r u su a l

im ag e of it . Br in g t h e im a g e t o con sciou s awar en ess b y t h in kin g ab ou t
t h e m em or y wit h you r eyes d ir ect ed a b ove t h e h or izon t a l lin e t o fa cilit a t e
visu alisin g . You can t ake a cop y of t h e im a g e for sa fe keep in g in ca se you
a lt er t h e on e you ar e ab ou t t o exp lor e. You will p r ob a b ly like a n y ch a n g es
you m ake, b u t som e p eop le a p p r ecia t e t h e secu r it y of h a vin g a cop y,
esp ecia lly t h e fir st t im e wh en t h ey d o n ot kn ow wh a t t o exp ect .

Now r et u r n t o t h e im ag e you ar e g oin g t o exp lor e. Ar e you lookin g at a st ill

im ag e or is it m ovin g , like a vid eo clip ? Do you see you r self in t h e im ag e
or ar e you in sid e it lookin g ou t of you r eyes, a s if you wer e t h er e? Is t h e
im ag e p a n or a m ic or con t a in ed in a fr am e wit h b or d er s? Is t h e lig h t n at u r al
or d ist or t ed ? Is t h e lig h t of r eg u la r b r ig h t n ess, b r ig h t er or d im m er ? Is
t h er e d ep t h of field or is t h e im a g e fla t ? Is t h e im a g e loca t ed in sp a ce or
d oes it su r r ou n d you ? Is it life size, la r g er or sm a ller ? How fa r a wa y fr om
you is t h e im a g e? Is it in colou r or m on och r om e? Ar e t h e colou r s r ea list ic,
h ig h ly sat u r at ed or fad ed ? Ar e all colou r s r ep r esen t ed ? Is t h e wh ole im ag e
in focu s, or d oes it h a ve p a r t fu zzed ou t ?

Now you h ave en ou g h in for m at ion t o st ar t t o exp lor e som e p ossib ilit ies.
Ta ke on e su b m od alit y, for exam p le lig h t level. Ma ke t h e im a g e b r ig h t er .
Does t h at ch an g e t h e m ean in g , exp er ien ce or in t en sit y of t h e m em or y?
Does t h e im ag e g et lar g er or sm aller or m ove closer or fu r t h er away?
Wh a t ever t h e r esu lt , p u t it b a ck t o t h e way it was. Now d im t h e lig h t . Wh at
h a p p en s? Not e an y ch an g es an d t h en p u t t h e im ag e b ack.

If you wou ld like t o exp lor e each of t h e op t ion s ab ove, d o it on e at a t im e,

n ot ice wh a t h a p p en s t o you r exp er ien ce, t h en p u t t h e im ag e b ack t o it s
or ig in al for m . If you n eed a r em in d er , on e of t h e fu n ct ion s of you r cop y is
t o sh ow you wh at t h e m em or y looked like b efor e you ch a n g ed a n yt h in g .

As you exp lor e, you will b ecom e awar e t h at som e of t h e sh ift s you m ake

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 How to Change Beliefs Using NLP Submodalities 04

a ct a lon e an d d o n ot h ave m u ch im p a ct on you r exp er ien ce. Ot h er s will cu e

a d d it ion al sh ift s. For exam p le, if t h e im a g e g et s la r g er wh en you b r ig h t en
it , b r ig h t n ess is a d r iver su b m od alit y for you wit h r efer en ce t o size. Ch eck
if t h e im a g e sh r in ks wh en you d im t h e lig h t . Th en ch eck if t h e im ag e
b r ig h t en s wh en you en lar g e it . It m a y or m a y n ot d o t h is. Som e d r iver
su b m od a lit ies on ly wor k in on e d ir ect ion , wh er ea s ot h er s wor k b ot h wa ys.
As you d iscover you r own d r iver su b m od alit ies, fin d ou t h ow t h ey ch an g e
you r exp er ien ce a n d if t h ey wor k in on e or b ot h d ir ect ion s. Be ca r efu l
t o con t in u e on ly t o sh ift on e su b m od a lit y a t a t im e a n d r est or e it b efor e
t est in g an ot h er on e.

If you wer e lookin g at a d issociat ed im ag e, t h at is on e wit h b or d er s in

wh ich you can see you r self, m ake it life size a n d st ep in t o you r self in
t h e im ag e. Th at will p r ob ab ly g ive you a ccess t o a m b ien t sou n d a n d
sen sat ion s. It is n ow a n a ssociat ed m em or y. Wh en you a r e r ea d y, st ep
ou t of t h e m em or y an d r est or e it t o it s or ig in a l size a n d loca t ion . If t h a t
wa s a n ovel exp er ien ce, you m ig h t b e in t er est ed in exp er im en t in g wit h
ot h er p leasin g m em or ies som et im e. Th er e is fa r m or e in for m a t ion in a n
a ssocia t ed m em or y t h an a d issocia t ed on e. Associa t in g in t o u n p lea sa n t
m em or ies is g en er ally n ot r ecom m en d ed . Dissocia t ed im a g es con t a in t h e
n ecessa r y a n d su fficien t in for m at ion for m ost p u r p oses, b u t r ed u ce t h e
p leasu r e availab le in p leasan t m em or ies.

Th is exp lor at ion p r ovid es live exp er ien ce of id en t ifyin g a n d sh ift in g

su b m od a lit ies so t h a t you d iscover som e of t h eir fu n ct ion s. Did you d o
a n yt h in g t h at m ad e you r m em or y m or e or less in t en se? Did it b ecom e
m or e or less im p or t an t or m ea n in g fu l? Did it b ecom e m or e or less
b elievab le?

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 How to Change Beliefs Using NLP Submodalities 05

THE PRINCIPLES OF SUBMODALITY CHANGE

PROCESSES

Su b m od alit y ch an g e p r ocesses ar e p r ed icat ed on ou r ab ilit y t o m an ip u lat e

ou r own su b m od alit ies, as you h a ve ju st d em on st r a t ed . You will h a ve
n ot iced t h e r ecom m en d a t ion s t o p r oceed wit h car e so you can r ever se an y
sh ift you m a d e in you r exp lor a t ion s. Th e sa m e r ecom m en d a t ion a p p lies
t o an y in t er ven t ion s you m ake b y ch a n g in g su b m od a lit ies d ir ect ly. Th er e
is n o ecolog y b u ilt in t o t h is class of in t er ven t ion , so we ad d ou r own an d
g a t h er car efu l in for m at ion b efor e m a kin g a n y ch a n g es.

Th er e m u st b e an ou t com e an d in t en t ion for m a kin g a ch a n g e. If you wa n t

a ch a n g e, you sh ou ld b e ab le t o r ecog n ise wh en it h a s b een m a d e a n d wh a t
h a vin g it sh ou ld d o for you . You r in t en t ion is com p a r ed wit h t h e likely
con seq u en ces of m akin g t h e ch a n g e a n d it is a d visa b le n ot t o p r oceed if
t h e con seq u en ces ar e u n accep t a b le. Fin d a h ig h er level of in t en t ion a n d
exp lor e t h e con seq u en ces of t h a t . Wh en you h a ve a d esir a b le ou t com e
t h at is self in it iat ed an d m ain t a in ed , su p p or t ed b y a n eq u a lly well for m ed
in t en t ion a n d b en eficia l con seq u en ces, t h er e is on e m or e p iece you wan t t o
h a ve b efor e you p r oceed .

You wan t you r u n con sciou s m in d fu lly in for m ed of you r p r op osa l a n d in

a g r eem en t wit h you r ou t com e a n d in t en t ion s. Som et im es t h e u n con sciou s
is t h e on ly p a r t of you t h a t kn ows t h e h ig h er level in t en t ion s, so it is
a d visa b le t o in clu d e it in t h e wh ole in for m a t ion g a t h er in g a n d fr a m in g
p r ocess. Min im ally, t h e u n con sciou s sh ou ld r a t ify you r p r op osa l, b u t
t h e q u alit y of you r r esu lt can b e m a r ked ly en h a n ced b y en g a g in g
u n con sciou s r esou r ces fr om t h e st a r t . Th is is com m on t o a ll well-st r u ct u r ed
in t er ven t ion s an d is an in t eg r al elem en t of New Cod e NLP ch an g e wor k.
For ever yt h in g else, in clu d e t h ese p r in cip les in you r fr a m in g a n d you r
wor k will b e last in g an d ecolog ica l.

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 How to Change Beliefs Using NLP Submodalities 06

Wh en m akin g a su b m od a lit y ch an g e, t h e n ext st ep is t o est ab lish t h e

su b m od a lit ies you will u se t o m a ke t h e ch a n g e. For in t er ven t ion s like
t h e Swish , wh er e you u se a m em or y a n d a cr ea t ed r ep r esen t a t ion , you
can d iscover wh ich su b m od alit ies you will wa n t t o ch a n g e b y sh ift in g
su b m od a lit ies on e a t a t im e a s we d id wit h t h e in t r od u ct or y exer cise. For
ot h er ch an g es, in clu d in g ch an g in g b eliefs, m ea n in g s, self con cep t a n d
d evelop in g ou t com es, we cr eat e a t em p la t e.

A t em p lat e is an em p t y r ep r esen t at ion sp ace m ad e wit h t h e sam e fr am e

a n d su b m od alit ies as an exist in g r ep r esen t a t ion you p ossess a lr ea d y.
Ch oose a com p ar ab le con t ext t o t h e on e you wan t t o ch an g e, wit h t h e
p r oviso t h at t h e con t en t of t h e com p a r ison sit s well wit h you a n d wor ks
for you r b en efit . Th is will b e u sed t o cr eat e a t em p lat e t o fr am e t h e n ew
d esir ed st at e con t en t . Th u s, if you wa n t t o ch a n g e a b elief, you r t em p la t e
will b e t aken fr om a r ep r esen t at ion of a b elief you h old a n d va lu e. If you
wa n t t o p lan for b u yin g a n ew ca r , ch oose a r ep r esen t a t ion of a t im e
wh en you wan t ed an d wer e p lan n in g t o ob t a in som et h in g of eq u iva len t
im p or t an ce t o a n ew ca r , a n d wh ich is n ow in you r p ossession . If you wan t
t o r em em b er an exp er ien ce fr om t en yea r s a g o a s if it wer e yest er d a y, t a ke
a r ecen t exp er ien ce wit h sim ilar q u a lit ies t o u se t o m a ke you r t em p la t e.

To m a ke a t em p lat e, elicit t h e su b m od a lit ies of you r com p a r a b le

exp er ien ce u sin g t h e list of su b m od a lit ies a b ove. Wh en you h a ve a
com p let e wr it t en d escr ip t ion of t h e su b m od a lit ies of t h e com p a r a b le, you
a r e r ea d y for t h e n ext st ag e. Wit h t op ics like ch a n g in g a n u n g r ou n d ed wish
for som et h in g t o a p lan t o ob t ain it , t h er e is on e st ep .

Rep r esen t t h e con t en t you wa n t t o ch an g e an d n ot e wh ich su b m od alit ies

a r e d iffer en t fr om t h ose of t h e d esir ed st a t e t em p la t e. For exa m p le, if it is
a n im a g e, it m ay b e in a d iffer en t p la ce in you r field of vision , of a d iffer en t
size, b e b r ig h t er or d im m er , in or ou t of focu s. To ch a n g e it , sim p ly sh ift
t h ose su b m od alit ies t h at wer e d iffer en t , so t h a t you r con t en t

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 How to Change Beliefs Using NLP Submodalities 07

is fr am ed in t h e t em p la t e su b m od alit ies. If t h e u n con sciou s m in d h as

a p p r oved t h e ch an g e an d you h a ve d on e a ccu r a t e wor k, t h e m ea n in g of t h e
exp er ien ce will sh ift t o r eflect t h e q u a lit ies a ssocia t ed wit h t h e t em p la t e
su b m od a lit ies. You m ig h t n eed t o r ep ea t t h e sh ift t wo or t h r ee t im es t o
a u t om a t e it . If so, b r in g you r at t en t ion t o t h e ou t sid e wor ld b et ween ea ch
sh ift , so t h a t you r ch a n g e g oes in on e d ir ect ion ; t owa r d s t h e t em p la t e
su b m od a lit y con fig u r a t ion . You will kn ow wh en t h e ch a n g e is com p let e a s
t h e im ag e will st ay in t h e n ew fr a m e.

For com p lex ch an g es, su ch as t h ose a ssocia t ed wit h b eliefs or r esolvin g

g r ief, t h er e ar e ad d it ion al st ep s. In t h is t ext we sh a ll d iscu ss t h e
su b m od a lit y b elief ch a n g e p r ocess in m or e d ep t h .

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 How to Change Beliefs Using NLP Submodalities

CHAPTER 2

Be lie fs

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 How to Change Beliefs Using NLP Submodalities 08

Be lie fs

A b elief is an yt h in g t h at som eon e t h in ks is t r u e, kn ows is t r u e, h old s as a

self-evid en t t r u t h , is a “kn owin g ”, is t r u e, is a t r u t h or ca n n ot b e a n y ot h er
wa y. Som e p eop le m ake a sep ar a t ion b et ween b elievin g a n d kn owin g ,
b u t for ou r p u r p oses t h at wou ld b e a r t ificia l. If som et h in g is h eld a s t r u e,
it is a b elief a n d t h a t d oes n ot m ake it less “t r u e”. Wh et h er t h er e is h ar d
evid en ce in su p p or t of a t r u t h , su ch a s t h e la w of g r a vit y, or n o su p p or t in g
evid en ce at all as in m at t er s of fa it h , ever yon e wh o h old s a b elief d oes it
wit h su b m od alit ies.

For each p er son , t h er e is a set of su b m od a lit ies t h a t m ea n s “t r u e”. Th a t

is n ot t o sa y b eliefs wer e for m ed b y m an ip u lat in g su b m od alit ies. Wh en a
b elief is for m ed , t h e p er son ’s su b m od a lit ies for t r u t h fr a m e t h a t con t en t .
Beliefs can b e cr eat ed b y en g a g in g t h e p er son ’s t r u t h su b m od a lit ies, b u t
t h e n at u r al way b eliefs ar e for m ed is via exp er ien ce.

Most p eop le wh o ca n r id e a b icycle kn ow t h ey can . Th ey wen t t h r ou g h

a lea r n in g p r ocess t o ach ieve b a la n ce on a b icycle a n d t h en p r a ct iced
t h e skill u n t il t h ey cou ld st ay on a n d r id e com for t a b ly a n d sa fely on
t h e r oad . At t h e sam e t im e, b eliefs wer e for m ed n a t u r a lly in lin e wit h
t h eir exp er ien ce. Now, wh en you a sk if t h ey ca n r id e a b icycle, t h ey sa y;
“Yes”, con g r u en t ly. If you ask h ow t h ey kn ow t h a t , a n d st op t h em fr om
exp la in in g t h e h ist or y, you will ob ser ve t h eir eyes m ove t o a cer t a in
locat ion a n d focu s wit h a p a r t icu lar focal len g t h . You m ig h t ob ser ve m icr o
m u scle m ovem en t s associat ed wit h cyclin g . Th ese r ep r esen t a t ion s a r e h ow
t h ey kn ow t h ey can r id e a b icycle.

An y b eliefs t h at p eop le h old , b ot h g en er at ive an d lim it in g in n at u r e, ar e

for m ed in a sim ilar m an n er . Fam ilial, cu lt u r al an d su b -cu lt u r al b eliefs ar e
exp r essed r ep eat ed ly in t h e p r esen ce of ch ild r en . Th ey a r e r ein for ced in
t h e ad u lt g r ou p b y p r esu p p osit ion a n d a llu sion . Th e ch ild r en m od el t h e

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 How to Change Beliefs Using NLP Submodalities 09

exp r ession an d b eh aviou r an d t a ke on t h e b eliefs t h em selves.

If a p er son h as a p ar t icu lar exp er ien ce t h at r ep eat s a n u m b er of t im es,

t h ey ar e likely t o for m a b elief in lin e wit h t h e r ep ea t ed exp er ien ce. As
t h e b elief fr am es exp ect at ion s of m or e of t h e sa m e, t h e p er son d evelop s
a p er cep t u al filt er t h at su p p or t s t h e b elief a n d d elet es con flict in g
in for m at ion . Th is is h ow self fu lfillin g p r op h ecies ar e for m ed .

Log ical a r g u m en t s an d scien t ific exp er im en t s a r e d esig n ed t o p r ovid e

con vin cin g exp er ien ces t o facilit a t e for m a t ion of sp ecific b eliefs. Log ica l
a r g u m en t s d r aw on exist in g , u su a lly d em on st r a b le in for m a t ion t o su p p or t
t h eir p r op osals. Th ese in clu d e t h e r esu lt s of p r eviou sly d ocu m en t ed
exp er im en t s, p r eviou sly d ocu m en t ed cou r t d ecision s a n d ot h er cu lt u r a lly
en d or sed evid en ce.

A SUBMODALITY BELIEF RESTORATION STORY

My a u n t sp en t h er life a s a n An g lican n u n . Wh en on e of h er Sist er s in t h e

con ven t exp er ien ced a loss of fa it h , sh e a sked if I cou ld h elp . Befor e I m a d e
a n y in t er ven t ion , I g at h er ed in for m a t ion a n d g ot a n ou t com e fr om t h e
Sist er . Sh e r eally wan t ed h er fait h b ack for it s own sake, as t h at was ver y
im p or t an t t o h er . Her fa it h a lso su p p or t ed a life st yle, social n et wor k an d
set of p r od u ct ive a ct ivit ies t h a t sh e va lu ed g r ea t ly a n d cou ld n ot su st a in
wit h ou t it . Sh e h ad lost fait h in cr em en t a lly over t im e a s a r esu lt of d a ily
in t er a ct ion s in t h e Com m u n it y.

We d iscover ed sh e wa s ca r r yin g a p r eviou sly u n con sciou s com p lex

eq u iva len t for fait h . Un con sciou sly, sh e h a d b een exp ect in g con sist en t
d em on st r at ion s of san ct it y an d u n r ea list ica lly h ig h st a n d a r d s of b eh a viou r
fr om h er m or e sen ior Sist er s an d t h e Pr iest . As sh e ob ser ved even q u it e
d ecor ou s h u m an n ess d em on st r a t ed on a d a ily b a sis, h er fa it h h a d b eg u n t o
er od e.

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 How to Change Beliefs Using NLP Submodalities 10

Th e Sist er was ast on ish ed t o d iscover t h is com p lex eq u iva len t a n d it

wa s r efr am ed wit h alacr it y wh en sh e d iscover ed h ow it b eg a n . Sh e wa s
m u ch r elieved t o b e in a p osit ion wh er e sh e cou ld con sid er h er fa it h a s
som et h in g b et ween h er self a n d t h e ob ject of h er fa it h . Th en sh e cou ld t a ke
h er r ela t ion sh ip s wit h h er Sist er s an d ot h er s on t h eir own m er it s, wh ile
sh ar in g a com m on set of id ea ls a n d ou t com es wit h t h em . Th is wa s h ow we
cr eat ed an ecolog ical fr am ewor k for ch a n g e b efor e sh ift in g su b m od a lit ies
t o r est or e an d en h an ce h er fait h .

To cr ea t e t h e d ir ect in cr ease in fa it h , I elicit ed r ep r esen t a t ion s fr om

wh en h er fait h was st r on g in t h e p a st a n d a sked h er t o id en t ify t h e
su b m od a lit ies u sed wit h t h ose r ep r esen t a t ion s. I a lso a sked for a r ecen t
m em or y of som et h in g of wh ich sh e wa s cer t a in a n d h a p p y a b ou t . I
elicit ed t h e su b m od alit ies of t h a t m em or y for com p a r ison . Sh e u sed t h ese
t wo m em or ies t o est ab lish h ow sh e wou ld r ep r esen t st r on g fa it h in t h e
p r esen t . Th is g ave m e t h e d r iver su b m od a lit ies t h a t sh e u sed t o in t en sify
exp er ien ces in h er r ep r esen t at ion s. Her cu r r en t r ep r esen t a t ion of fa it h
r eflect ed t h e p r esen t st at e of r ed u ced fa it h , so we u sed t h e su b m od a lit ies
sh e id en t ified wit h h a vin g st r on g fa it h , com b in ed wit h t h e su b m od a lit ies
sh e u sed t o d en ot e cer t a in t y in t h e p r esen t a s a t em p la t e t o ca r r y h er
cu r r en t fait h r ep r esen t at ion s. We sca t t er ed cop ies of t h e en h a n ced fa it h
r ep r esen t at ion s t h r ou g h h er fu t u r e, so t h a t sh e cou ld r ely on con t in u ed
fa it h for as lon g as sh e ch ose. It wor ked well an d sh e was ab le t o m ain t ain
h er vocat ion .

COMMENTARY

Th is is an exam p le of m ap p in g som eon e’s exp er ien ces t o fin d t h e

su b m od a lit ies t h a t in d ivid u a l u ses t o m a ke sp ecific m ea n in g . Th e in t en t ion
for m a p p in g a p er son ’s su b m od alit ies for a sp ecific m ean in g is t o ap p ly
t h em t o cr eat in g a sim ilar m ean in g for a n exp er ien ce, b elief or con cep t

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 How to Change Beliefs Using NLP Submodalities 11

t h at t h ey wan t t o h old . Fr om t h e exa m p le a b ove, we ca n in fer t h e va lu e of

elicit in g t h e fr am in g t h at h as b een p r esen t t h a t st op p ed t h em fr om h a vin g
t h eir ou t com e. We can also see h ow u sefu l it ca n b e t o u p d a t e t h e fr a m e
t o su p p or t t h e p er son ach ievin g t h eir ou t com e. It d oes sa t isfy t h e n eed for
ecolog y an d also it su p p or t s t h e likelih ood of t h e su b m od a lit y sh ift h old in g
t h r ou g h t im e an d wor kin g well for t h e p er son .

Som e p eop le’s u n con sciou s m in d s will accep t su b m od alit y ch an g es,

r eg a r d less of wh et h er t h e ch an g es a r e ecolog ica l. Wh en a n yon e
exp er ien ces an d keep s a su b m od a lit y in t er ven t ion t h a t is n ot ecolog ica l,
t h ey oft en p r od u ce an ot h er sym p t om of d issa t isfa ct ion . Som et im es it is
im m ed ia t e, a n d for ot h er s it m ay t ake a few weeks t o m an ifest . Wh en a
p r op osed ch an g e is t est ed for ecolog y a n d fu n ct ion a lit y wit h in t h e p er son ’s
syst em of r ela t ion sh ip s, life cir cu m st a n ces a n d t h eir own b eliefs a n d
va lu es, r elat ed , su p p or t in g in t er ven t ion s oft en b ecom e a p p a r en t . Wh en
t h ese ar e d on e fir st , t h ey cr eat e a n ew, ecolog ica l fr a m ewor k for t h e
su b m od a lit y ch a n g e t o fu n ct ion sm oot h ly a n d n a t u r a lly.

Peop le’s u n con sciou s m in d s ca n lea r n t o r eject u n ecolog ica l su g g est ion s,
in clu d in g t h ose d ir ect ed a t ch an g in g t h e su b m od alit ies t h ey u se t o fr am e
a p a r t icu lar exp er ien ce. For p eop le wit h u n con sciou s m in d s t h a t a r e a wa r e
of t h e d iffer en ce b et ween in st r u ct ion s t h a t su it t h em a n d t h ose t h a t d o
n ot , a t t em p t s a t u n ecolog ica l su b m od alit y sh ift s will n ot h old . In som e
cases, t h e p er son m ay m ake t h e sh ift a n d h a ve it r ever se im m ed ia t ely or
in t h e fir st few m in u t es a ft er t h e sh ift . Ot h er s m ay fin d t h em selves u n ab le
t o m ake t h at sp ecific ch an g e a t a ll. Som e p eop le exp er ien ce a st r on g
sig n a l in a d iffer en t r ep r esen t at ion al syst em . Cer t ain ly, it is u sefu l for NLP
con su lt an t s t o t r eat an y of t h ese occu r r en ces a s ob ject ion s b y t h e p er son ’s
u n con sciou s m in d t o t h e p r op osed ch a n g e in it s p r esen t for m . Th ey a r e
sig n als t h a t m or e in for m a t ion is n eed ed t o b e a b le t o cr ea t e a ch a n g e t h a t
su it s t h e in d ivid u a l.

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 How to Change Beliefs Using NLP Submodalities 12

HOW BELIEFS ARE FORMED

Ch a n g in g b eliefs wit h su b m od alit ies is well kn own in t h e NLP com m u n it y.

However , r ep la cin g on e b elief wit h a n ot h er is n ot a lwa ys t h e m ost u sefu l
a p p r oa ch . In t h e n at u r al cou r se of even t s, we for m b eliefs t h r ou g h
exp osu r e t o exp er ien ces, com m en t s a n d ot h er p eop le’s b eh a viou r t h a t
offer s con sist en cy. Wh en we h a ve exp er ien ced en ou g h exp osu r e t o t h e
sam e cla ss of in for m a t ion , b e it con sciou sly or ot h er wise, we fin d ou r selves
b elievin g it .

We ca n d iscover t h e p r ocess each of u ses t o for m b eliefs fr om n at u r al

exp osu r e b y elicit in g ou r Con vin cer or Belief St r at eg y. In t h e NLP
com m u n it y, t h is n or m ally seeks t o d iscover h ow m a n y r ep et it ion s a p er son
n eed s or t h e p er iod of t im e t h at h as t o elap se b efor e n ew in for m at ion
b ecom es a b elief. Th e n u m b er of exp osu r es or t h e t im e p er iod r ela t e t o
st or in g t h e in for m a t ion in ou r r ep r esen t a t ion a l syst em s. Wh en t h e sa m e
in for m at ion is st or ed in m em or y an d im ag in at ion in visu al, au d it or y an d
kin aest h et ic for m , a b elief is sa id t o b e p r esen t .

Th e ot h er way we t ake on b eliefs is t h r ou g h sin g le t r ia l lea r n in g . Th is

h a p p en s wh en we ar e exp osed t o a st r on g ly im p act in g st im u lu s or
in con t r over t ib le evid en ce in t h e p h ysical wor ld . For exam p le, wh en
lig h t n in g st r ikes close t o u s, t h e lit t le h air s on ou r ar m s r eally d o st an d u p .
Th is h a s h ap p en ed t o m e, t wice. I a lso b elieve n ow, t h a t cor n er fish t a n ks
can exp lod e in a sim ilar con t ext . Som eon e wh o h a d t h a t exp er ien ce t old
m e ab ou t it an d t h ey wer e con g r u en t in t h e t ellin g . Wh en I fir st h ea r d it ,
I h a d n ot en cou n t er ed a close lig h t n in g st r ike an d fou n d t h e id ea od d . A
year lat er , d u r in g a t h u n d er st or m on a m ot or wa y n ea r Br isb a n e, I a sked
t h e d r iver if h e h ad h ear d of fish t a n ks exp lod in g . Befor e h e cou ld r esp on d ,
lig h t n in g st r u ck t h e sid e of t h e r oad an d m y q u est ion was an swer ed . We
felt a sh ock wave an d t h e lit t le h air s on ou r ar m s st ood u p .

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 How to Change Beliefs Using NLP Submodalities 13

Th e secon d en cou n t er wit h lig h t n in g a lso ch a n g ed a b elief. I h a d b een

u n d er t h e im p r ession t h at lig h t n in g st r u ck t h e h ig h est ob ject in t h e
vicin it y, h en ce t h e u se of lig h t n in g con d u ct or s on b u ild in g s. Th er e wa s a
t h u n d er st or m d u r in g a Gr ad Cer t NLP class I was t each in g . St u d en t s wer e
sp r ead ou t t h r ou g h ou r offices d oin g a n exer cise wh en lig h t n in g st r u ck t h e
n ext d oor g a r d en . We a ll sa w it , h ear d it sim u lt an eou sly an d exp er ien ced a
sh ock wa ve. Th e g r ou n d b et ween t wo b u ild in g s wh er e it h it wa s d efin it ely
n ot t h e h ig h est p oin t a r ou n d .

Beliefs act as filt er s, cr eat in g exp ect a t ion of m or e of t h e sa m e cla ss of

in for m at ion . If we a r e a t t en d in g , con sciou sly or ot h er wise, t o exp ect in g
life t o u n fold in a cer t a in wa y, we m ay b e d elet in g or ig n or in g p ot en t ially
u sefu l m at er ial. Delet ed m at er ia l ca n in clu d e evid en ce t h a t con t r a d ict s
or calls t h e b elief in t o q u est ion , so t h e p r eva ilin g m od el of t h e wor ld
is su p p or t ed a n d r ein for ced . If we kn ow for a fact t h at X is t r u e, t h en
p ot en t ia l n ews of d iffer en ce is r ed u ced , wh ich in t u r n r ed u ces t h e
likelih ood of lea r n in g in t h ose ar eas. Essen t ia lly, t h e m or e st r on g ly h eld
b eliefs a p er son h as, t h e less t h ey ca n lea r n on t h ose m a t t er s. For exa m p le,
if a p er son b elieves, “All r a ven s ar e b lack”, t h ey will b e less op en t o t h e
p ossib ilit y of an alb in o r aven , yet a t lea st su ch b ir d s d o exist a n d h er e is
you t u b e foot a g e of on e of t h em : You ca n wa t ch it h er e.

Som e of ou r b eliefs ser ve u s well. Th ey cr eat e u sefu l h eu r ist ics t o en ab le

q u ick d ecision an d act ion su p p or t ed b y a u t om a t ed , u n con sciou s ca p a cit y.
For t h ose wh o en joy d r ivin g , you wou ld n ot wa n t t o h a ve t o t h in k a b ou t
st eer in g or t h e m ech a n ics of ever y g ea r ch a n g e. It sou n d s b et t er , feels
sm oot h er a n d su p p or t s t h e ca r ’s fu n ct ion a lit y if you h a ve a u t om a t ed
con cep t u al an d m u scle m em or y t o r ely on . Rem em b er b ein g a lea r n er
d r iver wit h all t h e u n fam iliar a ct ion s t o t a ke, b ot h sim u lt a n eou sly a n d
seq u en t ia lly. Th a t is wh a t it wou ld b e like t o lose u sefu l h eu r ist ics a n d
a u t om a t ion .

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 How to Change Beliefs Using NLP Submodalities 14

Beliefs ar e id eas wh ich we h old st r on g ly a s t r u e ( or fa lse) , t h a t p r ovid e

h eu r ist ics ab ou t life, t h e wor ld , con cep t s, p ossib ilit ies, lim it s, ot h er
p eop le a n d ou r selves. Dr ivin g is a skill set t h a t r eq u ir es h eu r ist ic fr a m ed
a u t om a t ion t o fu n ct ion effect ively. Beliefs p r ovid e t h e h eu r ist ics t h a t
su p p or t ou r p a ssa g e t h r ou g h t h e wor ld . We a r e a wa r e of t h e ch a n g in g
season s t h r ou g h ou t t h e yea r a n d g en er a lly d r ess t o op t im ise ou r own
com for t wit h r efer en ce t o t h e p r eva ilin g wea t h er con d it ion s wit h ou t
m u ch t h ou g h t . We ar e likely t o b e m or e con sciou s of wh a t st yle of d r ess is
a p p r op r iat e for t h e d ay’s m ost im p or t a n t con t ext .

PLACING A BELIEF IN QUESTION

Som e h eu r ist ics b en efit fr om b ein g r eviewed fr om t im e t o t im e. Life

ch an g es, id eas an d b eh aviou r t h a t wor ked for u s wh en we wer e you n g er
m ay n o lon g er b e t h e b est op t ion . We m ig h t ca r r y som e b eliefs fou n d ed
on in com p let e in for m at ion . All of u s ca n id en t ify t h in g s we b elieve t h a t
we wish wer e n ot t r u e an d t h in g s we kn ow a r e n ot t r u e t h a t we wish
wer e t r u e. Som e of t h ese ar e wor t h ca llin g in t o q u est ion . Th a t wa y, we
can b e op en t o in for m at ion fr om t h e wor ld t h a t m ig h t p r ovid e evid en ce of
som et h in g else wit h ou t com m it t in g ou r selves t o b elievin g d iffer en t ly a b ou t
t h at t op ic. Wh en som et h in g is in q u est ion , we ca n lea r n , u p d a t e ou r selves
a n d exp lor e d iffer en t p ossib ilit ies.

We ea ch h a ve su b m od a lit ies t h at fr am e cer t ain r ep r esen t at ion s as b eliefs.

Also, we each h ave su b m od alit ies t h at fr am e u n cer t ain id eas as b ein g in
d ou b t . No d ou b t , as you t h in k ab ou t a n yt h in g t h a t is d efin it ively t r u e or
fa lse, t h at is ju st t h e way t h in g s ar e, wh et h er you like it or n ot .

To d iscover h ow you r ep r esen t a b elief, t h in k a b ou t som et h in g you b elieve

a n d wish t o con t in u e t o b elieve. Not e wh er e t h e im a g e is, wh et h er t h er e is
on e im ag e or m or e, h ow close or fa r a wa y it is, wh a t size it is, if it is st ill or

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 How to Change Beliefs Using NLP Submodalities 15

m ovin g , an d wh et h er t h e colou r a n d focu s a r e r ea list ic or d iffer en t in som e

wa y. Also n ot e wh et h er you can h ea r a n y sou n d , if so fr om wh er e, wh et h er
it is r ealist ic or d ist or t ed a n d wh et h er it is am b ien t or d ir ect ion al. Th er e
m ay b e sen sat ion s wh ich cou ld b e fr om t h e m em or y or a b ou t t h e m em or y.
An ot h er im p or t an t feat u r e is wh et h er you ar e in t h e scen e or ob ser vin g
it fr om ou t sid e. Th is is you r t em p lat e for b eliefs you wan t t o keep an d for
n ew, g en er a t ive b eliefs.

Som e p eop le h ave m or e t h an on e way of r ep r esen t in g b eliefs. To fin d ou t if

you ar e on e of t h em , t h in k a b ou t som et h in g you b elieve a n d wish you d id
n ot . Pick som et h in g you fin d t r u e b u t lim it in g , t h e m or e so t h e b et t er . Not e
t h e su b m od alit ies in t h e visu al, a u d it or y a n d kin a est h et ic r ep r esen t a t ion s
a s you d id wit h t h e b elief you wa n t t o keep . If t h er e a r e d iffer en ces in t h e
su b m od a lit ies of u sefu l a n d lim it in g b eliefs, wh en you cr ea t e a n ew b elief
in t h e n ext sect ion , u se t h e su b m od alit ies of a g en er at ive b elief as you r
t em p lat e. If you h ave on e t em p la t e for a ll b eliefs, t h a t wor ks ju st a s well.

Now t a ke som et h in g t h at for you is in d ou b t . For exam p le, in Au st r alia

t h er e is a g am b lin g g am e called “Two Up ”, wh ich sold ier s u sed t o p la y in
t h e fir st Wor ld War . It u ses t wo coin s wh ich a r e flip p ed a t t h e sa m e t im e
a n d t h e g am e is t o b et on h ow t h ey la n d . Th e op t ion s a r e t wo h ea d s, t wo
t ails or on e of each . Wh ile t h e coin s a r e in t h e a ir , t h e r esu lt is u n kn own ,
t h er efor e it cou ld b e d escr ib ed a s b ein g in d ou b t . We a r e n ot u sin g “Dou b t ”
a s a colloq u ial for m of “I d o n ot b elieve X”. Th a t is close t o b elievin g t h a t
som et h in g is n ot t r u e.

Dou b t or lack of kn owled g e ab ou t t h e t r u t h of som et h in g or t h e likelih ood

of an ou t com e m an ifest in g will b e r ep r esen t ed d iffer en t ly fr om t h e wa y
you r ep r esen t b elief. Th in k of som et h in g wh er e you d o n ot kn ow t h e
ou t com e an d t h en com p ar e you r r ep r esen t a t ion wit h t h e on e you h a d for
b elief. Not e t h e d iffer en ces car efu lly.

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 How to Change Beliefs Using NLP Submodalities 16

Ta ke som et h in g you wish you d id n ot b elieve, or som et h in g you wish you

d id b elieve an d ch an g e t h e su b m od a lit ies t o con for m t o t h ose you fou n d
for t h e id ea t h at you d ou b t . You m a y n eed t o d o t h is t wo or t h r ee t im es
t o p lace t h at id ea in d ou b t . You r evid en ce will b e a sen se of n ot kn owin g
if it is t r u e. Th is will g ive you fr eed om t o exp lor e an d d iscover m or e
in for m at ion t o est a b lish t h e likelih ood of it s b ein g t r u e all t h e t im e, som e
of t h e t im e or n ot at all. You m a y b e su r p r ised b y wh a t you n ot ice in t h e
en vir on m en t t h at was b ein g d elet ed fr om you r a wa r en ess wh en t h er e
wa s a b elief on t h at su b ject . Th is is a u sefu l wa y t o fa cilit a t e lea r n in g a s
you h ar n ess d a ily life t o u p d a t e you r id ea s in st ea d of r elyin g on a n old
h eu r ist ic.

CREATING A NEW BELIEF

We h a ve a lr ea d y d iscu ssed t h e n eed for ecolog y for t h e p er son an d t h eir

life syst em s wit h r efer en ce t o ch an g in g b eliefs, so n ow we sh all sim p ly
con sid er t h e p r ocess.

If you wan t t o r ep lace a b elief t h at you h ave p u t in d ou b t , t h is is an

op p or t u n e m om en t t o cr eat e on e, sh ou ld you ch oose t o d o so. Wh en you r
old b elief is in d ou b t , it n o lon g er h a s u n d u e in flu en ce over you r t h in kin g .
Most u ser s of t h e su b m od a lit y b elief ch an g e cr eat e a n ew b elief wh ile
st ill h old in g t h e on e t h ey wa n t t o ch a n g e. Th er efor e t h ey a r e u n d er it s
in flu en ce wh ile d evelop in g t h eir n ew b elief, wh ich m ay lim it t h eir ch oices.

A n ew b elief sh ou ld b e g en er at ive. Th at is, it sh ou ld en ab le con t in u in g

lear n in g a n d d evelop m en t t h r ou g h t im e. For exam p le, ch an g in g a b elief
t h at on e is b ad at d oin g m at h s t o on e wh er e t h ey a r e g ood a t m a t h s
is lim it in g . Th e p er son is p r ob ab ly sh or t of u sefu l r ep r esen t at ion s of
m at h em at ical p at t er n s at t h is t im e a n d t h er efor e n eed s t o g a in t h e skills
a n d kn owled g e t o d o m at h s. Th ey wou ld b e b et t er a d vised t o b elieve t h a t
t h ey can lear n m at h s t o t h e level of t h eir ch oice a n d d o it wit h en joym en t ,

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 How to Change Beliefs Using NLP Submodalities 17

in t er est a n d fa cilit y. Even m or e g en er a t ively, t h ey cou ld b elieve t h ey

can lear n an yt h in g t h ey ch oose t o g ive t h eir a t t en t ion a n d d o t h a t wit h
en joym en t , in t er est an d facilit y. A b elief like t h a t will con t in u e t o ser ve a
p er son t h r ou g h ou t t h eir life an d a ccom m od a t e t h eir fu t u r e d evelop m en t .

Havin g for m u la t ed t h e con t en t for a n ew b elief a n d t est ed it for lon g t er m

fu n ct ion alit y, r ep r esen t it as a q u est ion in t h e su b m od alit ies of d ou b t .
Th en ch an g e t h e su b m od alit ies t o t h ose you a lr ea d y kn ow d esig n a t e b elief.
Rep eat t h e sh ift fr om d ou b t t o b elief t wo or t h r ee t im es if you n eed t o.
You r evid en ce will b e t h at you h old t h e n ew b elief a s a g iven .

Wh et h er you a r e p lacin g a b elief in d ou b t or r ep lacin g it wit h som et h in g

g en er a t ive, if t h e ch an g e will n ot h old , you n eed m or e in for m a t ion . It
cou ld b e as sim p le as t akin g m or e ca r e wit h you r su b m od a lit y elicit a t ion
t o ach ieve su fficien t accu r acy or it cou ld b e a n ob ject ion fr om you r
u n con sciou s m in d t o t h e con t en t you a r e p r op osin g . If t h a t is t h e ca se,
d o n ot for ce a ch an g e. Exp lor e you r in t en t ion s for h a vin g t h e ch a n g e a n d
con sid er t h e con seq u en ces b ot h for h a vin g t h e ch a n g e a n d for d r op p in g it
in favou r of t h e in t en t ion s you h ave fou n d . Alt er n at ively, sim p ly leave t h e
old b elief in d ou b t an d allow n a t u r e t o p r ovid e you wit h u p d a t ed evid en ce
for a n d a g ain st it .

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 How to Change Beliefs Using NLP Submodalities 18

Conclusion
Th ese p r ocesses t ake car efu l ob ser va t ion a n d q u est ion in g t o p er for m
effect ively. However , wh en you ca n d o t h is wit h you r self a n d ot h er s, it
b ecom es ap p ar en t t h at ver y lit t le in for m a t ion is ca st in st on e. Peop le fig h t
a n d d ie for t h eir b eliefs. Peop le a r e ost r a cised for flou t in g t h e b eliefs of
t h eir cu lt u r es. Som e of ou r m ost in flu en t ia l b eliefs a r e d eep ly u n con sciou s
a n d on ly d et ect ab le b y way of t h e p r esu p p osit ion s t h a t fr a m e a ll ou r
wr it t en a n d sp oken lan g u ag e. So it m a y h a ve com e a s a sh ock t o d iscover
t h at we can alt er ou r b eliefs b y ch a n g in g t h e wa y we r ep r esen t t h e con t en t
of t h em . On ce we g et over t h e d iscover y, it is in cr ed ib ly lib er a t in g t o kn ow
t h at even ou r own m ost sacr ed cows ca n b e p la ced in q u est ion , sh ou ld we
so ch oose. It a lso cr ea t es m or e t oler a n ce of h a r m less ( n ot d a n g er ou s or
in t r u sive) b eh a viou r in ot h er s t h at we m ay h ave lear n ed t o ju d g e h ar sh ly.

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 How to Change Beliefs Using NLP Submodalities

About the Author

Jule s Colling w ood

Co-d ir ect or at In sp ir it ive Pt y Lt d .

Co-d ir ect or Dip Tr ain in g an d Assessm en t Syst em s., RN, BSc, Cer t TEFL,
Gr a d u a t e Cer t ificat e in Neu r o-Lin g u ist ic Pr og r am m in g ., Post g r ad Dip
Con flict Resolu t ion ., NLP Tr ain er Assessor . Ju les b ot h a t r ain er of NLP an d
m an ag em en t con su lt an t sp ecia lisin g in syst em ic ch a n g e. Sh e con su lt s
t o cor p or at e clien t s in m an ag em en t r ela t ed a r ea s, a n d in t er cu lt u r a l
com m u n icat ion .

Ju les’ b ackg r ou n d in clu d es ext en sive t r a in in g wit h d evelop er s of NLP,

in clu d in g Dr . Joh n Gr in d er , Co-or ig in at or of Neu r o-Lin g u ist ic Pr og r am m in g ,
Ju d it h DeLozier , Rob er t Dilt s a n d Tod d Ep st ein . Sh e is cer t ified a s a n NLP
t r ain er b y Dr . Joh n Gr in d er . Ju les is a r eg ist er ed Psych ia t r ic Nu r se. Sh e
a lso h a s a Deg r ee in Ur b an Est a t e Ma n a g em en t , a Post g r a d u a t e Dip lom a in
Con flict Resolu t ion a Dip lom a in Tr ain in g an d Assessm en t Syst em s an d a
Gr a d u a t e Cer t ificat e in Neu r o-Lin g u ist ic Pr og r am m in g .

Pr ior t o leavin g t h e UK in 1992, Ju les wor ked in Lon d on wit h Pa ce Per son a l
Develop m en t LTD, an d as associat e t r ain er wit h Joh n Seym ou r of Seym ou r
Associa t es an d sat on t h e Execu t ive Com m it t ee of t h e ANLP, t h e Br it ish
p r ofession al b od y for NLP.

Co-d ir ect or of In sp ir it ive Pt y LTD an d a su p er b n eg ot iat or , Ju les is

com m it t ed t o m akin g NLP availa b le t o a ll wh o d em a n d excellen ce in t h eir
lives. Sh e is a n exp er ien ced Execu t ive Coach an d Psych ot h er ap ist an d is
a va ila b le for p er son al con su lt a t ion s, cor p or a t e t r a in in g a n d con su lt in g .

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 How to Change Beliefs Using NLP Submodalities

DISCOVER THE GRADUATE

CERTIFICATE NLP
Start maste ring the principle s that e x ce pt ionally
e ffe ctive pe ople apply to e ve ry are a of t he ir live s.
Th is cou r se h as b een cr eat ed wit h t h e en d or sem en t of
NLP co-fou n d er , Joh n Gr in d er , an d is t h e m ost r ig or ou s
an d com p r eh en sive cou r se of it s t yp e availab le set t in g an
im p r essive b en ch m a r k for NLP ed u cat ion . It su p er sed es
t h e Cou r se in Pr act it ion er of NLP an d t h e Mast er
Pr act it ion er of NLP.

Th e Gr ad u at e Cer t ificat e in Neu r o-Lin g u ist ic

Pr og r am m in g is VET Fee-h elp en ab led

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