My Inner Lawyer: Building a Case for Positive Change

Most of us have an inner lawyer.

When we are thinking about making a positive change, there is often a part of us that can come up with a pretty convincing argument for why we should change. At the same time, another part of us may be just as good at arguing why we should keep doing exactly what we are doing.

That is ambivalence, and it is a normal part of the change process.

My Inner Lawyer: Building a Case for Positive Change turns that internal debate into an interactive group activity.

Rather than immediately pushing participants to list all the reasons they should change, this exercise gives both sides a chance to make their case.

Participants first choose a behavior, habit, pattern, or issue they are considering changing. Then they actually become the lawyer for the side that wants things to stay the same. They explore the benefits, relief, comfort, familiarity, and other reasons why the current behavior may still have some appeal.

Then comes cross-examination.

Participants take a closer look at their own arguments, consider what those arguments may leave out, examine short- and long-term consequences, and think about where continuing down the same path could eventually lead.

From there, it is time to build the case for positive change by presenting evidence about what could be gained, what could be protected, previous experiences with positive change, personal strengths, supports, and other evidence that change may be both worthwhile and possible.

The activity concludes with a closing argument, supportive input from the "jury," and ultimately a verdict and next move.

One of my favorite aspects of this activity is that the final verdict always belongs to the participant. The group can listen, encourage, and offer additional evidence, but they do not decide what someone else should do.

The goal is to help people honestly examine both sides, build insight, and hear themselves make their own argument for positive change.

You don't have to settle the whole case today. Just make the strongest case for your next positive step.

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