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"How to Raise Self
Esteem: Part Two"
by Colin Smith
In this second part of the article
about how to raise self esteem I would like to
introduce you to a wonderful technique from the field of
Neuro Linguistic Programming (NLP) known as 'The Swish.'
Using this technique you can re-program your thought
process's to move away from the unwanted behaviour (i.e. "I
am a useless person") towards a healthier thinking process
such as, "I am learning to be more resourceful." It's one of
the quickest ways to re-direct your habitual thinking
patterns!
To give this process a go right now please answer the
following simple question: Think of a specific situation
where you feel low-self
esteem, for example standing in a long queue or speaking in
public or asserting yourself with someone.
Become aware of the first picture you see through your own
eyes just before you feel the crappy feelings. We'll call
this the cue image.
Now put that aside for a moment and ask yourself the
following, "If I were to think of something that made me
feel good how would that feel now?"
It's important to remember that this doesn't need to be
something perfect. The question is, "Does it feel better
than the low self esteem feeling?" If you're having
difficulty accessing a good feeling try the following:
Think about your favourite pet/animal. How many things can
you feel gratitude for? What is your favourite food? Who do
you admire? Which music turns you on?
That feels better right? So if you were to symbolise that
good feeling what would it look like? It can just be a
colour if you wish!
Notice that when you look at that symbol and make it bigger
and bring it closer and crank up the colour and brightness
it makes you feel even better doesn't it.
So the next step to re-program you mind is about to begin!
Picture that cue-image again if you will. You know the one
that cued up the crappy feelings. Bring it closer and make
it bigger and brighter.
Now in the middle place a small, postage stamp sized image
of the 'good feeling symbol.'
This is the exciting part; the actual swish.
Imagine zooming the crappy feeling cue image off into the
distance, noticing it getting smaller and dimmer as it goes
off away from you.
AND at the same time bring the good feeling symbol closer
and make it bigger and brighter.
Then blank the screen. Simply imagine you've blanked your
inner mental screen. Some people seen a big black board or
others see a white screen.
Do the actual 'swishing' several times until you can imagine
doing it in less than half a second.
The final steps are to break your current state: Think of
something totally different like what you ate for breakfast
or do times tables in
your head.
And now think of the original cue image and notice that your
feelings have changed!
I have used a simplified version of the NLP Swish technique
in this article because the standard procedure utilises the
visualising of a
desired self-image which I know can be quite challenging to
achieve if a person is feeling very low. The full
step-by-step version of the
technique, along with many more tips, can be found in "The
NLP ToolBox" and "The Half-Second Rule."
Low self esteem and its associated 'victim behaviour' have a
tendency to re-enforce themselves resulting in a person
suffering with feelings of low energy. To break out of these
kinds of habitual patterns and raise self esteem it is
necessary to do something different. Anything else to break
the patterns!
The NLP Swish technique is a very effective tool for
breaking out of destructive patterns along with NLP's many
other useful change methods.
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Colin G Smith is a licensed Master Practitioner of Neuro-Linguistic
Programming (NLP) and author of 'The NLP ToolBox', a
personal development book that enables the reader to master
any area of their life with amazing speed. Complete
information on Colin G Smith's books are available at his
website,
including a FREE personal development eBook.
Click Here!
Resource Links
 
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