Dr. Jakir Hossain Laskar, PhD
Timeline Therapy, appearing in Neuro Linguistic Programming (NLP), enables the stimulation of imagination responsible for the negative emotions and constraints that individuals have by going back to past worrying events. It therefore aids in alleviating mental congestion and unnecessary emotionalization one has over certain events and rewriting them in a way that suits him or her. Let’s look at how this is possible and what the potential benefits are:
- Pinpointing the Cause behind Negative Thoughts
Concept: Many negative feelings such as anger, fear, sadness, shame, and even guilt are formed due to some specific either past or even present events that remain unaddressed. This particular emotion then stays within our subconscious and affects our thinking and actions down the road.
Timeline Therapy’s Role: In essence, the therapy uses life history in reverse order i.e. “timeline” to help one recognize the place of the certain appealing or disturbing insights and images to imagine them differently.
- Going Back to Different Time Periods In the Right Way
Process: In this respect, in Timeline Therapy clients are asked to picture their timeline (past, present and future) and ‘float’ over it. This goes in hand with the three tenants of the therapy which are required to float in the timeline of their life.
Benefit: Viewing this safely as an observer, so to speak, reduces emotions and the sensations of anxiety and other emotion and allows one to gain understanding of the events witnessed.
- Making Difficult Feelings Less Painful
Process: The clients are shown to take a look back into the painful incident and this time search for the positive intention or lesson behind it —the positive or constructive aspects of the traumatic event that helps them embark on the venture of overcoming it.
Illustration: In the event that someone feels anger towards a person who betrayed them in the past, it is possible that Timeline Therapy would encourage someone to view it as a lesson in self-awareness and boundaries rather than being emotionally charged.
- Overturning the Restrictive Beliefs
Understanding: Most of these restrictive beliefs are formed within a person due to negative situations they might have faced in their pasts and in this way constructs a mental image for them of how they see themselves and the world around them.
The Impact of Timeline Therapy: Once the origin is discovered, the technique replaces the restrictive belief with one that is said to be more empowering.
Illustration: “I am not good enough” “ –I can do it’ – I am good enough’ and so on are affirmations that everyone has come across throughout childhood which need to be reinforced again.”
- Distancing Oneself From Old Patterns
Method: These therapeutic techniques clear the unresolved negative energies or sentiments within an individual resulting in stalling the repetitions of biological seasonal cycles such as (Emily Jones from her fears or Sandra Jones from sadness due to her monthly).
Advantage: These troublesome assemblies assist an individual to deal with present day problems with a more logical and calmer temperament.
- This Will be Enough to Move On, A New Timeline is Set
Future Images: After putting behind any limiting beliefs they had and any negative thoughts, they are told to visualize themselves in the future at either middle aged or old aged with a positive and dedicated approach.
Outcome: This ensures that the subconscious is set to foresee accomplishment, assurance and emotional stability thus making it a self-fulfilling prophecy.
Key Benefits of Timeline Therapy in Managing Negative Emotions Affected by an event
Emotional Release: Angular Release offers the individual freedom from experiencing perpetual pain due to anger, sadness or guilt.
Clarity and Insight: This enables an individual to comprehend how the past impacts the present and its behavior.
Empowerment: It empowers the individual by reframing the limiting beliefs into positive ones so that growth and self-esteem development is facilitated.
Improved Relationships: It helps an individual unpack the experiences and feelings that are weighing heavy on their heart that are affecting their interaction levels with other people.
Stress Reduction: When negative thoughts are exchanged with positive, it results in lesser stress levels and calmness of the mind.
Enhanced Decision-Making: When the head is cleared of negative emotions and conflicts, both logic and confidence increase and help make better decisions.
Real-Life Application Example
Imagine someone suffering from performing anxiety who is overly embarrassed after trouble most of the time when told to present. Timeline Therapy does the following:
They locate the target event (eg: acne during high school or class).
They remember that the incident still takes place and try to put themselves in a more positive mindset (e.g. never being late to classes).
They change the thought from “I do not even know what to say in a speech” to “it is going to be effortless for me to talk.”
They give a speech about their imaginary future events in order to encourage the idea.
Conclusion
According to the conclusion regarding Timeline Therapy in NLP, it is evident that it fits well in the emotion regulation strategies of individuals as it enables them to reorganize their past to enhance their present and the future. It promotes emotional stability, soundness and a stronger mental state which allows individuals to be able to live free and happy lives.
