It’s all in the eyes - Eye Accessing cues

Figuratively, the ‘eyes are the windows to the soul’. Anatomically, the ‘eyes are the window to the brains’ but today, ‘the eyes are the windows to the thoughts’. There are times that we hear the saying, ‘your eyes gave you away’. This is not just some romantic movie line, it also has a scientific backdrop.

NLP makes use of eye accessing cues. There are certain mental processes that are associated with eye movements. These eye accessing cues gives an insight as to what a person may generally be thinking. Thus, there is a general trend that is associated with certain thoughts; however, this is not taken as universal. At the same time, these cues are according only to Western studies, and are yet to expand to universal status.

Here is some particular eye accessing cues. There are several representational systems that are also associated in analyzing eye accessing cues, these representational systems are visual, auditory (both tonal and digital) and kinesthetic. In some cases, the olfactory and gustatory are also in play. These are important elements to have a successful assessment of eye accessing cues.
While analyzing eye accessing cues, it sums up with the representational systems. Say, a person asked about a particular visual detail would either left or right, but is most usually in upwards direction. A level eye movement, whether left or right, would indicate an auditory system. Eye accessing cues that go downwards left is more of an auditory digital system. This is identified with having an internal conversation or conflict. While downwards direction which goes to the right is more identified with kinesthetic.

The kinesthetic is more identified with grasping concepts. In some cases, the eye accessing cues would reveal that flicker to the left is more on remembering certain pictures, while upwards direction with a right flicker would entail constructing a picture. There are also observable movements which are associated with smell and taste. Thus, the more common notion of lying if the eye goes upward direction to the left.

Take for example, if asked for a description of Christmas. An upward direction, whether left or right, would give a visual description like snow or Santa Clause. If there is a level eye movement, then there is bound to have an auditory related response like Holiday carols or Santa’s laugh. If there is a downward eye direction going to the left, then there is probably a solemn experience, say a marriage proposal during Christmas vacation, that is reflected upon by the person. Other eye accessing cues is when there is a downward then right flicker, which would probably have a response that would tell about the feel of the surroundings.

Eye accessing cues reveal some of the mental processes. Then, NLP would gain from this process. This matching of the eye movement to what people are supposed to be thinking is called calibration. Eye accessing cues can actually be learned and eventually, with much practice, people would be able to tell what a person thinks with the use of their eye movements.

The NLP Ecology and Congruence

NLP or Neuro-linguistic programming is more commonly known as self-improvement methods associated with psychology and psychotherapy. In the same manner, this method is thoroughly used for goal setting and ultimately guiding towards the achievement of such goals. There are several methods associated with NLP. However, ecology and congruence is the next step most commonly used.

Congruence is more similar to the goals setting background. This encourages the value of having alignment and matching. This covers the eye cues that should match the behavior on the perceived ‘normal’ behavior. Congruence also needs to be one of the initial steps of NLP because it makes goal setting possible.

Ecology, on the other hand, is more commonly on the receiving end of NLP. After the NLP sessions, is the method effective? Does the ecology of the person allow the changes?

Ecology and congruence is influenced by the presuppositions and how well these goals are accepted and supported. This, in turn, is more commonly guided through presuppositions which, ideally should control the use of NLP. It is encouraged that these methods are used for the betterment of everyone concerned. The presuppositions are in form of questions that encourage a more positive outlook regarding self as well the situation of a person. Furthermore, these are motivational aspects that are related to uplift of a person’s well- being. However, it also deals with a responsible use of NLP.

In such cases, this is where NLP is encouraged to be used by and for adults. A child or a teen that is at the receiving end of NLP has more risks than adults. But then, it is far more dangerous if the same child or teen would be the one to administer the same procedure. These risks are focused on the cognitive and emotional immaturity of a minor person.

The alignment of the changes that one person is aiming for should be tailor fitted into his current surroundings. Changes that are lifestyle –related may have to be assessed as a whole including the surroundings. Now, if the surrounding poses a threat as to the person not being able to achieve the required change or no being able to continue, then the person should reconsider whether he or she should change his or her surroundings.

For example, a person trying to lose weight would find it harder to lose weight with the people who mocks his or her efforts and does not thoroughly support, or worse purposely impedes his or her goals. Now, if the person would align his or her goals with the proper surroundings, then there would probably change of people around him or her as well as a change in the whole lifestyle.

Therefore, ecology and congruence works hand in hand to create the change that the person aims and that these changes should be aligned with the ecology of the person. In such a task, the person should be able to face the changes required of him or her including his or her way of living.

The bird’s eye view of NLP Formats

NLP or Neuro-linguistic programming is often associated with hypnosis. At a glance, the two actually coincides. But there is more to NLP than the hypnosis process. NLP, which is officially termed in the late 70s, has gone a long way and has developed several strategies and helpful tools. These tools and strategies have some common steps that are better associated with NLP as a whole and in general than specific. However, the specific methods or techniques also share some of these general formats.

There are several techniques and tools that have developed over time. To mention some more popular ones; there is the Swish technique, the reframing method, the emprint method, ecology and congruency method, preferred representational system and the eye accessing cues. At the same time, these techniques and tools are made from an NLP model that has four considerable steps.

One, goal setting. Goal setting is done when the person decides what they want apart from what they are at the current state. This is also done using different techniques and some with the aid of the tools. For example, in swish technique, the goal is pictured out in the mind of the person, while in the emprint method, the goal is anticipated or hoped. Goal setting is an essential step for NLP because it provides the purpose of entering in the process.

Two, take action. The action is then put into play. Now, in the techniques, say in the swish method, the current state or the stimulus (depending on the case) and the goal are switched mentally until the person is conditioned to think of the goal as a response to the current state or stimulus. Furthermore, in the emprint method, the actions are anticipated or hoped which would leads to the third general step of the NLP model.

Three, the outcome is then ‘assessed’. This is where the outcome is verified. Were the actions able to achieve the goal? In an emprint method, the possible outcome is when the person anticipates the event or the future that he or she is hoping or hopes positively on an anticipated failure. This is also evident on the ecology and congruency method, wherein the actions taken are assessed according to its fit to the person’s environment.

Four, the action is then changed until it is fitted according to how the person wants. Thus, this is evident in the swish technique. Strong association of the mental picture needs to be reinforced in order to form an automatic response to the current state. If there is no strong correlation between the pictures, then the swish method has a tendency to fail. Furthermore, on ecology and congruency method, if the action is not appropriate to the environment, it is then re-processed until they arrive at the best option.

On a bird’s eye view, Neuro-linguistic programming developed techniques that work on different scales to cater to different circumstances of the persons as well as their required change. Nevertheless, these four steps is a general format of NLP.