Week 4: Yearn to Change
1. Why We Don’t Live Our Ideal Life
Many people fail to live their ideal selves due to internal limitations.
This lesson explores what holds us back and how to navigate past those barriers.
2. Understanding Change – The Rider, Elephant, and Path Model (from the book Switch by Chip & Dan Heath)
The Rider (Rational Mind): Loves logic but overthinks, leading to analysis paralysis. Needs clear direction to take action.
The Elephant (Emotional Mind): Driven by feelings, resists discomfort, prefers short-term pleasure, and requires motivation through deep emotional connection.
The Path (Environment & Systems): Change is easier when the surroundings support success—removing friction, setting up cues, and creating an accountability system.
3. Overcoming Roadblocks to Sustainable Change
Willpower is limited—most effective in the morning and depleted by evening.
Emotional connection is key—logical goals won’t sustain motivation without a deeper reason (Why?).
Celebrate small wins to keep momentum and reinforce success.
Visualize your goal—like Allah’s descriptions of Jannah, having a clear image keeps motivation strong.
4. Structuring the Yearn Phase
Define your ideal day and life—without limiting beliefs.
Set crystal-clear goals—vague goals (e.g., “I want to lose weight”) fail, while specific goals (e.g., “By May 15th, I will weigh 185 lbs”) drive progress.
Break down goals into small steps—micro-wins lead to big changes over time.
5. Building Systems for Lasting Change
Shape your environment—make good habits easy and bad habits harder.
Use triggers & cues—gentle reminders to keep you on track.
Leverage social support—surround yourself with people who align with your vision.
Track progress daily—keep success visible and celebrate milestones.
Final Takeaway
The Yearn Phase is about breaking mental barriers and actively designing the life you truly want. By combining rational clarity, emotional motivation, and environmental support, we create lasting change that aligns with our ultimate purpose.
