17/09/2026
“We’re just talking,” until the story escalates.
A teammate interrupts. Your chest tightens. Suddenly you’re not addressing the issue—you’re reenacting the moment you learned arguing meant safety.
When that spiral starts, we use an Erickson-style age regression without numbers:
Tell your teammate, “Right now it makes sense to be ready for the hard conversation… and as you notice that readiness, you can also feel the earlier moment when you first learned that safety is earned by arguing.”
Then add, “Stay with whatever shows up—comfort, calm, or even a blank spot—so your unconscious can pick a new association.”
It’s counter-intuitive, and it works because you’re not fighting the conflict.
You’re changing what it connects to.
Explore the possibilities of NLP—visit NLPcourses.com today.