Self-Empowerment

Michelle Matthias

 

It is now over a year since the pandemic started here in North America and undoubtedly it has impacted all of us – be it negatively or positively. Personally, there are days when I get weary and long for a return to what I knew as normal.

 

So in this blog, I am choosing to speak about how I personally use self-empowerment as I navigate this pandemic and especially on the days when I get weary.

 

Empowerment is typically driven from the outside. It is what I do as a coach for my clients to instigate desired change and growth. On the other hand, self-empowerment comes from within. It generally means taking control of our own life, setting goals, and making positive choices. Self-empowerment is when we understand our strengths and weaknesses and take responsibility for our choices, our thoughts, our actions, and the consequences that come with it.

 

Below is a statement that I came across that gave me much ‘food for thought.’

“You don’t get in life what you want, you get what you believe.” – Oprah Winfrey.

I do agree. Our beliefs are powerful drivers that influence outcomes.

 

This statement caused me to ponder on the scriptures. “Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.” – Mark 11:24

 

So personally, I empower myself by leaning heavily on The Word. Romans 10:10, “For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth, one confesses and is saved.” This scripture has created a roadmap for me to stay on track.

 

believe and I use my mouth. Here are some personal tips that work for me:

 

When you are in a good happy space:

  • Write down all the things that are amazing about you.
  • List all the positive things that you know to be true about yourself. Include all your achievements, accomplishments, and admired traits.
  • List all your strengths.
  • Make a list of all the things that you consider as blessings – health, job, possession, etc.
  • Write down some of your favorite Bible verses (you know the ones that have weathered you through many storms?).
  • Keep this list close to you and be battle-ready.

 

Whenever you are faced with fear, doubt, hesitation, procrastination, weariness, challenges:

  • Turn to your list and start declaring what you know to be true – your achievements, your accomplishments, your beautiful qualities, your blessings.
  • Speak these truths aloud.
  • Read those scriptures and lean on your personal mantra to affirm, motivate and inspire you.
  • Declare these truths to recenter, refocus, reenergize. Speaking your list aloud allows you to partner with the truth to restore confidence and shake off a victim mentality.
  • Do this daily and as often as needed.

 

This is not about being perfect, none of us are; it is about being empowered.

 

Your words are signals. Create a habit of speaking life.

 

  • Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.  Proverbs 18:21
  • Whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things.. Phil 4:8
  • So shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it. Isaiah 55:11
  • Truly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be taken up and thrown into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says will come to pass, it will be done for him. Mark 11:23

 

We are all a work in progress. Self-empowerment must come from inside. The purpose of this blog is to inspire and support us on this journey. Yes, it is a journey. We do not instantly become self-empowered. It takes time and practice. Let’s partner together as we continue on this journey that we are so blessed to be a part of.

 

Empowerment Coach

Michelle Matthias

I can do all things through Him who strengthens me. Philippians 4:13

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Springtime and Hope

Michelle Matthias

 

Spring is traditionally a time of renewal, the weather turns warmer, plants start flowering, leaves returning and the bloom of flora seems to be everywhere. With springtime, there is normally a new sense of hope. But hope is so much more than wishful thinking. Hope is different from optimism. Hope is independent of circumstances. Hope is an anchor of faith that says that all will be well despite the odds. In the Bible, hope is the confident expectation of what God has promised and its strength is in His faithfulness.

In my hopeful anticipation of springtime, I would like to share my “HOPE” collection with you.

 

“Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer.” – Romans 12:12

We can rejoice in Hope

“Guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long.” Psalm 25:5

  • We can have Hope all day long

“There is surely a future hope for you, and your hope will not be cut off.” Proverbs 23:18

  • We can be assured in Hope

“And all who have this hope in him purify themselves even as he is pure.” — 1 John 3:3

  • We can be holy in Hope

“Why, I ask myself, are you so depressed? Why are you so upset inside? Hope in God! Because I will again give him thanks, my saving presence and my God.”— Psalm 42:11

  • We can have strength and encouragement in Hope

“We work and struggle for this: ‘Our hope is set on the living God, who is the savior of all people, especially those who believe.’” — 1 Timothy 4:10

  • Hope gives us access to the living God

“Oh, I must find rest in God only, because my hope comes from him! Only God is my rock and my salvation — my stronghold! — I will not be shaken.” — Psalm 62:5–6

  • We can be patient in Hope

“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” Romans 15:13

  • We can have peace and joy in Hope

“Let’s hold on to the confession of our hope without wavering, because the one who made the promises is reliable.” – Hebrews 10:23

  • We can be steadfast in Hope

“Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.” Hebrews 11:1

  • We can be confident in Hope

“Hope is a sprinkle of sugar on your tart; it’s the swig of cream in your coffee; it’s that element that makes life manageable.” – Michelle Matthias

 

 

 

 

 

 

Empowerment Coach

Michelle Matthias

“Hope that holds value is more than wishful thinking.” – Michelle Matthias

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The Secret Nature of Mental Pain

Michelle Matthias

 

The issue of mental illness has been in the news a lot these days, and rightfully so. It’s necessary to speak about this because those who are affected are hurting in unseen places, due to the secret nature of mental pain. Mental struggles are more common than we care to believe because it’s easily masked by a smile and in our current pandemic by a mask. The point of this blog is to help in keeping the spotlight on this all too important subject that is too often ignored. This subject will be looked at from a borderline perspective and not from a severe clinical depression state.

 

It’s important that we get past the myth that those in mental pain are somehow always bed-ridden and non-functional. That does not always hold true because not everyone experiences depression in the same way. It’s not unusual for people to exhibit a pleasant, smiling, upbeat, functional deposition while depressed. They might be aware or only partially aware of the magnitude of their mental pain. In fact, there is a terminology for those who appear to be upbeat and happy while experiencing depression – ‘smiling depression.’

 

As per Rita Labeaune, Psy.D., clinical psychologist, “The hallmark of smiling depression is sadness. The smile is an attempt to hide their true feelings. A person could be experiencing sadness about a failed relationship, career challenges, or lacking what they view as a true purpose in life. The sadness might also manifest as a constant overall feeling that “something just isn’t right.”

 

Very often there are no hints to the outside world, which gives the impression that all is dandy. However, underneath there is pain, insecurity, fear, and in some cases, thoughts of not wanting to live.

 

This is a difficult subject but it’s imperative that we remove the stigma by talking about it especially because unlike severe depression, those who are still functional and smiling are more likely to go without help.

 

From her book ‘Perfectly Hidden Depression’, Dr. Margaret Rutherford has highlighted ten characteristics of hidden depression. While this is not meant to be a diagnostic tool, it’s interesting to see the different ways that mental pain can present itself.

 

 

Mental illness does not care about color, class, location, association, denomination, political affiliation, or family relations. If you or anyone you know might be experiencing mental struggles, help is available. It does require attention and sometimes intervention.

 

It’s okay to speak about it. It’s okay to pray about it. It’s not a sign of failure, instead, it shows strength. Speaking and praying about your feelings and your thoughts is freeing, it’s refusing to allow the chains of pain to win. Choose a confidant – friend or family and offload. Sharing feelings and thoughts are key elements in coping with depressive/painful thoughts. It’s like shining light into a dark space – let there be light.

 

And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near. – Hebrews 10:24-25

Because

“Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend.” – Proverbs 27:17

 

 

Empowerment Coach

Michelle Matthias

“The mind is private, exposure to its depth is dependent on how we choose to share it.” – Michelle Matthias

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Celebrating and Supporting Sisterhood

Michelle Matthias

 

March is Women’s History Month – A Tribute to the Ladies

 

We live in a world that is fast-paced, driven, and for some – isolating. Even though we are connected through numerous virtual platforms to everything and everyone far and near, that type of connection is too often superficial and triggers loneliness rather than curb it.

 

I received a beautiful and encouraging message of thanks from someone, acknowledging that the month of March is being celebrated as Women’s History Month. It was very uplifting and encouraging to be recognized for my contribution to others via this blog.

 

This made me realize that I had this unique opportunity to lift up others with my words, with a special focus on my sisters today. I feel truly blessed for having supportive women in my life and I can say that your feedback pushes me to continue to tap into my purpose.

 

In recognition of Women’s History Month I wanted to remind us, ladies, that we are special, we are influential, we are valuable, we are courageous, we are warriors, yes most times we are the prayer warriors.

 

Today’s blog is not about women’s rights. It’s not about women against men. This is not about strong women or weak women. This is about all women. This is about support. This is about reminding my sisters that you are enough just as you are. When women support each other a platform is set for great things to happen. There is room for all of us to shine if we collectively and collaboratively focus on supporting each other rather than getting distracted with comparison and competition.

 

It is important that we do not buy into the strategy that to succeed we must marginalize others. That’s a setup for separation, division, and loneliness and that’s a recipe for failure that’s often felt in the C-suite.

 

It is essential that we create room to talk not only about the achievements and success stories but also about the challenges that women face at home and in the workplace, as we balance personal and professional life.

 

Yes, it takes time and care to develop trusting relationships with each other. It takes care to try to bridge some of our differences. But the effort of understanding each other’s experiences is worth it.

 

Most women are naturally caring and compassionate. It is a natural part of women’s nature to be interdependent, cooperative, and collaborative. It’s innate in most women to foster connections through conversations.

 

While we love our families, our spouses, and our children, there are unique benefits when women support each other. When women support and validate other women personally and professionally:

 

  • We forge friendships and a sense of belonging
  • We grow in confidence. When we are confident we feel more secure and generally happier
  • We feel less alone in our individual struggles and better able to cope in the face of challenges
  • We create communication lines with improved flow of information
  • We act as a sounding board which helps to relieve tension and anxiety
  • We realize that we are unique but our challenges are often similar and not specific to only us
  • Sharing reassures us that though we may face challenges, we are not alone.

 

Of course, the list of benefits to women supporting women can go on and on forever.

 

To all the women reading this – you are phenomenal just as you are!

 

 

I will give thanks to Thee, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Wonderful are Thy works, And my soul knows it very well. Psalm 139:14

 

Empowerment Coach

Michelle Matthias

You are as strong as your support system. – Michelle Matthias

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Leveraging Personal Strengths for Growth

Michelle Matthias

 

What does it mean to leverage your strengths?

 

Leveraging your strengths means using what you are personally good at to get more of what you want. (As for how to use them, what they are, well that is a little more complicated.)

 

I would like to place some emphasis on the word ‘strengths’ because while growing up I was pushed to place more effort in the areas where I was weak as opposed to giving more attention to the things that I was naturally good at and preferred doing. I am not saying that the concept is wrong. It is good to challenge yourself and broaden your repertoire but in this blog, my focus is on leveraging our strengths, talents, skills, and abilities to maximize our growth. It’s identifying what you are good at and becoming a master at it while utilizing other people’s help in areas where they are better than us.

 

It is a fact that everyone will experience varying degrees of success and failure during their life. Sometimes, the process of accomplishing and making it to the top can be a jaded walk. One in which you take a few steps forward and more than a few backward, much to your dismay.

 

So the question is: How can I maximize and increase my growth potential and elevate my chances to succeed?

 

The key factor is identifying and leveraging your personal strengths.

You may not know what your personal strengths are, so how are you to go about leveraging them?

 

You first need to pinpoint your strengths and can do so by following these tips:

 

  • Get to know Yourself. What are you good at? What are your skillsets, strengths, weaknesses? What concrete skills and abilities do you have? What areas do you excel in and what are your weak areas?

 

  • Turn to a Friend/Family. Ask someone who you trust to tell you what are some things they know that you are really good at/your strengths. In some cases, others know you better than you know yourself. Our friends/family have the inside scoop. They know our personality and are often equipped to help us identify our strengths and weaknesses because they have a valuable outsider perspective.

 

  • It’s probably a good idea to take your own self-assessment, and compare it to your friend/family assessment of you. If there are overlaps, great, if not perhaps you need to scrutinize either your own self-assessment or your friend/family assessment and see if the truth lies somewhere in between the two.

 

  • If you still don’t trust the results from the above then you can look into taking a “strength test.” These are designed to help users identify their own strengths with the idea that our own individual biases could have an impact on how we evaluate our own strengths. The test is implemented to help erase those biases.

 

The idea of leveraging your personal strengths in order to maximize your growth is one that we should all consider and aim to pursue. It’s difficult not to be fulfilled using our natural gifts. Part of leveraging is investing in and developing those strengths/gifts. This requires action. If you’re not doing something with your skills and your knowledge, it becomes useless, it stagnates, and you start to feel bad about yourself.

 

What are you good at? How about becoming better at it?

 

If you are ready to identify and leverage your strengths, remember that success does not happen overnight. You as an individual have to work hard to identify your strengths and then work out a way in which to leverage them to your overall benefit and growth. It takes time, so be patient.

 

 

Empowerment Coach

Michelle Matthias

Leveraging your strengths means using what you are personally good at to get more of what you want.   – Michelle Matthias

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The Ripple Effect

Michelle Matthias

 

In simple terms, the ripple effect is another term for the domino effect. Our behavior can have a chain reaction that reaches beyond the boundaries of our imagination.

 

What is your ripple effect as it relates to your behavior, thoughts, and actions?

 

We cannot control the ripples others make but we certainly can control the ripples we make and possibly influence others.

 

Our thoughts and actions are like stones dropped in a pond. They create ripples that travel outward with far-reaching effects. Everything we do and think affects the people in our lives and their reactions, in turn, affect others. Therefore, the choices we make have far-reaching consequences.

 

Each of us carries within us the capacity to change the world in small ways, for better or worse. We can use the principles of the Ripple Effect to examine our actions and their effects.

 

One act of rudeness or aggression can have a devastating rippling effect as it is passed along. Social media has given us a platform to publicly vent our anger with potentially far-reaching effects. The great news is that the ripple effect is also true with kindness.

 

We have seen the ripple effect of kindness displayed in many fast-food drive-thrus. Research shows that acts of kindness have a spiral effect—they keep going, and going, and going. The beauty is that unlike the ripple of anger that spreads fear and bitterness, the ripple of kindness spreads love and compassion.

 

It has been shown that people who witness kind acts are often motivated to perform a kind act themselves. It creates a contagion. One small act of kindness can have a positive life-changing effect on many.

 

I invite you to set your dominoes in motion by starting a ripple effect of kindness. That one person you affect has the potential to affect others. That choice you make can have consequences, far beyond the person who it is aimed at. Before long your ripple will be beyond your imagination with ripples branching out in all directions.

 

These acts can be as simple as paying someone a compliment, allowing someone out in front of you when driving, saying hello or thank you. The best thing is all these gestures are free, and yet they can summon up all the happy chemicals that make us feel good about life.

 

Every day, every one of us has a chance to influence our world and if enough people choose kindness then we could create a ripple so big to tip the balance away from a world of continual conflict to one of mutual co-operation. We all have that power within us by the ripple we choose to create.

 

 

Empowerment Coach

Michelle Matthias

I invite you to set your dominoes in motion by starting a ripple effect of kindness.   – Michelle Matthias

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Steadfast Assurance

Michelle Matthias

 

Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.

—1 Peter 5:7

 

God’s favor is not limited to weather or to whether …

 

If you are in the Northeast, whether you had plans to be out and about or not, you know that the weather has caused almost all of us to shelter in.

 

There is such warmth and comfort in knowing that God’s faithfulness towards us is constant, regardless of. Many things can grind to a halt because of impending factors but His love is unfailing. We can rest in the steadfast assurance that God’s love transcends our limitations and our perceived impossibilities. There is warmth and assurance in His presence even when bitter cold winds blow around us.

 

Any day can be a good day if we allow His presence to permeate our hearts. So, as you ease into your activities, be sure to make an effort to be steadfastly focused on God. If you have a concern, tell Him. If something troubles you, talk to Him. If you need answers, ask Him. If you need directions, petition Him. If you need guidance, pray to Him. If you are bored, praise Him. If you are healthy and in your right mind, thank Him, praise Him and rejoice in Him!

 

Every moment is precious if you keep your focus on Him!

 

Blessed are those who have learned to acclaim you, who walk in the light of your presence, O Lord. They rejoice in your name all day long; they exult in your righteousness.

—Psalm 89:15–16

 

 

Empowerment Coach

Michelle Matthias

“There is such warmth and comfort in knowing that God’s faithfulness towards us is constant, regardless of”.  Michelle Matthias

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The Resilience Factor

Michelle Matthias

 

All strata of society can relate to challenges, stress, and hardship at some point in time.

 

Resilience is your ability to positively cope with and bounce back from stress and adversity. It’s the ability to recover from or adjust easily to misfortune or change. It’s the ability not only to return to a previous good condition after faced with challenges but hopefully to even grow through the experience.

 

Resilience is not a fixed state, therefore, you may be more resilient at different times in your life than others. Most importantly, resilience can be learned, practiced, developed, and strengthened. Resilience is not just necessary for basic survival, but also offers a powerful opportunity for enhancing growth and well-being.

 

It’s important to note that the topic of resilience is very multi-dimensional and can be approached based on categories, domains, pillars, skills, types…and also can be reviewed as it relates to communities, workplace, or the individual.

 

My focus is from an individual standpoint with the hope to spur awareness, encourage curiosity and possibly empower us to build our resilience muscles.

 

Why is building resilience important?

Building resilience is important for several reasons; it enables us to develop mechanisms for protection against experiences that could be overwhelming, it helps us to maintain balance in our lives during difficult or stressful periods, and can also protect us from developing some mental health difficulties and issues.

 

How do you build resilience?

The way that you build resilience may be unique to you but I will share what has worked for me and is probably true for most of us.

 

The diagram below by Bounce Back Project captures the essentials that are critical in building personal resilience and that I have utilized.

 

 

This diagram captures some of the leading indicators that are necessary for a person to build resilience. Intentionally enhancing these aspects of one’s life will increase personal resilience and, in turn, bolster the capacity to handle challenges.

 

Self Awareness – get to know yourself. What are your strengths, weaknesses, thoughts, beliefs, motivation, and emotions? What lifts you / what defeats you? What is others’ perception of you? What do you know to be true?

 

Self-care  – means different things to different people. In any case, it requires our active engagement. Daily physical activity, healthy eating, sufficient sleep, and taking time to recover are essential for both short-term and long-term resilience. Taking time to disengage and disconnect from the routine (mental health breaks).

 

Purpose – a recognition that we belong to and serve something bigger than ourselves. We all are created for a purpose. Our resilience is linked to our purpose. Finding what we are passionate about will help us to identify our purpose. Purpose pushes us beyond limiting beliefs. Purpose drives us to get up when challenges push us down. We can find purpose in our faith, family, in our contribution to humanity.

 

Mindfulness/Prayer – the diagram has mindfulness but mindfulness for me is prayer. Let me qualify, that I’m not necessarily hitting mindfulness because it’s scriptural. Mindfulness is about meditation. Nonetheless, when the Bible mentions meditation, it often mentions obedience in the next breath. An example is the Book of Joshua: “This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it. If we desire that the words of our mouth and the meditation of our heart will be acceptable in God’s sight, it must be done with the recognition and acknowledgment that our very existence is dependent on Him. Prayer allows us to enter into the presence of God with the awareness that He is not only our Creator; He is our Keeper. Prayer is a state of actively engaging and communing with Christ our inexhaustible source of resilience.

 

Positive Relationships – this is your support system. The people who support and care for us. No man is an island. We were not made to stand alone. We all have a desire to be connected, to belong, to be loved, to be understood. It’s innate for us to want to give and receive love and acceptance. By having positive relationships with others, we are happier and more content. We feel fulfilled and more supported. Positive and supportive relationships help us to feel healthier and build resilience that enables us to rise to challenges because we are not alone.

 

In closing, I encourage you to nurture your resilience by monitoring your internal dialogue; practice self-compassion and self-care, have a forgiving heart, pray without ceasing, be thankful and be grateful and be bold enough to express it, laugh often, and be optimistic and positive….

 

“Keep this Book of Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.” Joshua 1:8

 

Empowerment Coach

Michelle Matthias

“Bumps are likely on the best rides; it is not a good reason to abandon the journey.”   Michelle Matthias

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Creating balance in your life

Michelle Matthias

 

The subject of ‘Work-Life Balance’ is one that is commonly referred to in organizational circles, but in this piece, my brief focus will be on balancing our personal lives. Since balancing our lives is our individual responsibility, and since balance is created by the choices we make (intentionally or unintentionally), it’s imperative that we understand that lack of balance may affect and impact our quality of life.

 

It is very easy to become swept up in the various demands of life. It is very easy to be pulled in so deep, that we feel like we are drowning. I invite you at this moment to take a nice deep cleansing breath and let’s figure out how to gain perspective and insight on what we can possibly do to create balance.

 

For many of us, the word balance may have conjured thoughts of a see-saw or a scale. But I’m going to choose to highlight the Prioritization Matrix. This is by no means an in-depth explanation but hopefully, it’s enough to get the point across. Truth is, the number of hours in a day is not going to change, the number of days in the week is not going to change but how we use our time can be revised.

 

To create balance we need to prioritize the use of our time in order of importance and urgency:

 

  • Important & Urgent – Are things that must be done – and must be done now – for life to proceed effectively
  • Important but Not Urgent – These things must be done but not necessarily this very minute
  • Urgent but not Important – These are daily routine tasks – sometimes they are simply interruptions eg. phone calls, social media …
  • Not Urgent or Important – These are the time-wasters when used in excess eg watching TV, talking on the phone, etc.

 

Prioritization Matrix

This tool when used correctly, can simplify your life and create balance. It helps us to see the big picture; to use our time in areas where we want to be impactful; to be more focused; to be present in the moment; to set healthy boundaries; to confidently say NO when required and most importantly to accomplish goals without sacrificing your health and happiness.

 

Now, it’s time to take action to figure out what’s important to you and how you can reduce the noise around you and prioritize the demands in order of importance and urgency thus creating balance.

 

 

Empowerment Coach

Michelle Matthias

Peace with the inner self is integral in creating balance for the outer self.”  Michelle Matthias

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The Desire for Change

By Michelle Matthias

 

It is with sincerity and great appreciation that I say thank you to my readers and subscribers for taking the time to read and to so graciously share their comments and encouragement either publicly or privately.

 

Last week I focused on emotional ownership and awareness and this week I am taking a brief look at The Formula for Change with reference to The Beckhard-Harris Change Model. This formula works with organizational as well as individual change.

 

Probably like me, you have had a desire to make meaningful changes in some areas of your life but find that it’s easier said than done. Oftentimes these desired changes are not followed through to fruition. So the question is, why is this so? Why do I desire this change but fail to execute the necessary actions needed to accomplish it? What needs to happen for my actions to be congruent with my desire?

 

All these questions are undoubtedly and arguably influenced by a myriad of factors, but in this blog I want us to consider the Beckhard-Harris formula as one way to think about the change process.

 

Change is usually about growth and;

  • All growth requires a change
  • All change requires a growth mindset
  • Change can be uncomfortable for some; and
  • All meaningful change is a process

 

The Beckhard-Harris formula for change is:

D x V x FS > RC

 

D   represents dissatisfaction/desire

V   represents vision

FS   represents first steps

RC  represents resistance to change

 

This formula is saying that if there is strong dissatisfaction (D) with the current state (whatever the focus of change might be), it will serve as a driver and motivator for change; which when coupled with a clear vision (V) of a preferred future; will/should give the courage of taking the first steps (FS) towards that change and overcoming the resistance of change (RC). So essentially, the product of DxVxFS should be greater than (>) the current resistance to change (RC).

 

I do apologize if I have confused you with the formula but a simple biblical way of putting it is, “…so faith without work is dead” James 2:26. Change is not just in an idea/vision; change does not just happen because we are dissatisfied. Change happens because we act; we push; we persevere because we know that our current state is not our desired place.

 

I believe that oftentimes the resistance to change (RC) is linked to fear.

If that is the case, remember that faith is not the absence of fear; it is the conquest of fear. The Psalmist says, “when I am afraid, I will trust in you.” Psalm 56:3

 

If this has gotten your attention, here are a few questions to ask yourself:

  • What specific change do I need to make?
  • What is it in my current situation that is driving me to change?
  • Do I have a clear vision of what I would like to see?
  • What steps do I need to take?
  • What do I need to do to move forward and make it happen?
  • How committed am I to the process?

 

With steadfast determination, change can be accomplished. The question is, how badly do you need it? “For with God, nothing shall be impossible.” Luke 1: 37

 

 

Empowerment Coach

Michelle Matthias

Ralph Waldo Emerson said, “He who is not everyday conquering some fear has not learned the secret of life.”

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