Podcast Summary
Mastering the habits that matter most for lasting change: Craig Groeschel's book 'The Power to Change' provides practical principles to help identify the reasons for our behaviors and learn how to change, emphasizing the importance of discovering a greater power beyond motivation and willpower.
, according to Craig Groeschel, change can be a frustrating and elusive process, but it is possible to master the habits that matter most and experience lasting change. In his new book, "The Power to Change," Groeschel offers practical principles to help identify why we do what we do and learn how to change. He acknowledges that motivation and willpower play a role, but emphasizes the importance of discovering a greater power to facilitate change. Groeschel's goal is to equip leaders with this knowledge, and his teachings are clear from a Christian perspective. He encourages listeners to reflect on their own struggles with change and embrace the possibility of growth. Groeschel's personal experience of repeatedly trying to change but failing only to succeed later underscores the importance of perseverance and the power of learning to master the habits that matter most.
Change is a challenging process: Change requires persistence, it's not a sign of personal failure, but an opportunity to learn and grow.
Change is a challenging process that leaves many feeling exhausted and powerless. We all have desires to improve ourselves and our lives, but the effort required to make lasting changes can be draining. The cycle of starting and stopping attempts at change can lead to feelings of frustration, shame, and self-despising. Common areas of desire for change include starting new habits or stopping negative behaviors. Despite our best efforts and numerous attempts, change can elude us, leading to feelings of embarrassment and regret. It's important to remember that change is hard and requires persistence, but it's not a sign of personal failure. Instead, it's an opportunity to learn and grow.
Why Lasting Change Comes From Within: Focusing on who we are and our relationship with God leads to lasting change, not just trying harder or focusing on what we do.
Lasting change in life doesn't come from trying harder or focusing on what we do, but rather from focusing on who we are and our relationship with God. We often fail in our attempts to change because we approach it from the wrong perspective, and this can lead to feelings of shame and self-hatred. However, it's important to remember that change is possible, and God promises to help us in our journey. In this book, we will explore various concepts and practices to help us master the habits that matter most and experience lasting change. We will evaluate our self-perception, learn the value of training over just trying harder, discover how hope and habits work together, and see how the reap-sow principle can change our future. By focusing on who we are and our relationship with God, we can begin to make progress towards the life we've always wanted. Isaiah 43:19 reminds us that God is always doing something new, and He will make a pathway for us through the wilderness and create rivers in the dry wasteland. The first step in this journey is to understand why we do what we do and embrace the truth that lasting change comes from within.
Our actions are influenced by our self-perception: Self-perception shapes our identities and ultimately dictates our actions. Cultivating a positive and authentic self-image is crucial.
Our actions are influenced by our self-perception. The story of the church parking lot fight illustrates this point. Pastors Robert and I, despite our youth and excitement, couldn't watch the fight because of who we were – Christians, pastors, peacemakers. Proverbs 23:7 reinforces this idea, stating "for as he thinks within himself, so he is." The thoughts we hold about ourselves shape our identities and ultimately dictate our actions. Two individuals with similar circumstances can have vastly different self-perceptions and consequently, different actions. This concept is a powerful reminder of the importance of cultivating a positive and authentic self-image.
How our identities shape our decisions: Understanding our identities and challenging limiting beliefs can help us make better decisions and change our behaviors.
Our thoughts and beliefs about ourselves significantly influence our actions and decisions. This concept, known as the identity model of decision making, suggests that we subconsciously ask ourselves three questions when making a choice: who am I, what kind of situation is this, and what would someone like me do in this situation? Our identities shape our responses to these questions, leading us to behave in certain ways. For instance, if we believe we're not good with money, we may continue to struggle financially despite our best intentions. Alternatively, if we think we're always attracting the wrong romantic partners, we might find ourselves in unhealthy relationships. However, these self-perceptions aren't set in stone. By recognizing and challenging limiting beliefs, we can begin to change our thoughts and, ultimately, our actions. As Jesus said, "With God, all things are possible." Focusing on self-improvement through behavior modification alone can lead to stagnation, as we may fail to follow through if we haven't addressed the underlying beliefs driving our behaviors. Instead, let's strive to change both who we think we are and what we do.
Focus on changing identities and beliefs for lasting change: To ensure lasting change, we must undergo second order change by focusing on changing our thoughts and beliefs, not just our behaviors.
Lasting change cannot be achieved solely by modifying our behaviors. Instead, we must focus on changing our identities and the underlying beliefs that drive our actions. Behavior modification, such as trying to stop watching pornography or waking up early to pray, may provide temporary results, but without addressing the root cause, we will eventually fall back into old patterns. To ensure lasting change, we must undergo second order change, which involves thinking differently about ourselves and our motivations. This approach, according to cybernetic theory, is the only kind of change that lasts. As the apostle Paul encourages in Romans 12:2, "Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may discern what is the will of God—what is good and acceptable and perfect." By focusing on changing our thoughts and beliefs, we can experience real, lasting transformation.
Change the way you think about yourself to change your actions: Recognizing and believing in our inherent capabilities as leaders can help us create lasting change in our external actions by transforming our internal mindset.
To effectively change our actions, we first need to change our mindset and thoughts about ourselves. This idea is supported by both cybernetic theory researchers and the apostle Paul. As Paul says in Romans 12:2, "let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think." Our actions are a reflection of our thoughts and beliefs about ourselves. Therefore, to change what we do, we must first change what we think of ourselves. This concept is further explored in the book "The Power to Change" under the section "Who Not To Do." It's important to recognize and believe in our inherent capabilities as leaders, as we all have the ability to influence and make a difference in the world. By focusing on changing our internal mindset, we can create lasting change in our external actions. So, consider reflecting on what you think about yourself and how it impacts your actions. Remember, you have the power to change and make a difference.
Belief in team's potential for growth: Believe in your team's potential for growth and improvement, work together towards achieving goals, and everyone benefits from the success.
Continuous growth and improvement are essential for both individuals and teams. The speaker expresses confidence in the team's ability to grow and achieve better results. This belief in one's own capabilities is crucial for success. The speaker encourages the team to embrace this mindset and work together towards achieving their goals. Ultimately, everyone benefits when a leader or team member improves, leading to a win-win situation. The speaker's message is one of encouragement and belief in the team's potential. Let's strive for growth and improvement every day.
