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What is a Paradigm, Vertical and Lateral Growth and How Does It Affect Our Lives?
Simply put a Paradigm is the way you look at reality. It is your beliefs and attitudes, your perception that governs how you feel and interpret the world around you. For example, you can see a glass of water as either half full or half empty, the skies as either partly cloudy or partly sunny. Both are the same in that one is a glass of water and the other refers to the sky. However the perceptions are different in regards to how you look at it. More than likely people that see the glass half empty and the skies partly cloudy tend to be a little more on the negative side and their lives are probably not as fulfilling. I think you would agree. A "Paradigm Change" is just that, a change. Maybe your perception of reality was rosy up until the day your favorite pet passed away, now you're grief stricken. Maybe your perception of life has been of failures up until today when you realized you just got that ideal job you've been waiting for and now life is so wonderful. The key to realize is that you control those Paradigms, you have the power. The problem is many times we are not aware of it and tend to live our lives without monitoring what we are feeling, going through and how it affects us and the world around us. That lack of awareness creates one of the greatest barriers to our fulfillment and accomplishments. Once again you have the power and strength to dictate your Paradigms and the main question is "What Paradigm Change do you need to initiate right now in order to cross that bridge from Dreamer to Achiever?"
A Velocity Based Paradigm
Velocity is described as the speed or rate that something is traveling. The concept of Velocity Based Paradigm doesn't matter where you are or going, but rather, the rate we are getting there. It is only the rate at which we are improving that makes the difference. Let me bring up something that allows us to understand this a little better. Is it not true that anything and everything we own ceases to have meaning to us when we die? The U-Haul trailer will certainly not follow us into the cemetery and I'm certain your American Express won't be needed beyond our passing away. So therefore what is the significance of material wealth only to realize the surrendering of it?
Follow me very closely with this and you will discover a very exciting concept with your success. Buddha's realization of enlightenment was that we only have this moment in our life. The only thing that is real is our experiences right now, in this moment. We can't know for certain what will happen when we die just as we can't know what it was like before we were born. The past has already occurred and only exists as a fuzzy memory. The future has not yet happened and lies only in the realm of speculation. This is the perspective that creates a Velocity Based Paradigm. If position (where we are and who we are right now) is rendered irrelevant because of the incredible impermanence of life, all we have is this moment. Velocity is the only thing that we have direct control over. Our position will change as a result of our direct control on the velocity of our growth. As a result, focusing only on how much growth we are experiencing at any given moment is the only true indicator of success.
Vertical And Lateral Growth
Most people think growth is only goal-setting, courage, dream-big-and-sacrifice thinking. Growth can be classified into two distinct forms of personal growth. They are vertical and lateral growth.
Vertical growth is the reach for the skies, dream big and set goals kind of thinking. Goal setting and discipline are usually the key tools for success in this area of growth. This kind of growth is usually marked by difficulty and challenge. The primary effect of vertical growth is a sense of satisfaction and fulfillment. Think of climbing a Cliff, vertical growth is like climbing higher and higher on the cliff.
Lateral growth is a completely different, yet equally valid, form of growth. This kind of growth has more to do with broadening our opportunities, exploring and being curious. The primary tools of lateral growth are creativity, spontaneity and courage. With this type of growth you are not climbing up the cliff but rather going sideways.
Using both forms of growth allows you to see as much of the cliff as possible before you have stop climbing. By integrating the distinction of vertical and lateral growth into our velocity based paradigm, virtually all of the common excuses for not pursuing any growth at all seem completely irrelevant.
In Summary
Velocity based thinking doesn't have weaknesses. People who truly live this principal are at a maximal velocity all of the time. Being at the top or bottom holds no distinction to these people. Rich or poor, strong or weak, healthy or ill these people are always traveling at a speed which is the most they can possibly achieve. Living a life through a velocity based mindset is far easier said than done. It takes work, discipline and practice. Practicing this new paradigm is the key to installing it. Often getting this new perspective and re-evaluation can allow you to use goals in a much more effective manner. Instead of making your goals a terrific sacrifice for the future, your goals become an accelerant of your own growth today. Life is a journey, not a destination. All we have is this moment in our journey. As a result, we need to make our moment in the journey the best it can be.
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Suggestions for the week - Identify 3 very specific Paradigms in your life. For example, first thing that comes to your mind when you wake up "I know I'm going to have a terrible day" or maybe "Today will be the best day of my life" Which paradigms do you need to change or not? Do you need new paradigms? My reality of life is ...... The way you answer that is one of your Paradigms and it will dictate the direction of your life, think about it.
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