The Four Requisites for Change
Why Order Matters
If you’ve ever tried to make a change in your life—whether it’s starting a business, improving your health, or developing a new habit—you know it’s not always easy. Sometimes, no matter how hard you try, it feels like something is working against you.
That “something” is often your unconscious programming—the beliefs, values, and mental strategies running in the background of your mind. If your inner programming isn’t set up to support what you want to do, making progress can feel like trying to run the latest software on an outdated operating system.
A Helpful Way to Think About Change
A helpful way to think about change is to compare our mind to a computer system. It’s not a perfect comparison, and it highlights something important about how our unconscious programming affects our results.
✅ Our brain is like adaptable hardware—it can rewire itself over time, and the right programming can make creating change easier.
✅ Our unconscious programming acts like an operating system, shaping how we process information and respond to challenges.
✅ Our habits and strategies are like programs—some run smoothly, while others create errors and conflicts.
Computers install new operating systems instantly. Humans don’t. Updating a human operating system is more like rewriting code gradually rather than installing a new version overnight. Unlike a computer, we don’t just download a new operating system instantly. We do have techniques that can speed up this process. (MER® is a quicker process than most people are used to.)
A computer usually can’t run conflicting software at the same time. Humans do this all the time (e.g., someone believes in success consciously and fears failure unconsciously). A useful way to explain this:
“Sometimes, we try to run two programs at once—one telling us we want success and another (hidden in the background) telling us we don’t deserve it. The stronger program wins.”
This is why the order in which we make changes matters.
The Four Requisites for Change
To create lasting change, follow a process that works with your unconscious programming instead of against it. When you follow these four steps in order, transformation happens more naturally:
1. Release Work: Clearing Out What’s Holding You Back
This means letting go of limiting beliefs, negative emotional baggage, and unhelpful strategies that keep you stuck in life.
To be more specific, as an NLP coach, when I talk about release work, I’m referring to specific techniques designed to clear mental and emotional baggage at the unconscious level. This isn’t just about venting to a friend or writing down your problems and burning the paper. While those things might feel good in the moment, I am referring to release work that removes the deeper patterns that keep negative thoughts and emotions repeating.
Imagine trying to build confidence while still carrying past failures in the back of your mind. No matter how much you tell yourself, “I can do this,” your unconscious programming might say, “That’s not true.”
If you skip this step, your old programming will keep interfering, no matter how much effort you put in.
Release work helps you remove those mental roadblocks, making room for new, empowering beliefs.
2. Create a Compelling Future: Giving Your Mind Direction
Once you clear the old, it’s time to define where you’re going. This step is about creating a clear and motivating vision for your future.
Why is this important? Because the mind works better when it has a destination. If you don’t know where you’re going, it’s easy to get lost in distractions, self-doubt, or old patterns.
Think of it like setting a GPS. You’ll wander aimlessly if you don’t enter a specific destination. Your compelling future becomes your guide, keeping you motivated and moving forward.
3. Take Action: Running the New Program
Now that you’ve set up your unconscious so that it aligns with what you want, it’s time to take action. This is where most people want to start. Without the first two steps, action alone can feel frustrating and ineffective.
Think of it like trying to run an advanced program on an old, outdated system. Even if the program is designed well, it won’t work efficiently unless the operating system can support it.
Action works best when:
✅ You’ve cleared limiting beliefs that could sabotage you.
✅ You have a clear vision pulling you forward.
✅ Your new programming aligns with what you want to do.
Once everything is set up correctly, action feels more natural and productive instead of exhausting and discouraging.
4. Maintain Focus: Keeping Your System Running Smoothly
Even the best systems need maintenance. Over time, distractions, doubts, and challenges can creep in. That’s why focusing on what you want is critical for long-term success.
Think of this like regular software updates. These are minor adjustments that keep things running smoothly. If you lose focus, old habits and patterns might start creeping back in.
Maintaining focus ensures that:
✅ Your actions stay aligned with your vision.
✅ You keep improving and refining your approach.
✅ You don’t slip back into old, limiting patterns.
Why Order Matters
Many people try to jump straight to taking action without doing the first two steps. They push forward, using willpower alone, only to get frustrated when they don’t see results.
Others might focus on creating a vision and then struggle to take action because they haven’t released the limiting beliefs holding them back.
When you follow this order, each step builds on the last:
1️⃣ Clear the old programming so you can move forward freely.
2️⃣ Define where you’re going so you stay motivated.
3️⃣ Take action with the right mindset.
4️⃣ Keep your focus so you stay on course.
This makes change feel more manageable, more natural, and more sustainable.
Final Thoughts
If change feels more challenging than it should be, you might be trying to run the right program on the wrong operating system. By following the Four Requisites for Change in order, you set yourself up for success—making it easier to create the life and results you want.
Enjoyed this post? Like, share, or leave a comment below!
If you’d like to support this work, click the “Support My Work” button. Your support helps make this content available to more people.