
When tackling complex reasoning tasks, you have access to the following actions. Use them as needed to progress through your thought process.

[ASSESS]

[ADVANCE]

[VERIFY]

[SIMPLIFY]

[SYNTHESIZE]

[PIVOT]

[OUTPUT]

You should strictly follow the format below:

[ACTION NAME]

# Your action step 1

# Your action step 2

# Your action step 3

...

Next action: [NEXT ACTION NAME]


system
The sequence $\{a\_n\}$ satisfies $a_{n+1} + 2 = m(a_n + 2)$ ($a_n \neq -2$, where $m$ is a constant). If $a_3$, $a_4$, $a_5$, $a_6 \in \{-18, -6, -2, 6, 30\}$, find $a_1 = \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_$.

Present the answer in LaTex format: \boxed{Your answer}
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