Treasures in the Creative Unconscious
                                                                                          by John G. Johnson

And just what is creativity anyway? What is your definition? There are individuals out there believing creativity is just for the gifted, meaning they either have it, or they don’t. Then there are others living with the thwarted conclusion that even though they have a flickering of “it,” at random times, they need to “wait” for inspiration to be creative. Nothing can be further from the truth. Those are beliefs. And beliefs can change easily.

Everyone has the power to be creative and – at the moment of their choosing. Persons with this *choice* - to dynamically express themselves at any given moment - in time, throughout time, or in-between times, know how to access the appropriate altered states of mind to give them this ability. Once these states have been accessed, resources the individual needs to render their desired results are at their beck and call.

Your unconscious mind is constantly learning, storing, and associating new and interesting bits of information at a breathtaking rate. And as such, it is a vast storehouse of rich and creative treasures, all yours for the taking and sharing. If you are curious to find out what’s “in there,” so to speak, then the next question might be, “how do I get access to these treasures located in the secret recesses of my mind?”

One way to do so is through Stream of Consciousness writing. Stream of Consciousness writing is a time tested method used to persuade the creative explorer’s mind to reveal its precious secrets, those captivating ideas residing inside. The explorer, having found a provocative topic(s) that arouses his/her interest, then further investigates it, i.e. via research, contemplation, etc. Off he/she goes on their quest, energized, motivated to turn this spark of an idea into a dazzling flame. In short, they have written their mind alive.

The Stream of Consciousness writing technique is simple, and works like this:

1 Have paper and pen handy.
2 Set aside several minutes of uninterrupted writing time, i.e. ten minutes, twenty minutes, etc. 
3 Choose a topic, a theme, a subject, etc. and write it at the top of the paper.
4 Start writing. DO NOT lift the pen from the paper. WRITE, WRITE and WRITE until the time you've allotted yourself is up. As you are doing the exercise you will notice that most of what you are writing makes no sense. This is perfectly fine. The more it makes no sense the more you are unlocking the doorway and stepping into the subconscious – the vault where your creative treasures reside.
5 Once your time is up – YOU STOP, take a break.
6 After your break, review what you have written, and notice what sparks your interest.
7 Whatever holds your attention – investigate it, and build on it.

So, whenever you are feeling, “stuck” for an idea, whether it’s for a topic to write about, or to find a creative solution to a current problem, try this method. It works – wonders. Remember to…remember to…trust yourself, and your “other than conscious mind!”


© Copyright – John G. Johnson 2012 - All rights reserved! Subscribe to our mailing list for workshops, newsletters and events. Go to:www.nlpsuccessbydesign.com

                                 Believe is Believing


Whether you are aware of them, or not, whether you perceive them as useful, or not, beliefs exert a tremendous amount of force upon our lives. They shape and influence our behaviors, dictating how we live.

Thinking of the beliefs you are conscious of as things - you are believing – does several things: It changes them from a nominalization (noun) into a verb, thereby allowing you to experience and realize that what you are believing isn’t static – it has movement. And as such can be altered, strengthened or weakened

Information, be it: resources, personal metaphors/meanings, emotions, images, sounds, etc. contained in our memories (past experience-s) and/or in our future plans (hopes and dreams) cyclically interact with our reigning beliefs to strengthen them. For example, an athlete with a healthy, successful history of winning in his or her chosen sport will most likely have a current belief (believing) co-operating with their illustrious past. This combination acts as an additive, aiding this athlete in winning their next competitive event. Seven-time Tour De France winner Lance Armstrong comes to mind.

This looping effect is also true for someone without an enriched past, but has a compelling and attractive future collaborating with their present beliefs (believing). The phrase, “you have a bright and healthy future in front you” comes to mind.

The reverse is also valid; elements contained either in our past and/or in our future can weaken our beliefs. For example, a person can possess a firm belief, believing that they can be an incredible public-speaker. However, if they allow what they perceive as negative and unhealthy images, sounds, emotions, etc. from their past and/or future to constantly interfere with what they are believing, they will have difficulty making their goal a reality. In short, if a belief and its support contradict each other the belief short-circuits itself.

To strengthen beliefs and their support various techniques abound. One such technique is reframing. Simply put, reframing is taking what is interpreted as a negative experience and looking at it from an empowering point of view. This technique also aids in transforming disempowering emotions into useful (use fuel) ones.

This reminds me of the skilled boxer who had a string of successful bouts. He eventually lost one of his fights. Instead of looking at this experience as a true loss, this swift pugilist saw at it as - an opportunity to further learn and to further improve – upon his technique for subsequent matches – which he eventually won. In short, this boxer was mentally agile to reframe his ring experiences and use them to fortify his beliefs for future fights. The Greatest of all time comes to mind.

Reframing may be used in any type of interpersonal communication and relationships, i.e. sales and customer service couples and friend’s relationships, etc. In sales clients sometimes get in their own way of something that is good for them because of an unpleasant past sales experience. Reframing the client’s past experiences also assists in freeing the positive emotions that are then used to procure a win/win sale.


© Copyright – John G. Johnson 2012 - All rights reserved! Subscribe to our mailing list for workshops, newsletters and events. Go to:  www.nlpsuccessbydesign.com

                                                                       Go For Your Goal(d)-tip number 02
                                                                               “Mobilize Your Resources!”

USE THE RESOURCES you are in control of.

You know what it is you want; you know what it is you feel the desire to achieve.The next thing to do is ask yourself, “What resources do I have that will assist me in getting it?” If your current resources are insufficient, then ask yourself this: what resources am I in control of that I can use to get the additional ones I need to achieve my goal?” In short, you - already possess the tools you need to make your objective a reality. Use them!

You will be amazed, once you realize, how easy it is to access your resources. One of the issues is this simple: In order to access those resources, it's necessary to be able to "be in a position" to access them. Taking this literally, "being in a position means just that . . . and "the" position is one where you can dissociate from your timeline so that you can access the past, which is where resources "come from." When we are "in time", meaning associated, we may not be able to access the past as easily or as quickly, or we may not even consider that as an option at all, simply because we are "in time", and the idea of "remembering to access the past, is a resource in and of itself. It is, however, both a resource and an option.

So, manipulating your timeline(s) in ways that enable you to access your resources easily and quickly, is important to creating success . . . for yourself first!

Go For Your Goal(d)!

© Copyright – John G. Johnson 2012 - All rights reserved! Subscribe to our mailing list for workshops, newsletters and events. Go to: www.nlpsuccessbydesign.com

                                                                          Go For Your Goal(d)-tip number 01
                                         "5 Ways People Sabotage Themselves...And How To Avoid Them!"
                                                                                           By Bob Hatem

PEOPLE SABOTAGE attaining their goals in many ways. The following five examples are just random possibilities. None of these is more important than another, although many of you reading them will “feel” that one is more important... why? Because that one may be the way in which you sabotage yourself!

First, having a time limit in which to have the goal accomplished. Allow yourself the time necessary to get everything done.

Second, having a goal so large that it can become overwhelming. If your goal is too large, - divide it into smaller, easier to handle pieces.

Third, depending upon others to “do it for you”. Own your goal; take the initiative to get it done.

Fourth, procrastination. Adjust your goal if necessary and crank up your motivation.

Fifth, goals that have components contrary to your beliefs or values. Work with someone who knows the process for setting achievable goals. Working with a “consultant”, you will have guidance to make sure you have all the necessary “components” and have an observer who will check if you are giving unconscious
hints that something is not quite right.


© Copyright – John G. Johnson 2012 - All rights reserved! Subscribe to our mailing list for workshops, newsletters and events. Go to: www.nlpsuccessbydesign.com

                                                                             Go For Your Goal(d)


HAVE YOU EVER focused your mind to achieve an outcome, only to fall short, or a long way from it?Around this time most people attempt to fixate their mind and attitude towards the goal or goals they wish to achieve for the year – and probably beyond. Some engage in this behaviour even earlier. Either way you look at it, orienting your mind to achieving your desired outcome is something that can be done – anytime – not just at the beginning of a calendar year.

WHAT IS interesting is that a significant amount of these “goal setters” fail to get what they want, allowing their dream or dreams to fall by the wayside, blaming environment and circumstance(s) for their failure(s). I've heard it often said, “show me an excuse, I'll show you a failure.”

ONE OF the ways you can look at this thing called “failure” is that it is actually “feedback.” Looking at your unintended result from this vantage point allows you to ask yourself one of many well-defined questions, allowing you to find the “missing link(s)” that will assist you to get your goal(d).

WHAT COULD this critical persuasive factor, or factors, be that's causing one, possibly you, to fall - just arms length of your life's ambition? Attaining your successful goal requires various persuasive ingredients. But, for our purposes here I am going to let you in on three often overlooked secrets to success.

GOALS MUST BE stated in the positive and be specific. This makes perfect sense because our minds are direction-oriented. For example, let‟s say your goal is simply to buy a car. Constantly saying, “I don't want a truck, I don't want a van, etc.” is counter-productive, a waste of your personal persuasive abilities. Instead, it would be easier and more persuasively productive to state your intent in the positive. “I want to buy a car,” OR something that is positively directionally oriented to what you –specifically - want. The clearer you make your language match the image you have of what you want, the better off you will be. To continue with the car example, saying you want a car is not specific enough.

WHAT type of car do you want? “I want a Jaguar XJS!” And even more specific, “I want an ebony black Jaguar XJS, etc! Get the point, yes? Have you ever heard the axiom, “watch your words?”

MAKE SURE your goal is sensory based. You and I know that human beings have five senses. (Yes, an argument can be made that there are more. But that is for another discussion). Your goal must be represented in at least three of the five senses, (Seeing, Hearing, Feeling, Tasting and Smelling) Again, seeing that our minds are forward seeking, imbuing your senses and your "other than conscious mind" with what you want - engages all your inner resources to seamlessly drive you in the appropriate direction.

Let's take the car example again, or should I now say “the ebony black Jaguar XJS.” What will you see, hear and feel? What does the ebony black Jaguar XJS look like? How do the sun‟s rays glint off its chrome features? Can you see yourself in an open top or a closed roof of the ebony black Jaguar XJS? How does your dream car‟s engine purr as you ignite and tease its engine alive? How do you react to the smell of
the interior, the fragrance of a new car? How does the Italian leather bucket driver seat the feel as you float down securely and comfortably into it? How do your hands feel as you wrap your fingers around the steering wheel? How does this ebony black Jaguar XJS handle corners as you take it for a drive? ENGAGE YOUR SENSES. Wash your mind, your senses in your dream!

YOU MUST INITIATE the goal and maintain it yourself. Far too often people depend on some external factor, or factors, to make their dream come alive. (“oh, so and so "might" do this for me;” “I  hope that these things fall into place soon;” “I'll wait  for inspiration;” blah blah blah…)Yes, there could be circumstances that calls for such things, but those are not of what I am speaking of. Ask yourself this; “To get my goal what resources are under my control?” Let‟s take the car scenario we have been using  so far.

The person wanting this ebony black Jaguar XJS can get a job, allowing him/her to save money towards purchasing this car. This person has the ability to seek out dealerships that will offer the best price, etc. If this person wanting this ebony black Jaguar XJS said, “I'll sit and just hope to‟ win the lottery,” or “I'll wait until my rich relative passes on," or what have you, then the probability that he/she will get this car goes way, way and way down.

SIMPLY PUT – Take action; yourself - take charge! There is no need to wait on hopeful factors that are not under your control! Be the Master and Commander of your dreams so they can come blazingly alive; let your healthy ambitions resonate through every fibre of your being! Coagulate your resources!

THESE ARE SOME of the distinctions, the ingredients that make the difference between getting your bronze, silver or gold!


© Copyright – John G. Johnson 2012 - All rights reserved! Subscribe to our mailing list for workshops, newsletters and events. Go to: www.nlpsuccessbydesign.com