Bringing About Meaningful Change Prof Stuart B. Hill Western Sydney University s.hill@westernsydney.edu.au www.stuartbhill.com 1

One radical way to progress our thinking & action is paradoxically (in a workshop context) to boldly ‘LIE' about changes that you have already brought about (that you have actually not brought about!) Enables us to vision & act from our ‘core’ being (our benign potential); not from our maladapted/compensatory selves By daring to engage in such 'deep' reflection & implementation of meaningful doable initiatives, we can significantly contribute to changing our lives & the world for the better (rather than just tinkering with the status quo) 2

Bringing About Meaningful Change: Ground Rules very first (uncensored) thoughts focus on 1, 2 or 3 things (versus a long list) in pairs: take turns to think & listen; equal (adequate) time; if in threes, third person can keep notes express in words (&/or drawings, sounds…) note all associated thoughts, feelings, images, memories…

(using: words, facial expression, body stance) LYING PRACTICE! – in pairs (1 min each), boldly ‘lie’ about – whichever one is the bigger lie! (using: words, facial expression, body stance) the completely healthy breakfast I had this morning the optimal physical exercises I did before breakfast! 4

Your ABSOLUTE ‘LIE’ (in pairs: 2 min each) Boldly LIE about one positive thing you have successfully done (that you have actually not done!) to implement a really significant ‘ecologically sustainable’ initiative – remember to go with your first thought – choose re which is the most challenging area! in your: work – home – region – or other (Remember: this is a complete LIE!)

3 Effective Enabling Actions What were the 3 things that were most effective & important in enabling you to achieve your ‘lie’: They may be ‘internal’ (e.g., beliefs about yourself) &/or ‘external’ (e.g., helpful supports etc.) 1 2 3 6

What’s one thing you have actually already done, or are currently doing, that in any way relates to your lie? What might be a possible next step or action that could help to make your lie become a reality?

Kurt Lewin’s Force Field Analysis add strengthen Driving forces* Restraining forces (barriers)* *external & internal remove weaken 8

Limiting factors for change (the most commonly mentioned barriers) information & access to it, misinformation, knowledge, skills, competencies… resources: renewable, non-renewable, technologies, money, time… institutional supports: policies, programs, structures, services, legislation, regulations… 9

Limiting factors for change (usually the more important barriers) family & community support empowerment/disempowerment (feelings of helplessness/hopelessness) awareness vision & imagination values, worldviews, paradigms, beliefs persistent denial, procrastination & distractive/compensatory activities 10

How might/could you go about getting these things that you would need? What would you need to have access to in order to be able to take this next step? (particular information, skills, resources, supports, etc.) How might/could you go about getting these things that you would need?

What might stop you? (barriers): external (eg, judgements by others, lack of support...) & internal (eg, fears, lack of confidence, postponement patterns…) How might/could you get around & overcome these external & internal barriers? (e.g., by reducing the initiative to make it more doable…)

What small meaningful, doable initiative(s) are you willing to absolutely commit to? Over what time frame? Who will you ask to be an ally to you & collaborate with you, in this project; & what specifically will you ask them to do?

How will you celebrate your progress & outcomes? – so that others may learn from your initiative & experience? (to make such progressive change become ‘contagious’) What have you learned from participating in this exercise?