It’s possible that we may find ourselves “shifting paradigm,” that is to say, leaving a place that has one worldview (beliefs, attitudes and values) and moving to a place with a different worldview. The shift may be voluntary (our own choice) or involuntary (no choice).
For example, American journalist Raymond Zhong was forced to leave China as the tensions between the U.S. and China increased. “I spent much of my two years in China covering that standoff, and from the great heights at which we journalists often write about such matters–through politicians’ statements, government policies, trade data and corporate decisions [the Chinese worldview]–it could seem as if titanic forces in both nations were drawing them toward conflict.”[i]
On the other hand, Washington’s lieutenant governor Cyrus Habib was voluntarily choosing to leave that political milieu to become a Jesuit priest. He undoubtedly realized that among the first steps on the spiritual path was letting go of the old beliefs, attitudes and values and taking on a new identity. “‘I don’t see it as a shrinking of my world,’ he said, ‘I see it as a shrinking of my self.’”[ii]
Our worldview–story, narrative, paradigm–creates our identity. Our identity creates our behavior. Our behavior creates suffering or peace. Seems simple, doesn’t it?
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Supplemental Reading: Worldview, The ABC’s of Simple Reality, Vol 2
#41 Titanic Forces
[i] Zhong, Raymond. “How I Found Real Voices in China.” The New York Times. April 29, 2020, p. A2.
[ii] Bruni, Frank. “A Politician’s Easter Parable.” The New York Times. April 12, 2020, p. 3.
