NLP technique to unleash inner superhero

How often have you wished you could access your most confident self in times of pressure or anxiety? Whether this might be for a public speaking engagement, an interview, a difficult conversation, or some other event which is important but scary.

Whatever the situation, you would prefer to feel more confident in - there is a technique that can help you! This is because it allows you access to those occasions in the past where you have felt at your best – and bring the feelings associated with that into the present.

It is a technique from Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP), which is a body of work to help people perform at their best. Here, we will look at this technique and how you can put this into practice.

Ready? Ok, you need to be somewhere on your own. Think back to a situation where you felt supremely confident. Perhaps it was when giving a presentation, when you won a prize, or achieved something well. Ideally, close your eyes and think back to that time. This is where you access the memories of your senses. How did you feel? Warm? Positive? Basking in reflected glory? However you might put it, feel those feelings now.

See the positive looks on people’s faces, the smiles, the applause. Hear the words of congratulation, of encouragement, of support. Feel the warm glow of satisfaction at a goal successfully achieved. Bask in it. And as you do so, in your mind’s eye, see yourself ‘stepping into’ yourself as you were in that moment – see through those eyes, hear with those ears, feel the feelings with your body.

And – while doing this – press the middle finger and thumb of each hand together - and hold, anchoring that feeling. Repeat this process several times for the best effect, to really anchor the memory and associated feelings.

Then, next time you need to access that confident state, go somewhere quiet, close your eyes, and press your middle fingers and thumbs together – and hold, as you again access those wonderful feelings. Then, go ahead and face the situation you are preparing for. And feel the difference.

Of course, there is nothing ‘magical’ about pressing your fingers and thumbs together. All this is doing is creating a strong association between a desired inner state and an external stimulus. As said, the more you practice this, the stronger the association will become.

This is a simple technique to help you. It is not in any way a ‘cure-all’ for a lack of confidence you may feel in different situations. Often, coaching is a very powerful and effective way to build lasting improvements into your lifestyle, including greater self-confidence and self-belief. Techniques like the one above (and I have many more!) can greatly help you, but they need to be used in conjunction with a more comprehensive approach to lasting behaviour change – such as coaching.

Through a coaching programme – ideally over several months – you can achieve a lot: active experimentation with new or less-used behaviours, and with new techniques, tools and frameworks which will supplement the work we do – leading to lasting and impressive self-development.

Try it – you might be in for a pleasant surprise - and unleash your inner superhero!