NLP Changing Children’s Lives!
When I decided to write this article, my first thought went to when hasn’t NLP, Time Line Therapy®, Hypnosis and NLP Coaching had positive changes on me or the people around me. What astonished me was that I could not even think of one, instead I found an abundance of positive changes. Change within me, my mindset, how I approach and talk to others, the language I use and overall my passion to change the world around me using NLP. Then I stopped and thought about the enormity and potential of how I can change the world positively, one mindset at a time and the difference I can make now.
My main motive initially, was to study NLP to enhance my skills as a business coach. I have always been a person who has wanted to help people, felt destined to make a BIG difference and I actually believed that this is how I would make this difference.
As a business coach working in the corporate land, I enjoy my work, I am good at it and I could argue I have been successful at it. However, I had this ache inside of me which was often more noticeable when I was lying awake at night knowing that I wasn’t fulfilled, knowing that someday I would die and have regrets, that I didn’t make that BIG difference that I knew was in my heart and knew I was destined to do. In reality, I was lying to myself daily that what I did for work would make a sizable difference. I was settling on ordinary, surviving my life in effect.
Late one of those nights as I was laying awake, the voice in my head (now I know this to be my unconscious mind) nagged at me, telling me what I hadn’t wanted to hear, that I wasn’t doing enough, something had to change, I had to take action, the difference this night was that I listened and I requested a call by The Tad James Company.
Since that night, I have completed my Master Practitioner NLP, Time Line Therapy®, Hypnosis and NLP Coaching and enrolled in Trainer’s Training to continue my personal growth and share the knowledge of NLP with others, and not to forget the amazing clients who have changed their lives.
But, one of these clients stands out to me, a 9 year old boy. Yes a child I should have told you that most of my clients have NOT been in business coaching.
This little boy had struggled with school for a long time, struggled with his sight words, his spelling and overall results. His parents feared that he had only one year left of primary school and how was he going to make it in high school if something drastically didn’t change.
His report cards showed that he was trying, but the results were simply not there. He was resourceful often using SIRI to complete his maths homework (unbeknown to his parents) and would get 3/20 for his spelling test each week. He had a tutor but there was no significant progress.
When I spoke with this kid, the homework and/or spelling was not as much of a concern to me, I knew that could be easily fixed. My concern was his lack of confidence. He didn’t try at anything as he might just fail at it, he was going further and further inside himself, becoming more and more disassociated in life.
He was never an overly naughty kid, but homework had become more and more like a battle, which continued night after night, week after week, and worse still this kid had started to shut down.
The magic came the very first day I worked with him. We had a chat and he told me how school made him feel, of stories where his peers marked his 3/20 spelling and put a massive F on it, and how he felt that he couldn’t do it, that it hurt him and he wished he could just be better at spelling and reading.
I remember asking him how would he feel if I could show him a way where he could get 20/20 in his spelling test week after week. There was a moment of disbelief, until he spelt success, forward and backwards and then 10 other words.
My most vivid memory of that night was the instant change in this young man, the change in his face, the significant weight which had lifted from his shoulders and how his chest had puffed out proud that he could do it. It was then that I looked over to his parents who had tears welling in their eyes. If I hadn’t believed that NLP could change lives prior to that moment I did then.
The thing here is that this was just the start for this young man. Since then he gets 20/20 in his spelling every week, he was late for school because his Mum found him reading a book in his PJ’s when he should have been dressed getting into the car. His maths has improved, he writes sentences in class the same length as his peers and he refuses to use SIRI, but most importantly, he has new found confidence which has led him to participating in activities he would never had tried.
After working on releasing negative emotions, negative self talk and limiting decisions, this young man continues to amaze me, how he utilises his unconscious mind to be strong and resilient. I was told a story of when it was found out that he was being significantly bullied and his parents were worried about the lasting impact but he explained to his mother “Mum, it doesn’t affect me because I tell my unconscious mind to ignore what they are saying as it doesn’t apply to to me”.
The amazing thing is, I know that this young man’s life has changed, the people who he interacts with; teachers, peers and friends current and future their lives have changed, his parents’ lives have changed, his sisters’ life has changed and that the future is abundant with possibilities for this kid. He can achieve anything. He wants to and that he can make the life he dreams, into a reality.
It is moments of reflection like this which makes me realise that NLP has given me the path to my destiny and that I am already making a big difference in peoples’ lives and it is giving them lifelong skills. NLP, Time Line Therapy®, Hypnosis and NLP Coaching has changed my life and it will change the lives of everyone it touches.
About the Author: Ann-Marie Woudstra