A simple framework for changing anything.

I've been really fascinated with the process of personal transformation and I’m starting to see some seemingly universal ideas across all of the different things I’m reading.

It seems to me, that in much of life, if you want to change anything, you need to roughly go through 5 steps.

1. Motivation
2. Observation
3. Agency
4. Strategy
5. Adaptation

Motivation

You have to want to change something. Because change requires energy. And energy has a cost. It’s always easier to stay the same.

Observation

To affect anything, you first need to be able to isolate it. Sometimes this means increasing your vocabulary so that you can see more. Other times, this means doing detective work and working backwards from effects to find triggers.

Agency

Once you’re able to observe something, you then need to believe that it’s actually something that can be changed and that it’s something you can change. I guess this can also be called confidence.

Strategy

Even if you believe that something is changeable, without some kind of a roadmap, it’s going to be hard. My own experience as well as some of the things I’m reading seem to suggest that finding an existing system to apply is a much better strategy than trying to invent one yourself.

Adaptation

“All models are wrong, some are useful” ~ George Box

Regardless of which strategy you chose, you’ll need to adjust. It could be because the strategy you chose to copy isn’t entirely applicable to your situation. It could be because things change and systems stop working. So you need to constantly reflect on your system and your progress. Make changes as necessary and be ready to constantly evolve in response to internal and external changes.

Conclusion

Nothing about this seems revolutionary to me. It all seems very generic. But I guess even the generic can be revolutionary when it’s paired with a deeper understanding.