23. On NLP, the Unconscious Mind and Authentic Writing with Brenda Terry
As soon as I created the How Women Write Podcast, I knew I had to invite today's guest on. Brenda Terry is an NLP Trainer, Master Coach, and Business Mentor dedicated to helping women entrepreneurs break through mental blocks, build confidence, and achieve meaningful success.
Early in my copywriting career, she reached out to me when another copywriter fired her. For freelance writers, this can often be a red flag. Not in this case. We quickly worked to write her entire website, which at first included seven sales pages. We went deep, fast!
While that original website writing has evolved over the years, and Brenda now writes without a copywriter's support, she and I are still connected.
In the past, the easiest thing for her in the world was to have me write everything for her, but then she learned there's something magical and spiritual and beautiful that happens when she’s the one who lets the words out first.
In 2019, we switched roles, and I became her client. I'd experienced what she calls NLP breakthrough coaching. The first order of business: cleaning up negative emotions. She guided me through regular sessions and has truly changed my life for the better.
When I saw she opened up a membership, I was excited to get in there. The "Brenda effect," as some of her clients call it, is real, and I wanted a regular dose.
If you've heard of NLP, that's Neuro-Linguistic Programming, not Natural Language Processing—it’s a tool for upgrading our brain's operating system to support us in reaching our goals. We take what's inside the nervous system and give it an upgrade so that our unconscious mind can get on board with what we consciously desire.
We can use NLP to support our writing habits and the words we write. We do this through focus, language, behavior, beliefs, and expectations.
Of course, we get into some good discussions about generative AI for writing. Our readers and clients want you, and your writing is more than words on a page—it's your soul speaking. Putting in the work of writing and strengthening our writing voices is a gift. When we skip those steps and ask the computer to write it for us (even if we trained it), we're missing out on the growth.
💫 6 Key Takeaways:
Mindfulness can be efficient — there's no need to create a six-hour morning routine before you settle in to write
Your body is always speaking to you—when you listen, you'll get more done
Most people are visual, so when you edit your drafts, incorporate visual words. Following visual systems, people are auditory and kinesthetic. So in our writing, we'll incorporate words that speak to their dominant representational system.
When we say yes to transformation, we're saying yes to the journey more than reaching the goal of what we say we want
Generative AI (aka, ChatGPTing) is inauthentic and ineffective. It's better for your brain to write for yourself. Your readers and clients want you.
If your writing feels too corporate, academic, or jargon-filled, don't try to change it as you write. Simply write how you write, and edit later.
✅ 4 Practices to Try:
Weave mindful moments into the small moments of your day, while lying in bed, waiting for the morning coffee to brew, or while taking a walk
Future Pacing:
In your sales copy, focus on the after state of working with you, more than the problems they’re experiencing (problems are still important to focus on; just keep it more balanced on the positive).
To get past any resistance to writing, try a mantra like Brenda's: "The past is over. It served me well. And that's not who I am anymore."
As you write anything, remember that someone is waiting to hear the exact words you're about to write, and focus on writing with the highest outcome in mind.
🔗 Links:
Timestamps:
00:00 Introduction and Welcome
01:09 A Glimpse into Jacq’s Podcast Journey (a long time in the making!)
02:50 Writing Routines and Inspiration
03:42 Morning Routine and State Management
06:25 Overcoming Physical Challenges
10:40 Understanding NLP
14:52 Applying NLP in Writing
19:50 The Importance of Authenticity in Writing
29:52 Reframing Perspectives for Writers
32:10 The Power of the Butterfly Effect
32:39 Creating for Others & Getting Out of Our Minds
34:55 Overcoming Self-Doubt and Uncertainty
36:58 The Importance of Consistency and Focus
39:47 Mindset and Business Strategy
47:13 Brenda’s New Membership: The Empowered CEO Society
55:18 Personal Insights and Final Thoughts
ABOUT BRENDA TERRY:
Brenda Terry is an NLP Trainer, Master Coach, and Business Mentor dedicated to helping women entrepreneurs break through mental blocks, build confidence, and achieve meaningful success.
With over 30 years of business experience, including growing a 7-figure company, Brenda combines practical NLP techniques and proven strategies to empower her clients to create thriving businesses they love. Through her programs like the Empowered CEO Society, she provides the tools and guidance needed to turn big dreams into reality.
