Have you ever witnessed a kid do something that made you think… “what the hell did they do that for” or “why the hell are they acting that way”?

Or maybe you, like me, wonder what motivates someone to do something. Whether that be positive or negative you question the motive.

The seventh key assumption of NLP gives us some insight in those areas. It says:

There is a positive intention motivating every behavior; and a context in which every behavior has value.

To keep things on the lighter side, but still share a somewhat extreme example, it reminds me of a scene at the end of No Time To Die, the latest and unfortunately last Bond film starring Daniel Craig.

!!! Warning spoilers ahead !!!

In one of the final scenes Bond and the villain Safin come face to face.

I don’t remember the exact line, but as villains do in these types of movies Safinn tells James that the two of them are one in the same. Both assassins try to accomplish their mission and “save the world” in their own way.

Bond, of course, is trying to stop the destruction of the world while Safin is trying to control the population in nefarious ways.

In his own mind, Safin’s behavior does indeed have a positive intent. His map of the world tells him that people want control, they need control, and he’s the one who’s been designated to give it.

But just like a bank robber who uses their genius to figure out ways to outsmart the police, their are contexts where Safin’s thinking could be applied in a positive manner.

Which to be fair is how M started all the trouble in the film in the first place.

If you haven’t seen it, it’s a great film I highly recommend, but the main point here is that all behavior, whether we see it as being good or bad, has been motivated through some type of positive intent in that person's mind.

And, there is a context where that behavior has value.

Just imagine how different the world would be if instead of satisfying their need for entertainment by watching mindless tv, they instead applied that discipline, joy, memorization, and debating with their friends about last night's episode to something like reading a book, debating sales process, or reflecting on various topics.

Just how different the world would be!

Death - Before - Dishonor

To your success,

Nate

​P.S. If you’d like to share your reflections with me, feel free to email me at reflections@mindvaultllc.com as I’ll be happy to hear your thoughts. This email goes directly to me and is reserved only for those who read these Reflections.