Motivation Strategies
Here is a description and explanation of the NLP model of strategies, drawn from the Portable Practitioner, with Motivation Strategy as an example. Presented by the inimitable Charles Faulkner.
“Eliciting Strategies”
Demo: Eliciting and Comparing Motivation Strategies
Chapter 3: Key Ideas
- The expectations we have shape our experience. People can limit or expand what’s possible for them by changing their expectations.
- Mental rehearsal, like visualization, can enable someone to increase their actual performance.
- Our energy levels are linked to our physiology. Someone can improve how their brain, body, and mind work together by changing their body position, breathing deeply, drinking enough water to be well hydrated, and breaking large tasks into smaller ones of where they focus for twenty minutes and then take a break. (For more details on the Pomodoro Technique, visit http://www.pomodorotechnique.com.)
- “Eye Movement Integration” can help reduce resistance to doing specific tasks that seem almost too energy-draining to even contemplate.
- Someone’s get-out- of- bed strategy is a sample of a motivation strategy that works for them. Once someone identifies a motivation strategy that works well, they can apply those insights and sub-modalities to motivating themselves in other situations.
- Energy, enthusiasm, and confidence work together to shape motivation and build momentum.
- Navy SEALs training uses four key practices to strengthen confidence, productivity, and tenacity.
- Critical voices can be internalized and active for years. These bullies can be silenced with a quick fix like making the voice sound like a cartoon character or doing the “Auditory Swish” process, which is outlined in Chapter 2.
- Someone can increase areas of current competence by rehearsing positive mental states, reliving their greatest hits, tinkering with sub-modalities, strengthening existing positive anchors, and celebrating small “wins.”
Bonus Activities
- Make a list of your greatest hits (times when you feel proud of something you did – as a child or yesterday) so you can associate into these examples to enhance your confidence, enthusiasm, optimism, and energy.
- Create an optimism “gauge” so you can check in with yourself and determine if you want take steps to raise that level.
- Experiment with using your get-out-of-bed strategy in other contexts to generate energy and productivity. Also, play with positive images and sounds (and sub-modalities) to create energy that draws you into your day or toward activities you want to do.
- Enhance the “feel good” anchor you created in Chapter 1 by adding additional positive associated experiences of times when you were confident and were really energized.
- Notice people who consistently, genuinely have a lot of confidence, energy, or optimism. Ask them about their motivation and self-management strategies. Then, play with any approaches that are appealing.