Museum of Beliefs

This format, developed by McDonald and Dilts, uses six distinct floor anchors that the client walks through—hence the name “museum.” It’s very good for kinesthetic clients, such as those who are restless or dislike sitting still in coaching. The client effectively races through the natural cycle of challenging a belief, forming a new one, and stabilizing it. By loading each floor anchor with the client’s typical experience matrix of Doubt and Belief, the process is steered and strengthened unconsciously. Physical movement in the room further anchors discarding old convictions and moving toward new ones.

Standard Steps

Limiting Belief
Prepare Floor Anchors
Find a New Belief
Establish Floor Anchors
Shift Belief to Doubt and Place in the Museum
Transform the Desired Belief into Conviction and Strengthen it in the Holy Place
Move from the Holy Place to the Present Belief
Future Pace

Detailed Steps

1. Limiting Belief

Identify a limiting belief through meta-model or similar approach, clarifying the client’s precise belief structure.

2. Prepare Floor Anchors

Lay out the following anchors in a circle, clockwise (e.g., sheets of paper):

a) Present Belief

b) Openness to Doubt

c) Museum of Old Beliefs

d) Desired Belief

e) Openness to Belief

f) The Holy Place

3. Find a New Belief

Which “better” belief should replace the original? Carefully check the new belief’s ecology.

4. Establish Floor Anchors

Coach and client go around in order, establishing each anchor. The client steps onto each anchor, recalling a scenario that matches that anchor’s label. The coach uses VAKOG questioning. It’s crucial to anchor thoroughly. If unsure, test each anchor’s effect after establishing; multiple experiences might be needed on one anchor if it’s not strong enough.

a) Present Belief: How/where exactly does the client sense their old belief? Which images/sounds/postures go with it? Separator.
b) Openness to Doubt: The client recalls a situation where they were open to questioning something once believed. Perhaps they believed something negative about themselves, and something happened that made them doubt it. How did they know it was wobbling? Where in the body do they feel that doubt? Which images/sounds/body language etc.? Separator.
c) Museum of Old Beliefs: The client thinks of all possible beliefs they have already discarded, like “Santa Claus,” or beliefs resolved in previous coaching. How do you know you’ve sorted them out? Where do you feel it? Which images/sounds/behaviors etc.? Separator.
d) Desired Belief: The client focuses on the new belief to be installed. How/where do they sense it? Which images/sounds/body language etc.? Also check if all parts of them agree with this new belief. Separator.
e) Openness to Belief: The client recalls times they gradually realized they might have a certain positive trait or ability and started believing in it. How/where do they sense that evolving belief? Which images/sounds/behaviors? Separator.
f) The Holy Place: The client thinks of a belief they hold sacred (e.g., “Children should never be beaten”). How/where do they sense that unwavering conviction? Which images/sounds/postures etc.? Separator.

5. Shift Belief to Doubt and Place It in the Museum

a) The client steps onto anchor (a), recalling the present (old) belief.
b) They take that belief and move slowly onto (b), experiencing how doubt gradually weakens it.
c) Then they proceed to (c), placing that old belief among other previously discarded beliefs.

6. Transform the Desired Belief into Conviction and Strengthen It in the Holy Place

a) The client now goes to (d) and recalls the desired (new) belief.
b) They bring that new belief to (e) to strengthen it with “openness to belief.”
c) Then they bring the new belief to (f), the holy place, letting it intensify manyfold.

7. From the Holy Place to the Present Belief

They notice how the (now holy) new belief feels in their body, then move back to (a)—noticing how this newly empowered belief replaces the old, present one. The client may shuttle between (a) and (f) until 100% certain the new belief is installed and has become the “present” belief.

8. Future Pace

The client imagines the future and sees what’s possible with this newly installed belief.