The Power of a Paradigm

Yesterday as I was relaxing at home, being a Monday which happens to be my off day, I read something very interesting on paradigm that I want to share with you. According to Steve Covey author of the 7 habits of highly effective people and the 8th Habit, The word Pardigm stems from the Greek word paradeigma, which was originally a scientific term but commonly used today to mean a perception, assumption, theory, frame of reference or lens through which we see things. It's like a map of a territory or city. If inaccurate, it will make no difference how hard you try to find your destination or how positively you think- you will stay lost. If accurate, then diligence and attitude matter.

I couldn't agree more with Covey. One of the greatest hinderances to us making progress in our lives, realizing our goals and reaching our destinations has very little to do with the many things we think we need or should do than changing our mindset, our paradigm. Someone has defined insanity as doing the same thing and expecting a different result. If we do not have a paradigm shift, a change in our thinking (by the way repentance means to change our thinking) we are going to end up the same way we did in 2010. For us to see a change in our lives, we cannot afford but to have a paradigm shift. If you want to make minor, incremental changes and improvements, then work on practices, behaviour or attitude. But if you want to make significant, quantum improvement in your life, then work on paradigms.

Working on paradigms is work, but it is worth it all.  In the Bible, before the Church broke out into the Gentile territory and grew into the force it is today, there had to be a change in Paradigm. In Acts 10, the Apostle Peter while taking an afternoon nap, had a vision where three times, God lowered a buffet of all kinds of animals to him and told him to rise up, kill and eat. Though Peter was starving, maybe not to death but most probably to napping, he still could not do so because of his paradigm. As a Jew he had grown up not allowed to eat certain kinds of animals, exactly the same animals which were in the buffet. This was symbolic as God was requiring Peter to have a paradigm shift in order for him to move to the next level. And this message got to Peter, "what God has made clean nobody should call unclean". With that the door to the Gentile world was opened and that is why you and I today can boast of our Christian heritage.

What paradigm shifts do you need to make in your life this year in order for you to realize your goals and go to the next level in your life?

"The Significant problems we face cannot be solved at the same level of thinking we were at when we created them". - Einstein