Before we embarked on neurological levels for change in NLP, let me do a brief recap of what we have covered in this Beginners’ Guide to NLP. We are at the halfway mark of this series now. In parts 1-5, I have touched on pattern interrupt, anchoring, eye accessing cues and chunking as NLP skills that can help improve lives. If you have missed any of these, it would be really helpful for you to review them again because from here on we are going to be discussing about more complex NLP ideas. Let us start with neurological levels in NLP.
The Six Neurological Levels of NLP
The NLP neurological levels or logical levels were first introduced by anthropologist Gregory Bateson and further developed by NLP Master Trainer, Robert Dilts. It is a very useful tool for understanding human behaviours and change.
The NLP neurological levels consist of six levels as follows:
| Purpose | This is the highest perspective whereby we seek to align our existence and all that we do in life to something that is meaningful. The common question associated here is why are we here? |
| Identity | This refers to the internal knowledge of our own role(s) in life. As a human being, can you see yourself as a unique person with special gifts, characteristics and abilities? |
| Beliefs and Values | These refer to the things we choose to believe and trust in. They also include assumptions that we have about aspects of life that is conscious or unconscious. For example, some people belief that success is only meant for the few lucky ones. |
| Capabilities | These are the actually skills and abilities we currently possess. These can be expanded with training and exposure. |
| Behaviours/ Environment | These are the outward evidences of our actions which are often reactive to the environment we are in. For example, we feel insecure when the economic trends are against us. |
An Example of the Neurological Levels in NLP
In order for us to better understand how we can use neurological levels in NLP, let us look specifically at an example. Let’s assume a client came to you for personal coaching. Let’s say that the client is facing some relationship setbacks.
When you first chatted with your client, you realized that your client is quite sad and depressed. These are outward behaviors, the lowest of neurological levels. These symptoms could be caused by people passing nasty comments about your client. These nasty people are the environment your client is in.
In order for effective intervention at deeper neurological levels, some form of questioning and coaching is needed. If we ask good questions, we can often uncover the capabilities and beliefs of our clients. Maybe, this particular client has trouble managing her emotions. Hence, her capabilities are low. But this can be improved with training. At this point you may introduce emotional coping strategies for her as a stop gap first.
It is more important to explore deeper neurological levels for greatest effectiveness. Try to question to uncover your client’s beliefs and values about relationships. Perhaps after some probing you discovered that she believes that all men are not trustworthy because she had a father who abused and abandoned her family when she was young. Knowing this belief is very powerful. After all, beliefs are only perception and it can be changed.
Explore even more. How does your client see herself as a person in a relationship? Is she someone who is a giver, lover, comforter, selfish lover? When you are able to get to some clues about her identity, it makes the present problems much easier to solve.
Finally, at the deepest level of neurological levels, exploring her purpose in life will anchor her well for all her relationships. When purpose and identity is clear, all forms of relationships will fall into place. Relationships are no longer the end of all things but part of something greater in life.
Checking Your Own Status at Different Neurological Levels
Think of an area of your life. Start to meditate and think through where do you stand at each neurological level? Do this for as many areas of your life as possible. As you do so, you will be able to clarify your beliefs, values, identity and purpose. When you have all your neurological levels aligned, your life will become one of great meaning and joy.
Missed being here Jimmy – I’ve been gone for the holidays and now getting back into the swing of things.
I love what you say: “When you have all your neurological levels aligned, your life will become one of great meaning and joy.”
I truly am a believer of total alignment and the level of joy and peace that you may have. I call it alignment with my Source. A vertical alignment.
In gratitude to your sharing of your knowledge,
Nancy
Nancy Shields recently posted..Establishing Trust: Internet Dating Part IV
Hi My Friend.
Glad to see you back here again. You of all person, should have gotten your alignment all sorted out. You are a true example of purposeful and higher living.
Cheers
Hi Jimmy,
This is a very useful article that helps us to understand the core values and beliefs of a person. It is indeed helpful in managing whatever crisis it is that they happen to be facing at a given time. After all, in any situation, the choices a person makes and the actions they take influence things for better or for worse. Therefore it is imperative to get to the root of the matter to resolve the issue. And the root often lies deep within a person which neurological levels of NLP can uncover.
Few people have aligned all the neurological levels in their lives. This is partly why problems arise. Yet as you rightly point out, everything can be changed. Or we can expand our abilities and learn new skills. It can be a scary process to change core beliefs and values. But if something is no longer working, it might be best to do so.
Thank you for sharing this lovely article! :)
Irving the Vizier
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Hi Irving,
I think one of the biggest problem why people have not gotten to the root of the problem is because the awareness is not there. There is nothing much you can do if you do not know how to navigate your own sources of problem. NLP neurological levels helps increase this awareness.
I believe that I am personally at level 3. I still haven’t found my true identity. And defining your values and beliefs it is not easy at all, I can say.
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Hi Anna,
When it comes to identity, it is helpful to start viewing your identity as some of the roles you play in life. A teacher, a parent, a true friend, a campaigner of causes, a speaker, etc. When you start exploring this way, you will make progress.
Hi Jimmy,
Thanks for continuing writing about NLP as this is a great help to all of us. These levels they do help us with knowing our purpose, what we want to do in life and in short improve the quality of our lives. Thanks for sharing
Dia recently posted..Top excuses for not achieving your goals
Ya Dia,
This series is partly inspired by you. I hope you will find it really helpful in your life.
Really well written post Jimmy as always. What you write is always so easy to read. The model you explained is very useful to keep in mind when working with clients. When working with people who stutter I find the biggest leverage points for change are at the identity and purpose levels.
Hi Hiten,
The higher the level you go, the greater your effectiveness and motivation in life.
I have just downloaded the “Big Book of NLP” as this is an area that I am interested in, I was thinking that the book was a little too advanced for my understanding so I have been googling around the topic and its starting to click a little now. I dont think its the type of thing you can just dive into. The triangle diagram is pretty useful for someone just starting out on this road!
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Hi Krissy,
Welcome to Life Architects.
You are right, NLP is not something that you can just dive into. But the greatest obstacle is having a belief that it is something manipulative. Once you are committed to using NLP skills for a good cause, things will be much easier.
Such a great text! This pyramid-graph reminds me on a drawing which I have seen in a book about socialpsychology, it was the pyramid of Maslow, a famous psychiatrist. If somebody knows these methods and social/psychical background of it, that can help to improve the effectivity of one’s life. Nice post, thanks for sharing it!
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Hi Cindy,
There has been many frameworks or models using triangles. I guess the tapering effects help us to focus a bit more at the top. Hope that you are aligned in your living too.