By Shawnmari Kaiser, LISW, LCSW
We often are inspired to change old habits or reach for the stars to improve our lives. You may look at changes from improving health habits, to reaching a career potential, or finding your one true love, and everything in between. However, before you embark on your illustrious adventure you may want to pause and first assess your motivation for change.
As simple as it sounds, change is a multifaceted process. It requires commitment, courage, and confidence to navigate the steps to achieve success in adapting to a new mindset and/or behaviors.
Because change is experienced on all three life domains; body, mind and spirit, conscious awareness can be the key to success. The beginning process of change, which Norcross and Prochaska define as the contemplative stage, can facilitate motivation to make a plan, and take the necessary steps needed for the change.
As Christians, we are in the process of sanctification, change as you will, to be transformed into Jesus’ likeness. (2 Corinthians 5:17; Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.) (Romans 8:29-30; For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover, whom He predestined, these He also called; whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified.)
The Holy Spirit is our guide throughout the sanctification process. It is the Holy Spirit that prompts our desire to live our life differently. (John 14:26 “But the Comforter, who is the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name (Jesus), He shall teach you all things.”) (2 Corinthians 3:18; And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.)
It is in the contemplation stage you can apply an analysis to the belief, attitude or behavior you wish to change. We are prompted by the Holy Spirit to address attitudes and behaviors that have not been healthy in relation to our personal self, with others and with God. (John 16:8: And when He is come, He will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment.) (Galatians 5:16-17; So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh.)
I also encourage you to read Colossians 3, as it gives us a wonderful description of changes He is working on for all of us in the sanctification process.
Analysis, prompted by the Holy Spirit and through reading God’s Word and prayer, raises our consciousness and allows us to actively participate in the decision-making process to change. When we have made the clear determination to change based on our own willingness, we are more likely to be successful.
So, let’s get started. It is as simple as identifying a habit or attitude you want to change. Allow time, through prayer, to explore both sides of it, in order to have fuller understanding of why you want to change. Understanding the destructive value of an attitude or behavior, is as important as understanding the positive value of what you are changing to. Look for any ambivalence. To make changes in our lives, we have to have intention. Intention comes from clear understanding of the value to change. Ambivalence needs to be cleared up before we can take purposeful action that will lead to the achievement of our goals.
If you find you are ambivalent to the change, you may need to do more research, prayer and self-reflection before you make your preparation for change. It is not to toss out the idea, but perhaps to set it aside while you give it more prayerful consideration. You may discover your struggle with the pleasure you experience from it and therefore find it difficult to let go. You may find that it is a matter of timing and, for that reason set it aside for now. You may also find that the change you want to make is not supported by Christ centered values and it is not aligning with The Lord, so, for that reason set it aside, or, discard it altogether.
This action of reflection and conducting an analysis is empowering and allows you to synch with the Holy Spirit in preparation for change.
Stay tuned…. Next time we will explore preparation for change!
Prochaska, J. O., & Norcross, J. C. (2001). Stages of change. Psychotherapy: Theory, Research, Practice, Training, 38(4), 443.
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