Change: Are You Due for a Perceptual Paradigm Shift

It’s a new year and we are all evaluating in what areas of our lives God is dealing with us.

“Let us examine our ways and test them, and let us return to the LORD”. (Lamentations 3:40)

Many people experience a deep-seated change when they face a life-threatening crisis. They suddenly see their priorities in a different way, their values change, their thinking about themselves change, and their feelings are modified. They may assume a new and different role. Everything changes. Why wait until tragedy or trauma forces you to update your perceptions. Do it now-by conscious choice-and enjoy the results.

To begin a true change in the way you think about yourself, your body, and/or your life, the journey begins with your relationship with the Lord. You must know Him as Lord and Savior. If you have not made that decision yet, click here.

So what is a perceptual paradigm shift anyway? In order to fully understand the concept, let’s look at each term separately. Perceptual is an adjective meaning of or relating to the act of perceiving—perception: insight, intuition, or knowledge gained by perceiving. Perception is therefore, all about point of view; your current interpretation based upon your particular reality. The term paradigm shift was coined in 1962 by Thomas Kuhn in his classic book, The Structure of Scientific Revolutions. A paradigm shift is a dramatic change in methodology or practice—a change in the way things are.

From this perspective then, a perceptual paradigm shift is a change in your believe system, a change in your basic core beliefs—what you grew up believing about yourself. In what areas will God ask you to change this year?

This leg of our journey is all about identifying and committing to changing the way we think or behave toward different aspects of our lives. Perhaps you may want to shift from a reacting nature to a more responsive one. For example, suppose you are someone who tends to become upset and react emotionally to the behavior or language of others. You react to your own emotions by avoiding certain people, becoming bitter or cynical and/or withdrawing all together, placing the blame on others. You are controlled by external events and become judgmental, your perspective narrows, and/or your mind becomes closed.

When you change to a more responding nature, you become aware that you have the freedom to choose how to respond to any given event. You will become more self-controlled and autonomously choose your own actions and behavior. You will step away from the role of victim, become response-able and take full responsibility for the consequences of your choices and actions.

Reflection:
What perceptual paradigms are you willing to identify? Attitudes, thought patterns, habits, behaviors.
“Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts”. (Psalm 139:23)

Action Plan:
Which ones are you willing to challenge or change? Think beyond the box.What techniques are you willing to use to modify your perceptual paradigms?

Share your thoughts with the group.

Click here to go deeper.

References:
Answers.com
Total Life Coaching, Patrick Williams and Lloyd Thomas, 2005, W. W. Norton & Company, Inc.