Self-programming

What is self-programming?

Self-programming is often also referred to as self-suggestion; it is a technique for intentionally reshaping thoughts, behaviours, and emotions. This method enables individuals to consciously develop positive habits and beliefs, integrating them into their worldview. This approach enables individuals to work toward achieving specific goals, whether they are professional objectives, personal growth, or overall improvements in their quality of life.

Self-programming involves changing our consciousness and eliminating negative and limiting beliefs. This process is made possible by the brain's flexibility, adaptability, and rapid learning capabilities. Self-programming utilises principles from neuro-linguistic programming (NLP), which we discuss in detail here.

Advantages of self-programming

The subconscious self-programming method has a significant impact on various aspects of our lives, including our careers, personal and family relationships, interactions with friends, and the formation of new professional connections.

Self-programming enables you to:

• Define your goals clearly - Start by examining all the parts of your life, pinpointing areas that need improvement, and establishing specific, attainable goals. This process may occasionally demand extra motivation.

• Maintain motivation - Utilising various self-programming tools and techniques, which you will explore in greater depth, allows individuals to persist and progress confidently toward their goals.

• Overcome stigmas - Self-hypnosis requires addressing internal fears and limitations. This technique fosters the development of positive thoughts, beliefs, and habits, which ultimately enhance self-esteem, nurture self-compassion and respect, and diminish self-criticism.

• Cultivate self-discipline - Self-programming requires time, effort, and perseverance, as the results are not always instant. Nonetheless, with a clear goal, this approach can foster your patience and discipline.

Self-programming is an exceptionally powerful and effective method for personal growth and self-fulfilment in various areas of life. One of its greatest strengths is the necessity for consistent practice, which leads to noticeable improvements in quality of life from the very first days of using the technique.

The stages of self-programming

Indeed, this process is unique for everyone. Additionally, self-programming techniques are flexible and free from stringent rules, allowing you to customise them to suit your needs. Nonetheless, the key stages must be established:

Stage 1. Recognising and embracing the necessity for change

Transforming your life starts with a desire for improvement and recognising what areas are unsatisfactory. Start by examining every area of your life and seriously contemplate whether you are satisfied with elements such as your relationships, career, and connections with family and friends. To be thorough, consider writing your reflections by hand and then reviewing and analysing them. After that, explore the reasons for your dissatisfaction in particular areas.

Step 2. Setting a goal (or goals)

Identify a specific goal detailing what you wish to achieve and the transformations you plan to make through self-programming. It's advisable to focus on one or two objectives, which can be from various areas of life. For example, your goal may include landing a more promising job, assuming a management position, fostering better relationships with your parents, conquering your fear of romantic involvement, or finding a reliable partner.

It's vital to set realistic and attainable goals. For instance, if you've recently graduated from university with aspirations of managing a large corporation, this might not be practical, not due to your lack of ability, but because relevant experience is vital in these situations. A more achievable goal would be to secure a position that offers opportunities for career growth or to seek an internship overseas.

Step 3: Create a strategy to reach your goal

Determine your primary goal and detail the steps required to reach it. For example, if you aim to become a department head within a year, your action plan might include the following steps:

• Enrol in advanced training courses and obtain the required certification.

• Consistently demonstrate strong KPIs at work.

• Assume or take on project management responsibilities to demonstrate your value to your managers.

• Participate in scientific conferences and competitions that highlight your expertise and professionalism. Further steps will vary depending on your field, workplace, and other factors.

If you want to foster a closer relationship with your parents, consider trying:

• Attending psychotherapy.

• Encourage your parents to discuss openly why you feel distant from them.

• Consider establishing a regular practice of inviting your parents over every Saturday or visiting them yourself.

• Stay in touch by phone or through messaging apps.

Describe your strategy for achieving your goal in more detail. Keep in mind that it will consist of several intermediate tasks, and by addressing each task individually, you will gradually move closer to achieving your goal.

Stage 4. Executing the plan and shifting your perspective

Before taking action, it is essential to reflect on your views, habits, and beliefs to identify any factors that may hinder your progress toward achieving your goal. These challenges are often psychological, such as dealing with fears or insecurities, like when trying to find a reliable partner. On the other hand, if your goal is to move abroad and start a new career, you may encounter more tangible obstacles, such as financial limitations, visa issues, or a lack of proficiency in a foreign language.

Often, the primary barrier to achieving your goals arises from factors such as self-doubt, low self-confidence, hesitation to act, fear of failure, or other personal traits. It's vital to address these attitudes and shift them toward a more positive outlook. When you question your skills or professionalism, take a moment to reflect on your past achievements, the significant challenges you've overcome, and the key projects you've led. Let these reminders bolster your belief in your professional worth. With this newfound positive mindset, begin to implement your plan.

Step 5. Stay focused

As you start implementing your plan, remember to regularly affirm positive and motivating beliefs to sustain focus and overcome psychological barriers. Further strategies for supporting yourself on this journey will be discussed later.

Techniques for self-programming

Many effective techniques exist for accurately defining and formulating goals, as well as motivating yourself to achieve them. Among them:

• Wheel of Life

This exercise is designed to uncover hidden sources of dissatisfaction in life and identify the area of activity that demands immediate attention and improvement.

The Wheel of Life is often depicted as a circular diagram divided into several segments, each representing a key area of your life. Typically, the circle is divided into eight parts: health, finances, career, family, friendships, leisure, self-development, and spirituality. You evaluate each segment on a scale from 0 (minimal satisfaction) to 10 (maximum satisfaction). It's common for ratings to vary significantly, with scores ranging from 4 to 5 in "family" and "friendships," while achieving a 10 in "career."

An ideal state of life satisfaction involves consistently high ratings across all areas, typically ranging from 7 to 10. Achieving this level of balance can be challenging, but utilising the Wheel of Life is a helpful way to identify areas that need improvement. Focus on gradually enhancing one specific area at a time rather than attempting to elevate all categories to a perfect 10 simultaneously. A steady and systematic approach will promote meaningful and lasting improvement.

• SMART Technique

This method comes into play once you have identified the areas of your life that require improvement and are prepared to define your goals. The core idea of SMART is to convert abstract, unclear, or vague tasks into well-defined and specific objectives. SMART is an acronym that represents the key criteria a goal must fulfil:

• S - Specific and well-defined goals, such as "buy a car by early summer" or "spend quality time with the children each evening after work."

• M - Measurable or quantifiable using clear metrics such as hours spent, monetary values, exam results, or other specific units.

• A - Achievable, suggesting that it is realistically possible by fairly evaluating whether you have sufficient resources, such as time, money, and experience, to attain the goal.

• R - Relevant, and it's essential to understand your motivations for pursuing it. Ensure that social pressures do not solely influence your goal, and reflect on what achieving this goal will ultimately bring you.

• T - Time-constrained, which means a deadline is set for achieving the goal. To further explore the SMART method and goal-setting criteria, click here.

● Visualisation board (various mind maps and career maps)

Visualisation serves as a valuable tool for maintaining focus, monitoring progress, and envisioning both what you want to achieve and future milestones. Typically, visualisation boards display goals written on vibrant sticky notes, along with images, lists of intermediate tasks, and plans for the future. If you're pursuing multiple goals simultaneously, it's beneficial to organise the board into thematic sections. Placing the visualisation board in a consistently visible location helps prevent you from neglecting your ambitions or losing sight of your ideal life.

Creating boards or maps is easier with the help of applications. For example:

• MindMeister is a tool for creating and editing different types of maps, including process maps, career maps, mind maps, and intelligence maps.

• Coggle is a free, user-friendly application that allows you to create, edit, and update various diagrams, charts, and plans.

• Lucidchart is a platform primarily focused on achieving career goals.

• Creately is a unique tool for generating different diagrams, graphs, lists, and extensive mind maps.

• SmartDraw also allows users to create and modify career maps, vision boards, and various other types of graphs.

Visualisation can be a powerful motivator and support tool for achieving goals.

• Affirmations

These uplifting and encouraging phrases should be spoken aloud, contemplated, and even written down regularly. They help counteract negative beliefs one may have about themselves and their environment. Strive to express them with intention, letting them influence your behaviour, thoughts, habits, and feelings. Affirmations might look like this:

• "I love and appreciate myself for who I am"

• "My loved ones and I respect each other"

• "I accept my failings"

• "I can handle any challenges"

• "I will succeed"

• "Each day, I move nearer to my goal"

• "I am open to love"

• "I am grateful for everything I have in my life"

• "The world around me is brimming with opportunities and possibilities.", and so on.

The best times to practice affirmations are in the morning and at night, just before going to bed. Customise your affirmations to reflect your particular needs or desires. For example, to foster success in your career, you might say: "My efforts are always rewarded." To enhance positivity and overall well-being, you could affirm: "Each day, my life improves," "I radiate health and vitality," or "Rest is something I deserve."

Practicing affirmations can alleviate stress, tension, and anxiety by encouraging a focus on the positive aspects of any situation. Consistent practice cultivates healthy self-esteem and enhances self-confidence.

• Meditation

In this context, meditation is not tied to esoteric practices. Instead, it emphasises nurturing inner peace, balance, rejuvenating internal resources, and attaining harmony with oneself and the universe. While meditating, the brain pauses from sifting through extensive information or handling deadlines, providing an opportunity for rest and relaxation. The crucial element is to disconnect from external distractions and focus on your inner feelings and thoughts.

A great way to begin is through mindful breathing. Sit comfortably with a straight back and your feet firmly placed on the ground. Turn off your phone beforehand to ensure no interruptions. Close your eyes and concentrate on your breath, taking slow, deep inhales and exhales through your nose. If your mind begins to wander or you catch yourself daydreaming, gently redirect your focus to your breathing, instead of succumbing to distractions. Avoid letting your mind dwell on memories.

Integrating meditation into self-programming is highly effective when paired with visualisation. Begin by selecting a quiet location where you won't be interrupted; turn off your phone and eliminate all other distractions. Get into a comfortable position, whether sitting or lying down. Take a moment to relax your body completely, close your eyes, and calm your mind.

Next, begin envisioning the life situations, events, and circumstances you wish to experience. You might imagine yourself enjoying a joyful family life, receiving professional recognition, winning a competition, or travelling with friends. Essentially, immerse yourself in the sensation of having already achieved your goal. Spend 5 to 10 minutes savouring the emotions of success and fulfilment, allowing them to energise and motivate you.

This method not only boosts positivity but also strengthens your focus and commitment to a particular goal. There is no denying that thoughts genuinely possess the power to influence reality, not through mysticism, but by shaping our subconscious and, in turn, our decisions and actions. By visualising your desired outcomes, you instinctively align your thoughts and behaviours with your aspirations, gradually moving closer to your dreams.

• Self-hypnosis

This practice entails a deliberate and controlled transition into a trance-like state, which is essential for active self-hypnosis. It is characterised as being between sleep and wakefulness, similar to a state of light drowsiness. However, during this period, the mind remains lucid enough to maintain awareness, regulate the experience, and concentrate on visualising your intended goals.

Self-hypnosis is similar to meditation, beginning with finding a comfortable position, closing your eyes, and focusing on your breathing. As you enter a light trance, repeat affirmations to yourself, first in your mind, then out loud. Examples include: "I believe in my abilities and feel confident," "I can achieve everything I strive for," or "A promotion is on its way to me." In this state, your mind becomes more receptive, allowing positive affirmations to be absorbed more readily. To finish the session, count slowly from one to five and gently open your eyes.

Integrating these techniques can increase their effectiveness. For example, you could engage in daily affirmations, meditate three times a week, and update your vision board every Monday.

Self-Programming Journal

This is another tool that helps you track your progress in completing intermediate tasks and achieving a significant goal. In this diary (it is best to keep it in writing, so a regular notebook or notepad will do), you should describe your ideal life with positive thoughts, eliminating negative beliefs. Here are a few simple rules for keeping a journal for self-programming:

1. Describe your dreams as if they have already come true

A self-programming diary is generally written in the past tense, articulating your desires as if they have already been fulfilled and are now part of your reality. For example: "I achieved the promotion I had been waiting for at work," "I met a trustworthy and supportive partner," "I purchased my dream car," or "I deepened my bond with my parents."

2. Reread and visualise what you have written

When documenting your dreams and aspirations, develop a habit of revisiting them regularly. As you do, take a moment to visualize these scenarios unfolding in your mind vividly. Immerse yourself in the story, imagining every detail-how it feels emotionally, the scents and tastes, and the sounds around you. Allow yourself to fully absorb and experience these impressions.

3. Keep journaling regularly (and preferably in writing!)

Establish a habit of documenting your dreams, the steps needed to achieve them, plans, and expressions of gratitude at least once a week-or even better, dedicate an hour each evening. This practice enables you to track your progress and brings you closer to your goals with each entry.

4. Record any negative thoughts that arise and replace them with positive alternatives

For instance, if you find yourself thinking, "I am such a loser," "I can't achieve anything in life," or "I'm so unattractive," jot these thoughts down in your journal and reflect on them closely. It is likely that none of these statements accurately reflects reality, so approach them with an impartial perspective. Consider replacing these negative thoughts with positive affirmations-swap "nobody cares about me" for "my friends and family love me," or change "I can't do anything right" to "I have rich life experiences and can handle any challenges that come my way."

5. Pay attention to your feelings

Staying connected with your feelings is crucial, and journaling can help achieve this by allowing you to reflect on your current thoughts, review the events of the day, and plan for the future. Some situations may evoke anxiety, while others bring joy and contentment. Consider what triggered each emotion and why you responded in that way. Pay attention to physical reactions, such as a clenched jaw during unpleasant memories or trembling hands when feeling anxious. Note how long these feelings lasted and any accompanying factors.

This not only helps you gain a deeper understanding of yourself but also teaches you to identify emotions early on, manage them effectively, and transform negative beliefs into positive and constructive ones.

Examples of Self-Programming

Your goal shapes your approach. Begin by utilising the Wheel of Life technique. If you're dissatisfied with your career, you can proactively prepare yourself for a promotion. To do this, clearly define your objective using the SMART criteria, such as targeting a management position within six months. Then, considering your workplace's specifics and company policies, as well as your profession and area of expertise, develop a list of intermediate tasks. t's beneficial to use visualisation apps that help you map out the process with intuitive templates, vibrant markers, and images.

In this scenario, self-programming consists of the following steps that should be practised regularly:

• Affirmations. Examples include statements like, "I see myself as a key asset to the company," "I can achieve this, ""I can fulfil my aspirations, ""I will obtain this role, "and "I deserve a promotion."

• Meditation. Imagine yourself as a manager, reflect on how your clothing choices have evolved, how your body language radiates confidence, and the way you interact with your team. Envision the new rules and customs you introduce to the workplace, along with the moment you receive your first salary.

• Keep a diary for self-programming. Along with maintaining a vision board, keep a diary to express your management aspirations. Document the initiatives you plan to implement as a manager, how this new role will change your life, and the benefits it will bring to your position.

Even if your goal is less ambitious than career advancement, like establishing a habit of regular exercise, the same self-programming techniques can be utilised:

• Start by changing your perspective on exercise. Instead of thinking, "I have to go to the gym," remind yourself that "I choose to work out because I care about myself and want to be healthy and strong."

• Take time to celebrate even small wins on your journey. For example, tell yourself, "I did well for attending my training session today," or "I'm proud of myself for going for a run, even after a tough day at work."

• Don't forget to practice affirmations in the morning and evening, including: "I can handle any challenge," "I am strong and resilient," "I exercise to show love for myself and my body," or "I am thankful to myself for finishing a demanding workout."

• As you meditate, envision how beautiful, healthy, and strong you will be once exercise becomes a part of your daily routine. Imagine how consistent exercise will change your reality-you'll have more energy and endurance, resist illness more easily, and feel more confident and attractive.

Conclusion

Cognitive restructuring, together with re-evaluating beliefs and enhancing self-awareness, enables you to redefine your reality, escape negative thought patterns, and develop positive habits that lead to transformation and new opportunities. Although self-programming requires time and patience, the results are immensely rewarding and may even surpass your expectations. This practice improves both emotional and physical well-being, fosters inner and outer harmony, and directs you toward your most cherished goals. Always remember that the power to change is already within you.