Mirroring

[Lauxa]

Many years ago, I read in one of Tony Robbins books about a technique called mirroring. The idea is that you mimic the gestures and energy level of the person you are talking to. This creates rapport because they sense that you understand them and are similar to them.

At the time I read this, it seemed like a very manipulative technique and something that I would not want to try. Also, I would have been too attached to my own thoughts and feelings and energy levels to attempt to assume someone else's. Suddenly, however, I am seeing this from a different perspective. If I am NOT attached to my own patterns and if another person would feel better/more comfortable/more fully themselves by my adopting their patterns, then maybe it would be a good thing to do.

However, here is my question. If I am at a "high energy vibration" (to use familiar terms) and the person I am interacting with is at a lower level, then what are the consequences (to me and the other person) of my assuming their energy level? Or maybe I should only come partway down? I know how annoying it can be when I am "down" to interact with someone who is "up", so I think coming down a bit would probably make the other person more comfortable.

If anyone has played with this I want to hear your experiences!

[{aspiring_to_clarity}]

Not sure if you've already read it, but Steve has a blog about this where he describes how to interact with a person at a different level of awareness.

Interpersonal Communication and the Awareness Gap

[robc]

how about maintaining your high energy level and somehow inviting that person to gradually meet you at your level. The thing about feeling great is that it's addictive, promote that feeling somehow and try to get the other person to come up a bit. It's probably not possible all the time but that shouldn't stop you from trying.

Bringing yourself down to match someone's lower & negative energy seems to just add more of the same feeling to the mix and how much positivity can you generate from that.

Sometimes mirroring can also be viewed as inviting someone to assume your positive state, making them feel comfortable enough & secure enough to feel good. It can be hard for negative people to get there but it can be easier if you somehow find a way to lead them to where you are.

[Lauxa]

Thanks, aspiring, that was about what I was looking for. Steve sure is a prolific writer.

[Mags]

I often find that I do this naturally. After I've been chatting to someone for a while, I become aware that I'm matching their body language. Once I become aware of it, that's when it starts to feel "fake", so I just try to forget about it and let my body do its thing

Excellent question that you had... my take on this would be that mirroring someone makes them more comfortable with you and hence more open to not only what you have to say but also to your vibrational frequency. If you are able to sustain your high level of consciousness, then it is more likely that their energy will follow you and their consciousness will be raised.

[Lauxa]

Looks like Erin also blogged about this recently, as a way of increasing empathy:

2. Imitate body language
Many years ago Steve and I went to a Tony Robbins Firewalk seminar. During one portion we had to break into groups of three. I found myself paired up with two men I’d never met. Person A was supposed to think of a time in their lives when they were having a strong emotional reaction. They were then supposed to get into that state again. Person B was supposed to exactly model Person A’s physiology. And Person C was there to make sure that Person A and Person B were a total match down to eyelids twitching or blinking. So in our case, Person A got into a state and I had to model his physiology. One of my legs was jumping up and down, my breathing was fast, and my hands were clawing at my legs. Once Person C said we were a match I was supposed to say what emotion I was feeling. I said, “I feel really nervous right now. In fact, I feel like I’m about to jump out of an airplane.” Person A exclaimed, “Oh my God! That’s the exact memory I was thinking of. The first time I jumped out of an airplane.” Not only did I pick up on his emotion correctly, I knew the exact memory he was having. Total stranger. Picked it right out of his brain, or I should say, his physiology.

So what do you think would happen if you modeled or imitated the physiology of the person you’re talking to? Right! You will understand them better, you may even discover you have telepathy. Modeling the physiology of other people will increase your empathy.

I guess I was worried that there might be some sort of negative effect to purposely lowering my energy level, but so far it looks all positive. Now I just have to remember to try it out.

[{aspiring_to_clarity}]

Originally Posted by Lauxa

I guess I was worried that there might be some sort of negative effect to purposely lowering my energy level, but so far it looks all positive. Now I just have to remember to try it out.

I think if you do it consciously, without getting lost in a lower vibration, then it would be just fine