Praxis should be the goal of everyone, but what is it?

The easiest way I know to exemplify Praxis, is to use the Belief Window example of Hyrum Smith, of Franklin/Covey. He described a process that is roughly the cycle of comparing results of our actions to the beliefs that spawned those actions, or in many cases, actions that were more impulsive, and were not necessarily based on what we believe at all.

If we look at results in a probative or questioning fashion, and ask ourselves, if we are happy or not with the results, especially if the action is one that is repeated often, we may be able to isolate those actions which are in opposition to our beliefs. But that is only the first and really the easy part of the proposition.

We often engage in regular activity out of habit, and often the action is so automatic that we do not recognize it as distinct or changeable. We may even consider the habit as part of our nature, making it almost impossible to visualize ever "not doing" or changing that action or activity.

Praxis then, is the act, whether over time or in short order, of bringing our actions in complete synchronization with our beliefs, and in correcting those beliefs which produce results which are neither desirable, nor in conjunction with our core beliefs.

The blog entries that will follow are intended to rouse a serious discussion of how exactly one may go about the process of praxis, and always within oneself, and never part of a program of changing another person. The beauty of praxis, is that once we reach an advanced stage of effectiveness, we may find that many of the dysfunctional relationships we have fostered along the way will heal themselves, which is often what happens, but only when we begin with ourselves.