Dr. Wesley Morris
Avia Ustanny, Freelance Eriter
DR. WESLEY MORRIS, scientist turned Neuro Linguistic practitioner, has mastered the art of patience.
We are in an Neuro linguistic programming (NLP) session in his home office, and whenever I open my eyes, his eyes are alert, watchful and waiting. Again and again he repeats the phrase, "return to position three, but only as quickly as you want to not before you are ready."
With Dr. Morris, Outlook recently explored the alternative therapy which is gaining popularity locally as a method of personal transformation. A Biochemist by training, the scientist has abandoned scientific research for the quest to create positive change in the lives of others.
He told Outlook, "I was always sceptical about some of the scientific research done. Most people know that smoking leads to cancer and that drinking leads to changes in mental function and yet there is still a whole body of research being conducted."
Wesley Morris was born in Mt. Charles, St Andrew, Jamaica and left Jamaica 1964 to join his parents in England. He received his secondary and university education in the UK and, after 38 years abroad, recently returned to live and work in Jamaica.
Questions which had nothing to do with scientific equations led to his execution of a 180 degree shift in career direction. Now he has returned to 'make a contribution', "such that it will positively affect the whole being of the entire society."
Is this too ambitious? Is it even possible?
Today, blinking behind his metal-rimmed glasses, he quietly asserts that he has found a means of possibly eliminating the senseless violence in our society, and to increase productivity.
Converted from science to NLP (He worked in scientific research for 12 years, having gained his PhD in Biochemistry in 1982) Dr. Morris comments today that "really the issue is not research, the issue is people and how they think. How do I empower people to live healthy, balanced and complete lives?" is the question whose answer he thinks he has found.
The biochemist says that the transformative process facilitated by NLP is what he really loves. Before this, he could not say that he had any passion for his chosen career.
He remembers, "while doing my Bachelor's degree in university, I remember a Japanese girl doing Maths at dinner while we ate. One day, she suddenly shouted out 'I've got it!' She was working on a math problem to which she had finally found a solution. I thought that that was really amazing. I was not like that. I was doing things like history and philosophy in my spare time not science. It is now reasonable that I am doing what I am doing helping people to transform their lives with true knowledge of themselves."
Reading widely in politics, sociology, psychology and spiritual literature in his free time, he came to the conclusion that empowerment, now, was more valuable than the results to be achieved in science laboratories. When, in his readings, he came across the phenomenon of NLP, he was hooked.
Dr. Morris soon started spending his spare time coaching friends in a very casual way. One woman whom he coached while she did her Master's in education, achieved a distinction in her programme, after starting out with a lot of stress and self-doubt.
Her victory was his as well. A career in mentoring seemed more and more possible. The scientist completed a Master's of Business Administration at the Manchester Business School and then a programme on Mentoring People in Business. He recalls, "I got all the distinctions in business I could." Where NLP was concerned, he also did a number of courses on himself, transforming his own life. Now he is qualified as a NLP facilitator at the Master's level.
Extensive training in the field of personal and group transformation lead to his current career as a professional Transformational Coach and Change Management Consultant. He now has over seven years experience in bringing transformation to individuals and to organisations.
What is Neuro Linguistic programming?
Dr. Morris pauses to reflect that NLP aims to remove negative emotions and limiting beliefs.
NLP as a theory was developed in the early 1970s by Richard Bandler and John Grinder, who studied models of how individuals structure their experiences. The theory of change is based on the premise that all behaviour stems from our neurological processes of the five senses (neuro) and that language orders our thoughts and behaviour when communicating with others (linguistic).
We can choose to recognise our ideas and actions to produce results (programming). Bandler and Grinder established the process known as 'modelling' which is based on the concept that if one person can accomplish something skilfully, such skill can be learned by others. NLP is said to have effected change in business and consultancy, training and education, health, sport, and therapy. Transformational Coaching is said to be a highly effective and rapid means of releasing the hidden potential helping to reach goals and objectives more quickly than traditionally thought possible.
Dr. Morris comments, "Science is good, but there are other ways to move things along at a quicker pace in society."
Since returning to Jamaica on December 16, 2001, the transformational coach has been employed as a consultant at Jamaica Money Market Brokers. According to him, there he experienced " excellent results facilitated by the mission statement a vision of love of the organisation."
"In the systems department, the manager was really stressed, pulling his hair out. I asked him for three hours of his time. He said that if he had three hours he would not be pulling his hair out. When I offered to pay him for his time, he saw that I was serious."
With this JMMB manager, he recalls, "we spoke about what he wanted for himself his goals, both personal and administrative. What's preventing these from coming into being? What are the values that you need to live by?"
He reflects, "It may sound oversimplified but it is a process that really brought results. NLP is not about telling you how to do your work. It helps you to get to the next level. Most of us know what we want but cannot figure out how to get there.
"The limiting beliefs that people have include the beliefs that they did not go to the right school, that others can do what you can't. What I do is to get rid of the fears, anger, guilt and sadness. Imagine what you would be without the negative baggage. Some people have self-esteem issues that prevent them from focusing. When this is removed they are in a much better position to set their goals. They see all of the possibilities, suddenly.
"If you have a family that matters to you, but you are not getting enough time to be with them, then you need to have a more balanced life. NLP may assist you to become less concerned about trying to make it at the corporate level. Life becomes more fun, you achieve more and experience more productivity."
One can use the collective wisdom of the organisation to learn what's preventing the achievement of corporate goals, Dr. Morris also observes. The views of everyone together, paint a picture and then the outline of what is necessary to be done can be seen. The decision can then be taken as to what can each do to achieve these. Often, it's quite simple. It may be may be as simple as getting to meetings on time or being more supportive of each other.
NLP, he claims, has also been effective in increasing income and well-being. "One consultant with whom I worked quadrupled his income in three years. At the same time, he is now able to take ninety-minute lunch breaks and finds time to wander in the park and meet with friends during the day. He also started working for himself.
"NLP works out the principle that we all each have a calling, something we can enjoy doing. Working becomes play. If we find what we are talented at and do it, we will create so much more joy in our lives and the lives of others. I always try to tap into what people really love. So instead of struggling to be productive, they produce with fun and ease."
The scientist turned counsellor has found a career he loves. "Now, I think about their ( his clients') issues not only when I am working. It is something that consumes me until the problem is resolved. My reward is when they have found it, owned it and start moving with the velocity of this power. My aim is transformation."
Dr. Morris has worked with Manchester Business School to assist a variety of small and medium sized organisations diversify and expand their activities. He has worked with the senior management team of a number of organisations in the UK, assisting them to be aligned behind the vision of their organisation, and to address the organisations strategic development and corporate culture. Dr Morris has just completed a six-month assignment as a Human Resource Development Consultant at Jamaica Money Market Brokers Limited. He currently works as an independent Business and Life Coach assisting his clients in Jamaica, the UK and the United States achieve extraordinary results through individual coaching and group work.
He claims the NLP will greatly increase one's power to delegate to others, which means creating more time to do things that are personally important.
