Association & Dissociation - NLP Techniques Article

Jonathan's Article/Posting

I've been exploring two new simple techniques for changing my state and would appreciate some feedback on how well this works. Assuming you want to try them out, of course.

Have you ever had to deal with a distasteful problem and maybe you blew it out of proportion, back then? Is it possible you found yourself VERY associated to the problem (seeing the situation from your own eyes)? If so, you can always dissociate from the problem so that you "gain some perspective" on it and get through it with less of an emotional response.

You might say, "sure, easier said than done..." and I'd say "easier done than said." Take your hands and cup them on either side of your eyes/temples like horse-blinders (i.e., you can see everything in front of you but your hands block your peripheral vision). Now slowly move your hands in parallel... outward from your face... so as to pretend like you're moving two parentheses (your hands) away from your face straight out through your field of view. Things 'should' automatically dissociate to some degree, for most of you.

As to the reverse -- I find that works too!

Have you ever been in a situation so rewarding, so utterly terrific -- and yet somehow you knew you weren't enjoying it as much as you could or as much as you "should?" Maybe you felt like you were enjoying it but you needed to be somewhere else? It might be that you were dissociated from the moment and could benefit by being more in tune with the moment.

You might say, "sure, easier said than done... because there's this that and the other thing I gotta get done by [bla bla bla bla bla]" and again I'd say "easier done than said!" Take your hands, put them 1-2' in front of your face, making them look like facing parentheses about 5-6" apart, and slowly move them towards your eyes/face, allowing your hands to slide alongside your temples past and beyond your field of view. Things 'should' automatically associate to some degree, for most of you.

Now, if you choose to try these techniques out, please let me know what results you get!

Regards,

Reply 1 - Quentin Grady

G'day G'day Jonathan,

Your creativity and skilled observation never ceases to amaze me. Once again you have demonstrated that a.p.nlp has as big a claim to be alt.physiology.nlp as alt.psychology.nlp. Your method sure works for me.

I am teaching rapport skills to a psychotherapy course in about an hour. IMHO rapport is in large measure about being here in the moment with the other person, as much as is appropriate. So this class will be an exciting opportunity to put the strategy through its paces.

Thanks Jonathan,
I'm on my way to have fun with it.

Reply 2 - Quentin Grady

G'day G'day Jonathan,

The responses were fascinating. Some experienced the results visually. For some people it allowed them to focus more on the sounds in the room and ignore sounds coming from the corridors. Another became more aware of her own presence as she felt the warmth of the palms of her hands passing her cheeks.

Now, if you choose to try these techniques out, please let me know what results you get!

I also had them move the hand blinkers out horizontally. Well that's one way to synchronize the breathing of an entire room. You could hear the inhale and exhale.

It also gave directed their attention to peripheral awareness.

Thanks for the fun experiment.