2020 And Beyond Paradigm Shifts
Right now we’re living interesting and uncertain times in the world. The old paradigms are falling apart, making space for new paradigms to emerge. A paradigm shift is a breakthrough from an old way of thinking. This transformation process usually comes with some level of resistance.
It seems as if the world has been put on hold giving us an opportunity to reflect and redefine.
What seeds are we planting for this new cycle?
Do we keep getting stuck in old ways and making choices out of scarcity, fear, or past conditioning?
Or are we planting seeds of higher vision, new possibilities, and unity?
Regardless of what’s going on in the world right now, we can still choose to take charge of our lives. We don’t need to let external factors control our lives.
The global paradigm shift involves every individual.
Here is the summary of some of the major paradigm shifts that we’re moving towards in 2020 and beyond:
1.Paradigm Shift From Competition To Cooperation
Our current paradigm says that life is a competition, ‘survival of the fittest’. That only the best can win and that there is a finite number of resources. The more others win, the less there is for you. That means you need to be selfish in order to get your piece of cake. It also breeds envy and jealousy among people.
Zero-sum games no longer belong to our new paradigm. It is about seeking mutual benefit in all human interactions and endeavors. This could be summarized as looking for win-win scenarios or mastering the art of ‘we’.
However, before we can move to healthy interdependence, we need to first develop our own independence.
True independence empowers us to act rather than be acted upon. ~ Stephen Covey
Without healthy independence, we can easily slip into a lose/win mindset rather than a win/win mindset. Lose/win means pleasing people in order to get approval, love, acceptance, or avoid conflict and consequences. This is not any better than a win/lose competitive mindset as both of these strategies breed resentment in the long run.
Many great things have been accomplished by the independent will of a determined soul. But the greatest opportunities and achievements of this new era are reserved for those who think abundantly in terms of creative cooperation and apply their heart to their work, not only their mind.
That brings me to point number 2.
2. Paradigm Shift From Brain To Heart
In the past jobs were about muscles, now they’re about brains, but in future, they’ll be about the heart.~ Minouche Shafik
With the expansion of AI technologies, we’re getting to a point when many professions can be replaced by machines. Automation is everywhere. Whether it’s the self-checkout at grocery stores, self-driving cars, automated email correspondence or chatbots instead of customer service representatives.
This is not necessarily a negative thing. Many traditional jobs that are repetitive and don’t require much creative thinking can be well suited for robots. What makes us unique from robots is our empathy, compassion, creativity, intuition, personal touch. Caring and creative jobs can’t be replaced by robots.
What meaning would our lives have if we didn’t go to a job every day? Many people never get to a point of asking this question as they’re too busy paying their bills.
Losing or changing a job can bring about a real personal crisis. However, it can also be an opportunity to discover and repurpose the unique gifts of individuals.
Naturally, the question arises in me: But isn’t it important to have harmony between both brain and heart? The answer is yes. However, in today’s world, we’re more often living and expressing from our mind rather than the heart. Therefore the heart element is what’s missing and needs more attention at this point.
3. Paradigm Shift From Polarity And Separation To Unity
Life is full of paradoxes. What we’re currently experiencing is more polarization. Through polarization and our differences, we can learn more about ourselves.
Polarities are merely two sides of the same coin.
The new world of 2020 and beyond is about embracing the whole spectrum. It means accepting both light and shadow, positive and negative, feminine and masculine, black and white. Out of merging two polarities, something new can arise. A third option – unity.
It is a shift from thinking this or that to this and that. It is about being open to seeing other perspectives and different angles of reality.
Another aspect of this paradigm shift is no longer seeing ourselves as separate. Separate from other people, from the universe, from nature, from other species.
The truth is we’re all connected through the invisible field. We can’t hurt anyone without hurting ourselves. Intelligence without including our hearts can become destructive in many ways. For example, producing as much food as quickly as possible for the maximized profit without caring about the effect of pesticides and chemicals on our health and environment.
4. Paradigm Shift From Complaining To Taking Responsibility
A new world of 2020 and beyond is about taking responsibility for our past choices. This includes individual and collective choices.
Our shadows are brought up to the surface giving us an opportunity to integrate them.
How have we been treating the environment? How have we been treating each other? There is still a lot of healing that needs to be done.
It’s easy to point the finger at others or external circumstances but the truth is that our lives are the result of our choices. Our outer world is the reflection of our inner worlds. The question is: Are we going to repeat the same mistakes, turn blind eye to our problems, or are we going to face our shadows and make wiser choices?
5. Paradigm Shift From Dependence To Self-sustainability
Lastly, I would like to talk about the theme of self-sustainability and sovereignty.
Many of us don’t like the governments but can we truly govern ourselves?
Can we be kind to each other without the laws? Can we sustain ourselves without the government?
After many lives being put on hold due to pandemic, people realized that they can’t rely on the ‘system’ to provide what they need.
Having our own place, homegrown food, an alternative source of energy and income seems the way to go.
This also includes supporting the local economy, agriculture, and small businesses. We’re too dependent on getting our supplies and food delivered from outside the country. When one link in the supply chain fails, it creates a domino effect.
All these changes can only take place if we change our understanding of reality. This process starts withing every individual.
I would like to end this article with some of the exercises that are aligned with where we’re heading as a collective.
Exercise no. 1:
When you’re faced with a difficult situation or decision, ask yourself: How would love deal with it? How would love see it? How can I approach this with love? What would a person who loves themselves do?
Exercise no. 2:
Instead of looking for differences in people, look at what you have in common with others. This simple exercise can create more closeness with people rather than separation.
Excercise no.3:
Practice seeing the creator/divine aspect in others and in yourself.
Exercise no. 4:
Do random acts of kindness. It could be as simple as holding a door for someone, buying a coffee for a colleague, giving a compliment or giving the right of way at an intersection.
