"Be the change you want to see"- Mahatma Gandhi
Prima facie it may look like a very simple sentence to preach , but as I start to write this blog I have to stop and contemplate over the dept of the message conveyed in these 7 words.Also I cant stop myself from asking Am i ready to walk on the difficult yet the righteous path of "Self leadership"
On this note started our first class with Anil sir on SELF LEADERSHIP.The discussion revolved around the fact that self leadership starts from inside and not from outside.When we say we want the society to be ethical, are we ready to take the responsibility of our own unethical actions?Have we in this fast paced world become such big hypocrites, that we can only preach about being ethical inspired leader,when we cannot even behave ethically in a small class quiz?
The discussion then went forward with Anil sir teaching us the concept of "IMMUNITY TO CHANGE".This concept has been well published by Robert kegan and Lisa laskow Lahey at the Harvard university.It talks about a persons willingness to change and adapt to new situations , rather than answer the question can a person change?Although this theory is not advised not to be taught to students Anil sir considers us mature enough to deal with the intricacies of the same.On going further immunity of change talks about the resistance a person shows to any new change.This immunity to change is there in all of us.It says that the true change cannot come unless the desire to change comes from within.Perhaps this is the reason why even in an academic freindly environment like SOIL,students unwillingly start running the rat race,rather than competing with themselves, as they have been doing the same for the better part of their lives.
We then procceded further to discuss the most amazing concept of the immunity map.The immunity map has the following 4 stages
- Stage 1: This is the stage where an individual realizes his goals and objectives in life and also contemplates over the purpose of his life and how can he make a difference with it.
- Stage 2 : At this stage the individual recognizes the deterrents which are preventing him/her from achieving your goals.This stage also involves identifying the people who are very important to the individual
- Stage 3 : This is the stage where the individual challenges the statusquo and through a state of consciousness identifies why he is not being able to change.
- Stage 4 : This is the final stage which talks of the assumptions and reasons of not implementing change.Here one has to be completely honest with ones self and not be oblivious to himself.
All this lead to the concept of the IMMUNITY X RAY.It helps us to make a note of all the Collective commitments,what we are doing instead and the collective hidden competing commitments.
The immunity X ray has helped me relive the reason why I joined SOIL in the first place.Somewhere in this short 3 month journey I had lost track of the path and the vision I had for myself before joining SOIL.The immunity X ray helped me relive those dreams and desires and gave me the courage of conviction to do whats right for me and ultimately for the society.
I learned that anybody can change.It just requires a conscious understanding competing commitments and an inner desire to overcome them and see the bigger picture,rather than being stuck with a myopic view of life.
As I end this blog I cant stop quoting my favorite singer Bob Marley's words
“Open your eyes
Are you satisfied
With the life you’re living?” – Exodus
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