Albert Einstein said, “The world as we have created it is a process of our thinking. It can’t be changed without changing our thought.”
At the beginning of each new year, many of us make resolutions. These resolutions may be to eat healthy, exercise more, sleep early, practice mindfulness, be more patient, stop multitasking, etc. Most of these resolutions are goals we set ourselves for self-improvement. We need a constant mindset to improve daily.
What is common in all the above cases ? It is a Resolve. A resolve to
- Do better
- Be better
- Change for the better
- Speak up against injustice and oppression.
- Recognize our inner critique and not allow it to be our bully.
- Listen to our inner voice every time we waiver from being a human.
There is a fixity of purpose, and unless we have this resolve and take a step ahead by committing to this choice, change will not happen.
I like to think a resolve adds meaning to random thoughts, procrastination to change and forces us to commit to the change. It is something we set our mind to and goes beyond a random wish. It is an enthusiasm, a passion to explore and turn into better realities rather than come mid year when we realize that we have forgotten about the new year resolutions.
How does one stick to one’s Resolve? Effective management of any change requires managing five key goals which is well explained by the ADKAR model.
1. Awareness: to change a habit or a behavior or a situation, you have to want to change.
For that it is important to ask:
How do you view the current state?
How do you perceive the habit or the behavior or the current situation?
Contestability of the reasons for change?
WHY is it important to change?
2. Desire to want to change. A desire to participate and support the change. What are your intrinsic motivators unique to you to allow for change
3. Knowledge of how to change and what the change looks like. If I want to lose weight, I need to know how to go about losing weight and what will the process will look like. Important considerations here are your current knowledge base on the area you want to make the change in, capability to gain additional knowledge, what are the resources available and can you gain access to all or most of the relevant resources.
Let’s take the case of a woman facing domestic violence. She has got through step 1 and 2, the A and D, then she needs to ask herself what is her current knowledge on how she is going to stop being a victim of domestic violence, what resources is readily available to her that she already knows of, how is she going to gain additional knowledge of the sources of information to help her out of this situation – may be help line nos., the steps she needs to take to ensure her own safety and finally how easily accessible is each of these resources
4. Ability – do I have the ability to change. What if any are the psychological blocks (what in your own mindset that will work against you), physical and intellectual capability where relevant, and the time you are willing to devote to make that resolve happen. If your resolve is to get over your fear of public speaking, you need to evaluate your mental blocks, befriend your inner critic, time you are willing to devote to practice and get over the fear, the willingness to get a help from a coach who can assist you in making that resolve happen
5. Reinforcement – sustainable change rather than for a short time. The degree to which the change is meaningful (I’m making a difference), the absence of negative consequences, the ability to overcome hurdles along the journey and an accountability mechanism that creates an ongoing mechanism to reinforce the changes. The mindset above all to keep the change in place despite humps and setbacks along the way.
In an organizational context it is important for the managers and the leaders to recognize that all have talents, skills, and abilities. Question to ask in the process of any change is how do you apply the talents, abilities and resources you have. It is important to engage the team in a cause bigger than themselves, something they feel passionate about and one that makes them come alive. A true leader knows this, understand this and is able to provide this in an organization.
In any personal change, to commit to change ask yourself what is the trigger? Is it an adversity or a reward? What value are you creating for yourself and the people around you by resolving to change? In any change it is important to be aware of the value in it before you can make the change. Only then can you engage in the resolve with your heart, your brain and your guts.
The world is full of thinkers, dreamers and talkers. You can make a difference by making things happen because you believe you can.
What are your psychological blocks?
What are your reinforcements?
What are your triggers
Are you committed to change?
“If you really desire something, the whole universe will conspire to help you.” ― Paulo Coelho, The Alchemist. I would add if you desire something and commit to that desire nothing can stop you. You will make The Resolve happen.
