Mind First, Incremental, Radical

There’s a tension in the political activism world between incrementalism and transformational change, or incremental and radical.

In the world of pop psychology and self help, radical transformational change is a highly popular idea, incremental change, not so much.

But….

Here’s the hard, radical truth: incrementalism is how change works. Change happens in fits and starts, unpredictably sometimes. Change is 2 steps forward, 1.98 steps back. Change plateaus, sometimes.

The zealous, passionate, and energetic don’t want to hear this hard, radical truth.

Escapists don’t want to hear it.

Hopeful folks who haven’t investigated the reality of change, don’t want to hear it.

Beware the hype-sters who will sell you lukewarm, diluted change in a mug branded “transformation.”

Change, in reality, is more muddy, thick, and mysterious, than angelic, pure, and simple.

It takes a radical heart to embrace the process required for real, incremental change.

Some of the core principles of Heart x are: mind first, incremental, radical.

Mind First: psychology, they say, is 80% of success. Mind first means putting mental health and emotional growth at the forefront of every meaningful project.

Incremental: consistent effort, over time, is virtually unbeatable. Baby steps, that are pleasurable, require some effort, and are sustainable, add up to marathons and marathons.

Radical: to stand in the face of all the hype-sters, escapists, and wishful thinkers who would tell you you are missing out, is to be the beastly and powerful turtle in the face of a whimsical, distractible hare bouncing around you trying to convince you there’s no way you can win this race. Yes, the turtle is the radical one.