Is it possible that even within the church, where life change is literally our mission, that we know very little about motivating people to make difficult change?
It is the pursuit of that question that led me to explore the fascinating and very insightful new book by Dan and Chip Heath called Switch. In their own unique way these two authors explore why change is so difficult, how people make successful changes, and how we can help motivate change around us.
Although it is not written towards a church audience specifically the implications of this book for spiritual formation are far reaching. Quite frankly Switch taught me more about leading my people into significant spiritual change than almost any book I have ever read on spiritual formation.
For the next couple of weeks I will post some reflections from the book to spur some conversation on the subject of affecting true change. There is a central metaphor in the book that helps guide their discussion of change. The metaphor is of a rider on an elephant. The authors assert that the reason change is so difficult for us is that often our heart and our mind are not in alignment, we are in fact schizophrenic when it comes to motivation. 
Certainly any of us who have tried to lose weight, or give up an addiction, or begin writing the great American novel, know this two sided nature of our minds. Our analytical side is like the rider on the elephant. The rider knows the path that we want to take, she can see the road ahead and can plan out exactly what needs to happen to get there. The problem is that the rider is a lot weaker than the elephant. The elephant represents our emotion and motivation. The elephant is the energy necessary to go where we need to go and to do what we need to do.
The problem is that the rider and the elephant are often of different minds. So how do we align the two? The book tries to answer that question by looking at how we should best Direct the Rider, Motivate the Elephant, and Shape the Path.
When we take these three ideas and combine them with a robust theology of the Holy Spirit and God’s shaping of our lives I think we find some rally powerful tools to help shape our own lives and the lives of those we minister to.
So as we enter this conversation about change let’s focus specifically on spiritual formation. What have you found to be the hardest parts of change in your spiritual life? When have you experienced spiritual breakthrough? What have been the biggest roadblocks to significant change in your spiritual life?
February 17, 2010 at 8:29 am
I’m looking forward to these posts. That seems like a great metaphor (unlike the blue parakeet) to carry the book. Made to Stick is either the next book I read or the one after that so these posts might help shape my entrance into that other book.
February 17, 2010 at 10:50 am
The Blue Parakeet is an awesome book, but not a great metaphor. As Chip and Dan would say it is not sticky enough because I can’t even remember why it is the metaphor for the book.
Made to Stick is a must read for any preacher, so good.