Before our this year's Aberdeen Practitioner Course started we contacted those who graduated as NLP Practitioners in 2009 in Aberdeen and asked them - "What have you been doing since we last saw you and has NLP affected that in any way?"  here are answers from some of our graduates:

As you know I moved down to London with work in September last year, I rented a flat for 6 months while I looked for somewhere to buy and just as I had given up hope of finding something I liked in an area I liked I found a house with a lovely garden (that was high on my list of priorities).  I moved in February this year - after decorating most of the ground floor (pink and white stripes in the living room were not to my taste!!) - so spent a busy 2 weeks painting.  Shortly after moving in I was offered another job (still with BP) in Angola, working a 28/28 rota (28 days in Angola and then 28 days off).  It was a promotion and also had the time-off element (the hours I was working in London, with travel time was the aspect of the job I was not enjoying).  So in May I travelled to Angola for the first time and worked my first hitch (actually turned out to be 37 days due to visa problems) and then got my first time-off (actually 6.5 weeks as my back-to-back had even more visa problems).  Weather was great at home, so spent the time with family, friends and starting to sort out the jungle of a garden that I have (it just hadn't been looked after for years).  I've now just finished my second time-off and finding that having the time to just relax and enjoy life is fantastic - definitely a work/life balance that works for me

I wrote many 'lists/goals' for what I would do when I moved down here and have made great progress with crossing things off the list (went to see Lion King with my niece, went to stay with friend from university who I haven't seen in 5 years). I haven't managed a holiday yet (as in go away holiday) - with everything unsettled it’s been difficult to plan when I will be here to go away, my rota is now fixed for the next year so that will allow me to get away somewhere warm over the winter (although I will be doing that every time I go to Angola - I may prefer the winter here instead).

 So what is due to NLP? - as an engineer there is part of me that wants proof that all or some of these changes are due to my having done NLP - life is never that simple and can rarely be explained by one thing.  What I do know is that NLP has taught me to be more thoughtful of the impact I have on others and this has been beneficial to me at work - often allowing me to see/hear/feel things from another perspective (I frequently 'sit' in the others seat to reflect on their perspective).  It’s also taught me that I am the only one that can change a situation by changing myself and I think just knowing that means that drives me to do 'stuff' rather than sitting around waiting for something to magically happen. 

Sarah Gay, Senior Engineer BP

+++++

Susan Raeper – since Aberdeen NLP Practitioner Course 2009

Went on holiday for a significant birthday to San Francisco and New York in 2009.  Did some work with budding Master Practitioners on managing anxiety in travelling. Was chilled out most of the time.

Completed and passed my Master Practitioner certification with NLP Highland in May 2010.  Learned how to hula hoop.

Passed my LAB practitioner certification in August 2010.

Started growing vegetables as an outcome in my Master course as a way of stress relief.

Applied for and was successful in securing a secondment in a totally different job.  Used visualisation of the desk and my new title before the interview.  My presentation was on a process using the “string”.  Identified in the interview that people learn in different ways and at different speeds. 

+++++

At a personal level I have:

• visited China (intended to go to Chile… but at least it begins with a ‘C’);
• developed my guitar playing skills… and now able to play a bit of jazz;
• bought a flat as a home for one of my children… this helped him to ‘move out’ and provides a possible longer term pension investment
• sold my (new) house and will be moving in November to an (older) house in the same town – this house will require a lot of work but offers a more comfortable ‘fit’ with the rest of my life / our lives
• started to learn Spanish – at last!

(These personal objectives were identified through NLP in 2009)

 At a social level I have:

• encouraged two senior colleagues to explore aspects of NLP to assist them in managing their teams and objectives…and in giving presentations
• now read all of Paulo Coelho’s books…including a critical biography
• re-engaged with NLP through participation in the AECC event in May

 At a professional level I have:

• a better understanding of my motivation and drive at work
• a better understanding of the importance of values and alignment in a work setting…this has helped to resist the (financial) pull back to the local authority
• an ability to make more use of the meta model in understanding business transactions

 John Grant

September 2010

+++++

REFLECTIONS – since completing NLP Practitioners Course in 2009:

Looking back, the last year or so has brought a number of interesting changes in my life! 

Only last week, I was looking at my, until recently, seldom used Facebook and had a huge smile on my face when I read my comment of 29 August 2009 regarding my ‘storyboard’ picture.  It reads, “Hmmm - interesting .... very little (nothing!) in here directly related to my 'day job' (work). Away from <<<<<< towards >>>>>> ??” 

I do have another 2 ‘storyboards’ which, when I have time, I will ‘snap’ and post on Facebook.  In the meantime, it’s kind of spooky looking at these today as they contain all of the items listed below! 

What’s happened in the last year?  Words contained in my storybooks have been highlighted in red writing and items are in no particular order – or perhaps, subconsciously, they are!!  

• Whilst in my 25^th year at work, I resigned from my job!  How could I possibly give up a very varied, interesting, responsible and well paid position – especially without really planning another career or method of earning a living?  Worked 1 month followed by 2 months’ garden leave during which time I have seldom returned to the office.  Previously, I lived for work, rather than working to live.  If you’re told you’re going to die tomorrow, I doubt if you would say, “I wish I had spent more time at work!” 
• I’ve been praised for the good work I did whilst at Raeburn and dozens of people have said “Great” or “Well Done” when I’ve told them that I’ve given up work for a period
• Leaving work is certainly going to have an effect on my finances ~ (financial therapy) which I have had to review recently and, to a certain extent, it has entailed taking a risk.  I’m not afraid to take risks.
• I’m off to Norway this afternoon – and have been practicing the lingo.  Downloaded a couple of ‘apps’ to my iTouch – they’re great.  I’m taking a friend with me and I can see a boat trip through the fjords coming up
• I attended a CIPD Seminar in Inverness a couple of weeks ago ~(Rosie was there too) and, in the same week, visited a friend in Dornoch and, for the first time, my cousin in Tain.   I had forgotten – all 3 places are ‘named’ and pinpointed in my storybook
• I had my eyes tested and picked up new reading glasses last week
• Relaxing – I have been swimming + having a Jacuzzi and steam room session in Buckie swimming pool 
• Gardening – The garden in Portsoy  (I’ve semi-moved there!) is looking good – even though I’m not always entirely sure whether I’m pulling out flowers or weeds.  Hey ho – does it really matter, as long as I like what’s left behind!  I’ll add some pictures of the house and garden to Facebook when I return from my holiday in Norway.  The house is now painted cream and the garden looked nice in the summer with nice pot plants outside the front door 
• Now that I have stopped working long hours, I have time to meet up with friends.  I had a dinner party in my house in Portsoy earlier on this month – mixing people from work with old friends from around the north-east.
• I’ve been looking after my body more than I used to.  Eating green vegetables and have become a bit addicted to Groupon and have recently booked various treatments (similar to attending a spa -  and, obviously, related to relaxation.  My hair has  been cut and coloured, my finger and toe nails have had a Shelloc treatment, I have had cellulite treatment and microdermabrasion sessions.  Over the last few weeks, I have also had reflexology + acupuncture.  I had been paying money into a health scheme through work and had never had time to book appointments to reap the benefits so ensured I used up as much as possible of my ‘allowances’ during my garden leave.
• For my birthday, in August, my uncle gave me 10,000 Airmiles.  These will probably be used to visit some of the places I noted on previous storybooks.
• My friend’s daughter recently helped me to clean up my bicycle and I have asked a friend to transport it to Portsoy for me as, for me, this is a much nicer and safer place to go for cycle runs  

You may have noticed, I’m still a detailed person so have chosen to concentrate my reflections on a review of my storyboards.  There are many other aspects of NLP which have influenced my decisions – and assisted me to influence those of others – over the last year.

If you want something, put in on your Storybook – believe me, it works – even without looking at it again!

Dianne McBain

++++++

Well I am delighted to say that I still haven’t had a single bank charge since finishing my NLP Practitioner course.  Brilliant example of how effective goal setting is.  In fact, I have decided to expect more money.  It does work!  A couple of months ago £100 mysteriously appeared in an old bank account that I no longer use and hadn’t got round to closing.  I think I’ll keep that account open to see if anything else appears…

I now set regular goals for everything and have great satisfaction ticking them off at the end of the month.  One of my original desired outcomes from my very first NLP experience was to have more focus.  I definitely have that now.

I have found the vision boards are a really helpful tool in realising goals and good fun to do too!   My facebook page is getting pretty close to looking like my first vision boards J

NLP is one of the most useful tools for life I have come across.

Kate Wemyss

+++++++++ 

Looking back, to be fair, I have to admit that the past year wasn’t a dream come true year and the fresh start in Poland hasn’t really started yet! (Well, not properly..)
I’m choosing to look at it in a positive way as in all the good things are still ahead!

I was living my life between home and hospitals and had loads of time to think, quieten down and set goals for better days. Wasn’t fit for walking but certainly was able to work with my hands so did some arty / woodwork for my new flat as I always wanted (all of my vision boards had this common theme). By the end of October
I managed to sit the exam in advanced English and I’m glad to report I passed with 71% and got the certificate – this will help and widen up job opportunities (plus remember how I usually underestimated my language abilities? Well, not any more!). Some time ago I read again my life calling note from NLP sessions and experienced an epiphany! Going with a flow I’ve decided to go back to Uni next year to do dance and movement therapy. As for a nearer future – there’s a chance of me working on an EU project from the beginning of next year (and Rosie knows that a project work is the best option for me).

I left hospital this week with some good news. The disease (I was diagnosed with sarcoidosis that affected my lungs, bones and joints) slowly goes into remission and if it carries on this way, I should be like brand new in about six months! J

Ania Kocik