One of my favourite tools in NLP (Neuro-Linguistic-Programming) is what we call “Logical Levels”.It is a pyramid, listing a hierarchy of levels in life.It is very much useful to work on change processes. The basic level of the pyramid is ENVIRONMENT. Above it, there is COMPORTMENT, then CAPABILITIES, above are BELIEFS, then IDENTITY and at the very top is PIRITUALITY, which could be called as well philosophy or highest level of being.The principle of this tool is that to change a situation or anything in your life, the highest you operate the change, the biggest the results will be. If you change something at the very top of the pyramid, it will influence all the levels below like a cascade.

If for example, you’re unhappy where you leave and you just move places, the result will concern only your environment. If the person changes a belief, the result would be much more powerful. He would perhaps not even have to move place. If the person believes that he can’t be happy where he lives, and that he changes it, it can make a huge difference. On the contrary, if he just moves, nothing can prove that he will be happier in the new place. To change comportment, in the same way, you’d better to find a new capability at least, or once again change a belief.

When you work on your identity, with a therapist or an analyst, you will probably change believes, find new capabilities, change some comportments and have a different action on your environment.

If you want to change a belief and you try to do it working on your comportment, you will have to spend so much energy. Imagine that, starting today, you want to see the glass half full and you try and try again to see it half full, you will exhaust yourself, where it would be so easy to do so if you really believe that the glass is not half empty. Climbing one level would make this task so easy.

When you want to change something in your life, ask yourself at which level this belong to and at which level you are going to act to make this change happen

This is not a universal truth but just a useful tool.

To move country, to find a new accommodation is great, as long as you’re conscious of your level of expectation towards this move. We’re bringing our best and worse with us, where ever we go. Never assume that another country will change the entire picture. It will be a different environment with the same problems, difficulties, treasures, strengths. I would hardly recommend fixing problems before to move, to limit disappointment and make a fresh start.

We have the power to make things new, even when we’re living at the same place for tens of years. Who said that we need more new eyes than new landscapes…?

The Logical Levels are just a way to look at situations differently, just another tool to help. After all, there are no good tools if we don’t believe that we can use it and change something.

We have the keys of the secret treasure room, but we just don’t remember where they are.

This entry was posted on Thursday, April 5th, 2007 at 10:24 am and is filed under thought for the day. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Responses are currently closed, but you can trackback from your own site.