Neurological Levels

Neurological Levels

 

Nature will bear the closest inspection. She invites us to lay our eye level with her smallest leaf, and take an insect view of its plain.

                                                             Henry David Thoreau

 

We often think about things on “different Levels”. Robert Dilts has developed a model for personal change, learning and communication that considers the ideas of context, levels of learning and perceptual position. It provides a framework for organising and gathering information, so you can identify the best point to intervene to make any desired change.

This is based on systems theory where there are natural hierarchies or levels of experience. The information in each level is organised and controlled by the one above it. By changing something on an upper level, changes are effected on the lower levels. Changing something at a lower level could, but not necessarily, affect the upper levels.

Dilts’ model looks at the relations and influences of the different parts of our selves and environment.

The following levels seem to be important to consider:

 

Spiritual:

“Spiritual” factors come from our perception of being a part of larger and larger systems surrounding us.

Related to anything else?

 

Vision and Purpose:

Why you are who you are, what you are here for. How you can be fulfilled? Is there more involved than the obvious?

Your contribution to society.

 

Identity:

This answers the question: who am I?
Identity gives you a basic sense of self and expression of core values. Identity has primarily to do with mission. It is the deepest (or highest) level.

Our identity determines our overall vision or purpose (mission).

 

Mission:

Your mission is a statement of what it is that you do.

 

Belief Systems:

This level has to do with the values and beliefs of the individual. It answers the question: why am I doing this?

Beliefs and values are the various ideas we think are true and use as a basis for daily action. Beliefs can be both permissive and limiting.

Values:

Things we see as important to ourselves.

 

Permission & motivation:

Our beliefs and values provide the reinforcement that supports or denies our capabilities (motivation and permission).

Capabilities:

Our capabilities are the groups or sets of behaviours, general skills and strategies that we can use in our life. We use them to guide and give direction to behavioural actions through mental maps, Models path or strategies that generates more specific behaviours.

 

Direction & Choice:

What visions, missions and goals we decide on and what maps, models and strategies we choose to achieve these.

 

Specific Behaviors:

Behaviour is made up of the specific actions or reactions taken within our daily environment.
Regardless of our capabilities, behaviour describes what we actually do. It answers the question: what am I doing?

The Environment:

Environmental factors determine the external ‘givens’ we have to react to.

 

This has to do with the external context in which behaviour occurs and answers the question: when and where does this behaviour occur?  The environment to some degree determines the Opportunities available to us and the & Constraints imposed on us.

Exercise: Link to Word Document Neurological Level Worksheet.