Understand Yourself Better and Start Being Your Own Best Friend

Continued from The Gift of Knowing Yourself

1. Our Tastes Change According to Our Focus

The worst way to help yourself stop smoking is to focus on cigarettes. A better way is to imagine yourself as a non smoker, doing the kind of things non smokers do. Stop focusing on what you don’t like about your life and instead focus on who you want to be.

2. Addictions Can Be Broken

Like the example I used in point one, addictions can be broken and what we desire today does not need to define who we will be tomorrow. Look at the Health Recovery site (www.healthrecovery.com) for addictions to alcohol and drugs or find an NLP practitioner to help with other desires that you may want to change.*

3. It is Important to Remember what Makes us Happy and Unhappy

Self knowledge requires hindsight. To overcome our faulty simulator, we need to look back honestly at where our plans have led us in the past and … a. Do more of what has worked our well for us in the past. b. At least sometimes be prepared to learn from our mistakes.

4. Choose People we Trust to Help Understand Ourselves Better

Opening ourselves up to others in relationships (when there is trust and honesty) will help us to gain a mirror on ourselves. If you have a friend who you trust you might ask them … a. When is it you have seen me the most happy in the past? b. What poor choices have you seen me make where I always let myself down? A child whose mother kindly reminds them of what happened the last time they ate too much ice cream is an example of the simplicity in this idea.

5. Be Honest About what Makes us feel Out of Our Depth

Do you keep planning parties even though entertaining totally stresses you out? When was the last time you bit off more than you could chew and how are you going to remind yourself not to do that again?

6. Make Choices that Balance Between Comfort and Growth

Look back and determine what is easy and comfortable for you and then what you would like to take on but causes you stress. Make plans for yourself that find a balance between these two. Goals built on plans that challenge you while building on your strengths are the secret to a happy and meaningful life.

* Please note that NLP is different in Australia to what it is in the US and make sure you look for a reputable practitioner.