The Format
This technique makes it possible to bring together two seemingly incompatible beliefs by allowing them to interact and unite.

Standard Steps:

• Conflicting Beliefs
• Mutual Perception
• Positive Intention + Shared Values
• Resource
• Agreement
• Integration
• Future Pace

Detailed Description:

1. Conflicting Beliefs
A identifies 2 beliefs (convictions) that conflict with each other.
Determine the timeline and origins of each.
“You have these two beliefs that are incompatible with each other...”
“To work with them, please lay out a timeline on the floor and mark when these beliefs first arose.”

2. Mutual Perception
A steps (associated) into each original situation and perceives the other part/belief.
“First, go into the original situation of the first belief, picture yourself at that age, then look over at the other belief.
What do you think about the other belief?”
→ Repeat this process at the second location as well.

3. Positive Intention and Shared Values
A identifies the positive intention of each part, and then (in a meta position) the shared values and mission.
“Standing here, what positive intention do you sense in this part?”
“And go once more into the other part. Feel its positive intention.”
“Can both parts also perceive each other’s positive intention?”
“Great, now let’s go up to a meta position.”
“From here, can you discover shared values?”
“What shared mission can be derived from that?”

4. Resources
A steps (associated) into both parts to discover resources useful for their intentions and mission.
“Go back to the first part on the timeline. Feel your own resources and also those of the other part.”
“Which ones would be helpful for you?”
“Which are helpful for your shared mission?” (then switch)

5. Agreement
The parts come to an agreement to unite their resources.
“Now, please make an agreement with the other part that you will combine your respective resources to fulfill your positive intentions and your mission together.”

6. Integration
A retrieves the resources from the earlier part and carries them to the later part.
“Go to the earlier part, take in its resources, then bring them to the later part and unite with it.”

7. Future Pace
A observes from a meta position how both parts merge and move into the future.
“Now imagine how both parts merge in the present to form a single identity, and then continue forward together into the future.”

Summary
Format suitable for:
two beliefs that seem incompatible, which can lead to an inability to act in certain life situations.
Format in contrast to:

• Negotiation Reframing: In negotiation reframing, the focus is on conflicting inner needs without direct involvement of conflicting beliefs.

Format Pitfalls:

• A can’t pinpoint the time these beliefs arose.
  → Explain that exact precision is not crucial. Ask A to decide by intuition where the right place is on the timeline.
  “As you move backward along the timeline and concentrate on the first belief, where do you feel it originated?”
  “Now do the same with the second belief—where, at what age does your intuition tell you it belongs? How old were you then?”
• A cannot find any positive intention.
  → Explain to A that beliefs do not appear out of nowhere; they always have a function in the life context where they emerged.
  “What might have been the function of this belief?”

Format Notes:
By discovering positive intentions, the two beliefs begin to communicate and negotiate until they are ready to pool their resources and reach an agreement.

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