3 Words of Transformation Pt. 1 "Should"

When we talk about transformation we are talking about change, evolution, resurrection, revision, metamorphosis. To identify these stages we are going to use three words: Should - Discovery,  Good - Maintenance and Could - Benevolence These three words align with the different stages men are in as they participate in small men's groups. The First word is "Should" Some definitions of the word should: It is used to indicate obligation, duty, or correctness, typically when criticizing someone's actions. It is used to indicate what is a probable outcome. These meanings of the word 'should' indicate there is emphasis on any time but the present. What I should have done or what I should do.  It puts focus on the past or places a focus on the future. It also has the sense of not being good enough.  There is an emphasis on criticism and guilt that accompanies the word should. This is most often the very struggle that brings men to AMG. Men do not feel good enough because something has gone wrong in life. There is guilt and shame because they should have done something different or there is worry about the future for something they should do different. In AMG we have identified this part of the process as the stage of discovery.  It is in this stage of discovery we are open to some new direction,  open to different ways of doing things,  different attitudes about life because the way we have been doing it has not been working. It is here we can discover the power of change. It is here we discover the way to do something different. It is here we that we begin our transformation.  There is a question that accompanies this stage of discovery:  "Am I good?" This question is worth exploring. We can listen to the should to make some change but it is not a change of behavior as much as it is a change of thinking. To borrow a religious term it is the word 'repent'  This is a Greek word metaknoia which means change your mind.   Conclusion: Be aware of the shoulds.  Press into them and discover what area of your life needs attention.