Changing Your Mind Set: "Uncovery" + "Discovery" + "Recovery" = "Empowerment"
We are "creatures of habit." And, although we usually think that habits are physical behaviors, such as how we brush our teeth, how we hold our knife and fork, etc.; our habits can be mental as well.
And, it is the mental habits that we most need to change.
But what if we find that our mental habits are even more difficult to change than our physical habits and behaviors?
Resistant and Resilient
Our mental habits develop a resistance to change and a resilience that make a direct, force of will, frontal attack a "self-defeating" exercise.
Therefore, we have to use an indirect approach. This approach is:
- "Uncovery"
- Discovery
- Recovery
- Empowerment
We may be prone to giving up on the challenge of changing our mind set. We may have internalized the "spirit willing, flesh weak" mantra. We may use this excuse, but the "spirit/ body dichotomy" is far from a complete roadmap.
Beware even more of the mantras of your burned out colleagues, particularly when they apply their version to students. The burned out educator's version is,
"Spirit willing, body strong and hormone filled, mind weak."
Beware! Avoid commiserating with someone who displays this mind set. Avoid this thinking trap because it is slow death from moment-by-moment misery and learned helplessness.
Spirit is Willing, Body is Strong, Mind is Reluctant, Recalcitrant, Resistant, Reactionary and et al.
What this means is that the mind is the best tool for focusing (executing) your vision, planning, application, and performance.
This also means that your mind (especially hidden habits of mind) can be the greatest impediment to your changing, developing and growing professionally. Your habits of mind (not your IQ) are the independent variable that contributes to your professional genius.
Steps to Empowerment
Genius gives everybody nothing if unused and hidden. Results count!
Literally, you can count results; but, how can you count something that doesn't exist?
This is the same reason that loosing weight, quitting smoking or not eating sweets are ineffective goals. There is no target. There are no measures for something that doesn't exist.
That is the reason that changing your mind set requires that you specify exactly what measurable targets can be used to provide clear indicators of your progress.
This is the reason for the three steps to empowerment, i.e.,:
- Uncovery
- Here is where you find out as much as you can about the "inner workings" of your mind
- Items in this category are difficult to know, and one of your lifelong learning tasks is to uncover them
- Assumptions
- Beliefs
- Rationalizations
- Cognitions
- Self-Talk
- Values
- Ideals
- Dreams
- Etc.
- Discovery
- This is an exploration into the "outer" workings of your mind. Items in this category are easier to know
- The list above plus…
- Talents and Skills
- Experiences
- Contacts
- Personal Resources
- Recovery
- This is the process of setting yourself on the "right track," of making yourself "right with yourself"
- If you know what your ideals, values and beliefs are, either
- Align your thoughts and behaviors, or
- Substitute aligned thoughts and behaviors or misaligned ones
You see what you believe, and you interpret events, environmental states and interpersonal interactions based upon your beliefs.
This is important because so much of your effectiveness as a teacher, mentor, facilitator and guide to your students depends on the components of your mind set.
You can use almost any theory to explain, justify (even excuse) your classroom behavior and performance. This is a process, some call it a "defense mechanism" called, "rationalization."
Your Relationship with your Students
The "Uncovery," "Discovery" and " Recovery" process is designed to help you eliminate these rationalizations and to focus instead on the "reality" that exists for you in relationship to your students.
This "Uncovery," "Discovery" and " Recovery" process enables you to change your mind set to a mind set that reflects the possibility that your students can learn at rates and levels, at a depth and expanse that will amaze you. This "Uncovery," "Discovery" and " Recovery" process can open your eyes to the emense creative talents, charisma, potential and insight that your students posses.
Empowerment
The "Uncovery," "Discovery" and " Recovery" process also leads you to one of the most apparent (yet hidden) secrets of education, i.e., that the "empowered teacher" is the teacher that empowers students.
And, the empowered teacher is the teacher that has aligned their mind set to a constellation of attitudes, beliefs, assumptions, values, ideals and dreams that reflect a reality of empowerment for teachers and students.
When you come to behave, feel, believe, self-talk and when other people discuss this constellation that you exemplify in terms of parameters that expand instruction; then you will have objective evidence that the "Uncovery," "Discovery" and " Recovery" process was effective.
Feel free to leave the comfort of your current mind set; travel the "Uncovery," "Discovery" and " Recovery" road; and travel towards the uncharted terrain of personal satisfaction and professional genius.
