The NLP communication model explains clearly how we process and use information and how this affects our state, physiology and behavior. It is really important to understand this model in order to be able to make changes to how you view your world.

What we know is that every second we are bombarded by sensory feedback from our 5 senses Visual, Auditory, Kinesthetic, Olfactory (smelling) and Gustatory (tasting). In any given moment we are selective as to what information we pay attention to because of course we cannot possibly hope to process all of the information.

Memory theorists suggest we can handle or remember about 7 new bits of information at once. This means that we filter the 2 million bits of information into about 7 bits. The way we do this is by deleting, distorting or generalizing. Deletion means we do not attend to information that is not relevant in the moment, distortion means we adapt the information to make it fit with what we believe or are on the look-out for generalization helps us to relate new information to what we already know.

However, what this also means is that we do not have the full picture because we have ignored or changed information during the filtering process. This is called an internal representation. This mean that what we represent to ourselves inside our minds is never true to what is actually happening in the event.

Because the information we take in is via our 5 senses, our internal representations are made up of thoughts, feelings, sounds, pictures, smell and tastes. Importantly, the way we represent or code information in our internal representation affects how we feel, which in turn affects our physiology and behavior. What we know is that happy people tend to filter and represent information differently to depressed or anxious people. More importantly via cognitive therapy such as NLP or hypnotherapy, people experiencing mental distress can learn to filter in a way that allows refreshed perspectives and a different emotional experience.

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