Foreground Background Technique

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	RENEWAL TECHNOLOGIES
Helping People and Organizations Grow
*The Renewal Times* October, 2006. ISSN 1705-3773 The Renewal Times The Renewal Times is a publication of Renewal Technologies Inc. and is edited by Roger Ellerton. This newsletter may be republished without permission, provided it is reproduced in its entirety and provided copyright is acknowledged. To reproduce sections of the newsletter, please contact Renewal Technologies Inc. at info@renewal.ca. Please forward this newsletter to friends and colleagues. To become a subscriber or to view previous editions of this newsletter, please visit www.renewal.ca/newsletter.htm. Please note: The material in this newsletter is presented for information only. It is not a substitute for medical, psychological or professional advice. Please consult a qualified professional. Included in this newsletter: Thought for the day Health Notes Upcoming Seminars Feature Article Humour More Information **************** Thought for the Day ************** What you see in others has more to do with who you are than who other people are. Epictetus ************ Your Assistance ************ Attention Meeting Planners: If you're booking speakers for winter, spring or summer conferences or events, keep me in mind--even if you have a last-minute cancellation. I deliver high-content, interactive programs that are well-received and lots of fun. Thank you, Roger Ellerton ************ Advertisement ********** Looking for featured authors such as Anthony Robbins, Brian Tracy, Dr. Deepak Chopra, Wayne Dyer and others? You can find them at Nightingale Conant. ******** Health Notes ******** Walking May be Good for Your Colon Colon cancer is among the most common forms of cancer in many developed countries. But research shows that people who cycle or walk to work have significantly lower rates of colon cancer. If you can't find an active way to commute to work, lace up your walking shoes for a brisk stroll at lunch. Commuting physical activity and risk of colon cancer in Shanghai, China. Hou, L., Ji, B. T., Blair, A., Dai, Q., Gao, Y. T., Chow, W. H., American Journal of Epidemiology 2004 Nov 1;160(9):860-867. -- Skimping on Sleep May Add Inches to Your waistline Your blood levels of leptin, a hormone that acts as an appetite suppressant, appear to decrease when you experience sleep deprivation, according to new research. Keep leptin levels high and curb overeating and weight gain by getting at least 6 to 8 hours of sleep per night. Leptin levels are dependent on sleep duration: relationships with sympathovagal balance, carbohydrate regulation, cortisol, and thyrotropin. Spiegel, K., Leproult, R., L'hermite-Baleriaux, M., Copinschi, G., Penev, P. D., Van Cauter, E., The Journal of Clinical Endrocrinology and Metabolism 2004 Nov;89(11):5762-5771. ************************* Upcoming Seminars / Workshops *************************** We are pleased to offer the following public workshops/seminars: Introductory NLP Evening December 5, 7:00pm – 9:00pm Please come as our guest. Invite a friend to come with you. Registration is required so that we can reserve a seat for you. E-mail your name and the number of people attending to info@renewal.ca. For more information, please see www.renewal.ca/freeseminar.htm. During this event, we will have a book signing for Live Your Dreams Let Reality Catch Up: NLP and Common Sense for Coaches, Managers and You and offer you a special discounted price. NLP Practitioner Training Three week-ends: February 2 - 4, 16 - 18, 23 - 25, 2007. or Seven consecutive days: July 9 - 15, 2007. Getting More Out of Life A series of three programs designed to help you get more out of life through discovering who you are at many levels -- your place in the world, your mission in life -- and to inspire you to take action to pursue your mission with passion and joy in a way that is respectful of others. January 19 - 21, 2007 Program 1: Discover Yourself -- Find Out What's Holding You Back For our most recent schedule and a description of these workshops/seminars, please visit www.renewal.ca/neurolinguistic.htm Click on the following link for the location of our NLP Training Centre in Ottawa (Stittsville), Ontario *********** Feature Article ********* This article may be reproduced, provided it is reproduced in full, including author bio and a reference to Renewal Technologies' website (www.renewal.ca). Foreground-Background Technique By Roger Ellerton Phd, ISP, CMC, Renewal Technologies Inc. www.renewal.ca As you think about a current problem/issue, what are you focusing on? If the issue involves another person, in your mind you may well have a big, bright, close-up (in your face) picture of him or her. And if you were to replay his or her voice in your mind, you may hear it loud and clear with a specific tone that results in feeling angry, dismissed or violated. All of this is in the foreground of your thoughts/mental images. Other things, including resources, are present in the background that you choose not to see, hear or feel as clearly or at all. What do you think would happen if you put less focus on what is in the foreground and more focus on what is in the background? Perhaps the problem would not seem so big or the person so overbearing and as a result you would be more resourceful. This is the idea behind the foreground - background technique from NLP, which can be used in a variety of situations - to be more resourceful/comfortable when addressing a perceived problem, in the presence of authority figures, when receiving criticism, when in a situation that may generate anxiety, when feeling lost or disoriented or when responding to a need to eat, smoke or gamble in excess. Often in these types of situations, we have difficulty because we are focusing on a small subset of our experience - the part that is not working at the exclusion of other information or resources. That is, the problem is big and bright or loud and threatening in the foreground of our mental pictures/sounds and other resources and possibilities are in the background, not immediately accessible to us. The foreground - background technique is a simple process that assists us to be aware of what is in the background and give it more or all of our attention and hence be more resourceful or be conscious of other choices. As with any change technique, you must be prepared to respond differently. If there is secondary gain or beliefs that restrict you in some way, these need to be addressed first. The process: Think of a current issue in which you would like to be more resourceful and have more choice in how you respond. Notice what you see in the foreground as you think of this issue. Also notice what sounds and feelings are in the foreground (i.e., those that you are paying attention to). Now look, hear and feel beyond that which is in the foreground to the background and become aware of what you have not been paying attention to. Is there other useful information here? We will begin working with the pictures you make in your mind and then attend to any sounds and feelings that are present. Often changing how you see the situation is all that needs to be done. Start with your focus on the images in the foreground, as has been the case up until now. As you do, make these images smaller, duller, with less clarity; and at the same time quickly bring the background forward to be big, bright and focused. Notice what you now see that you had not clearly seen before. You may even be more aware of what is going on all around you. Enjoy this new awareness and notice what else is possible. Perhaps, the issue is not as important or does not affect you as much as it did before. Break state by stretching, taking a deep breath or briefly looking around the room you are in. Repeat steps two to four at least three times (nine times if you do not do steps six to thirteen). Speed is important when interchanging the foreground and background. Up to now, you have worked only with the visual modality. Here you will include any sounds. Notice what sounds are in the foreground and if they support you or not. If the sounds do not support you, have these sounds become less audible or less harsh as supportive sounds or simply quiet from the background rush forward to replace them. At the same time repeat step two so that the changes in what you see and hear are in alignment. Enjoy this new awareness and notice what else is possible. Break state by stretching, taking a deep breath or briefly looking around the room you are in. Repeat steps six to eight at least three times (six times if you do not do steps ten to thirteen). Notice what feelings are in the foreground and if they support you or not. If the feelings do not support you, have these feelings become less intense or disappear altogether as other supportive resourceful feelings (e.g. confident, playful) or simply a sense of calmness or control rush forward to replace them. At the same time repeat step six so that the changes in what you see, hear and feel are in alignment. Enjoy this new awareness and notice what else is possible and how you can choose to respond differently in the future. Break state by stretching, taking a deep breath or briefly looking around the room you are in. Repeat steps ten to twelve at least three times. If you are looking for more balance in your response (rather than putting your previous response ‘out of the picture’), then in the above have the foreground fade and shrink as the background comes up to be about the same size, brightness and focus. By focusing on the foreground, we make the problem or issue seem larger and do not see it in the full context. By making the foreground smaller and putting more attention on the background, we put the issue in perspective and can see, hear or feel it as something we can overcome. Author: Roger Ellerton is a certified NLP trainer, certified management consultant and the founder and managing partner of Renewal Technologies. The above article is based on his book Live Your Dreams Let Reality Catch Up: NLP and Common Sense for Coaches, Managers and You. *** Humour *** Statisticians Some quick facts: Eighty percent of all people consider themselves to be above average. Statistically speaking, in China, even if you are a one in a million kind of guy, there are a thousand more just like you. Did you know that 87.25% of all statistics claim a precision of results that is not justified by the method employed? One out of every four people is suffering from some form of mental illness. Check three friends. If they're OK, then it's you. It is proven that the celebration of birthdays is healthy. Statistics show that those people who celebrate the most birthdays become the oldest. ************ More Information ************** For more information, please visit our website or contact us at 613 692-1424 or info@renewal.ca Copyright © 2006, Renewal Technologies Inc. All rights reserved.

Thank you for visiting. Please contact us if you require additional information. Renewal Technologies 5423 North Drive Ottawa, Ontario, Canada K4M 1G5 info@renewal.ca (613) 692-1424