We use the terminology transformation extensively in the corporate lexicon, and there are units and departments named after it. At a core level transformation requires effort and is a mindset change.
The core of transformation is change and we, as humans, have created a world where the only thing permanent is change. As humans, we have always evolved with the world around us. When we see change happening around us, we transform ourselves to adapt. Take for example the covid pandemic that ensued for 2 years, we as citizens of this world adapted to new ways of interaction, new social behaviour, and newer vaccines and we can safely conclude that we are not the same beings as we were 3 years ago.
We have changed as the world has changed!
Anyone in the corporate world who talks about transformation invariably talks about mindset change as the key to such transformation.
Why? Because the mind acts at various levels (of the conscious mind, the subconscious mind, and the unconscious mind). It is important to understand these before concluding that it's indeed a mindset change.
The conscious mind is the aware part of the mind and the one that makes us talk about change. It can easily be changed and/or manipulated to change based on our current circumstances, discussions and compelling arguments. When we say we had a change of mind etc., it is this conscious mind we are talking about.
The unconscious mind is a mere data repository of data that we have been exposed to and data we have processed (and continue to process) over time. What we hold as useful and what we dismiss as useless are all held here.
The subconscious mind is how our conscious mind interacts with our unconscious mind. Our human subconscious mind practices homeostasis (any self-regulating process by which an organism tends to maintain stability while adjusting to conditions that are best for its survival) in our mental realm, by keeping us thinking and acting in a manner consistent with what we have done and said in the past.
However, we as humans have this unique gift to consciously choose our paths rather than be always guided by what we have done or seen in the past for survival. This transformation is adaptive and much required. This requires a mindset change. And any mindset change needs to happen at this subconscious level.
Whenever there is a basic level change to us or our surroundings, our subconscious mind makes us feel emotionally and physically uncomfortable. This is because when we attempt to do anything new or different or try to change any established patterns of behaviour, the sense of fear and discomfort is subconsciously activated.
The reason also is that what we have been following and practising are established as behavioural patterns for a long time. So any change to the already established patterns of behaviours may be hard to break.
However, when we learn to purposefully create new patterns, through new habits, and purposefully let go of old habits, our subconscious will adapt this over some time. The pattern of pulling back towards our existing comfort zone continues each time we try something new. Even thinking about doing something different from what we are accustomed to will always make us feel tense and uneasy.
So every change - whether simple or transformational - requires a change in mindset to change old habits and let go of things before forming newer ones.
In conclusion:
For any transformation to happen there has to be a change in our habits in line with the purpose we want to achieve.
Forming new habits that will help us change, or help us reach our goals, may be tougher to implement at first.
But once these habits become a routine they will help us stay in our (newer) comfort zone.
In this way, we can programme our subconscious mind to work in our favour in an ever-changing environment.
Author
Ravishankar Gopalan
Acknowledgements: Sources for psychological terms and references are from various authors and Sigmund Freud.
Awesome Ravi sir , simply bang on !