6 C’s Personal Behavioral Change Framework
The genesis of the 6 C’s framework for personal change can be traced to a question that someone asked Subha about the workshop she conducts called ‘Chetana’. This workshop is a 12-sessions program based on understanding oneself and understanding children to foster self-connection and connection with others in an enriching way. Subha realized that sustainable behavioral change needed to come from a space of willingness and not from the space of force and fear. Subsequently, she developed a structured process of personal behavioral change. She called the framework “6 C’s framework for personal behavioral change” with each “C” representing an idea that is part of this process of change. A framework helps in providing a logical structure that is replicable and practice oriented.
One striking aspect of human behavior is the “need” for connection, both with oneself and with others. While the focus often falls on changing behaviors, it is important to note that facilitating growth requires understanding the foundation—the soil and the development of the roots. How can we help a plant grow without examining these foundational elements?
Behavioral change is often viewed as a solution to many of our problems. Statements like, “If only I could get up earlier in the morning, I could be more productive,” or “If only he would stop watching TV, he would achieve better grades,” is usually focused on behavioral change but the underlying causes of such behavior is not given sufficient attention. Similarly, concerns about rudeness or procrastination are often framed as behaviors that require changes. However, this emphasis on behavior modification often ignores the deeper issues at play. Changing just the behavior without adequate understanding of the underlying causes can result in short-term changes that may not resonate with the person making the change. There is an emptiness and discomfort while making those changes.
The quality of our connections has a significant impact on our psychological well-being and overall quality of life. Secure attachment nurtures resilience, emotional regulation, and the ability to form healthy relationships, while insecure attachment can create barriers to personal growth and fulfillment. These in turn affect our behaviors. “Connection” was identified as the first step in the change process.
Any change in behavior requires a deeper understanding of the roots of behavior that is shaped by our experiences, emotions, our interpretation of those experiences, our attachments, motivations, our images, and intentions. Acquisition and practice of appropriate skills can lead to changes that are resourceful and lasting. Instead of simply seeking to change behavior that can be exhausting and frustrating, focusing on fostering deeper connections and understanding the underlying reasons that drive behaviors can help in changes that are sustainable and productive. From these thoughts, the 6 C’s framework for personal behavioral change evolved that has six steps as summarized below.
The framework involves six steps (6 C’s) –
Any change starts with connecting with self and others, ensuring that any such connection stems from compassion and not manipulation, seeking cooperation from others to be a part of the change journey, develop nurturing communication skills thus helping in generating choices that can result in the change that one wants to see. However, to make the change sustainable and impactful in the short-term and long-term, these skills have to be practiced and internalized to make the journey of change enriching.
The workshops on Chetana and Non-violent communication incorporate the 6 C’s framework and are a part of making sustainable changes that are transformative and lasting.
Subha has been implementing these ideas in her counselling interventions and training programs for parents, young adults, and children since 2014. She noticed that the changes in participants have been transformative, and sustainable with short-term and long-term benefits to individuals and their environments in the personal and professional spaces. The changes have resulted in lowering of conflicts, building empathetic relationships, improving communication, promoting cooperation, enhancing self-awareness, and developing a nurturing environment at home and the workplace. The behavioral changes are likely to be long-lasting and impactful.