UWoT NLP Technique - Belief Highways and Bypasses
There are many ways to explore beliefs and many techniques to create belief change.  The Beyond Belief NLP technique on the Mission Coach web site (see the link at the end of this article) is one way and the UWoT (Useful Ways of Thinking) process presented here is another.  The outcome of any belief change technique is to create an empowering and resourceful mental and physical state that enables us to take the actions which best serve our outcomes.

Beliefs and Ego Investment
A lot of significance has been given to changing beliefs and there is no doubt we can enrich the quality of our lives by adopting beliefs that better serve our outcomes.  One of the challenges we face is that by investing (often unconsciously) time and energy into a particular way of thinking (belief) we engage the ego and make the task of changing the belief more difficult.  Ego investment manifests itself in many ways including:

• We argue with other people who do not share our belief.
  
• If we change a belief we may end up agreeing with the person we argued with and may have to admit we were "wrong" to start with!
  
• We may be seen as treacherous by those people who shared our old belief and regarded with suspicion by those whose belief we now share.
  
• People may see us as being undependable or flaky if we "change our minds".
  
• The process of belief change starts by taking some form of action.  We know our actions are influenced by our beliefs and therefore we are trying to change the belief from the level most influenced by it.  This is like trying to pull yourself up by your own bootlaces!

The probabilities are in favour of us maintaining the status quo by holding onto our existing beliefs.  We have a natural inclination to protect our investment of time and emotional energy in our beliefs even though we may know they no-longer serve us.

For some people there comes a point when they realise their habitual way of thinking consistently leads to frustration, discontentment and an undesired outcome and decide something has to change.  We already know it is difficult to change a belief from the level of action so we are not even going to try.  We need to find a way we can work with the natural flow of the belief system but first we need to define what the belief system is.

Belief Highways
Imagine a belief to be a circular Highway or cycle which passes through and influences our State, Actions and Outcomes and affects what we are Being, Doing and Having.  As you can see from the diagram below each of these 3 stages is the cause of the stage that follows and is the effect of stage before it.  If this Belief Highway leads to a desirable outcome this is a "virtuous" cycle, if the outcome is undesirable this is a "vicious" cycle. 

We have the free will to break into this cycle of cause and effect but for the reasons already given we rarely make this choice.  Bob Proctor in his interpretation of the Science of Getting Rich says "don't let your present circumstances control your thinking" or in other words "don't let your outcome determine your state".  This is easier said than done because if the outcome is "good" we tend to feel good and if the outcome is "bad" we feel bad.

While this connection between Outcome and State can lock us into a vicious cycle forever leading to an undesirable outcome it also presents us with an opportunity for a powerful intervention.
 
Creating a Belief Bypass
A UWoT is a Useful Way of Thinking that serves your Desired Outcome.  A UWoT could be a belief, value, strategy or symbol.  The term "UWoTs" saves repeating "useful ways of thinking" and by giving the concept a short label it makes it easier to write about!

The diagram below shows the original Belief Highway still intact with a Bypass running alongside it and a new stage has been introduced into the cycle between Outcome and State.  We have now consciously created a Bypass which starts and finishes at our Desired Outcome.   

Here is an overview of the cycle with the additional stage and new cycle of cause and effect:

• You choose your Desired Outcome and experience how it feels to achieve it which… [cause]
  
• [effect] motivates you to take Action to use the UWoT NLP technique which... [cause]
  
• [effect] creates a physically and mentally Empowering State which… [cause]
  
• [effect] empowers, inspires and compels you to take the Action required to… [cause]
  
• [effect] achieve your Desired Outcome.

We are still following the natural flow and cycle of cause and effect of the original Belief Highway but now the difference is:

• The cycle always starts at the Desired Outcome
  
• The Desired Outcome always at "first cause" and therefore the Desired Outcome determines the sequence of cause and effect that follows
  
• If the outcome is desired this has to be a virtuous cycle
  
• You can continue looping through the cycle, modifying each stage as necessary until you achieve your Desired Outcome or something even better.

Description of the UWoTs NLP Process
This section gives a detailed explanation of the UWoT process before going through the process script at the end.

Desired Outcome - What on Earth do You Want?
State clearly your Desired Outcome and write it down.  Bear in mind the NLP "well formed-ness" conditions for defining outcomes but at this stage do not get too hung up on the wording.  Your outcome should be something that serves and inspires you.

Find the UWoTs that Serve Your Desired Outcome
Find or create some useful ways of thinking that serve your outcome.  A good source of UWoTs are the beliefs of people who have achieved your Desired Outcome and people who have the qualities you feel you need to achieve your Desired Outcome.

On the Mission Coach web site you will find a growing list of Belief Models (see Links) containing beliefs, values and strategies of some very successful people.  When choosing a UWoT be guided by what you "feel" about it more than what you "think" about it.

Here are 4 UWoTs taken from Belief Models on the Mission Coach site which could be useful in serving any outcome.  These belief statements have been put into the first person present tense:

• "I communicate with passion" - Anita Roddick (Body Shop)
  
• "I look for order in chaos" - Leadership and the New Science (Margaret Wheatley)
  
• "I dare to be different" - Herb Kelleher (SouthWest Airlines)
  
• "My ideas flow, they don't have to be perfect." - Joseph O'Conner (Author)

The UWoTs you choose do not have to be connected with your Desired Outcome in any obvious way.  When selecting UWoTs it makes no difference whether the UWoT is a belief, value, strategy or symbol if it serves as a useful way of thinking about your Desired Outcome feel free to use it.

Write each UWoT on a separate piece of paper.  If the UWoT is in the form of written statement write it in the first person present tense in the same way as the examples or in a way that feels most appropriate for you.  Do not get hung up on the wording because the next stage is to transform the words into images.

Stop Talking Start Imaging
At the moment these UWoTs are in a linguistic form.  The next action is to transform each UWoT into an image. The reasons for the transformation of words into images are:

• Through the process of transformation you take ownership of the UWoT.  The image is uniquely yours and the written UWoT has served as the inspiration for you to create this image.
  
• Your image can be abstract and does not need to "make sense" in the same way as the written UWoT.
  
• This transformation is a creative process engaging the imagination, intuition and any guidance you are open to and you are giving yourself the opportunity to tap into Universal resources such as synchronicity.
  
• Images bypass the internal "censor" (often internal dialogue).  The internal censor makes it more difficult to express our creativity in words.
  
• The image serves as a powerful visual anchor and powerful attractor to resourceful physical, emotional and spiritual states which serve your outcome.

Guidelines for the transformation of words into images:

• Your image could be a moving picture (movie) and include sensory input of hearing, smell, taste and touch.
  
• Your image does not need to have an obvious connection with the written statement or your Desired Outcome.
  
• Be guided by what you feel about the image more than what you think about the image.

Creating an Empowering State by Combining Your Images
Having created a image for each UWoT you are now going to combine them all into a single symbolic image.  Combining images is a highly creative process powerfully engaging the imagination in a way you are most likely to experience a significant shift in thinking and shift in your mental and physical state.

What evolves from combining the images into a single symbolic image is an image which may have no obvious connection with the written UWoTs and possibly no obvious connection to your Desired Outcome either.  You are creating a fantasy and this fantasy's sole purpose is to illicit in you mental, physical and spiritual states which inspire and motivate you to take action which serves your outcome.

The principle of combining images into a single symbolic image is similar to the NLP concept of "stacking anchors" but with some significant additions:

• Synchronicity - By combining the images you are creatively acknowledging and focusing synchronicity of time, place, Desired Outcome, chosen UWoTs and images into a single symbolic image.
  
• Synergy - combining the images does more than add the energies of each image together, it shifts the image and energies into a new and very empowering dimension.
  
• Strange Attraction - the symbolic image that evolves from the process of synergising is deeply attractive and you find the image easy to "keep in mind" when you wish to.

Take Action That Serves Your Desired Outcome
The purpose of all we have done so far is to bring us to the point where we feel inspired, motivated and compelled to take action that serves our Desired Outcome. 

Using NLP you are able to identify, experience and "fine tune" the Actions you need to take to achieve your Desired Outcome before you physically commit yourself to taking that action.  Making the decision not to take action is largely due to lack of courage or lack of confidence although it comes in many disguises including: procrastination or "I have other commitments" or "I don't have time" or "my spouse won't let me!"  The intention of the UWoT process is to create a mental and physical state so empowering that taking effective Action to achieve your Desired Outcome is inevitable.

The script below takes you through the UWoT Process.  Your feedback on this process is welcome, please send an email to paul@mission-coach.co.uk.  The processes on the Mission Coach site are in a continual state of evolution the intention when refinement them is always to make them simpler and more powerful.

Links
Beyond Belief Process
Mission Coach Belief Models

UWoTs (Useful Ways of Thinking) Process Version 1.2
Warning
Depending on the individual going through the process (known as the "Explorer") some of these processes can lead to a temporary feeling of confusion or disorientation.  Far from being a "bad" thing this could indicate a degree of internal re-alignment leading to positive change.  Always follow the Guidelines for creating an "Earth Point" where the Explorer can return to at any time during the process.  As a general rule do not drive or do anything else that may put yourself or other people at risk having been through a process, give yourself plenty of time to re-adjust.  This rule applies to both Guide and Explorer.  If for any reason you doubt you can safely complete a process do not attempt to do so.  If you doubt your ability to safely act as Guide please do not do so.  These processes are shared in the spirit of Self Leadership, please be sensible and take complete responsibility for your own actions.

Outcomes for this process:

• Experience the achievement of your Desired Outcome
  
• Find the UWoTs (Useful Ways of Thinking) that serve your Desired Outcome
  
• Create an empowering Symbolic Image which motivates, inspires and compels you to take the Action
  
• Clearly define the Action needed to achieve your Desired Outcome
  
• Transform your Desired Outcome into an Outcome.

Preparation for the UWoT process

• Preparing Your Desired Outcome
  Clearly state your Desired Outcome.
  Write it on a piece of paper.
  
  
• Preparing Your UWoTs
  Choose 3 or 4 useful ways of thinking that serve your Desired Outcome.  A good source of UWoT are the beliefs of other people who you believe could achieve your Desired Outcome or people you believe who have the qualities you need to achieve your Desired Outcome  (see the Belief Models section of the Mission Coach web site).
  A UWoT can be a belief, value, strategy or a symbol.  The question to ask yourself when choosing is "does this way of thinking serve my outcome?"
  Write each UWoT on a piece of paper in the first person present tense ("I am").

UWoT Process Version 1.2

1. Earth Point
   Step into this space and fully experience a time when you felt totally connected with your surroundings.
   Know that you can return here and be totally grounded at anytime during the process.
   Step into the Desired Outcome space.
   
   
2. Desired Outcome (Have)
   Taking as much time as you need create and vividly experience the achievement of your Desired Outcome.
   Explore how the achievement enriches every aspect of your life.
   
   
3. Action to Create Empowering State (Do)
   Being guided by your intuition select one of the UWoTs and step into the UWoT's space.
   Creatively transform this UWoT into an image making sure you are part of the image. Repeat this for each UWoT.
   Select one of the images and move it into Action to Create Empowering State space.
   Step into the image and experience again being part of it.
   Select another image and place it on top of this image in the Action space.
   Being guided by intuition creatively combine the images into one image which symbolises the combination.
   Continue until you have selected and combined all the images into one image.
   Step into the Empowering State space bringing this image with you.
   
   
4. Empowering State (Be)
   Allow the energy of your Symbolic Image to enrich every cell of your being.
   Notice how your Symbolic Image contains all the energy, all the wisdom and all the resources you need and want to take Action to achieve your Desired Outcome.
   Step into the Action to Create Outcome space bringing the energy, wisdom and resources with you.
   
   
5. Action to Create Outcome (Do)
   Being guided by your intuition ask and answer the following question:
   "What Action can I take in the next 24 hours that is a significant step towards my Outcome?"
   Experience yourself taking this Action and completing it successfully.
   Continue to identify and experience further Actions by extending the time period from 24 to 48 hours, 7 days, a month, whatever is most appropriate.
   Notice how the successful completion of each Action takes you closer to your Desired Outcome and with the last Action you step easily into the Desired Outcome space.
   
   
6. Outcome (Have)
   Taking all the time you need, fully experience achieving this Outcome.
   Notice how your Desired Outcome has become your Outcome.
   Notice how this Outcome is the unavoidable effect of taking the Actions you have taken and successfully completed.

End of UWoT Process.