Binding Yourself To The Mast

Thales of Miletus 

NLP Training is definitely an odd affair. I'm unsure many students attend their NLP Practitioner course without the intention of ever eventually becoming an NLP Trainer. Come to think of it they're  probably just trying to read the books, learn the 'lingo' and complete the test! The content seems so imposing with such oddities of language including descriptions and explanations that seem to be constructed to foster puzzled frustration. It has always amused me that the body of knowledge which aims to clear up confusing communication by using confusing communication to explain its various components - why complex equivalence or sectional restriction violation?  Perhaps it was all a grand prank by Bandler & Grinder to forever confuse and vex further generations Practitioners?  Then comes Master Practitioner, training bringing further puzzlement, and then finally the Medusa's Cave of Trainers Training. Even once Trainer Training is completed, you're then confronted with the daunting prospect of actually committing to deliver a full NLP Practitioner course, it's enough to make the most sturdy of stomach feel queazy!  

NLP has given me some peculiar gifts, non more so than the clarity of perception to understand not only whats really being said, but also what really isn't being said too. Through NLP I have become fascinated by both epistemology and history, more specifically: philosophical epistemology and alternative history. Those who have attended one my NLP courses will know of my obsession for glancing towards the past, to better understand the future. Perhaps an example of this is the incredible knowledge of astrology by such ancient antiquities as the Egyptians, Babylonians, Chinese and later the Greeks. It is believed that the famous pre-socratic philosopher, Thales of Miletus, correctly predicted a 19 year cyclical solar eclipse in 585bc, defining him as one of the first great Greek Philosophers, alongside Parmenides, Pythagorus, Demarcates et al. For me this prediction is incredible, but the real question should be who taught Thales astrology, and who taught the person who taught Thales, etc etc ad infinitum ad nauseam!

Consider also the fascinating accuracy of earths precessional cycle and its quite extraordinary Platonic year of 25,800 earth years. The term refers to the slow and gradual wobble of earths axis which effect rotates the north star between different stars in different epochs. At present it is Polaris, in around 13,000 years we know it will point to Vega, in fact in many different periods in our history it has pointed to other stars such as Thuban or Denab etc, for periods we are also without a North Star. Now the interesting thing with the Precessional Cycle is its such a slow evolving process, only 1 degree every 72 years, with the full cycle moving through all 12 houses of the zodiac over 25,800 years. Each house of the Zodiac represents 30 degrees, taking 2,160 years to move through each individual house. "We live in the dawn of the age of Aquarius" according to the famous song, this is quite true. During the period of Jesus Christ, around 2000 years ago, Pisces was the zodiacal constellation that was housed during the spring equinox - hence why Christianity is so closely associated with Pisces the Fish. The real question burns bright like the stars above, if the Precessional cycle only moves 1 degree every 72 years, roughly the average age of man, who first noticed this phenomena then setting about learning and passing the knowledge down each generation? Puzzles like this intoxicate my fascination of epistemology & history.

It was inevitable I would eventually become interested in Greek Mythology and it's epistemological link to the modern world. One of my favourite stories from Greek Mythology is of Ulysses encounter with the Sirens. The Sirens were known to sing a song so beautiful that sailors would drown themselves or shipwreck their vessels trying to reach them. It was believed that any man hearing the enchanting song of the Sirens would be unable to stay sane! Ulysses knew of the legend and was determined not to fall foul of the beautiful Sirens, but he also desperately wanted to hear this magical song. To overcome this he had his crew tie and bound him to the mast of the ship with strict orders that they are not release him until safely away from the Sirens song. He also had his crew place bee's wax in their ears so they could not hear the song. Finally, he instructed them that he is not to be released form his rope bindings - no matter what he may plead or demand. Ulysses was able to hear the songs of the sirens and although he screamed to be released his crew stayed the course and he was also able to keep his ship and crew safe. This was by no means the end of his, and his crews, trials and adventures - but I will have to finish that story off another time......

This pact would late become known as Ulysses Contract, a way to ensure you stay the course, come what may. It might be arranging to meet a friend at the gym, and in doing so binding you to the act of going - no matter if you feel like staying on the couch. It might also be telling your friends and family about a specific goal that you're going to complete by a set date, creating real accountability.

My Ulysses Contract was setting the date for my first Practitioner course 2 weeks after finishing my NLP Training in Barcelona last year.  I felt the pressure on the course, knowing failure was not an option. Did I feel ready on the morning of the course? No, not really. Was I under pressure? Yes, very definitely. Holding the attention of students for 6 or 7 days is an incredibly intimidating prospect. Trying to learn and develop 20 or more stories to embed within the course is without doubt challenging at best. Having the courage to stand on the first day trying to recall all of the content and not knowing what the next week holds is enough to make you feel dizzy at best, nauseous at worst. This is before we mention marketing, websites, Google, competing with the 'big boys', pre & post course support, Facebook etc.

All of this evaporates though, the knowledge is there complete with the stories and content. Your confidence grows with each hour as you realise you 'belong' in this arena. The feeling you have observing the growth and development in your students is pride beyond comprehension. You remember 'your' NLP journey and the effect it had on your life, you're now part of other peoples journey - incredible!

All you need to do is bind yourself to the mast and enjoy the ride, come what may

Phil Quirk - Certified ABNLP & ABH Trainer

 @proNLPcoach | www.hbp-nlp.com | facebook/hbp-nlp