Social Change Model

Congruence

We just talked about consciousness of self, and congruence is the action aspect of that. Once values, beliefs, and emotions have been identified, it is important to that your actions follow in accordance to those values, beliefs, and emotions. This is known as congruence; requiring the individual to “walk the talk.”

After a freshman year full of challenging me to constantly self-reflect, which was a challenge of its own. Implementing those discoveries and reflections was a whole different beast. Thankfully, I was in an organization that promoted just that. The Bible Studies that my ministry provided fostered an open environment of honesty and accountability. It is much easier to follow through in areas that might require growth when you have a group keeping you accountable and cheering you on. You were able relate to others that might be going though and discovering similar things about their beliefs while also encouraging them at the same time.

Ironically enough, those people that I had gotten to know and share my life with allowed me to realize my passion for others. Having a group that supported and challenged those passions while also being grounded in the same faith proved to be so beneficial in growing during my time in at Virginia Tech. These are the people that live out their faith and I know that that will not change from Bible Study to Bible Study. Because I know this truth, and getting connected with people of similar faiths is so important to me, this is one of the first things I seek out when entering a new environment. My time in North Dakota for an internship was made so much sweeter due to the religious community I sough out.

I have learned that action based on one’s values produces benefits and growth. Yes, it is good to back words with action, but imagine how much easier it would be for people to constantly follow through if they really knew how much they could gain as a result. I know my faith and community within faith is crucial in whatever location or phase of life I am in, so making sure these sectors are congruent is essential.