WOOP is a scientifically proven mental strategy, characterized as mental contrasting with implementation intentions. Based on twenty years of research in the science of motivation, WOOP has been employed in numerous studies of various ages and backgrounds to great result. It is founded on the idea that envisioning both a dream and potential obstacles can be a combination that allows us to realize those dreams with more success than just envisioning a desired outcome.
WOOP involves a Four Step Procedure: Wish, Outcome, Obstacle, and Plan: using “Wish” to identify either a wish or concern, using “Outcome” to envision the best, most positive outcome from that wish coming true, using “Obstacle” to identify inner beliefs, mindsets or struggles that would prevent you from achieving that outcome, and using “Plan” to determine an action you can take to overcome your main obstacle.
A Golden Civilization and the Map of Mindfulness was inspired by the idea of applying The Kinder Institute’s Life Planning Methodology to civilization. Using the EVOKE® model, which Registered Life Planners® normally use as the basis of their interactions with clients, George Kinder takes civilization through primarily the V and O steps of Vision and Obstacles in his book. Mapping out a vision for seven main systems of civilization—entrepreneurial spirit, democracy, media, advice, products, markets, and leaders—George identifies current obstacles preventing us from achieving A Golden Civilization and clear action steps for what is needed in order to change those systems and ensure that they are based in integrity and delivering freedom.
Like WOOP, the EVOKE® process and the viewpoint from which A Golden Civilization is written are rooted in the idea that thinking positive is not enough when it comes to achieving the broad scale results we tend to seek. This mentality results in a loss of motivation or feeling of overwhelming helplessness. One way that this result can be illustrated is through popular disengagement with political and environmental issues. Overwhelmed with the distance required to get to the point of real change, people can lose sight of personal commitments that they can make toward real change.
In a recent interview with The New York Times, activist, author and recipient of the Right Livelihood Award, Frances Moore Lappé, said ”The more we align our individual choices with the world we want — it doesn’t change the world, but it changes us. We become more convincing to ourselves. We feel less a victim. The solar panels on my house, the clothes out on the line instead of in the dryer, eating low on the food chain, taking the bus to work — it makes me feel less powerless and more energized. Individually, of course we can’t make large-scale changes. But our individual choices are helpful to the extent that we can show possibilities and feel more committed.”
Confronting these inner obstacles with a clear plan can help invigorate us in life. As WOOP argues, it strengthens our mental associations, increases energy, and betters our performance. With the vision/outcome, obstacles, and plan/action steps outlined in A Golden Civilization, we hope to energize readers toward making those inner commitments, one of which is spreading the word of A Golden Civilization and Golden Civilization Conversations.