In September 1994, the Meta-States model was born. Thirty years ago, at the NLP Comprehensive Conference in Denver, Colorado, a workshop titled “Go For it—Again” was presented, laying the foundation for what would later become one of the most significant contributions to the field of Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP). At the time, the presenter had been studying resilience for nearly four years, piecing together a strategy by interviewing individuals who had experienced major setbacks and by applying the NLP Strategy Model.
The workshop was designed to explore how setbacks could be understood through a structured process, and it assumed that such experiences paralleled the stages of grief, as described by Elizabeth Kubler-Ross. However, during the workshop, an unexpected moment occurred. A participant revealed an insight that had not emerged in previous interviews: he knew, with certainty, that he would transition through the stages of setback and recovery. When asked how he knew, the participant described a “meta-state” — a state above his current state that gave him the confidence to overcome the setback.
This pivotal moment sparked the concept of Meta-States. The realization that individuals could hold a mental or emotional state above another state—essentially a state about a state—opened a new understanding of the human experience. This revelation became the Meta-States model, providing a new layer of insight to the existing NLP framework.
Over the past 30 years, the Meta-States Model has seen significant development and growth. Here’s a timeline of key milestones:
- 1995: The Meta-States Model was recognized by the International Association of NLP Trainers as “the most significant contribution to NLP.”
- 1996: Meta-States launched Neuro-Semantics, both as a model and as a community, with the establishment of the International Society of Neuro-Semantics (ISNS).
- 1996: The Meta-State Journal began publication, later becoming a PDF book titled Meta-States Magic.
- 1997: Collaborating with Bob Bodenhamer, the Meta-States model was applied to several NLP models, resulting in the publication of four books: Mind-Lines, Adventures in Time, Patterns for Renewing the Mind, and Figuring Out People.
- 1997: The basics of Meta-States were presented in the book Secrets of Personal Mastery, which led to the creation of a training program, Accessing Personal Genius (APG). APG became the gateway training for Neuro-Semantics, now taught by hundreds of trainers worldwide.
- 1999: Meta-States led to the creation of Neuro-Semantic Trainers’ Training, which began in 2000.
- 2002: The Matrix Model was born from Meta-States.
- 2002: The Meta-Coaching System was launched, incorporating NLP, Meta-States, and the Matrix Model. Over time, additional models such as Axes of Change, Benchmarking, Facilitation, and Self-Actualization were added.
- 2004: The book The Source Book of Magic, Volume II was published, containing 144 Meta-State Patterns. Volume I (published in 1997) had only included a dozen Meta-State Patterns.
- 2005: A study of the Human Potential Movement revealed that Meta-States played a key role in unleashing human potential. This insight led to the development of the Construct, the Crucible, and the Zone models, along with the publication of 16 books on Self-Actualization.
- 2011: Meta-States was recognized in the book Innovations of NLP.
- 2016: Further exploration of the thinking processes behind Meta-States, such as self-reflexivity, resulted in the publication of 11 more books, positioning Neuro-Semantics as a Thinking Model.
- 2020: A review of Meta-States was presented in several NLP conferences and ISNS Wisdoms under the title The Unexpected Extensiveness of Meta-States.
Throughout these three decades, Meta-States has continued to generate new ideas, patterns, and models. As recently as two weeks ago, new insights about Meta-States emerged during the development of the manuscript for a forthcoming book on Strategic Thinking. The latest discovery highlights that the driving force behind successful strategies is not just the step-by-step process, but the hidden meta-strategy behind them.
The Meta-States Model has proven to be a dynamic and evolving framework, continuing to influence NLP, coaching, and personal development practices worldwide.
Happy 30th Birthday, Meta-States!
Curated by Danielle Tan.
Reference:
- [Neurons] 2024 Neurons #43 HAPPY BIRTHDAY META-STATES! by L. Michael Hall, Ph.D. Executive Director, ISNS.
