The word transformation is thrown about casually these days, but it is far from a simple process. Transformation sees the change start with the individual and work through a community or a culture. It is a journey and ongoing process without a true starting point or finish line.
There are two parts to transformation. Insight and Action. You cannot have true transformation without involving both insight and action.
Insight + Action = Transformation
For example, if you have a new understanding that you should care for your health through nutrition and exercise, but you continue to eat junk and remain sedentary, you have not experienced transformation despite the knowledge that you should do something different.
OR
You start a new nutrition and exercise program on January 1st but have given up by January 15th because you jumped into action without fresh insight to guide your action.
I think this pattern runs rampant in our society. I see some people collecting insight like treasures, and others who jump into action without a second thought. However, neither are making a lot of progress toward transformation.
We have a cycle of insanity at play. Insanity can be defined as doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results. For some of us, we like to learn something new and think that we are transformed by that learning, but our actions do not change which means we are doing the same thing but expecting a different result. For others, we think we can act our way into transformation without changing our thought process, also doing the same thing expecting different results.
Insight gives the illusion of transformation and possibility gives the illusion of action, but in order for transformation we must integrate insight and action.
Where are you experiencing a gap between insight and action in your life?
Have you learned something you thought would change your life, but everything in your life remains the same as before?
Have you leaped into a new action only to come up against similar roadblocks that knock you off track?
Whichever way you tend to operate, it is time to integrate insight and action. The world is crying out for wise and calm leaders in all segments of life.
Maybe it is time for some coaching. Or maybe you start by going back to last week’s post about evaluating your options. Whatever you choose, please know by putting your insight into action, you are stepping into a learning cycle. Your new action will create new insight which may change your action causing new insight. However, you move forward, look for support.
The adaptive cycle of integrating insight and action can be disorienting, and support in the form of a coach, provides the reminder of why you are taking action and can help maintain your commitment to the journey.
Send me a message, I would love to talk through next steps with you.
KATHY PIERBURG 