Robert Dilts’ Logical Levels Pyramid
Robert Dilts is a psychologist who developed the field of NLP (Neuro-Linguistic Programming). After studying with the founders Richard Bandler, John Grinder, Milton Erickson, and Gregory Bateson, he was deeply inspired by the idea and applied his belief in the possibilities of NLP to areas such as education, creativity, leadership, and health. Dilts’ personal contribution was the development of the Logical Levels Pyramid—a model for changing thinking strategies and belief systems, which is the focus of this article.
The core idea of the Pyramid is that people perceive and analyze the same information differently. The way they do this directly affects their successes and failures. The model helps you identify situations that have a direct impact on your life, recognize mistakes, and understand where to go next.
The Dilts Pyramid is a practical method, so it’s best to take a sheet of paper and, as you move through the levels, write down your thoughts and answers to the questions that come up during self-analysis.
Level One – Environment
- “What do I have?”
- “Who am I with?”
- “Where am I?”
- “Where do I want to be?”
When working with this level of your life, you need to honestly look at what you have in the present (and, more importantly, what you don’t have but would like to). This includes your material situation, relationships, and the reality around you.
Level Two – Behavior
- “What am I doing?”
- “What should I do next?”
The levels in the pyramid are connected, and the question “What am I doing?” can help you understand how your environment (the first level) has come to be. The reasons for what you have often lie in the actions you take, while other actions may be lacking due to insufficient resources, discipline, or desire.
Level Three – Capabilities
- “How do I do this and thanks to what?”
- “What am I capable of?”
- “What opportunities do I have?”
At the previous level, you clarified what actions you take to have what you have. Now, it’s important to clarify what you can do to get what you currently lack but want. At this level, answer questions about how you perform actions and what helps you. Self-analysis here should focus on finding ways that can lead you to your desired goal. Everyone has a set of tools that has brought them to where they are now, both in terms of achievements and shortcomings. Can you do something differently? How could you do it differently?
Level Four – Beliefs and Values
- “Why is this so important to me?”
- “What do I believe in?”
- “How does this affect me?”
At this level, you answer questions like “How did I realize this is important to me?” and “Why do I need this?” It’s important to look at your beliefs from the outside and try to assess whether they are just patterns or blindly copied from others. Try to discover new meanings and perspectives on your situation.
Level Five – Identity
- “Who am I?”
At this level, you need to answer the question about your understanding and vision of yourself. Try to evaluate your current self. Don’t just list only your strengths or only your weaknesses. Describe yourself from different angles: professionally, personally, and creatively. Write down your strengths and weaknesses—working on them helps you grow.
Level Six – Mission
- “Why am I doing this?”
- “What is it all for?”
Define the meaning behind your actions. This level is often challenging because people think their purpose must be something grand. But that’s not always the case. You’re not living your life in vain—everyone is important and needed. Many meanings are underestimated in our minds, while others are overestimated. This level is considered spiritual.