Do you know/ remember the ‘logical levels’ of Robert Dilts? These logical levels provide a helpful structure for looking at what’s happening in any individual, group or organization. They define six levels of thinking or situation: Vision, Identity, Beliefs, Capabilities, Behavior and Environment. In personal coaching as well as in business setting, this model is often used as a tool to check whether what you want, think and do aligns with the situation in which you are operating.

But the main point of this model is the fact that each logical level shapes and directs the information of the underlying level. This means that a change at the top will initiate changes at every level below. A change at a lower level can have an effect on the higher levels, but often this is not the case. Even when it is, this effect tends to be superficial.

“You can’t solve a problem at the level where it originated.” – Albert Einstein

In the daily practice, I have noticed time and again that, when approaching change, people often get stuck on the three lowest levels. You are not satisfied with your current job, then you look for another employer. After a while you experience the same discontentment and again decide to look around (Environment); You want to lose weight so badly, so you sign up for the gym, and after a few months you can’t find even the slightest motivation to continue (Behavior); You feel very insecure and got in panic when you have to speak in front of a group of people. You take professional training in public speaking, but you keep feeling insecure and experiencing the same resistance every time a speaking opportunity arises (Skills)….

We are often unaware of the immense influence of the layers of Identity and Beliefs on our lives, let alone the content of these layers. Even when we are made aware of them, we often don’t want to look deeper aand to deal with them. We take much of the information on these layers for granted: “this is just how I am”, “this is how it should be”, “everyone does it”, “there is (therefore) nothing I can do”….

Lasting change can only be achieved from the Identity and Beliefs levels. Once you have discovered who you really are, you can also take some distance. You actually zoom out to recognize all the stories about yourself and to gain insight into your own patterns and limiting beliefs. When you manage to transform those into helping beliefs, changes in your capabilities and/or behavior become so much easier. You can for example learn a new skill because you feel inspired to develop yourself instead of as a means to feel ‘good enough’…

It is absolutely true that change at these levels can be difficult. After all, your identity and beliefs are residing far below the iceberg, deep in your subconscious. According to Dr. Bruce H. Lipton PhD, our subconscious learns through the following ways:

1. through programming:

Programming happens in the first 7 years of your live. Everything that was presented to you as a child through your upbringing, you took as truth and formed the basis for your own identity and beliefs (e.g. I’m a boy and boys don’t cry).

2. through habituation:

Habituation means repeating new actions/ experiences over and over until it becomes a habit. This is the most common and widely used method. The condition for a lasting result is that you have to practice repeating the intended change consistently for at least 21 to 90 days (depending on each individual).

3. through a major emotional shock:

A shock forces you to stop, to step back for a moment and to realize that whatever you were doing is not working, that you need to change. This comes down to insight and motivation. After all, if something doesn’t bother you enough, you’re not motivated enough to change. Here you see many people undergoing a substantial transformation and walking a completely new life/career path after a major event such as burnout, divorce, serious illness, losing of someone very close.

4. using energy psychology:

There are numerous modern modalities worldwide that are proven effective in transforming beliefs and in facilitating lasting change. Some of these modalities are based purely on modern psychology, some have their origins in ancient wisdom, and others use quantum physics principles and technologies.

Personally, I am combining the most effective modalities from all three areas to bring my client the most powerful and sustainable change possible.

Do you want to get insight in what is holding you back? Are you looking for effective and lasting change? Are you ready for a free, happy and wealthy life?