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I’ve been covering a lot of NLP (Neuro-Linguistic Programming) topics recently, and I wanted to continue in that vein today. I touched on this earlier, but wished to expand on it today.
If you are around computers or video games very much, you have probably heard of emulation. At it’s heart, emulation is getting one computer to act like a different computer. For example: Both Windows and the Mac OS have “compatibility layers” which will let users run programs that are written for older versions of the operating system and thus wouldn’t run otherwise. In the gaming area, we have video game consoles that will emulate their predecessors: PS3 was designed to run PS2 and regular PlayStation games as well. There is a program called VMware. This program will let you run a complete computer environment inside another computer. It is still limited by the hardware on your computer, but you can, for example, run a Linux environment inside Windows or vice-versa. This is useful because you may find that there is an application that either requires or would work better in the other environment.
Emulation and Modeling
Why is this important? It is important because you have the ability to do much the same. When you were a kid, you had heroes. You looked up to them, and tried to be like them. This was a powerful tool. If you were athletically inclined, you might have imagined you were Babe Ruth, or Michael Jordan, or John Elway when you were playing your sports. Others would choose great inventors and explorers, such as Captain Cook, or Leonardo da Vinci. When we grow, many of us are told that to see things other than as our eyes tell us is silly and childish, and should be stopped. This not only robs us of a source of inspiration and playfulness, it also strips us of this valuable tool. People still use the technique on occasion. In my part of the world, WWJD bracelets can be seen. These are tools to help people model or emulate a great spiritual teacher. However, the use and usefulness of the tech doesn’t stop there. You can use this tech to “borrow” desired traits. Do you need to be more decisive? How about being more inquisitive, intuitive, or throrough?
The Importance of Having Heroes
I’m not talking about an NBC show here, folks. I’m talking about allowing yourself to find a hero and then model yourself after them, just like when you were a kid. Does the “hero” in question need to be a hero in all things? Certainly not! My definition of a hero in this topic is someone who is a shining example, or epitome of what you are trying to do. The hero in question doesn’t even have to be “real”, although the more realistic the better. There’s not much point modeling someone who would use heat vision to blast away the problem, unless we’re talking symbolically :). Your hero can be ancient or modern, fact or fiction. Just pick the attribute you wish to “borrow” and then select your hero.
Now that you have your hero, it’s time to become your hero. Just like when you were a kid, you will want to set up in your mind that it’s them doing it. There are a lot of visuals that can aid in this process. You can see an image of them superimposed on you, or you can put on your “hero” themed helmet, or even a full suit made of your hero, or just imagine that it is totally them and you aren’t even in the picture. Once again, use what works for you. Once you feel like you’ve got it, then go ahead and do your stuff. It may take some getting used to, but you may find that learning comes easier, and you may also find that you gain a new perspective and more insight and ideas than you would otherwise have had. Eventually, it will “click”that when you are borrowing those shining examples from your heroes, you are still the one getting it done. As such, you may find yourself integrating those traits into yourself. Will you ever stop needing heroes? Maybe. It’s been my experience that as long as you strive to be more, you will find your heroes, and in the process become one to those around you.
[ Edit 5-19 - Accidentally put Michelangelo instead of Leonardo. Sorry about that]
