Let's start off discussing what a paradigm is. Simply put, a paradigm is basically the "noise in your head.," nothing more. An important distinction to make is, it's your noise because you put it there, not anyone else. That's right, your spouse, your boss, your parents, the economy, the person who just cut you off didn't put in there, you did. What you need to realize is that we all do this, every single human being who has ever walked the planet, except for maybe Jesus Christ, Mohammed, the Dali Lama and Gandhi. So, now you should feel a little better about yourself. The reason for this is because your paradigms are based on your past experiences and circumstances, so they're habitual. What that means is what you think, what you believe and how you act at a given point in time, is like flying a plane on auto pilot.
You don't even realize it, because you're not aware that you're on auto-pilot but that's what's happening. What Is Your Paradigm We started off saying that your paradigm is basically the "noise in your head." But where does that noise come from? Well, it comes from your past, right. It comes from all the thoughts you've thought, all the experiences you've experienced, the people you've met, loved, lost; all the good things and all the bad things that have happened in your life make up your paradigm. Most people attach meaning to their experiences. What you need to understand is, that it's what you do with all of these experiences that matters. Like saving information on your computer, how you register these experiences in your mind, over time will create either good noise or bad noise.
So you see, your paradigm is basically nothing more than a combination of the actions and results that we all experience based on our past. It is simply the sum total of our past thoughts, beliefs, habits, values and actions. However, don't under estimate the power of your paradigm. Based on your relationship with your paradigm, it becomes a road map for your life. If you have a good relationship with your paradigm, understand it, question it, relate to it, it will help you to attract good things into your life. On the other hand, if your relationship with your paradigm is non-existent or on auto pilot, it will just as surely leave you stuck in the mud. The bottom line is, most people spend the majority of their life living it on what I call "auto behavior," as in automatic pilot. They don't really think about what they're doing, they just habitually do it. Another term often used to describe our paradigm, is our "mindset." When we're not aware of our mindset and don't examine or question it, then for the most part we are operating "on auto-pilot." You see, we create our own mindset in our lives and over time our mindset creates us. Let's talk about this for a moment.
Based on what I learned in school, machines, engines and assembly lines work on automatic but not human beings. Machines aren't born with a free will to make choices and decisions, but we are. Yet, when many of us behave and live our lives on automatic, in essence we're giving away our free will and are basically declaring that we're no better or different than a machine. Talk about giving away the candy store. That's not how and why God created us. Change Your Life This is a good starting point for us to discuss what a paradigm shift is. Simply put, a paradigm shift is basically making the behavioral transition from your present state of behaviors and habits, to a set of new behaviors and habits. You see, before you can begin to change your life you must first be aware of your behavior and the fact that you're on auto pilot. For instance, before an alcoholic or drug addict can begin the process of cleaning up his or her addiction, they must first acknowledge that they in fact have an alcohol or drug problem that requires attention. The same is true for you and I in life; before we can change the outside, our results, we must first change the inside, our core belief system.
You see, people form habits and habits form futures. Simply put, a paradigm shift is about "new possibilities," it's about transforming your being, so that you no longer believe that you are the limitations of your past thinking, rather a being of new and infinite possibilities. A paradigm shift is about having the courage to depart from the world we've known, into a new world. Allow me to share with you a quotation by Robert Frost, and I quote "there is a time for departure, even when there is no certain place to go." Think about that for a moment before you read on. Once you are aware of your behavior, now you can begin to change who you are, to become who you want to be. This process will enable you to realize that your past is truly not your future. You see it works like this; you are your thoughts, change your thoughts and you change your paradigm, change your paradigm and you change your behavior, change your behavior and you change your life. So basically what we're saying is if you want to change your life, you must first change your paradigm.
James Allen says in As a Man Thinks, "many people are anxious to improve their results but are unwilling to improve themselves." Why People Fear Change Within our own identity, we each have both a True and a False Self. For many of you, the False Self dominates who you're being on a daily basis. Based on the False Self, you know yourself as you relate to that false person, the power and possessions that that person identifies with and thinks they own or control. These objects or things that you derive your identity from are threatened whenever the individual is confronted with change. The reason is because in the moment, that individual feels that he or she may lose themselves, as their identity is not who they are but who they think they are, as well as their power and possessions. Because the Self is attached to external circumstances or things, once you feel that something will be taken from you, you fear losing the thing, as well as yourself, so you fear the change.
The False Self is scarcity based. On the other hand, the True Self welcomes change because the True Self see's change as representing the growth of who they're being in their enlightened spirit. Their identity is not attached to outside influences or circumstances, rather to who they are Being in the moment. They embrace change because they have faith in the Universe and believe in the abundance and prosperity that the Universe has to offer. Their belief systems are not conditioned and based on past paradigms of fear and scarcity, rather love, grace and blessings. Where love exists, there can be no fear, therefore the True Self does not fear change. Your Paradigm Shift Simply put, a paradigm shift is about "new possibilities," it's about transforming your being, so that you no longer believe that you are the limitations of your past thinking, rather a being of new and infinite possibilities. A paradigm shift is about having the courage to depart from the world we've known, into a new world.
Allow me to share with you a quotation by Robert Frost, and I quote "there is a time for departure, even when there is no certain place to go." Think about that for a moment before you read on. In order for you to be willing to do the necessary work to make the changes you want to make, you will need to have a strong level of desire, motivation and intention. You must create a purpose that you feel so passionate about, you can feel the shift in how you see the world. A purpose so grand, so powerful, that nothing or no one can deter you from achieving your purpose. This will fuel you to make the necessary sacrifices you will need to go into action. What you are doing here, is creating new positive and powerful paradigms, that will support your dreams and intentions versus hinder and sabotage them.
You see we all dream but a dream without a plan is only a dream; likewise a plan not put into action is only a plan. Success is not based on who you know or what you know, it is based on the depth of your belief in yourself and your purpose. Will you fear your new journey, yes, initially you will, I know I did. But as time passes and you travel down the road in search of your new life, your enthusiasm will carry you forward. Next, as you realize that the changes you've made have freed you of the shackles of your past paradigms and that a new life is truly possible, your dreams begin to soar. Like a child on a brand new bike, your joy and excitement will take you beyond your doubts and fears; you will begin to realize that you can in fact "ride that bike" and that success and happiness are possible. This discovered reality will become your new found friend on your journey through life. Cause and Effect I'm sure you've heard of the terms "cause and effect." Well, cause and effect are like a master diagram for your behavior.
If you behave a certain way, you're going to get certain results. If you want to change the effect, you first have to be aware of and change the cause. Based on your mindset your thoughts are your basic cause. I've had so many people say to me, "Larry, I really want to change my life." But what so many people tend to do, is attempt to manipulate the effects in their life, without first addressing the cause. Many people attempt to change their results without ever changing their paradigm. When you shift your mindset, you begin to change your thoughts and behavior, once you make that internal shift, the world around you starts to change; it's like playing a new game with a new set of rules. Look, I can honestly tell you that I've been there, done that. I want you to realize and understand that everyone experiences this in life; you're not alone and you're not some freak. Remember what we talked about early on i.e. life is ten percent what happens to you and 90 percent what you do with what happens to you.
That is the key difference between those who change their lives and those who do not, nothing more. If I did it, so can you! Once you get this concept, the monkey is off your back. As a matter of fact, you can leave him at the zoo where he belongs. You'll also leave your baggage at the checkout desk on your way out the door, as you begin your journey in search of your life's purpose and passion. You will feel so energized, so enthusiastic, so in love with who you are, that you'll hardly recognize yourself or your behavior. What use to seem like mountains and unsurmountable challenges, will suddenly seem like bumps in the road. You discover a belief and faith in yourself that you never new existed, although it was always there; but because you were on auto-pilot, you never had the chance to find it. The difference is that you've shifted your mindset; your now present, present to life and all the power that resides in it, all the power that resides in you.