The ‘Why’ Behind Our Paradigm . . .
Maybe that’s a worn out term since the popularity of Steven Covey and the “Seven Habits of Successful” nuns and such, but paradigm is a good term to describe a person’s attitude.
(See one of my favorite quotes about our attitude.)
I am a firm believer that attitude is everything.
So, related to the question below, here is my follow-up.
What is your paradigm, or your attitude, or the way you “come at” life?
As I see it, there are:
Optimists who look at the glass as half full,
Pessimists who view the world through half empty glasses,
Realists who say, I’m thirsty and drink from the glass and
Cynics who suspect the water is polluted anyway.
Where do you lie on this continuum?
I lie firmly in the Optimist camp, but with a wise dose of reality as I have realized that you need to grab the glass and drink up on occasion in order to accomplish anything good in life.
So like the other kind of ‘glasses’ our paradigm is the lens through which we view the world and it changes how we see everything. Just as we trip, fall and are miserable when our physical vision is impaired, so it is with the way we ‘see’ life. The good thing about our hearts vision is that it can be corrected. God says we have eyes in our hearts and Paul prays that they will be enlightened. He says, “Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks” and warns us to Guard our hearts for out of them flow the spring of our life.
Here are a few more things God has to say on this topic:
Luke 21:34 & Philippians 4:7
So in answer to the question below, look for the best in life and set your sights high, in every sense of that word. Especially see the good in people because, in every aspect of life, we find what we are looking for. Even though dreams do not always come true and success does not come as we imagined the journey is the destination. We have what we experience and shared with those loved along the way. This is what makes it all worthwhile! There is certainly much more to be said on this topic . . . What do you think?
April 21st, 2006 at 3:38 pm
I think that the journey to the destination is the best part. But I think you have to have a destination in mind. Know where you want to go and enjoy the trip there, but be prepared for the curves and forks in the road. I do think that it’s better to strive for more than to lead a mediocre life, but I think you have to realize the good that you have in your own life. While you may never cure a disease or be The President, you are important in other’s lives, and the domino effect may never be known. So, I think you should have goals, work your hardest to achieve them, find out what you’re good at and pursue that, and live and love as much as possible along the way! My 2 cents
April 24th, 2006 at 2:58 am
I am optimistic, but realistic.
I see the good in people because that is what God sees in me.. None of us are worthy, and none of us are really good, but we all have value as creations of God. If we start to keep score we all lose, but if we forgive the future can still be full of amazing relationships.
On a personal level, I am cautious on where I set me sights. I feel that there is substantial danger if we become too focused on earthly goals. What is I may strive for as “best” may very well be a curse once I get there. Often the most fitting punishment for our greed, lust and pride is getting exactly what we want. I like Hebrews 12:1-3. Set my eyes on Jesus, and follow the course he has marked out for me.