A paradigm is defined as a standard, perspective, or set of ideas. It is a model of the way things are. A paradigm is a way of looking at or thinking about something. It’s a belief system. When you change paradigms, you change how you think about something. You change your mind.
There are paradigms in the workplace, at home and in schools. Paradigms exist in different forms in different cultures and communities. Individuals are often unaware of how or why things are done a certain way. Each one of us makes the agreement to follow the paradigm with little or no conscious choice. We accept. How does that happen? How is a paradigm formed? Consider this story about a society of monkeys.
A group of scientists placed five monkeys in a cage. In the middle of the cage, they placed a ladder with bananas on the top of it. Every time a monkey went up the ladder to get a banana, the scientists sprayed the other monkeys with cold water. Individual monkeys considered the banana worth the risk. After all, they were not in danger of being sprayed. But every time a monkey went up the ladder, the others got angry. They knew they would be sprayed so they attacked the one on the ladder. Eventually, none of the five monkeys dared to go up the ladder regardless of the temptation of the bananas.
Scientists then decided to exchange one of the monkeys for a new monkey. Of course, the first thing this new monkey did was to go up the ladder. Immediately, the other monkeys beat him up. The new monkey was confused. After several beatings, he learned not to climb the ladder. Even though he didn’t know why the other monkeys acted that way, he accepted their behavior as normal.
After some time, a second monkey was substituted and the same thing occurred. This time the first new monkey eagerly participated in the beating of the second new monkey, even though he didn’t know why. Then a third monkey was exchanged and the same things happened. The fourth monkey was substituted and the beating was repeated. Finally the fifth monkey was replaced. This monkey was the last of the original group who knew the reason behind the beatings.
What was left was a group of five monkeys who shared a paradigm about ladders and beatings. They shared a belief that it was impossible to reach the bananas without punishment. They had been negatively programmed to behave in a certain manner. Even though this group of monkeys had never received a cold shower, each one of them had received a beating. Each one continued to beat up any monkey who attempted to climb the ladder.
If it was possible to ask the monkeys why they would beat up all those who attempted to go up the ladder, I bet the answer would be….“I don’t know – that’s how we do it here”.
Are you doing the same thing over and over? Are you beating yourself up? Or others? Do you know why you’re doing it? Was it a conscious choice your made? Was it something you determined or was it something you accepted? You can always change the way things are done. You can create a new paradigm that begins with a new thought. It’s okay to go to the top of the ladder and enjoy a banana! Tell the others there is no need to be afraid. There is an abundance of bananas – enough for everyone. There is no need to attack others. It won’t hurt you or anyone else when you make a conscious choice. Determine your own life experience rather than accept a paradigm that does not serve you.