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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link=blue vlink=purple><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal><b><font size=3><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-weight:bold'>From: L. Michael Hall<o:p></o:p></span></font></b></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><font size=3 face=Calibri><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-weight:bold'>2026 Neurons #7<o:p></o:p></span></font></b></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><font size=3 face=Calibri><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-weight:bold'>February 16, 2026</span></font></b><font size=3><span style='font-size:12.0pt'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p><p class=MsoNormal><i><font size=3 face=Calibri><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-style:italic'>Problem Solving Expertise #9</span></font></i><font size=3><span style='font-size:12.0pt'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p><p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face=Calibri><span style='font-size:12.0pt'> <o:p></o:p></span></font></p><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><b><font size=5 face=Calibri><span style='font-size:20.0pt;font-weight:bold'>THREE META-LEVELS<o:p></o:p></span></font></b></p><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><b><font size=5 face=Calibri><span style='font-size:20.0pt;font-weight:bold'>OF PROBLEM-SOLVING<o:p></o:p></span></font></b></p><p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face=Calibri><span style='font-size:12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p><p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face=Calibri><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>Once you are ready to begin <i><span style='font-style:italic'>a meta probe into the meta-levels of the mind—</span></i>you begin the journey to where<i><span style='font-style:italic'> </span></i>we create meaning and where we create problems (Neurons 2026 #7). For problem-solving expertise, we use a problem-solving principle, namely, that <i><span style='font-style:italic'>problems are always generated by some kind of erroneous thinking. </span></i>The particular erroneous thinking may be simple or complex. This leads to the three categories of meta-levels wherein we create problems in our mind with ever-increasing complexity of meanings.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p><p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face=Calibri><span style='font-size:12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><i><font size=3 face=Calibri><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-weight:bold;font-style:italic'>1<sup>st</sup> Level: Direct Thinking (Representing a mental movie and editing it)</span></font></i></b><font size=3><span style='font-size:12.0pt'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><font size=3 face=Calibri><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>We create some problems by mis-representing things or by editing them in such a way that we create all sorts of distortions. By learning to rapidly detect first level problems, you can also quickly solve them. Here when you change the code (i.e., edit) you can sometimes create immediate change. This is the magic of altering representations and their cinematic features (alias, sub-modalities) (<i><span style='font-style:italic'>Sub-Modalities Going Meta</span></i> is an entire book on this subject).<o:p></o:p></span></font></p><p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face=Calibri><span style='font-size:12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><font size=3 face=Calibri><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>Here also sometimes we have simply mis-applied a perfectly legitimate way of thinking so that in another context, one where it doesn’t work, it creates mental and emotional blocks. Probably the most common example is coding a negative representation or simulation <i><span style='font-style:italic'>associatedly</span></i>. When you step into that movie, you find yourself locked into the pain and suffering of that scenario. Solution? Step out, <i><span style='font-style:italic'>un-associate </span></i>from that movie, step into another state (e.g., observing, learning, curiosity, etc.).<o:p></o:p></span></font></p><p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face=Calibri><span style='font-size:12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><font size=3 face=Calibri><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>Here also are some simple linguistic meanings that delete, generalize, and/or distort. The Meta-Model linguistic distinctions of <i><span style='font-style:italic'>cause-effect, complex equivalence, identity, metaphor, </span></i>etc. create problems on this level. “He drives me crazy.” “When she rolls her eyes that means she’s mocking me.<i><span style='font-style:italic'>” Solution: </span></i>Intentionally re-edit your movie, ask the precision questions of the Meta-Model for each of the linguistic distinctions to reframe the meaning.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p><p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face=Calibri><span style='font-size:12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><i><font size=3 face=Calibri><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-weight:bold;font-style:italic'>2<sup>nd</sup> Level: Layered Thinking (meta-level meanings about the first level)</span></font></i></b><font size=3><span style='font-size:12.0pt'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><font size=3 face=Calibri><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>Moving to the second level means <i><span style='font-style:italic'>going meta to your experience </span></i>(e.g., meta-stating) so that in thinking-about-your-thinking you generate all of the sorts of ‘beliefs’ in your Meta Place. Because every second-thought implies an acceptance of the first thought as real or true, <i><span style='font-style:italic'>then structurally it is a belief</span></i>—a reality-defining construct. It may take the form of a belief, a value, decision, intention, identity, memory, anticipation, permission, etc. Now we have a more complex problem construct.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><font size=3 face=Calibri><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>When this happens several times, <i><span style='font-style:italic'>the layering sets up gestalt states and gestalt problems. </span></i> These are states or problems which are more than, and different from, the sum of the parts. Now we have new inexplicable problem gestalts. It may result in double-binds, paradoxes, ‘personality’ disorders, and all sorts of pathological states. These problems are more complex than level one problems and do not immediately disappear with re-editing or reframing.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p><p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face=Calibri><span style='font-size:12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><i><font size=3 face=Calibri><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-style:italic'>Solution:</span></font></i><font size=3><span style='font-size:12.0pt'> Unpack the layers, model both the horizontal and vertical strategies, and/or revisit the original event to remap it (e.g., change personal history, decision destroyer, movie rewind). When you first learn problem-solving at this level, anticipate devoting an hour. When you eventually develop expertise in problem-solving, you can reduce the time perhaps 15 to 20 minutes. This is usually the purview of coaching.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p><p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face=Calibri><span style='font-size:12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><i><font size=3 face=Calibri><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-weight:bold;font-style:italic'>3<sup>rd</sup> Level: Assumptive Thinking (presuppositional, unconscious meanings)</span></font></i></b><font size=3><span style='font-size:12.0pt'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><font size=3 face=Calibri><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>While eliciting 2<sup>nd</sup> level problem meanings can be challenging, they are typically easy compared to the 3<sup>rd</sup> level. That’s because the meanings a this level were originally develop outside-of-conscious awareness. As they were embedded in language itself or in the cultural rituals, you took them on and began living them without any awareness of them. Here are your assumptions about the world (good, bad, neutral), about knowledge (epistemology), about<i><span style='font-style:italic'> being</span></i> (ontology, who you are), etc.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p><p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face=Calibri><span style='font-size:12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><font size=3 face=Calibri><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>To elicit these assumptions, infer. <i><span style='font-style:italic'>Infer </span></i>what is implied in order to identify and express the hidden and invisible implications. These are far more ingrained in mind and body as we have inhabited them for many, many years, sometimes from early childhood before we could think in terms of words and language.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p><p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face=Calibri><span style='font-size:12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><i><font size=3 face=Calibri><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-style:italic'>Solution: </span></font></i><font size=3><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>Make educated guesses about “what has to be true or accepted” in order to say, think, feel, or do something. Use numerous ‘unconscious’ technologies to call forth the hidden assumptive frames (e.g., finishing sentence stems, run an imaginary experiential probe, run a thought experiment, ask ‘if the frame was a game, what are the rules?,’ find a key metaphor to play with, etc.). Because these are deeper (or higher) in the meta levels, this often requires therapeutic problem-solving, so refer to a good therapist. In this way you are retrieving the core construct, the schema that is causing the problem. Unpack and dismantle the bundle to separate out the levels.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p><p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face=Calibri><span style='font-size:12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p><p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face=Calibri><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>We may say that at the first level we have <i><span style='font-style:italic'>a problem,</span></i> at the higher levels we find <i><span style='font-style:italic'>the problem.</span></i> At the higher levels we are drawing back the curtains of the inner world of meaning to identify the ultimate ‘problem,’ generally a problem of a problem. What’s important to know is that all problems do not occur at the same level. Therefore also, not all symptoms occur at the same level. The higher the level, the deeper the problem’s conceptual construct lives within and the deeper the symptom. That will be the subject of the next blog.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p><p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face=Calibri><span style='font-size:12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p><p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face=Calibri><span style='font-size:12.0pt'> <o:p></o:p></span></font></p><p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face=Calibri><span style='font-size:12.0pt'> <o:p></o:p></span></font></p><p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p><p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Calibri><span style='font-size:11.0pt'><img width=231 height=345 id="Picture_x0020_1" src="cid:image001.jpg@01DC9E78.2B187700" alt=1000338493><o:p></o:p></span></font></p><p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Calibri><span style='font-size:11.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p></div></body></html>