Mind lines: lines for changing minds
By L. Michael Hall and Bobby Bodenhamer
Mind lines connect language to things and events that carry meaning. There are seven basic mind-shifting directions and 26 mind line patterns, which reframe reality.
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Robert Dilts identified 18 key reframing patterns in Richard Bandler (learned from Virginia Satir, Fritz Perls, Milton Erickson and Frank Farrelly), and called them "Sleight of Mouth" patterns.
Michael Hall's mind lines model sorts and extends these patterns into seven categories based on his Meta states model.
Language powerfully affects mind and emotional states. Although words are almost totally powerless to change our external reality, they have almost complete power over our internal reality. A tiny idea can start a revolution or trigger depression.
Framing and Reframing
We can change our perceived reality by using the process of framing and reframing. Nothing inherently means anything; it is only our associations.
Bandler and Grinder called the Meta model and Milton model change patterns reframing. Every mental image has both an internal content and format and an external environment or context
- Content -- inside the box. Details of the external behavior and the internal state. How else can I view this? What other perspectives could I use? What are some viewpoints others might use?
- Context -- outside the box. Setting a higher frame on the belief or ideas i.e. Meta stating. Out framing the external behavior or the internal state with some other concept, ideal meaning. In what context would this behavior be useful?
Content reframe changes the meaning of an experience. A context reframe changes the perception of the problem while keeping the meaning
The one who sets the frame governs the experience. Someone or some idea always sets the frame. Awareness of the meaning process gives us control over it.
Conversational reframing
Sleight of mouth patterns are about persuading others and ourselves conversationally. The model, based on the Meta model, persuades by transforming meaning. We also use them to repel ideas and maintain our beliefs
A conversational reframe is a quick way to redirect our brain to a new point of view. It avoids resistance
Beliefs
Beliefs often relate to "shoulds". They are our assumptions about causation and meaning. They confirm our models of the world. Beliefs become organizing frames of reference that allow us to focus on what's important. They are the validated thoughts that encode our sense of reality that get manifested in behavior.
A belief has at least two levels of thoughts
- A set of representations about something
- Thoughts of confirmation and validation about these representations. You can think all kinds of things without believing them. You cannot change a belief merely by changing the submodalities, it needs conviction. Beliefs feel real and act as commands to the nervous system. The "yes" validates the thoughts.
The Mind Line Patterns
De-framing
De-framing enables us to take meaning apart by testing stability. We want to expose the faulty logic and unuseful consequences
- Make it more specific. We create beliefs by generalizing, deleting and distorting. They depend on vagueness. We can use the Meta model to test the reality of the belief or meaning.
- Sequence - examine the logic and structure. If the logic doesn't hold, it messes up the program. We can say this means that, or this causes that.
Content reframing
Here we are changing the meaning inside the box by saying that an event, experience, person or idea is not one thing but another. We call them new names, we redefine them, and we substitute one term for another.
- content reframing - redefine the external behavior - call it a different name
- content reframing - redefine the internal state. What the internal state really means is ... What the internal state really causes is ...
- and 6. Reflexive reframing
Here we are turning either the external behavior or internal state to self or listener. The purpose is to reality test the idea or belief
For example, "saying mean things makes you a bad person". "What a mean thing to say."
Counter framing
Here we are reversing meaning in order to create fresh meanings. How is the whole thing the opposite of what you thought? When a belief becomes a frame of reference, we move through life searching for evidence for it. You can find evidence to support just about anything.
- Counter examples
Here we are reality testing beliefs by examining at what times or places it doesn't occur. "I lack energy". To do what? At what times, according to what standards?
Pre-and post-framing
Here we are learning to play with the concept of time, consequences, intentions and causation.
- Positive prior intention framing
Invite the person to find more effective ways to accomplish the positive intention. By guessing the positive intent of people's behavior, it shifts attention from negative behaviors. - Positive prior cause framing
We are usually skilled in identifying negative things that cause us to do things - blaming and justifying - First outcome framing
Discovering the future consequences of our behavior. This is a more confrontational stance - Outcome of outcome framing
Changing our time frames alters meaning. What will the behavior could cause over time? - Eternity framing
How does the behavior fit in the overall picture of your whole life? How will this look 50 or 100 years from now? The small size of our fear in a larger perspective... Next
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