What is ARIA - The 4 Stages of Change?

The Path4Change ARIA Model is a systems-based approach for making real changes in your life. It is a revolutionary approach to navigating the stages of change using positive psychology and behavioral activation techniques. ARIA will help you find new creative ways to improve yourself while helping you uncover your hidden strengths and abilities that will enhance your daily efforts for personal growth and improved wellbeing.

Each stage of change has two complementary components. The top part is the exploratory aspect of ARIA - Awareness, Resilience, Inspiration and Action. The lower part corresponds with a regulatory component - which we fondly refer to as the “gut check.” These are represented by the areas of Acceptance, Resistance, Intention and Accountability.

ARIA helps to highlight moments of decision-making along the path so you can decide your best response. This allows you to be proactive, to know and choose your optimal response within your current situation, and not just react without reflection. Each Action taken is examined in the context of what really matters most to you, according to your goals and values. By keeping these clearly in mind, the ARIA framework can help you decide the best choice for a given situation, each and every day.

The 4 Stages of ARIA:
Awareness / Acceptance
Resilience / Resistance
Inspiration / Intention
Action / Accountability

Lets further explore the two complementary, interconnected, and interdependent aspects of change. In Chinese thought this is referred to as yin-yang, two opposing but not adversarial forces that give rise to each other as they interrelate to one another. The components in each stage of change invite a dialog between the two aspects of yourself, your Identity and your Daimon.

These psychic forces, one conscious and the other transcendent within you, are distinct yet complementary. To reach the best possible outcomes in your life, your Identity must work in harmony with your Daimon. By integrating these two aspects of yourself, a flow state is achieved that continuously balances and rebalances your body, mind, emotions, and spirit as you choose the best virtues and actions to take in the world.

The integration of both your Identity and your Daimon will help you actualize your Best Self/Authentic Self. Your Identity (your conscious self or ego) is your thoughts, feelings, and behaviors; how you are showing up moment to moment. Your Daimon (your unconscious self, muse, or genius) inspires you with possibility, creativity, potential and purpose.

Your daimon provides you with inspiration and challenges to help you reach your goals and your true potential. It is what transforms an everyday experience into something magical and transcendent. This has a multiplying effect on your Identity (thoughts, feelings and actions) and creates a powerful internal motivation to focus and achieve your goals. Together they create a life full of adventure, fun and excitement, with vitality and purpose to serve in the world, through your personal excellence and moral virtue.

As you develop a deeper understanding and acceptance of your inner self, you will begin to uncover areas that have prevented your personal growth, as well as highlighting your untapped strengths and true potential. Your journey becomes easier, more enjoyable and exciting as your actions reflect your heart’s desire.

By increasing your strengths and abilities within ARIA, you will develop what the Greeks refer to as Arete (personal excellence and moral virtue). Your daily activities will reflect your true potential, while bringing out your best in any given situation. This state, called flourishing, leads to intense flow states and eudaimonia, a truly fulfilling life.