Capacity for Change
“There is nothing as constant as change.” – Heroclitus
Change is all around us. The seasonal changes every few months. The sun rises and sets in an unending cycle of hot and cold and light and darkness. Children grow up, have families of their own, and eventually leave and their children continue on.
Other changes are not as inevitable, sometimes we want to change or make changes in our personal lives, families, and neighborhoods even in nations and globally, but it may seem out of reach.
Sound familiar?
While we talk about change a lot, rarely do we discuss our capacity to change. In other words, what changes and how much change are we truly capable of making right now? If we want more change – what is holding us back?
J&A will be developing a tool called Capacity For Change to assist individuals in identifying ways they are able to change and what steps they can take to be capable of greater change in the future. It will do this in three ways.
- Assist individuals, families, and communities in identifying the extent of their desire to change.
Without a desire to change, nothing will happen. Bridging the gap from wanting to change – or perhaps wanting to want to change – to changing can be daunting. Capacity For Change will provide resources for developing that desire.
- Identify the obstacles to change
Even with a strong desire for change, there are often roadblocks from lack of time, education or resources to physical impediments such as transportation infrastructure, physical isolation, and reliance on the “tried and true methods”. Each situation is different, and each person and family needs personalized attention. Capacity for Change will help identify personal, familial community roadblocks to change.
- Discover new methods for change
“The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step” – Chinese proverb
Capacity For Change will not provide programs for change, but it will facilitate the participant’s personal journey to discovering their own action steps that will enable them to solve their own problems one step at a time. Taken in combination with J&A’s Social Change Catalysts, they will be empowered to transform the course of their lives and make regular lasting improvements.
While it is easy to envision this tool for individuals, its scope will extend beyond the individual to families and whole communities in their journeys to improving their way of life.
Sound interesting?
Join our forum for discussion on the development of this essential tool for social change. Read the corresponding chapter of the book.