How to change your mind

Published : 24 September 2026 Views: 256

Carol, a member of Welshpool u3a who has worked with Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP) since 1986, written several books on the subject and previously chaired the Association for Neuro-Linguistic Programming, shares some simple ways NLP can help us challenge negative thoughts, build confidence and embrace new experiences.

How often do you think about doing something and then decide you can’t? Sometimes we have real constraints, such as lack of time or energy, but often our minds hold us back.

If this sounds like you, then Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP for short) can help you change your beliefs about what you can do, think more positively, feel better about your capabilities and – as a result – explore, and engage in, new things with enthusiasm. NLP has been used for over 50 years in fields such as business, education, sports, health and lots more; here are some ways of using it:

Negative thoughts

If you have negative thoughts, notice if you are saying something to yourself in your head about a situation. Then, hear the same words, but in a cartoon character’s voice. You can’t take it seriously when you do that.

Learn something new

Practising in your imagination is really useful and helps develop skills. This can be applied to lots of things, such as dance steps, golf swings or starting conversations with new people.

Book cover NLP made easy by Carol Harris

A practical introduction to NLP techniques by Carol Harris

Adventures of the Meerflat by Carol Harris, book cover

A beautifully illustrated children's book about friendship by Carol Harris

Confidence

Imagining people saying nice things to you, or about you, can boost how you feel. In your mind you can use all your senses to bring that imaginary scene to life with colour, movement, sound and so on. Also, changing your ‘physiology’ helps - relaxing your shoulders, breathing more deeply and smiling for example.

Communication

It’s easier to communicate with people if you’re on the same wavelength. One way of finding this out is to look for some of their personal patterns (which show up through their language and behaviour). For example, do they need lots of detail, are they very self-reliant or do they constantly want to achieve things. Each trait needs different approaches, and NLP can help you identify such patterns in yourself and other people, so you can improve your relationships.

This is only a tiny fraction of what NLP is about, and can achieve. It’s a fascinating field, can help people with all kinds of things and is well worth exploring.

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