Bijoo,

When I mentioned the term "Spirit" in that particular post, I was, in part, referring to the spirit of openness and cooperative collaboration that had to be there for the field of NLP to get past it's infancy in the first place. Here is a quote from something John Grinder wrote:

"Further, it is clear to me that neither Bandler nor I could have individually opened that door, thereby creating the opportunities for those hundreds of thousands of people whose lives have been enriched by the choices which NLP in the hands of an ethical and well trained person can provide, in individual lives, in families, in businesses and in communities.

This I recognize and shall always maintain. These recent legal actions by Bandler are not congruent with my understanding of the spirit of NLP which I carried during its creation and continue to carry to this day. Better that the collaboration which Bandler and I achieved in the act of creating NLP serve as the co-operative metaphor in place of what is now occurring. "

The entire article can be found at....... http://www.nlp.com.au/action/state.htm

Now, in my opinion, it was when Bandler and Grinder actually split up did the field really begin to explode. I believe that if we all do the same things, if we all work the same patterns and call them NLP, we will not wind up with a field that is on the cutting edge, but rather a psychotheology. NLP can certainly be a way of life, but it surely is not a religion. At least not in my eyes.

Further, when I used the word "Spirit" I was referring to a meaning that goes to the continued development of what we, as a species, can do. Either together, or individually. And that word was meant to imply the following. Openness, Respect and Passion.

Openness. Realizing that no matter what we come up with. No matter what we develop in this field, we have not reached any pinnacle. In fact, we have yet to even gather a clue. Of course this ideal will function at a higher logical level. I can congruently use what I have, and can do so at the level of a particular context. Two, I will also allow for the context of further development and exploration. I will know when I am doing both. This way, when I am working with an individual, I may find it more useful to use what I know will work. But, in the case when I find that what I am doing is not working, I can switch logical levels, thus allowing for further discoveries that will work.

Respect. I am using this word to maintain an understanding that says, "Look, just because I feel it is useful to continue exploring the edges of what is possible, that in no way means that you have to." This way, you can learn to whatever level you want to learn, and I can go to what ever level I want. Also, I will respect your right to live your life the way you want to. That is why so much of what I teach is structured around content free process. And by the same token, I will certainly live my life the way I want to live it. To some, getting a date would be the most exciting thing in the word. For me, finding a cure for cancer would be my equivalent. I am not interested in anything I would consider mundane. But, what may be mundane to me, may be very exciting to others.

Passion. I am using this word to include a state in which I realize that life is truly a gift. Something to behold! The miracle that has already happened. And, when I go into the world, I go as a curious babe. A child who finds something of interest at every turn. For me, every single experience is an epiphany. Something amazing. Something of great value. I look out and I see opportunity at every turn. That is what I meant by the term "Spirit of NLP". And, when I think of the cofounders of this field, the people who were originally inspired to change the way we can learn how to see, hear, taste, smell and feel the world around us, I realize that there are states that are more useful when learning. If we approach something thinking we already know the answer, what will we find? I have found it more useful to approach learning using the meaning I have implied here ......a sprit of openness that allows for others to live the way they want to, while choosing to live my own life with utter curiosity, always looking for what comes next.

That is what I meant. And, I can only speak for myself. And, because I do not live inside of any anger, hurt, or dark XXXX, I am free to choose my own behavior, my own choices. And because I respect myself, I can offer myself the kind of self respect that says that I do not have to form my life around the wishes of others. This furthers my ability to continually discover new ways of learning, teaching, and enjoying my own life. That is the sprit that lives inside of me. That is my own personal sprit that leads the way. And this is what drives me to share openly, and freely.

Now, for the other side of me. The side of me that teaches. I say that we can not not influence others while in the process of teaching. It would be totally stupid of me to think that I could operate totally content free. Or that I was not going to significantly affect those who come to me to learn. But then again, that is the point of it all. If I was not effective, then I would be remiss. Secondly, I will not simply tell you what you want to hear while at the same time hiding behind some other goal I may have. Sure, doing so would be one way to manipulate the situation. I'd just pace what I think you want to hear, and sneak the rest in. But, I have a belief that says people are not that stupid. They may go along, but at some level they will pick up on all BS.

So, to save all of that BS, I will, as usual, be totally frank. When I teach, I also take into consideration, not just this technology, or patterns being taught, but what else needs to be there so that the person can use these patterns. If you have a social phobia, and can't approach new people, how will you ever have a chance to talk to them. In this case, part of teaching would include removing the phobia. In NLP there are a set of presuppositions, although not real, have been found to be useful. I did not take anyone's word for this. I installed them in me, and tested for myself. Now, when I teach, I will say that I also included many of those presuppositions, as well as a few I have come up with on my own. But, in that process of teaching, I do not eliminate what is there, I instead add more. Everything is a choice that can be used somewhere. The more choices you have the better. This is a belief. Again it is not real, but it can be useful. And when it is not, then you can do something else.

Now, there are them who feel they have the right way of living life. It may be true for them, but it may not be true for me. I only know what is useful for me, and what I have found to be a useful minimal foundation on which to build in new skills. I work both from the top up, and the bottom down, while filling in the middle pieces as I go. And, in that process, I also teach others how to step into my model for learning. My model for teaching. My model for using these skills. I also teach others how to step into my model for the meaning of the word spirit as I have offered it here. And although what I have offered here is not a complete way of understanding how I use this model, it's complete methodology, or it's personal meanings. It is a place to start. When you model the excellence of others, it is most useful to take the entire model, try it on until you reach a level of First Behavioral Fluency, e.g.. until you can repeatedly reproduce the skill modeled to a successful set of outcomes. Then, and only then, would I suggest altering or personalizing that model. If you knew how to do this thing already, why even spend the time modeling it? Then, you can go onto something else. Time is precious, a gift when wasted, can never be regained.

Now, there is little difference between sharing and persuading. When we share with others, we are going to effect them. To what level, degree or direction remains to be experienced. So, rather than hide behind the BS of saying that I am not altering how others live their lives to some degree, when in fact I am. I will say this instead. Look, we are all very capable powerful beings who will effect others on a regular basis. This being the case, I think it would be more useful for me to know in which direction I am affecting someone. Rather than feign ignorance, I will take responsibility. And when people show up for a training, I will use every bit of skill I have, any skill I can develop in the actual process, and I will teach people this model. This way, I am not taking anything away, but instead am offing another way in which to experience the world. A way that I, and others, have found useful to the development of effective, useable skills in this field. And, like I have said here previously, I have come to understand that if I engage in the meaning of the word "spirit" as I have offered it here, I find that I am coming up with new choices, learnings, and behaviors faster than is imaginable. And, if you try this on for yourself, you may find this can be so for you. But, as ALWAYS, if you do, and you find that it is not working for you, then do something else.

However, I trust completely that people are inherently brilliant. And as such, they will not overeat of the feast. And although there are foods you are familiar with, and enjoy, there are many other foods that may excite the taste buds like never before. But, the only way to know is to taste them. Some slowly, some quickly. And after you have tasted, you many even want to share with others. And if you do, realize that they will have their own way of chewing. Their own way of savoring. So too will you. But don't let that stop you from trying their way of doing it. The more ways you have of doing it, the less you will find yourself getting stuck. And if you are not getting stuck, then you are moving freely. And as such, you can freely use what you have learned any way you want to use it. You can alter what you have learned any way you want to alter it. But first, before you alter anything, first perfect it insofar. Then, you will know what you are altering, and why. And you will know if the way in which you have altered it is more, or less than useful. This ends my description of what I was talking about when I said the Spirit of.... save for one thing. You. The choice is always yours. But I do believe you already knew that. That you already had that clue. And for me, well I am going to continue exploring the limits, pushing buttons when I find them, and having fun.

In all, this is what I was thinking when I said "The Spirit of NLP." Isn't it amazing how so much can go behind such few words? And this is the short form, my desire to keep it more concise.

Carmine