Life is a journey of change and soul formation from the people we are today to the people we were created to be. Between our prevailing standards of living and our fully actualized selves, there is a gap. Intentional living is about bridging that gap. How we go about bridging that gap determines not only our long-term success but also our minute-to-minute experience of life. We would either live joyful, content, and prosperous daily lives or miserable ones. All that will be determined by how we go about meeting the gap.
Below, I share some stages of change or soul formation that I’ve found useful and think may be worth your consideration. They are represented by the letters, ABCDE.
- Awareness: Awareness and acknowledgment of the gap. Here one goes from being oblivious to the gap to becoming aware of it and admitting that such a gap exists.
- Believe: Believe that change is possible. Jesus’ words, “It shall be done to you according to your faith,” speak well to this point. No one ever stumbles on change or success. No one ever achieves something they don’t have faith that they can achieve. Right believing leads to right living.
- Confession & Consultation: Confess and call for help. Confess involves not merely acknowledging that the gap exists but taking responsibility for it. Calling for help involves bringing God and others (community) into the picture to help you bridge the gap.
- Decision: Decide to act and take the first step. After knowing the pros and cons, make a deliberate choice at the heart level to bridge the gap. Then match your thoughts and words with action. Take the first step.
- Evaluation: Evaluate regularly. To effectively change, you have to evaluate and make course corrections without losing heart.
That’s it. I believe following those five stages will empower you to make effective changes in your life.
Related article: How to develop any new habit.
**The approach above is very similar to how a quality improvement project would be carried out.
