Blog
Playing With Change
Posted on July 8, 2016
“The world as we have created it is a process of our thinking. It cannot be changed without changing our thinking.”
― Albert Einstein
Matt’s away, so we decided to PLAY! We will be playing with the concept of change, from the micro to the macro, from brain plasticity to social justice movements. We will even explore the concept of “play” itself as a tool for change.
What does change look like on a micro level? How do individuals work through change and transitions in their own lives? We will explore mindfulness, as well as Motivational Interviewing concepts, such as the Spirit of MI and the Stages of Change, as tools for individual change. We will explore how we can use these tools both in our work lives, as helpers, and in our personal lives, working on our own changes.
What about change for a team, department, or an entire organization? What unique challenges do groups face, and what supports are available? These posts will look at exciting change concepts like the Model for Improvement, the differences between Quality Improvement and Quality Assurance, and the Spirit of Quality Improvement.
And finally, we’ll explore the macro level of change, discussing social and community changes. To do so, we’ll share information on the Social Impact Model, and dive into recent major societal changes, like the expansion of rights and protections for the LGBTQ community.
We may take some other detours along the way, as changes are happening every day that matter to all of us. We know that this community is made up of diverse professionals who are committed to driving change, whether it be on a micro or macro level, or somewhere in between. We’re really looking forward to sharing our research, thoughts and explorations with you, and we hope you’ll feel inspired to share your ideas and experiences in the comments – as well as on social media (you can find us on Twitter here, and on Facebook here).
See you next week for our first post about change!
The idea of change and play for personal growth is emphasized by the staff at the Eastside Institute, in New York, where I sometimes volunteer. Non-traditional therapists (social therapy) focus on play. The concept is not altogether new. The Kikuyu tribe, of Kenya, values inculcating children with tribal values with the use of play(Jomo Kenyatta). This has been adopted by some Westerners, I understand. Play and improvisation may ease the transition to another perspective of oneself and of others. Mental and social agility invites positive movement in one’s situation. However, there are opponents to change, of course. The joy that comes from evolution with play is targeted by some. Joy is diminished in sundry ways, in our society. Surprisingly, we must be purposeful in our appreciation of joy and of others. Change, growth, play,joy and love: these are related one to the other, it seems, and we should drink fully of such occasions to experience them.
Negative experiences proliferate. Many are pre-meditated in order to elevate the walls in personal relationships that are pushed by mistrust. In time, all relationships will be governed by mistrust, and love will be smothered. Our challenge is to return to love. “Love your neighbor as yourself.” Some don’t want us to do that. Self-love is being degraded, as is love for others.
Jesus’s imperative to love one’s neighbor is likely related to racial segregation. Imposing physical distance impedes the imperative, and the commandment is hard to obey. Racial segregation is diabolical.
Thank you so much for your thoughts, Philip! We all look forward to hearing more from you over the next weeks – your insight is always so welcomed.
I’m super excited! Bring it on. Thanks!!
This inspired me to request Advanced MI Training at my agency (BCAP). We’ll see 😉