Changing Behaviour (3) - Changing Mindset

Continuing from Changing Behavior (2) - Causes,


Here are 11 ways to change our mindset (thinking).

#1 Create & Shared a Viable Vision
A study on Philippians of Paul's ability to have joy even in prison discover the following keys:
a. Mission

• Php 1:21 For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.
• Php 1:27 Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ
• Php 1:25 shine a light in the world1:29 suffer for His sake
  

b. Love

• Php 4:6-7. Pray and Receive.

c. Victory

• Phi 1:6 he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.
• 2Co 2:14 always leads us in triumph
  

d. Run towards the Goal

• Php 3:13-14 ...But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, (14) I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

#2 Reason with Facts & Seeing Realities
An example in bringing unity in Corinthians.

• 1Co 1:12 What I mean is that each one of you says, "I follow Paul," or "I follow Apollos," or "I follow Cephas," or "I follow Christ." 13 Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul?
  

#3 Give Feedback - Consequences of the Behavior

• e.g. Some bosses like to use "scolding" to get the right behavior from their staff. If only someone gives the feedback that it did not get desire result but actually created anger, defensiveness, depression, fear and eventually poor performance, they would use other means.

#4 Trust - I believe in You.

• 1Co 1:4 I give thanks to my God always for you because of the grace of God that was given you in Christ Jesus
• Phm 1:4 I thank my God always when I remember you in my prayers
• Col 1:3 We always thank God, ..., when we pray for you
• Php 1:3 I thank my God in all my remembrance of you
• Eph 1:16 I do not cease to give thanks... in my prayers,
  

#5 Establish Urgency or Forced by a Crisis
Real World Crisis or Simulated Crisis
Example: Conversion of Paul

• Act 9:4 And falling to the ground he heard a voice saying to him, "Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?"

#6 Form Partnership

• you need enough "power" to change
• Act 13:46 And Paul and Barnabas
• Act 15:40 but Paul chose Silas
• Col 1:1 Paul & Timothy
• 1Th 1:1 Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy
• 1Co 1:1 Paul, ...and our brother Sosthenes,
  

#7 Remove Obstacles & Provide Resources
Reduce the obstacles to desire to change, or provide enough resources to overcome the hurdle.


#8 Create Short-Term Wins
Break a giant leap into smaller steps, climbing one step at a time


#9 Celebrate Success
Keep motivated with celebration and rewards.
Minds can be changed when sufficient rewards (or punishments) are invoked.


#10 Consolidate & Continue
build momentum with the many, small victories, and continue on this path, stay the course,


#11 Make it a Habit - Procedure & Practice

• Find out the factors for success
• Write it Down and Make it a Practice.
• Share it will Others - Within the Corporate

To make a good idea into a good habit:

e.g. to listen more and talk less.

1. Convert to a Goal and state the benefits.
   e.g. To listen rightly so that there is no misunderstanding.
2. Make it a task that can be acted upon.
   e.g. I will listen and not interrupt the speaker.
3. Have a measure and set a target.
   e.g. # of interruptions per day. Target is 0.
4. Write an affirmation and repeat it frequently.
   e.g. I listen intently and don't interrupt.
5. Act on it periodically - best daily, weekly, monthly.
   e.g. At end of each conversation, reflect on the interruptions made.
6. Review it as frequently.
   e.g. At end of the day, review the accomplishments and see any correction needed.
7. Get someone to monitor, support and hold us accountable as per review.
   e.g. That someone calls us daily to ask about our progress.
8. A habit is formed after 21 repeated attempts.
9. Share the experience and benefits with others.

Related: So Powerful & Yet So Easy - Changing by Accepting 

Changing Behavior (2) - Causes

Continuing from Changing Behavior (1) Mine

Depending on our personality types, some like changes while some like stability. Some are unhappy with the status quo and want changes. Some are happy with what they are and have and fight changes. But growth involves change. The greatest enemy of excellence is good or more specifically 'good enough already'.

Our change in behavior can be caused by external forces and events or internally by our change of mind of change of heart. See the diagram below:

The typical way of changing behavior is the application of external force or rewards. That is the easiest to start and with some persistent monitoring and application of restrain, we can force a trained-behavior. A popular illustration is the training of an elephant. When young, the elephant's foot is tied to a big tree trunk. It learned quickly that when its foot is tied, there is no way it can break free from it. As it grows older a chain tied to a stick is enough to keep the elephant at fixed location. The elephant mindset is trained or brain-washed. Similar thing happened to the Jewish Slaves in Egypt in Moses time. You can get them out of Egypt and you cannot get the Slaves Mentality out of them. Application of such restrain created personality type that is passive, withdrawn and depressed.

Often, with teenagers, with much exposures to outside world, unlike the elephants, they can behave well when staying at home with their parents (where the parents can keep an eye on them) they behave well. But when they go overseas for study, they break free and do things that could upset their parents. Forced behavior without a true change internally is not lasting. When the force is removed, the old behavior comes back.

The better ways to change is internal changes - change in MIND and change in Heart.

A change in heart or identity begins with knowing and receiving Jesus Christ .... a rebirth experience. Once rebirth with a new identity, we have a different desire and motivation. With proper study of the Word and communication with the Holy Spirit, we have new values and transformed mind. Because we are made up of different personalities, what touches our hearts could be very different for different people. Jesus treated people according to their made-ups and have different ways of touching the innermost hearts. We should do the same.

We shall cover the change of mind in the next posting Changing Behavior (3) - Changing Mindset

Changing Behaviour (1) Mine

Growth is change. Victorious living is about growth and is about change. We should take a positive view of change, no matter how bad the circumstances look, that change is the opportunity for me to grow.

We begin this series of changing behavior by looking at changing ourselves first. In the subsequent post, we will discuss how we can help others change for the better.

The attached picture show us why we make certain choices and why we behave in a certain way. What we are now, success or failure (note#3 in the map below), is the result of our behavior (#2) as the consequence of the choice(#1) we made. What we are now is the sum total of the choices we made in the past. If we want to change, it begins with changing our choices.

Man is a tripartite being of spirit, soul(mind, will & emotion) and body. We need to understand our behavior and decision making through these 3 components. 

• An opportunity in the Environment triggers us to make a choice.
  
• Our choice is influenced by our emotion, knowledge & experience, our perception of the opportunity and our evaluation algorithm.
   ...
• Knowledge: Guard our Mind. We should filter the information coming into our mind Mark 2:24.
• Values and beliefs we hold in our heart (spirit): Guard our Heart. Remember that Christ is in us. We have the treasure in the earthen vessel. We should talk and think according to this truth .... positive attitude and positive self-talk. Let our heart be sensitive to the leading of the Holy Spirit Prov 20:27.
   .
• One key point to note in decision making is our "emotional stress" distorts our thinking , or the evaluation algorithm. Under stressful conditions, we often make the wrong decisions. We should delay our decision making in most situations (except the life threatening emergencies) and let the peace in our heart be the guide.
  
  (ALT) Col 3:15 And let the peace of God be exercising control in your* hearts...

Our action will change when our mindset is changed. Our action will change we our heart is changed. Our heart is changed by receiving Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord.

Next: Christianity Rediscovered: Changing Behavior (2) - Causes