The symbol as a tool for change in life

Symbols are one of the most effective tools that exist to achieve real changes and improvements in life. They can be one more tool in the psychologist's repertoire of resources and also a way of change for anyone.

In this article we will see a way to use them.

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The potential of the symbol in Psychology

The symbol has very specific characteristics. Its etymology (sim-bollein: unite) indicates that is capable of unifying various elements in a very powerful way: emotions, thoughts, culture and image. And all this in a fraction of a second.

It is well known, for example, that the lotus flower symbolizes, among other things, overcoming, since it is a beautiful flower that arises from the mud.

Throughout history thousands of symbols have been used for various purposes, such as metaphors from the Bible or flags as patriotic symbols.

The use of the symbol is constantly evolving. And much more now that our society is eminently visual.

But in this article we are going to focus on those that serve for improvement and personal change. To do this, we will take a step beyond methods such as the elaboration of metaphors of NLP or the use of Jungian archetypes.

And the first thing we have to do is set the goal: we are going to develop an appropriate technique for both therapists and users, that can be used both in the consultation and in one's life effectively.

And the first thing we have to learn is to represent symbols with the five senses.

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The representation of symbols

What we normally call visualization is actually an active use of the imagination with the five senses.. So under ideal conditions, I usually do brief training with clients to develop this skill. This training is usually playful and fun, set in the form of games and challenges.

A second step is discover and use meaningful life fields for each person: it is not the same to work with a "Star Wars" fanatic person than to do it with a craftsman, a very religious person or a computer programmer.

The references are important, and the symbols must be adapted to the clients and not the other way around. Above all, the symbols have to be meaningful to the person.

Another very important skill to be able to work with symbols is the knowing how to play with tension and states of consciousness or mental waves.

It is important for the person to learn a relaxation method that allows their tension level to be manageable. Here the different breathing techniques are especially effective, achieving immediate results.

Then, the person can learn an induction technique that adapts to his way of being, in order to reach a state in which the use of the symbol reaches its maximum effectiveness.

Although the previous paragraph sounds a bit strange, the modification of the states of consciousness and the types of brain waves are widely supported by science.

Keep in mind that once a person learns an induction technique and practices, they can reach the desired state in a matter of a few minutes, without losing attention or consciousness in any moment.

Finally, it must be taken into account that a symbol is something that evolves and changes as the person changes.

Example

Let's look at an example from real life, which I tell after asking the protagonist for permission to do so.

A young man, a bird lover, feels neglected and despised by a dominant mother and a family that imprisons him and does not allow him to evolve.

After learning to relax and visualize, the image that is chosen is an eagle: in this case, it is an eagle full of parasites in a dirty little cage.

Through the work of visualization, the eagle leaves the cage and little by little, it is cleaned. Progressively, he spreads his wings and begins to fly.

The process that I have described in the previous paragraph took more than a month, in which the visualization was accompanied by conversations in which the client was discussed about the concrete steps that he could take in his life.

Little by little, the image of the eagle was changing, strengthening and gaining in nuances. Today, the client has become emotionally independent from his family and works in the world of birds. He often comments that on bad days, just visualizing the eagle is enough to improve his spirits.

But let's remember that the ultimate goal is for each client to acquire the skills to be able to use this tool on their own.

Learning to use the potential of symbols

If we think about it, we are continually using symbols and images that affect us. In reality, the whole world around us is a set of symbols that have an impact on us. The challenge is learning how to use this powerful tool effectively for our improvement and evolution.

If everything we have read throughout the article is well programmed, the whole process can be made fun and effective, without ever losing in view that what we intend as a final objective is that it be a self-manageable tool: that the person does not depend on anyone to be able use it.