NLP and
Millenials
NLP and Millenials
Some of the negative perceptions about today’s young adults, known as millennials—thosemeaning of sentence is negative born between 1981 and 1996—are as follows: They’re entitled, shiftless, selfish, hypersensitive to criticism, anxiety , Impatient , Low self-esteem(added) and unable of dealing with real-life challenges. On the other hand, they’re also described as being diversified, honest with their emotions, deeply empathetic, very fast(added) and eager to make significant changes in the environment they’ve evolved into. Although hardly one can agree on much about the millennial age, one thing is sure: they’re stressed. They are depressed up to 17% of the time and anxious 14%. Millennials seek psychotherapy at a higher rate than Generation X or previous generations.
They might require it as well. One of the most common sources of concern for millennials is money. Many of them have difficulty finding work, are still living with their parents, or are concerned about earning enough money to begin their own lives. Unfortunately, young people, today suffer more financial troubles than prior generations of Americans. Almost a third of millennials believe they are in worse shape than they expected to be ten years ago. They, too, are struggling to save money due to the 2008 crisis, mounting student-loan debts, and soaring living costs.
However, millennials’ financial difficulties are only part of the tale. More importantly, these concerns show how worried people are about what’s to come—about making the right decisions now to ensure a secure future. In fact, decision-making may be the primary reason for millennials’ depression and anxiety and their need for psychotherapy. I’ve previously written that many of my millennial customers are confronting significant decisions for the first time that will have long-term ramifications and that they are unsure how to proceed. However, there are various aspects of decision-related anxiety: Some young adults may feel as though they have too many options and that choosing which ones to pursue is difficult. Others suffer from “analysis paralysis,” in which they cannot perceive why one alternative is better than another and are unable to decide at all.
For example, a young individual, at the age of 25, is expected to face most of life’s major decisions in the next 10 to 15 years. People in this situation metaphorically see their lives as a series of chambers, each with its own set of doors. Every time they decide, they walk through one door only to discover that all the others have shut. Then, as they perceive it, they find themselves in a smaller room with fewer doors than the previous one. When they walk through one of these doors, it will also close. In actuality, each door chosen leads to a smaller room until the persons making decisions picture themselves in a long corridor stretching out ahead of them to the edge of vision, with no doors (and no options) to make. When you incorporate the millennials’ realistic financial concerns, such as becoming less successful than their parents or being unable to maintain themselves at their current way of living, this model becomes much more dismal.
However, this may not be the best approach when it comes to deciding with real-world implications. Not every decision is irreversible. Not every door will stay permanently close behind you; not every one of these decision points will be lost forever with its many alternatives. Remember that changing jobs, remarrying, or returning to school if necessary is ordinary and fair. (In their lifetime, the average late-baby-boomer, born between 1957 and 1964, will hold 12 different jobs.) Wherever you can, try to think about your future with as much flexibility as possible. Also, consider that excellent decision-making must be based on one’s true ideas and values, rather than fears, “what-ifs,” or hypotheticals arising from worry. That is why it is critical to have a clear grasp of your own needs to make sound decisions. It will be easier for you to realise when it’s time to go back and try something new if you have a good understanding of yourself (which most of us gain as we get older). Talking to your friends or family about your desires, or finding a good therapist with whom you can share these concerns, can be a valuable source of self-awareness.
When you’re going through a stressful situation, it’s also crucial to remember to be kind to yourself. Before the age of 30, not everyone meets the appropriate life partner, develops an artistic masterpiece, or establishes a successful business. If you’re too hard on yourself, expecting too much of yourself and feeling stuck, consider practising greater self-compassion. Don’t hold your breath for perfection. You have permission to make mistakes. Take particular note of the aspects of your choices over which you have power and those over which you have no influence—and don’t blame yourself if you don’t get everything just right. Instead, when you do make a decision, strive to accept and get comfortable with the act of consciously stepping into the unknown while acknowledging that uncertainty is an inevitable aspect of life. Instead of criticising yourself for not always making the “correct decision,” try to make the best decision you can, utilising all of the knowledge and tools at your disposal—and then live with the result as naturally as possible, knowing that your decision-making process was sound.
What exactly is NLP, and how does it benefit you?
Neuro-linguistic programming (NLP) is a technique for altering someone’s thoughts and actions to assist them in reaching their intended objectives.
Since its inception in the 1970s, neuro-linguistic programming (also known as NLP) has gained worldwide acceptance. Its applications include the treatment of phobias and anxiety disorders and enhancing professional performance and personal well-being, among others.
This essay will examine the theory that underpins NLP and the empirical data supporting its use.
What is NLP?
Perceptual, behavioural, and communicative approaches are used in NLP to make it simpler for individuals to modify their ideas and behaviours.
Natural language processing (NLP) is dependent on language processing. However, it should not be confused with natural language processing (NLP), which has the same acronym.
Affirmative language programming (NLP) was created by Richard Bandler and John Grinder, who felt that it was feasible to detect the patterns of thoughts and actions of successful persons and to teach them to others.
Although there was little scientific data to back it, Bandler and Grinder produced two books, The Structure of Magic I and II, and NLP took off like wildfire. A large portion of its appeal stemmed from its adaptability in dealing with the wide range of challenges that individuals encounter.
How does it work?
Because of the many different interpretations of NLP, it isn’t easy to define. But, according to this theory, humans act based on internal “maps” of the world that they acquire from sensory experiences.
The goal of NLP is to identify and correct an individual’s unconscious biases or restrictions in their map of the world.
NLP is not the same as hypnosis. Instead, it functions via the purposeful use of words to change someone’s beliefs and actions.
In NLP, for example, the concept that a person is biased towards one sensory system, referred to as the preferred representational system (PRS), is a significant aspect of the discipline.
Language is one way in which therapists might identify this predilection. For example, phrases like “I get your point” may indicate the presence of a visual PRS. Alternatively, the phrase “I get your argument” may mean an auditory PRS.
An NLP practitioner will determine a person’s primary resonant system (PRS) and build their therapy framework around that discovery. The framework might include relationship-building, information-gathering, and goal-setting with the participants.
Techniques
NLP is a very vast subject of study and practice. So NLP practitioners use several approaches, including the following, to achieve their goals.
Anchoring
Anchoring is transforming sensory experiences into emotional triggers for specific emotional states.
Rapport
The practitioner tunes into the individual by mirroring their bodily mannerisms to promote communication and reaction via empathy.
Swish pattern
The process of altering patterns of behaviour or cognition to achieve a desired rather than an unwanted consequence.
Visual/kinesthetic dissociation (VKD)
Visual/kinesthetic dissociation (VKD) is a technique for attempting to erase unwanted ideas and sensations linked to a previous incident from one's consciousness.
Self-talk is important
It might be referred to as a mantra or a cue. The basic idea is to come up with a few phrases or a phrase that you will conjure up while performing. For example, a golfer's slogan may be "smooth and flowing," while a pitcher's motto would be "see the target." It might be anything that helps you cut through the noise and concentrate on your thoughts.
Examples
A technique for personal growth, NLP encourages the development of skills such as self-reflection, self-belief, communication, and other interpersonal abilities.
Practitioners have successfully used NLP to accomplish work-related objectives like increased productivity or career advancement, among others.
More broadly, it has been used to treat psychological illnesses such as phobias, depression, generalised anxiety disorders (GAD), and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
Does NLP work?
For various reasons, determining the success of NLP is challenging to assess.
NLP has not been subjected to the same level of scientific rigour as other more established treatments, such as cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) or cognitive restructuring.
Because of the absence of official oversight and the financial potential of NLP, assertions of its efficacy might be based on anecdotal evidence or information provided by an NLP provider. Because NLP suppliers will have a vested financial interest in the success of NLP, it won’t be easy to rely on their findings.
Furthermore, scientific study into NLP has yielded a mixed bag of findings.
Some research has shown that NLP has several advantages. For example, according to a study trusted Source published in the journal Counselling and Psychotherapy Research. These psychotherapy patients who received NLP had better psychiatric symptoms and life quality when compared to those who did not get the treatment.
On the other hand, a review trusted Source of ten available research on NLP published in The British Journal of General Practice found them to be less favourable.
It concluded that there was insufficient data to support the usefulness of NLP in treating health-related issues such as anxiety disorders, weight management, and drug abuse. More than anything, this was owing to the low number and quality of research papers that were accessible, rather than to prove that NLP did not operate as claimed.
An independent reportTrusted Source by the Canadian Agency for Drugs and Technology in Health determined that there was no clinical evidence to support the use of NLP in the treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), generalised anxiety disorder (GAD), or depression in 2014.
However, according to a recent study review released in 2015, NLP treatment positively influenced persons experiencing social or psychological difficulties; however, the authors concluded additional research was required.
As well as being criticised for lacking empirical backing, the theoretical foundation of NLP has also come under fire.
According to research released in 2009, even after three decades, the ideas behind NLP have remained untrustworthy, and the proof for its success was based only on anecdotal data.
A review study published in 2010 attempted to evaluate the research results about the ideas that underpin NLP. Unfortunately, only 18 per cent of the 33 papers included in the review were deemed to support the core assumptions of NLP.
In other words, after more than four decades of existence, neither the usefulness of NLP nor the validity of the ideas has been conclusively established via rigorous study.
It’s also worth mentioning that most of the study has been done in therapeutic settings, with just a few studies looking at the usefulness of NLP in commercial contexts.
It is also challenging to determine how effectively NLP works in practice because of many practical challenges, which adds to the lack of clarity around the topic. For example, it is impossible to directly compare research across the board because of various approaches, procedures, and results.
