Chapter 8 Language As An Act Of Creation
Report On Assignment
Objective: At the end of this session you will understand the root cause of your self-defeating behavior, recognize the ability to stop the cycle by disappearing the triggers and making another choice by bringing into your life the things that you want. Each participant will share what they have learned with at least two other people and return and report their experience at the next session.
You will fill out one more “Change your thoughts and your life” worksheet.
Lets Review …
Go back to Lesson 1, what was the Self Defeating Behavior you decided to work on? _____________________________________________________
How have your Self Defeating Behaviors manifest themselves in the past? _____________________________________________________________
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What thoughts have your changed?_________________________________
How has your behavior changed?__________________________________
Distinguish between positive thinking and possibility thinking.
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Continue by filling out the following “Self – Creating Possibilities Chart”.
Now that your thoughts are being distinguished and intentional thoughts are being processed, the process of change has been identified and your behaviors are being modified, what is now possible for you? _____________________________________________________________
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Assignment: Post the possibilities chart somewhere you will see it daily and review it often (Ex: Bathroom mirror, beside your bed, in your office, etc.) as a reminder of who you are creating yourself to be. Make it a living document that may expand over time. Write in new ideas and empowering thoughts as you find them. Create a possibility statement. (Example: I am the possibility of a caring, creative channel of universal energy.)
Self-Creating Possibility Chart
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Rethinking Possibility
If someone says, “X is possible,” we would normally understand that to mean X does not now exist, and that its existence, even someday, is not certain. The use of the possibility here is different from this ordinary usage. We are not speaking about something remote or something that may happen out into the future. This new view of possibility has an immediate and powerful impact on who we are, how we live our lives, and how we see things and ourselves now, in the present. It has the power to move, touch, and inspire us, to shape our actions; and to shift the way we are being right now.
Language as an Act of Creation
Language is commonly thought of as a bridge to the world. Even the way we learn language implies that first there is a world. Then, in order to connect and deal with that world, we learn language. We seldom, if ever consider that language may in fact be what brings that world into being. A new view of language and being intentional in the words we speak alters the very nature of what is possible. Language comes to be seen as a creative act. Listening and speaking—actions we would normally see as commonplace—take on new dimensions and unexpected power. They become instruments of creation.
- 1. The truth about me is … Blank Canvas, Nothing, Brand New
- 2. I accept experiences as having no meaning; I distinguish what happened from the meanings I created about what happened.
- 3. My intentional & empowering self thoughts about that are …
- 4. An active description I use to clear my thoughts and remind myself of who I choose to be is … Ex: I am happy, I am peaceful, etc.
- 5. I express myself and my life powerfully by …
- 6. The Productive Behaviors I exhibit are …
- 7. How this contributes back to my community is …
Seven Levels Of Leadership
| LEADERSHIP STYLE | LEVEL 1
DICTATOR |
LEVEL 2
DIRECTOR
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LEVEL 3
ORGANZATIONAL PROTECTOR |
LEVEL 4
CLARIFIER |
LEVEL 5
FACILITATOR |
LEVEL 6 LEADER SERVANT |
LEVEL 7
PEER VISIONARY |
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| FOLLOWER-SHIP STYLE | NAÏVE DEPENDENT | NAÏVE OBEDIENT | LOYAL OBEDIENT | CLARIFYING EXPLORER | STEWARDSHIP CONTRIBUTOR | PEER PARTICIPANT ONE AMONG EQUALS | PEER VISIONARY | |||
| MOTIVATION | EXTERNAL | GROUP MEDIOCRITY | PERSONAL EXCELLENCE SHARED COMMUNITY MASTERY | |||||||
The only real way to transform a family, an organization or a community is to transform the individuals within that community. Once transformed, it becomes the goal, the responsibility and the great passion of these transformed individuals to collectively facilitate the transformation of others in that community. The ultimate purpose of this project is to create a community of peer visionaries who will share these concepts in an ever expanding circle of influence. Now that you have eliminated your own negative behaviors and thinking patterns or have the tools to complete and maintain the process, what possibilities exist for you to impact the communities in which you live individually or as a group?
Who do you know individually who could benefit from this material? Who can I share these ideas with? ____________________________________________________
What community, group or organization do you know who could benefit from the team building material presented here? This group may be your own family.
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Change Your Thoughts and Your Life worksheet
The following worksheet will assist you to stay “in the present moment”. You may use the process anytime, but especially use it in situations you feel particularly depressed or anxious about right now.
1. Event: ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
2. Emotions: ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
3. Automatic Thought: ( This is the most important part, it requires the most work and attention. Consciously notice the thoughts flowing through your mind. Ex: “Life is hard”.) ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
4. Resulting Behavior: (What behavior do you see coming out of these thoughts and emotions. Do you act out your SDB’s? Ex: Withdraw from life.) ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
A. Is the thought true? _______________________________________________
B. What do I get by believing these thoughts? ____________________________
C. What comes into my life if I let the thoughts go?________________________
5. Logical response: (This comes out of the 4. ABC questions. Ex: “What I am telling myself is not realistic.”) ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
6. Challenge statement – (Ex: I am capable and can do hard things.) ________________________________________________________________________
7. New Behavior – (Ex: I get up and get it done.)
