Frames, Paradigms and Paradigm Shifts

As we have learned through the articles in “Frames, Paradigms and Paradigm Shifts”, paradigms can be considered the strongest form of mental models and views that are influenced by our surroundings, upbringing, teaching and experiences. Sometimes paradigms are so difficult to overcome or change that individuals can remain in a mediocre state because of their fear or rejection to embrace new truths, experiences, understanding and knowledge. In the following reflection I will be discussing how man’s various inventions has help change the way we think, learn and see the world.

Before cars, airplanes, boats, bicycles, laptops, cell phones and cameras we observed nature and lived harmoniously with our surroundings. We were taught and learned to survive with just the means that were naturally accessible. We ate, slept, talked and even enjoyed the opportunity to sit around and watch the birds gracefully fly and thought “what if we can fly?” The thought of just flying was an opportunity to dream, but the thought alone can change the world. Sometimes paradigms shifts are simple, just by allowing ourselves to consider new adventures or opportunities we can see ourselves sitting at home or in a classroom. Sometimes paradigms can be excruciatingly difficult and painful. When we as creative beings begin to extend our creative thinking and extend our hands of action we can go from carrying loads on our backs, to the back trunk of a car.

Today in the twenty first century (21st) we have privileges that many of our forefathers dreamed of having. Consider fifty years ago, children were playing in the street “hand ball”, marbles, and perhaps even checkers. There was no television, and just to send a message to relatives was on horseback. All of a sudden a square box with images was created because someone wanted the whole world to have access to his/her message and “vuala” you have television. Today, considering what would it be like not to have a television? could very well be a paradigm but we are not necessarily challenged by that. The person who created television has launched us out of playing with rocks and allowed us to play Nintendo.

Paradigms shifts and inventions go hand in hand. Whenever a new invention has been launched we no longer see ourselves limited because the invention itself has catapulted our limited understanding or truth to a new concept or idea. Perhaps attaining it and learning it can be challenging (paradigm) but once you become part of a society or culture that has embraced a new invention you cannot isolate yourself from the new reality that what you are seeing with your own eyes and what you are experiencing is triggering or even pulling you out of your mental seat.

Inventions are symbolic to paradigms shifts because, the inventor at one moment or another suffered from a paradigm which wrestled with him or her night and day. Eventually, the inventor got tired of being “sick and tired” and launched out risking everything to achieve the possibilities. Every time a new invention has been created and achieved, it challenges our old paradigms and creates new ones, they will drag us until we become part of the new reality.