Keeping Resolutions...for the new years
or any other time of the year...-
Part IV, Putting it all together.
by Roy Kim. rkim@changework.com
Copyright 2000 by Roy Kim.
Greetings.
The last time we covered how resolutions are really oaths and
how these oaths were used effectively
to bind people towards action. We gave an example of the Hypocratic
oath and the five elements
that all oaths have. We covered the process of finding what is
compelling or what is "Sacred" to you.
We also talked about the nature of beliefs and it's tied to the
actions we take.
OK, you have all this cool info, then how do you put this all
together?
Before we get to that, let's discuss physiology.
Act before you feel...
Have you heard of the saying "fake it before you make it?"
"Acting as if "before you believe
is particularly true when your adopting a new belief. Acting
involves not only dialog, it
involves the physical actions. When your taking an oath in the
military or in a court of law,
you would be required by the administrator of the oath to stand
up straight, raise your right hand
and speak congruently as if you intend to do what you say.
Exercise - say it like you mean it...say it like you don't.
Believe in exercise...
1 - Recall something you believe in strongly or recall someone
you really respect.
2 - Stand up straight.
3 - Describe it in as much detail and with as much feeling as
possible.
4 - Observe how you feel.
Don't Believe in exercise...
1 - Recall something you really take exception to or recall someone
you have no respect for.
2 - Sit in a slouched relaxed manner.
3 - Describe it in as much detail and with as much feeling as
possible.
4 - Observe how you feel.
This should give you an idea of how physiology is involved
with taking an oath.
Now let's put this all together. Let's create an oath using this
understanding.
Creating an oath/resolution.
Let's say you want to create an oath to contribute to an e-mail
list.
Here are the steps:
1 - Define the action you want to take:
I want to contribute to the e-mail list on a regular basis.
2 - Define "what is sacred" from the action (i.e. Criterial
illicitation):
person a: "What's important about contributing to the e-mail
list?"
person b: "Because I'll increase my knowledge by sharing
what I know and get recognition.
Person a: "What's important about knowledge?"
person b: "...it allows me to experience enligtenment..."
person a: "What's important about recognition?"
person b: "...respect..."
You may need to ask the question a couple of times to find the
high level value.
3 - Create a belief statement...because...
"I contribute to the e-mail list because of the knowledge
and respect I'll experience from
it."
4 - Phrase the belief statement into a resolution (or oath).
I <name of person b> resolve to contribute to the e-mail
list because of the knowledge
and the respect I'll experience from it.
5 - Find someone to be accountable to...(i.e. Person a)
6 - Stand up straight, raise your right hand and say the resolution
(oath) out loud..."Act as if..."
Exercise: Feel the oath.
Do steps 5 and 6 and recite the resolution/oath word per word.
Be sure to say it congruently as if you ment it.
If you did this exercise, you may have experienced "Wow!,
that felt good!" and you may find
as others have, a "sense of importance" on what you
said.
That is what is suppose to happen when you take an oath. It "installs"
actions and beliefs.
The other outcome may have been "I didn't feel anything..."
or "...this stuff doesn't work, it's
a bunch of..." which shows that you probably didn't do step
6, that is "Act as if..." you believe
in what you said. If you had a partner, they probably saw that
you were "not really with it."
This by the ways is how you can use an oath or resolution
as a "congruency" or "lie" detector.
Now, do the oath yourself, for your own purpose.
Exercise: create your own resolution.
Take the layout described in "Creating your own oath"
and do the exercise.
I enjoyed doing this article and know if you did the exercises,
you probably
felt a benefit as well.
Enjoy making powerful resolutions and powerful changes in your
life!!!
For more information, send e-mail to info@changework.com