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IRC Chat Log, December 14, 1997
| Jonathan | ARIGHTY then... I believe we were going to talk about Belief Systems... And the question I wanna ask is... why should we do that? Because... they say that Why is an outdated question... that it doesn't help to ask why, and Budweiser agrees... but essentially... why is like a summary question.
| Designer | I'm not a total NLP expert, but I'll try to participate.
| Jonathan | So if we need to get more specific, we can do that!
| Jonathan | Belief Systems. What does it get us.... to evaluate the structure of belief systems? Answers?
| Designer | Why should we do that, as in, why should we talk about Belief Systems?
| Jonathan | ;) Lets get some ideas out on the floor! Alright... any answers? Guys... This is yes: "Yes!" This is no: "No!" This is Gee I dunno: "?"
| Designer | I believe ;-) it gives us a better understanding of the world we live in so that we're able to know how to achieve the things we want and learn to help those with us.
| dav0d | LOL
| Jonathan | Wow, all that eh? ;)
| Designer | heh
| Jonathan | Chunk down a bit, if you would...
| Doraemon | How about because Belief systems directly affect our lives, how we behave, and our capabilities...
| dav0d | I do it to see why i get defensive
| Jonathan | COOL answer, dav0d
| Designer | J-Alf, so we feel good? how's that?
| Jonathan | Thats another good one! OK! now we're getting somewhere. I'm thinking more along the lines of self-improvement.
| Kay | mmm.... so *others* feel good?
| Jonathan | Ooooooh, Kay -- that IS a good one ;) As an, IS this a useful belief? For me (if its my belief) For others, if its someone else's belief.
| Designer | kay: I would have it both ways. I believe in mutuality.
| Jonathan | Could that be helpful?
| Kay | mutuality. yes
| Jonathan | Hmmmm
| Designer | J-Altf: Can you expand on "this"?
| Kay | when I make someone -- uh, help someone feel good, I feel good too.
| Jonathan | so lets see whats next... how about... lets think about the ways in which NLP can help us to... evaluate and manipulate beliefs... (of course Designer ;)
| Designer | oop...he said the "m" word :-)
| Jonathan | Once we look at the structure of beliefs... we can determine if they're well formed. NLP teaches us things about how beliefs are structured, and whether we understand them in limited ways...! Manipulate is NOT a bad word. It comes with a negative stigma because its the INTENTION behind the manipulation which makes the difference. I give manipulation a REALLY GOOD name ;) ! So.
| Kay | oh, I think you do.
| Designer | J: In what way...my feeling is that some beliefs are completely rational and based on empirical evidence. How does NLP tell us if they're true?
| Jonathan | There are well-formedness structures... Thanks kay ;) So do you!
| Designer | J: Yes, you're truly right. Or not true
| PlayR | Truth!
| Jonathan | Designer... NLP allows us to ask questions around what constitutes a belief...
| Designer | re nlp
| Jonathan | and where that belief is held... and what it MEANS for us...
| Designer | I see
| Jonathan | so that we can determine if perhaps the belief is applicable in OTHER contexts... with other situations, but not present ones...! Lets keep this high level, and get into some specifics later because...
| Kay | we can find out that -- and I'm a newbie, remember -- we have beliefs that we don't believe in!
| Jonathan | kay, how very accurate that is!
| PlayR | That's ZEN -- but I believe you.
| Jonathan | in 1-2 hours we can't (thats a firm belief) learn all about how to change beliefs in 10-15 different ways but we can very effectively explore the topics of how belief systems are made and how they can be re-evaluated, for better reasons!
| PlayR | I believe that.
| Doraemon | Ah... So lets get on with it.
| Jonathan | ;) PlayR! OK! Now. Let's start with an example. Doraemon, give me an example of something you believe in!
| Doraemon | Alright... I believe that I don't have too good a self-image... not a good believe but well...
| Jonathan | Well chosen (not effective for you, perhaps... but a good choice to work on)! Now. Let me ask some directed questions, if I may...
| Doraemon | Yup... :)
| Jonathan | would you mind?
| Doraemon | not at all..
| Jonathan | ok So you told me what you believe you don't have. What do you believe you do have (in the same topic, just rephrase)
| Doraemon | I believe I have a ... bad self-image?
| Jonathan | ewwww
| Designer | lol sorry.
| Jonathan | ok I know you may HAVE HAD something like that, in your PAST... (easy reframe let me move on) -- (thanks for apologizing [to Doraemon], Designer, this is personal stuff here). So. Which sounds more appropriate to you:
| Designer | Doraemon: It was an oxymoron...I laugh at some people's deaths. Don't mind me.
| Doraemon | ... no offence taken... in any case, dun even know what lol is...
| Designer | Dora: It means "laughing out loud"...it's a word used loosely on IRC
| Jonathan | WOuld you like to (1) get rid of the BAD self-image? or (2) Get the TOO GOOD self image? Which gives you a more immediate match reaction?
| Doraemon | only two options??
| Kay | wots the TOO GOOD self image?
| Jonathan | He said he believes he doesn't have too good a self image. Doraemon?
| Doraemon | Can I say that I am working towards having a GOOD SELF-IMAGE?
| Jonathan | (wanna get thru these initial q's quickly ;) YES, I like that one. OK. What would it do for you to have that? Let me BACK UP! ;)
| Doraemon | Makes me feel better abt myself... more confident of myself as well.
| Jonathan | OK. That gets it fine, actually.. so lets see... If you had a much better self-image, you'd feel better about yourself, and more confident....
| Doraemon | yes...
| Jonathan | and what would that mean about you? Or what would that bring to you? Or... how would that change your behavior?
| Doraemon | I would socialise better... get better relationships, be more competent.
| Jonathan | kewl.
| Designer | yep
| Doraemon | thanks...
| Jonathan | sounds like a lot in life would improve in general. Sounds like your lot in life would improve in general. ;) Now. THAT is a well-formed belief. 3 parts. I'll get back to this.
| Doraemon | Sure..
| Jonathan | Moving backwards to pick up a loose thread... Do you always have a poor self-image? Or just sometimes?
| Doraemon | Not always.... often though.
| Jonathan | Oh, so there *are* times when your self-image is REALLY GOOD. Even if they aren't all the time.
| Doraemon | yup...
| Jonathan | hmmm. Does this seem any more manageable yet? ;)
| Doraemon | a little perhaps... for now... :) could get better...
| Designer | My self image is great when I watch Jerry Springer.
| Jonathan | (little NLP joke) Anyway, leaving the mood lifter aside... ;) Designer OK.
| Designer | :-)
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