Harness the Power of Paradigm Shift

It is said that each of us look at the world through our own colored glasses; therefore we perceive it differently from everyone else. We see the world not "as it is" but "as we are". Similarly, we use our colored glasses to interpret everything that happens around us; so we may view an event good or bad  depending on how we look at it. Look at the picture above, you may see a young woman in it, or you may see an old woman, depending on your paradigm.

This concept can play a very powerful role in enriching our day-to-day experience with other people. How? Majority of inter-personal issues crop up due to each side sticking to their own viewpoint. In your interaction with others, keep in mind that what you are seeing is not the absolute reality but is being filtered through your viewpoint, and make a sincere attempt to look at the situation from other's viewpoint; it will be an eye opener. This is called "Paradigm Shift", and it is the most powerful idea that you can use in inter-personal interactions.

All this sounds too much idealistic academic stuff that would not work in practical situations? Let me demonstrate what Paradigm Shift means through a thought exercise.  

Imagine you're at airport waiting for your flight to depart when you notice a kiosk selling shortbread cookies. You buy a box, put them in your traveling bag and then you patiently search for an available seat so you can sit down and enjoy your cookies. Finally you find a seat next to a middle-aged gentleman.

You reach down into your traveling bag and pull out your box of shortbread cookies. As you do so, you notice that the gentleman starts watching you intensely. He stares as you open the box and his eyes follow your hand as you pick up the cookie and bring it to your mouth.

Just then he reaches over and takes one of your cookies from the box, and eats it! You're more than a little surprised at this. Actually, you're at a loss for words. Not only does he take one cookie, but he alternates with you. For every one cookie you take, he takes one.

Now, what's your immediate impression of this guy? Crazy? Greedy? He's got some nerve! Can you imagine the words you might use to describe this man to your associates back at the office?

Meanwhile, you both continue eating the cookies until there's just one left. To your surprise, the man reaches over and takes it. But then he does something unexpected. He breaks it in half, and gives half to you.

After he's finished with his half he gets up, and without a word, he leaves.

You think to yourself, "Did this really happen?" You're left sitting there dumbfounded and still hungry. So you go back to the kiosk and buy another box of cookies.

You then return to your seat and begin opening your new box of cookies when suddenly you glance down into your traveling bag.

Sitting there in your bag is your original box of cookies....still unopened.

Only then do you realize that when you reached down earlier, you had reached into the other man's bag, and grabbed his box of cookies by mistake.

Now what do you think of the man? Generous? Tolerant? You've just experienced a profound paradigm shift. You're seeing things from a new point of view. It is the same man and the same behavior, but your interpretation of the behavior has taken a complete U turn.

This example demonstrate how a paradigm shift can help us see things in a different light. Why don't we make a habit of questioning our paradigms?  Things may not be what they seem to us. Let us think outside the box and be open to suggestions.Seeing things from a new point of view can be very
enlightening. Let us try and harness the power of paradigm shift in our daily life.