The Appreciating Living AIA 3-Step Model

The 3-Step AIA Model was introduced in Jackie Kelm’s first two books on Appreciative Living as a simple way to handle daily challenges using Appreciative Living. It is also the core tool for building an Appreciative Mindset.

1. Appreciating What Is

• Ask: What can I appreciate, learn, or enjoy about this person or situation?
• Key question: What’s good?
• Outcome: Feeling good, or at least a little better about what is happening.
• Why? Research shows that your thinking improves when you feel good. You come up with better ideas, make better decisions, and are more creative. This all leads to new insights and solution ideas.

2. Imagining the Ideal

• Ask: What do I really want, and what does this ideal look like and feel like?
• Key questions: What do I want?
• Outcome: Gaining clarity about what you want.
• Why? We are often not clear about what we really want. Creating a picture in your mind about what you want helps your brain move you towards it.

3. Acting Towards the Ideal

• Ask: What is one thing I feel inspired to do, no matter how small, to move towards the ideal I want?
• Key question: What do I want to do?
• Outcome: Getting results.
• Why? Taking a small step to move forward creates momentum for change.

For bigger challenges and deep transformation we use the Appreciative Living Rapid Change Process, which includes the Habit Breaker Technique for stopping the urges that cause addictive and compulsive behaviors.