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What is a Paradigm?

The word paradigm has been so overused that many people don’t understand its full meaning. In just the past week I’ve been on several different training calls and this word paradigm has come up and the way it was used and explained was not accurate. In this post, I’m going to reveal to you my understanding of this word paradigm in order to give you a simple way of understanding it.

First off let’s look at how Webster’s dictionary defines paradigm.

Paradigm:

: a model or pattern for something that may be copied : a theory or a group of ideas about how something should be done, made or thought about Dictionay.com defines paradigm as:

Paradigm:

1. a set of forms all of which contain a particular element, especially the set of all inflected forms based on a single stem or theme. 2. an example serving as a model; pattern. 3. a. framework containing the basic assumptions, ways of thinking, and methodology that are commonly accepted by members of a scientific community. b. such a cognitive framework shared by members of any discipline or group. The best definition I heard for the word Paradigm comes from my mentor Bob Proctor. He says that a paradigm is nothing more than a multitude of habits. It’s a collection of beliefs that are held by a group of people. In his book “It’s Not About the Money” he talks about paradigm’s, let me share what he says: “A paradigm is a collection of beliefs that are held by a group of people. It’s not just one belief held by one person. These beliefs are shared, passed on and believed by generations. Take the paradigm that you need to have a traditional job. Included in this paradigm are these ideas:
  • You must have a job to be a contributing member of society.

  • Those who put in many hours at a job are more committed and deserving.

  • The better your education, the better your job.

  • You must compete with your coworkers and be the best to move ahead.

These ideas are passed on in actions and statements by everyone around us. They’re taught our schools; most of us hand them down to our children. You may not think these ideas are central to your own life. But answer this: When you are first introduced to a new person how often do you ask where they work? If your child or relative says they have no interest in college, how likely are you to be concerned and asked them how they ever to expect to get a good job? If someone tells you they are self-employed, do you wonder if they really mean unemployed and are less than motivated to work? All of these thoughts are evidence of how deeply rooted this paradigm may be.” So as we can see from Bob’s description the word paradigm takes on a different meaning than what we’ve been told by others. To shift our paradigm we need to question our beliefs, where they came from and shift them and our habits to something that is going to serve us as we move forward to achieve our goals. If you want to improve your results and shift the paradigm that: the best way to earn money is through a job, we can help. Click the link below and find out how. Click Here to Shift Your Paradigm To your massive success, Ed Reiner