You’ve got a brilliant idea or a problem you might have talked to others about. You know exactly what you want. You can feel it in your bones!

But how do you get there?

Cue the rumination….. The going round in circles, the asking everyone their opinion, the reading about it, the 3am wake-ups thinking about it, the getting absolutely nowhere scenario.

I think we can all agree that “stuck” feeling is horrible!

However, it’s more common than you think. Throughout my experience as a neurolinguistic programming coach, I have seen this very often, and I talk to loads of people stuck in that exact loop.

Here’s the thing, though, your unconscious mind has all the information. You’ve got all the pieces. Your brain just needs to see the path forward in a different way.

…Cue the Figure of 8 process.

What is the figure of 8 process in NLP therapy?

I call this activity the Figure of 8 process because when you space it out on the floor, you make a figure of 8 as you move between the 3 areas of present, past, present, future and back to present. 

Talking people through this technique, I have found it to be very powerful during my time as a neuro linguistic practitioner. I encourage you to give it a try by spacing it out on the floor or just running the process in your mind. 

Step 1. Acknowledge where you are with the problem in the here and now. Say it out loud to yourself if it helps. The confusion, the frustration, the desire to make it work, the stuck zone.

Step 2. Step back into the past and the first ideas you had, the conversations. Then the weeks, months or maybe even years of rumination you did, not knowing how to solve the problem and the sleepless nights.

Step 3. Step back again to the here and now, the stuck zone, the talking about it, the problem you can’t solve.

Step 4. Step forward and imagine you are in the future. Everything has turned out well and your conversations are positive. Problems solved, you have achieved your goal and your brilliant idea or your solution has proven to be even more amazing than you thought it would be. Take a moment to get in touch with the feeling that it brings and truly embrace it.

Step 5. Step back into the here and now, the present moment. Just like that, the light bulb moment will turn up. It will all sound feasible now with a new sense of direction and that first step will become clear!

Try it out for yourself and get unstuck. Or, get in touch with me to discuss this and other techniques I use as a neurolinguistic programming coach. I offer NLP therapy UK and internationally via online therapy sessions.