Framework
Within any self improvement plan you will move from one aspect to another repeatedly. Never get the feeling that you are going backwards or stuck in one particular phase. Just because you move back to step 1 doesn’t mean you are failing – it is just a part of the process.
Step 1
This is the aspect of motivation and planning.
Within this phase you need to learn why you are making the changes. To success in improving yourself you need to have a strong sense of motivation.
I suggest this is where you need to develop a clear idea of what you are aiming for. This is sometimes called a ‘vision statement’. I’m not sure I like the name but it will have to do for now. I did toy with the phrase ‘desire description’ but I’m not sure this is any better.
The word ’statement’ suggests finality and you need to be more fluid in your approach to this description and ‘vision’ sounds a little corporate whereas desire is perhaps more understandable. Whatever you choose to call it the point is to have a clear idea of what you are aiming for.
If you are planning a route for a journey you have to know where you are trying to get to. If you don’t know your intended destination then you can never know which direction to go in – which road to take. Get as clear an idea of your destination and why you want to get there as you can.
You also need to establish where you are now. You can’t plan a journey without knowing you start point. This is what I call a ‘purpose statement’ but you can call it whatever you like. The point is that you need to know what you have available to start the process. You can’t choose where you begin you can only choose which road to take.
Step 2
This is the aspect of action or doing.
This is where you will be putting your plans into action. You must not enter this step without having done some time in the first step. You will find that after being in this second phase you will need at times to return to the first stage for inspiration or to replan your approach. This is not failure and is certainly not going backwards.
This is where you make your plans and set your goals.
Step 3
This is the stage where change happens.
When you have been in the second stage for a while you will start to make permanent changes in your life. The action starts to produce change. Then you move into the third stage where the change becomes more permanent. It is important to understand that you need to move into the third stage at some point to establish the change.
Even though you move into the third stage does not mean you will not need to return to the first or second stages as you progress.
This is an important stage if you want the change to become permanent. This is where old patterns of living are permanently replaced with new patterns.
The Journey – a beginning and an end
Life is often described as a journey. I think this is a good way to describe life. You need to know where you are heading and to pick the best road you have to know where you are now. The best road may not be the most direct one but you will have to make that choice.
