"I don't know how to ride a bike and I really want to", Jane confided in her husband. "OK, I know what to do - first we'll buy that best seller that's just out". "What's that?", asked Jane. "Oh it's called the Ultimate - How to ride a bicycle", replied David. "What are you talking about!", exclaimed Jane, "a book of techniques would just be technical stuff. Knowing about the dynamics of balance won't stop me falling off". "You're right", said David, "Let's get your bike out and have a play." You know that it's possible because I've done it. Trust me, that you can do it too. I can't say when, but you'll experience a wonderful feeling riding very soon".

The Brain Operating System lifts your bonnet letting you peek at the engine. With that knowledge plus your techniques you learn to mentally fly very soon.

I'm useless at drawing" Laura spat out, "all my pictures come out like matchstick men. I'll never be able to do it!". "Yes you will", replied Jane. "I've just read this book called 'Drawing on the Right side of the brain' and it says it's all to do with your left brain hemisphere interferring".

"Sounds mumbo jumbo to me" said Laura, "brain hemispheres!- what are they and how do they stop me drawing ..."

What's up with this lot?" asked the lady facilitator, "I can't seem to get them going". "I think the workshop has been too structured" offered Matt. "What do you mean" she replied. "Well I don't think we are laughing enough or having enough fun". "What! - this is serious business you know. How can having fun possibly help us get more ideas ?" . . .

Our brains are estimated to receive billions of nerve impulses every second through sight, sound, smell, taste aand feel. Are you consciously aware of all of this information? Of course not! For example, are you aware of how your feet feel in your shoes. Now you are, but before you were not, unless you have bunions or poorly fitting shoes. Why? Because it was not important at the time and it was filtered out.

You are only consciously aware of a fraction of all the potential information. To take in and process more of this information would either drive you crazy or be such a distraction that you could not function. So, what happens to all of this other information?

The atmosphere in the meeting was becoming fractious.
"So how does everyone see this issue?" asked Jane.

"I'm not sure we can change anything that will make a difference. I think we should put it on the back burner, replied David.

"Well I think it's a great opportunity" interjected Laura. "Once we have it sorted it gives us a great platform to go forward"

"OK let's agree to differ for now. We'll have a break and then I'll change tack - I'm going to introduce you to something called metaprograms.

"Sounds technical" offered Matt.
"Not really replied Jane. "We all have deep-rooted mental programs, which automatically filter our experience and guide and direct our thought processes. You could say that Laura and David have different views because they have differences programs. "

"Can't wait to find out" said Matt.

"It's not what you say, but how you say it" declared David. "Everyone knows that!".
That's an interesting point", replied Jane, "but what you just said, tells me a lot about you".
"How do you mean?", asked David.
"Well, you said everyone knows that, which is a generalisation." We often do this, distorting reality.

The way we transform our experience into language is outlined in the meta model

VAK Preference

"I can't solve this problem. I'm just not smart enough" yelled David. "What makes you think you aren't smart?" replied Jane. "We'll I was crap at school and all my reports were bad."

"But does that mean you can't solve problems? You have taken some past experiences and formed a belief that you can't solve problems. What about when you came up with that new product idea? Or that change to our production process?" "But that was different", counted David.

Beliefs about self, formed in childhood from limited information can ruin our future potential unless tackled head on. Expand your walls of belief and make your mental box bigger!

"So Laura you want to get fit?"
"Yes, Jane. I'm getting too lazy. I don't exercise enough and my diet isn't right."
"OK, stand up here next to me. We're going for a trip into the future. It's six weeks from now. You have done absolutely nothing. You are standing in front of a full length mirror just there. What do you see?"
"Oh dear, I 'm putting on weight. My face is getting plumper and a double chin is just starting. I don't feel very energetic."

"Now its six months from now and you have still done nothing. What do you see in your mirror?"
"It's getting worse. I'm overweight by a stone. My double chin is more pronounced and I look worn out. . . "
And so it goes on to a year and six years...
"Do you like what you see, Laura. How do you feel about yourself. Do other people like it?"

"OK come back to now. This was all make believe. You can change before it happens. So are you 100% motivated to change?"

"You bet I am. Looking the way I did in six years has really motivated me to change!"

"OK, what habits do you want to stop?" started Jane.
"I'd like to stop smoking, but something sabotages me just when I think I've cracked it"
"I want to loose weight but diets never work"

Most people are aware of the term mirroring - and there has been a lot of theories as to why it helps develops rapport. Recent studies may help explain why Mirroring someone physically makes them feel comfortable.