+007_How do I FINALLY change?

According to Dr. Vervaeke: "create a counteractive dynamical system" with several entry approaches to change and barriers to regression. Me and some of the guys at my church run the experiment.

**This article was spurred by more John Vervaeke insights. Specifically episode #37 of the meaning crisis lecture on reverse engineering enlightenment. Here it goes:]

---

1. An experiment in positive transformation

Some guys at my church wanted an approach to more radical transform. There was discontent with existing patterns of sin.

We needed change.

So we proposed to setup an activity in which we could attempt to foster that change.

Workouts 2 mornings a week. 6:00am in the courtyard of the church. Our thinking being: Doing something difficult as a group will shape us differently, draw us closer, draw us out of other harmful patterns.

We call it M.O.D.—Men of Discipline.

We are on week 47. As i write this. A small group going strong. About 5-8 regulars.

What i see now is that MOD is a part of a Counter Dynamical System of Transformation at our church.

Here’s how it’s helped:

-A handful of people noticeably lost weight. Including some guys near 100lbs loss. (health improvements)

-Not just noticeable weight loss, but they are now competing at difficult sporting events regularly and as recreation (health as an outlet for play and lifestyle transformation)

-Their dids have joined in the activities. (multi-generational affect)

-There is a more physical/masculine culture at that church. (possible right of passages for young men and men.)

-Resources like these Diagrams I’ll show below are constantly being collected and shared with the group (increase in learning.)

-Members of the group have created business opportunities together (financial improvements)

Even people that aren’t regulars of the group have changed health habits.

Of course, it’s not perfect. But It’s an approach to positive transformation.

---

This is what I presented to the guys Tuesday Morning:

*see TCB+006 to get a breakdown on “Parasitic Processing” and spiraling.

I used Dr. John Vervaeke’s Wheel Illustration that he took from the teaching tools of the Buddha.

It’s basically my logo…I about spit out my seltzer water.

HERES THE ANSWER TO THE MEANING CRISIS NICK. LET ME DRAW IT.

lol i know it’s a pattern but still…

Imagine each spoke is an approach to transformation. Individually they lay on the ground by themselves. Someone might be able to use the metal for something. But crafted well, they create a self-rolling wheel.

“one shot interventions aren’t going to work (as well)”

---

We discussed the Body of Christ analogy used in 1 Corinthians 12, which obviously applies tremendously to this idea of the Counteractive Dynamical System.

The group suffers together. The group rejoices together.

Everyone has a part to play that contributes to the whole.

The group is self organizing and preserves itself and continues to be a catalyst for transformation even though it will suffer loss.

Hopefully none of this staked on any one member of the whole.

---

This is not to reduce Church to Systems Theory or something, but you can see the power of this framing.

If someone is hurting, caught in their cycle, you might show them that there are actually methods of change that don’t depend entirely on their broken will.

The broken will can be hopelessly defeating.

They can break the pattern and be free.

But how? How when they’ve been stuck for you so long?

You get a new body. Like the body of Christ.

You become a part of a Counteractive Dynamical System that changes your environment, you daily habits, and your aim.

The church seems to me, underutilized as a potential path of transformation.

---

In the remaining TCB+Subscriber portion of this article:

2.“Losers have goals and dreams, Winners have systems.”

3.The Gold Smith Analogy.

4. “How does AA work? Just fine.”

5. Reformed Protestantism.

---