“Build your willpower to make it happen” - Colonel Debu Pagay
My military career came to an end in March 2020. I was in the profession of soldiering for more than three decades. Soldiering was my life. I had never paid any attention as to what my life would be once I had hung my spurs. My retirement day finally arrived and on 31st March 2020 at one minute past 12 noon my soldiering career ended.
This event hit me like a thunderbolt. Though I knew it was coming, I was not prepared for the eventuality. I was jobless, my identity as a soldier (Colonel) was gone and I had nowhere to go. I felt like I was LOB… left out of battle. In less than a fortnight after retirement, I went into a negative spiral. I became lethargic, anxious and irritable. I would recall my Military days and become emotional and sad.
In December 2019, just three months before my retirement, I went to Goa with my friends. This was the turning point of my life. One sunny and bright morning, I was walking on the beach with my friend who is a very successful businesswoman. She asked what my plans were for the future. I could not answer her question! I had not thought of it.
After a while she acknowledged my capabilities as a Military trainer, assessor and a counsellor. She suggested that I take up Coaching as a second career. Her suggestion got me thinking and I became convinced that with my Military knowledge and experience, I could give it a try. My first step was learning and obtaining required certifications.
Thus started my journey in the coaching world. My transformation had begun…
“Have the courage to step out into the unknown, it is then that opportunities befriend you” - Colonel Debu Pagay
What is Transformation?
Transformation is the process of completely changing the character or appearance of something. It can be physical, psychological(mental), or spiritual. Transformation can occur in an instant or over a period of time. It can be voluntary or involuntary. Some people seek out transformation, while others resist it. But whether we like it or not, transformation is a universal human experience. We all go through changes in our lives, some big and some small.
Transformation can be scary. It can be exciting. It can be both at the same time. But one thing is for sure: transformation always brings growth.
Human Transformation – It is an internal shift that tunes us to our untapped and unknown potential. It is the heart of every major aspect of our lives . It gives us a clear picture of how we see and relate to the world and how we perceive ourselves in it. It is a time bound and systematic process.
Human Transformation includes a wide range of transformative experiences for a person. It is about consciously putting efforts to develop one’s physical and mental fitness, emotional well-being and cognitive agility.
Carl Jung, the famous psychologist, speaks about Transformation and the psychology of change.
He said, “We cannot change anything unless we accept it.” Transformation is getting closer to your authentic self, reorienting yourself with the person that you want to become. It provides a clear path to tap our full potential and lead a purposeful life with passion. Transformation or any aspect of growth lies outside our comfort zones. To achieve something, we have to let go of something in us. Attachment is often the root cause of our psychological pain.
How does one achieve Human Transformation?
Human beings are social organisms innately wired for transformation. We as a species have an extraordinary quality which is, the ability to learn and adapt to any situation. As we are social organisms, the surest way to transform is to connect with others. People inspire in learning and growth.
Human transformation is a process of inner change that leads to a new way of existence. It requires a change in our perception, our thinking, understanding and acting. Change is a challenge, but it is possible to achieve with commitment and strong will power.
The first step is to become aware of our current state. We need to know what we want to change and why. Once we have this clarity, we can begin to take steps towards transformation. This may involve exploring new ideas, practices and ways of evolving.
The journey of human transformation is different for everyone based on their perspectives, experiences and desires. The process involves self-awareness, self-introspection and exploration for positive change and growth. With commitment and dedication, human transformation is possible.
Key criteria for Human Transformation –
The key criteria are -
(a) Self - reflection - Introspection and mental fitness is the key. This is the first one to develop in coaching.
Self-reflection: achieve Human Transformation. By looking within, we have the ability to change ourselves and the world around us. The power of self-reflection is often underestimated, but it is a crucial tool for human transformation.
Through self-reflection, we can gain a deeper understanding of who we are and what we want in life. We can identify our strengths and weaknesses, and work on improving ourselves. We can also learn from our past mistakes and make better choices in the future.
When we take the time to reflect on our lives, we can make positive changes that will benefit us and those around us. We can become more compassionate, patient, and forgiving. We can become more successful in our careers and relationships. We can become happier and healthier people overall.
If you want to achieve human transformation, start with self-reflection.
(b) Cooperation – People support and cooperation builds trust and a sense of belonging. This increases creativity and productivity.
(C) Positivity and Optimism – Affirmation, emotional well-being and learning from our experiences help in development of self-efficacy.
Self-efficacy is a powerful tool that can help humans transform their lives. By believing in oneself and one's ability to achieve goals, self-efficacy can help people overcome obstacles and reach their full potential.
Self-efficacy is based on the belief that we can control our own destiny and that our actions have a direct impact on our lives. This belief gives us the motivation to take action and persist in the face of difficulties. It also allows us to see failure as a learning opportunity rather than a personal setback.
People with high self-efficacy are more likely to set challenging goals, persevere in the face of setbacks, and recover from failure. They are also more resilient in the face of stress and adversity. All of these factors contribute to greater success in life.
(d) Fulfilling Basic Needs – The first tier of Maslow’s theory of Hierarchy states that without stable support for our basic needs, we cannot aspire for self-actualization.
As the world progresses, so does the way we view safety and security. What used to be physical threats have now transformed into more psychological dangers. This shift has made human transformation necessary in order to stay ahead of the curve.
According to Maslow's theory, humans are constantly striving to reach their full potential. In order to do this, they must first overcome any obstacles in their way. Safety and security are two major obstacles that can stand in our way of achieving human transformation.
Thankfully, there are ways we can overcome these challenges and achieve our goals. By understanding the new landscape of safety and security, we can make the necessary changes to stay safe and secure. With these tools, we can finally achieve human transformation.
Coaching – An effective tool to transform
Coaching is a scientific tool that helps in transformation to help individuals and organizations improve performance and achieve desired outcomes and goals.
A coach can help an individual identify areas where they would like to see improvement and set realistic goals to achieve those objectives. They can also provide support and accountability to help the individual stay on track.
Organizations can also benefit from coaching. A coach can help a team develop a shared vision and goal, build trust, improve communication, and increase collaboration. Coaching can also help leaders develop their skills and abilities.
Whether you are an individual or an organization, coaching can be a valuable tool to help you reach your potential and make lasting change. Coaching is the process of partnering with someone to support them through a significant change that helps them grow, develop, and ultimately “rewrite their reality.”
A coach empowers you to completely rethink what’s possible for you -
- Helps in gaining awareness about your talents, motivators, dreams and fears.
- It facilitates in shifting to a positive perspective with a growth mindset for defining your own terms for success and happiness.
- Transformation is a process that has the potential to yield exceptional results through long lasting sustainable change. By partnering with the right coach, you can create the exceptional future you want and enjoy success.
Stay tuned In the next blog I will explore about Success Mindset.
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