walking "at cause"
Purpose:
Learn to become conscious of how your thoughts drive emotions, then actions, and ultimately create outcomes. When individuals learn to live “At Cause” versus being “In Effect” they unleash their personal power. This process allows you to reframe your thoughts and feelings in response to life’s situations with a positive attitude and productive energy.
Background:
As “Something Happens” (SH) in our life, we often react to the situation on an unconscious level. This reaction comes in the form of living in the past, blaming others, shutting down, anger, frustration, worry, judgment, resentment and playing the victim. We call these reactions and emotions being “In Effect.” When we are “In Effect” life happens to us as opposed to making the choice to positively influence our thoughts and emotions. When we make the choice to be “At Cause,” we make the choice to generate self talk that leads to positive emotions and feelings that improve our actions and behaviors. The Personal Power Model makes you aware of choices that drive your thoughts and emotions.
Set Up:
Prepare a set of flip chart pages that have each level of the Personal Power Model on a separate sheet. Lay each flip chart page on the floor in the same order as the Personal Power Model (have “CHOICE” prepared on a page, yet keep this flip chart page off to the side.) Position the participant chairs on the outside of the Personal Power Model with approximately six feet on either side of the model.
Process:
Step 1:
Begin by sharing the steps along the Personal Power Model. Start with S.H. (Something Happens) which generates a thought and self talk. Explain that the thought/self talk will drive an attitude, feeling or emotion. This emotion produces an action and behavior, and the action creates a result or outcome.
Give an example of being “In Effect” while physically walking on the right side of the model on the floor. And then give an example of being “At Cause” while walking beside the model on the left side.
“In Effect” Example:
1) S.H. – A car cuts me off on the road.
2) Thought/Self Talk – “What a jerk!”
3) Attitude/Emotion/Feeling – Anger and frustration.
4) Action/Behavior – I yell and make obscene gestures . . .
5) Outcome/Result – I remain upset for the next couple of hours and negatively impact others at work (other outcomes could be road rage, accident or a ticket).
“At Cause” Example:
1) S.H. – A car cuts me off on the road.
2)Thought/Self Talk – “He’s in a hurry, there may be an emergency.”
3) Attitude/Emotion/Feeling – Empathy and compassion.
4) Action/Behavior – I slow my car down allowing him to pass . . .
5) Outcome/Result – I feel good about being considerate and remain safe on my drive to work.
Step 2:
Ask the participants where the CHOICE was made that led down the path of “Effect” and “Cause”. Bring out the CHOICE flip chart page and lay it on the floor between the S.H. and the Thought/Self Talk. Explain that the most fundamental choices we make are the thoughts we create and the self talk we generate.
Ask four participants to come to the front of the room and walk them through another scenario. Two participants will walk the “Effect” side and two will walk the “Cause” side. Read the following scenario: Your boss left you a voicemail indicating that he wants to give you feedback. He asks you to come to his office to discuss it.
Ask the question and then let the two participants answer as they walk forward.
| Questions: | Sample “In Effect” Responses | |
| What is the situation? | Boss left message about feedback | |
| What thoughts/self talk did you choose? | Oh no, I’m in trouble | |
| What emotion or feeling did that create? | Anxiety, stress, fear | |
| What action will you demonstrate? | Avoidance, gossip, shut down | |
| What result will you get? | Loss of productivity, poor communication |
Repeat above process with the two participants walking “At Cause.”
| Questions: | Sample “At Cause” Responses | |
| What is the situation? | Boss left message about feedback | |
| What thoughts/self talk did you choose? | All feedback is GOOD Feedback | |
| What emotion or feeling did that create? | Anticipation, excitement, chance to learn | |
| What action will you demonstrate? | Schedule appointment, walk to his office | |
| What result will you get? | Learning, growth, recognition |
Step 3:
Ask all participants to think of a real life scenario that generates thoughts and emotions. Have them also consider a situation that did not have a positive outcome. Each person will write out the different situations and then walk forward and backward through each step “In Effect.” Ask the participants to walk again on the “At Cause” side while anchoring in every step; include the power of choice. After participants complete several scenarios on their own, use the following questions for debriefing the exercise:
- How do we influence our emotions?
- Can someone else make us angry or frustrated? Why?
- When we feel ourselves “In Effect” what brings us back to walking “At Cause”?
- How do we make different choices?
- Can a person with negative attitude learn to be positive?
- What impact will remaining “At Cause” have on your life? Your business culture?
Conclusion:
The Personal Power Model allows individuals to understand that everyone is ultimately at choice for their attitudes, emotions, and feelings. As you get conscious of your feelings, you will begin to change your self talk. Living “At Cause” allows you to take responsibility for your life. Your choices impact your thoughts and your thoughts create your life . . . “To Think is To Create!”
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