Summary of Submodalities Going Meta
by L. Michael Hall, Bobby Bodenhamer
Both excellence and the prevention of excellence have structure. We think by representing sights, sounds, sensations as snapshots and movies. We can also edit these to change our states, moods and attitudes.
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The difference between genius and others lays in the distinctions they are able to make (submodalities) and their higher-level frames and patterns.
Coding trauma
If an experience still traumatizes us, it is because we have coded it as though it is still happening. Particular features of the movie such as closeness and bright color have come to mean it is still happening and it is a threat. By understanding our personal meanings for our codings, we then have the power to alter how we have coded events.
Dr Hall's work has found some of the early applications of NLP submodality patterns were not effective. For instance, beliefs, understandings and values typically do not shift with submodality alterations. We need to attend to the frames and meanings of the submodality changes also.
Backgrounding and foregrounding
What is in the foreground of your mind as opposed to the background sets your organizing frame. Foregrounding representations of limitation difficulty and inadequacy can consistently undermine effectiveness.
We can make useful life changes by altering what we typically put in the background. For instance, many people typically foreground their problems. They believe that by focusing on the causes and details of their problems, they will solve them. By shifting to a solution orientation - what do I want, what resources do I need, effectiveness can be markedly improved.
Negating - making things go away
Sometimes we need to eliminate the things that sabotage us. We typically try to stop bad habits and programs by suppressing them, using willpower. This is rarely effective and needs constant vigilance.
Western society has almost outlawed "Negative thinking". Yet peak performance often comes about through mismatching - paying attention to what others do not notice.
We all have ways of validating and denying. In doubting, we shift back and forth from one belief to another. Many times, we hear a negation and frame it as being controlled or put down.
Beliefs
Beliefs have the power to command our nervous systems. They are energized thought we use to navigate the territory. In believing, we generalize from events. They summarize our experiences and understandings.
- Beliefs about self - skills, values, dignity
- beliefs about others - what makes them tick, what they want, how to relate to them
- beliefs about work, play, activities, the world, time, the past, the future, causation, personality, emotions, destiny and health
We can learn and even know things without believing them. Over time, repetition and consistency creates a sense of familiarity that leads to confirmation.
Once we install a belief, it filters what we see and becomes a way of organizing us - "I am the kind of person who"
Transforming limiting beliefs
Disbelief and doubt come from questioning. To make a belief less powerful we can undermine its foundation by questioning. Conversely, we often create self-doubt by questioning our behaviors and attitudes.
The belief change process - maps from unsure to doubt to disbelief.
Linguistic belief change pattern
- Write the new belief in effective compelling language
- Speak the new belief from a meta position, by future pacing
- Repeat daily for 30 days
We can also change other people's beliefs conversationally with metaphors and reframing, especially the sleight of mouth patterns.
Conviction comes from believing in our beliefs and can become fundamentalism. This can cut off feedback and the ability to update. We need to test all beliefs against reality, usefulness and balance... Next 
