Today we’re diving into a topic that’s close to my heart:
How to transform a hopeless situation – which leads most changemakers to burnout and depression – into an enjoyable activity that consistently generates progress.
You think it’s too good to be true?
Well, I’ve seen firsthand how powerful it can be when changemakers take on seemingly impossible challenges and turn them into opportunities for growth and impact.
So today, let’s explore how to apply the insights of positive psychology to improve your daily experience being a changemaker.
The daily battle
Most of the changemakers I advise and coach are burned out.
They see suffering – poverty, discrimination, pain – and it breaks their heart.
So they commit to working harder.
Nothing will stop them.
Day in and day out.
Grind.
I’m as guilty as anyone.
For years I used to think that I would have success in another month, at the end of the legislative session, or after the next election.
Waiting for a magical future when I wouldn’t have to struggle through nonstop weeks with my shoulder against the wheel.
But that kind of mindset wears you down.
You start to see every problem as an enemy, every initiative as a battle in a larger war, every day as a chore of fighting and suffering.
You can spend a career as a broken, jaded warrior.
Only it reduces your effectiveness.
And it’s certainly not enjoyable.
But is an alternative even possible?
I think the answer is yes.
When I feel defeated by the daily fight, I try to apply the 3 steps of transformation developed by renowned psychologist Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi.
It helps me enjoy the problemsolving journey, even when the situation feels hopeless.
Let me show you how.
Flow and resilience
At the heart of the topic we’re discussing is the concept of flow.
Flow is a state of mind where we’re fully immersed in a task or activity, and we’re so absorbed that we lose track of time and become completely focused on what we’re doing.
It’s a state of being where our skills and abilities match the challenge at hand, and we’re able to perform at our best.
But how can we achieve this state of flow when we’re faced with a seemingly hopeless situation, like today’s dispiriting trends in homelessness, crime, or opioid addiction?
That’s where Csikszentmihalyi’s 3 steps of transformation come in.
3 steps of transformation
Step 1: Unselfconscious Self-Assurance
What changemakers usually do: Many changemakers approach complex social problems with a vision of how they’re going to change the system and permanently solve the problem.
They’re the superhero.
All they need to do is use their powers to force the preferred solution into reality.
Ironically, it’s a self-centered mindset focused on dominating the environment and controlling the situation.
Why it’s not effective: When being a superhero doesn’t work, they start to feel frustrated.
They end up feeling hopelessness when the problem proves to be too complex or challenging to solve through sheer force of will.
Trying to take charge when you’re not in control is very disempowering.
What to do instead: Adopt an unselfconscious self-assurance, which involves recognizing that your destiny is in your own hands, while also recognizing that your goals may need to be subordinated to a greater entity.
This approach involves focusing on finding ways to function harmoniously within the environment – as part of the system – and being open to alternative solutions.
Step 2: Focusing Attention on the World
What changemakers usually do: Many changemakers are so focused on their own desires and concerns that they fail to notice the environment and the people around them.
You know who I’m talking about…
Changemakers who don’t know their peers working on the problem.
Or even worse, haven’t listened to people actually experiencing the problem.
They’re so absorbed by their ego that they miss opportunities for collaboration and alternative solutions.
Why it’s not effective: This approach leads to tunnel vision for a preferred solution.
Ironically, it’s a way of being self-centered rather than engaging with the complexities of the here and now.
It also lacks objectivity about the range of what’s possible, which limits creativity and prevents discovering new solutions.
What to do instead: Focus attention on the world, adopting an open stance and constantly reminding yourself of alternative possibilities.
This approach lets you be part of the surrounding world, engaging with others to actively discover what’s possible.
Step 3: The Discovery of New Solutions
What changemakers usually do: Many changemakers may approach problems with a fixed set of goals and solutions in mind.
Everything is about what they want to achieve as the self-appointed superhero, not about what others in the community may want.
They may be unwilling to consider ideas that are community-generated and may be more preferable and realistic.
Why it’s not effective: This approach prevents changemakers from discovering new solutions (as opposed to the cookie-cutter “best practices” they’ve read about online) that could be more effective in addressing the unique local problem.
What to do instead: Adopt an approach that focuses on the entire situation, including oneself, to discover whether alternative goals may not be more appropriate and thus different solutions possible.
This approach involves being open to a holistic, systems-level view and being willing to adapt goals and strategies as needed to effectively address the problem.
Enjoy the changemaker journey
So there you have it – the 3 steps to experiencing flow as you make the world a better place.
- Don’t try to control the situation; Believe in your own power of influence
- Don’t fixate on what you want; Listen to what’s possible
- Don’t fall in love with your solution; Be open to the problem’s possibilities
Try them if you want increased creativity and flexibility, a greater sense of control over the situation, and decreased burnout and hopelessness.
I guarantee you’ll enjoy it.
And be more effective.
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See you next week.
Whenever you’re ready, there are two ways I can help you:
→ I’m a strategic advisor for the toughest societal problems like poverty, crime and homelessness. People come to me when they want to stop spinning their wheels and get transformative, systems-level change.
→ I’m a coach for emerging and executive leaders in the social and public sectors who want to make progress on their biggest goals and challenges.
Let’s find out how I can help you become transformational.
