Introduction
A model for noticing where your self-talk is incoherent. Robert Dilts stacked seven levels of self-description, from where you are to who you are for. The point is not to sort statements into buckets. The point is to surface contradictions across the levels, because that is where the leverage is.
Dilts originally called these neurological levels and tied them to brain regions. That claim is not supported by neuroscience. Treat the model as a coaching lens for self-description, not a brain map.
The seven levels
Mission For whom? For what? ▶
Linguistic markers
Example Common mis-classificationCoaching questions
Identity Who am I? ▶
Linguistic markers
Example Common mis-classificationCoaching questions
Values What matters? ▶
Linguistic markers
Example Common mis-classificationCoaching questions
Beliefs Why? What is true? ▶
Linguistic markers
Example Common mis-classificationCoaching questions
Capability How? What can I do? ▶
Linguistic markers
Example Common mis-classificationCoaching questions
Behaviour What do I do? ▶
Linguistic markers
Example Common mis-classificationCoaching questions
Environment Where? When? With whom? ▶
Linguistic markers
Example Common mis-classificationCoaching questions
Directionality rule
The alignment principle
Five pairs to watch (priority order):
Practical tips