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How Change Occurs
Part I: The Paradigm Shift in Consciousness

by Patricia F. Hare, MAT, MA

In her book, The Aquarian Conspiracy (1980), Marilyn Ferguson describes a process of change called a "paradigm shift." A paradigm shift takes place when things are viewed one way, then new information comes in and the way things are viewed changes in response to the new information.

A paradigm is a set of ideas about something. It is common today to hear people use the term in reference to a variety of disciplines. For example, there are educational, economic, scientific, and medical paradigms. Each paradigm holds particular beliefs about what is true, what is effective, what is valuable, etc., in regards to its discipline.

The term paradigm shift was first used by Thomas Kuhn in his book, The Structure of Scientific Revolutions (1962). Kuhn was talking about how scientific developments change the perspectives with which we view the world and give rise to new historic ages. For example, the scientific discoveries of Sir Isaac Newton dramatically changed our perspective on the nature of the physical world and our place in it, giving rise to the industrial revolution and, subsequently, our new modern age of science and technology.

Ferguson's main focus, however, was on how the new information changes the perspective of individuals within a particular historical age and brings about new experience at a personal level. She called this change in an individual's perspective a "personal paradigm shift." As a critical mass of personal paradigm shifts (integrating similar new information) is achieved, a cultural shift is made inevitable.

There are periods of history in which paradigm shifts at both personal and cultural levels take place at a rate that is astonishing, relative to the times. It should come as no surprise to you to learn that we are now in such a period of history, affecting our planet on a global scale. 

I'm sure you have felt it; change is happening at such a rapid pace that many feel inadequate to keep up. Few would argue that the unprecedented conflict in today's world can be directly and indirectly credited to a clash of world views--old vs. new. 

The good news is that out of such conflict rises the potential for new creativity. The value of this process can be appreciated by anyone who has resisted change until they got A Whack on the Side of the Head or A Kick in the Seat of the Pants, (the titles of two excellent books on creativity by Roger von Oech, Ph.D.).

I am not saying that a crisis is the best way for change to be initiated, but it seems to be the method we subscribe to by default. Humans have a tendency to avoid change until it becomes too painful not to change. Ferguson states that, "The problem is that you can't embrace the new paradigm unless you let go of the old." And, well, we get rather attached to the "old," don't we? The old is familiar. We already understand it. We've integrated its laws. We know the rules of the game and how to play it.

But just as children outgrow their shoes and need new, better-fitting ones, cultures outgrow their paradigms and need new, better fitting ones. It is human nature for us to constantly seek greater knowledge and understanding, both of ourselves and the world around us. We must move forward with the new information and ideas of value that result from this search if we are to grow, develop, and prosper--both individually and collectively.

Few would argue that the unprecedented conflict in today's world can be directly and indirectly credited to a clash of paradigms, old and new.

So. We know that there are times when we need to change. And we know that most of the time we don't like to change. Out of the battle between the forces of "need to change" and "don't like to change" rises a crisis. Unless effectively responded to in the early stages, the crisis will eventually grow to such a proportion that either it will cause us to finally act or it will overcome us.

Think of what might happen to a child's foot if new shoes were not acquired in response to growth. First, there would be a bit of pain and discomfort, maybe some blisters and bunions or such. Then, toe deformation would start. In time, the child would become immobilized, every step taken becoming increasingly painful. 

Eventually, the foot could cease to grow in response to the confinement. Or, it could burst the seams of the shoe, freeing the foot. What a glorious day for the child that would be! Either way, by the time things went that far, irreparable damage would have been done to the foot and much of the joy of living lost in dealing with the situation.

As always, we have choices, even when we don't think that we do. We can choose to do nothing and learn to live with the pain. (Ouch!) Or we can face our fears and respond to the need to change. (Hmmm.)

Ferguson describes for us the process of a paradigm shift. Understanding this process can soften some of our fears and guide us as we go through our own personal paradigm shifts:

1. New data is gathered in our ongoing quest to answer every question. Some of this data doesn't fit comfortably in the existing paradigm. Notes are taken.

2. Eventually, so much ill-fitting data is collected that it challenges the traditional framework and gets the boldest minds to thinking and offering alternative hypotheses.

3. A crisis develops and traditional answers are unable to adequately address the problem. However, some of the alternative hypotheses demonstrate promise and a comprehensive theory is developed, offering a new perspective--a new paradigm.

4. The new paradigm generally gets a cool reception; some laugh at it while others are hostile to it. From the old perspective, it may seem bizarre and its details not yet clear.

5. The old view proponents go to their graves unconvinced of the value of the new view, while the new generation is able to embrace it. Finally, a critical mass of new paradigm subscribers is achieved and the new view takes dominance, ushering in a new historical age.

6. In time, the process repeats itself.

Many say today that the world needs to change. However, when we look at things in the context of this process, we can see that the world is already busy changing. We know we are somewhere in the middle of it, because we are well into the development of stage 3: crisis.

That a crisis has developed is hard to deny. In fact, there are a number of crises to choose from both at personal and global levels. But what about an alternative hypotheses that demonstrates promise? Who is working on a comprehensive theory, designed to offer a new perspective?

Even as far back as 1980 (for some of us that doesn't seem far), Ferguson saw it coming: "Massive change in every cultural institution--medicine, politics, business, education, religion, and the family." She saw the ingredients for the foundation of this change coming (as it had in the previous era-changing paradigm shift) from "the startling findings of leading-edge science." Now, 23 years later, the foundation is pretty well laid and the findings are pretty darn startling.

Today's leading-edge science is quantum physics. This is the branch of physics which seeks to understand what is going on at the very deepest roots of reality. As our technology gets more powerful, we are able to peer into ever smaller details of physical matter. Quantum physicists are explorers of the subatomic levels. Over the past century they have been gathering a lot of new data that doesn't comfortably fit in the existing paradigm. And it's definitely challenging the traditional framework.

Lynne McTaggart, author of The Field: The Quest for the Secret Force of the Universe (2002), is one of many writers explaining to us the quiet scientific revolution taking place and the implications of its findings. These implications are heretical to some; to others they offer a life-enhancing vision. 

McTaggart tells us that quantum physicists have been finding that at the subatomic level our world is a "participatory relationship" between an observer and the observed. Subatomic particles exist in probability until they are perturbed (i.e., observed and measured) forcing them into a set state, "an act akin to solidifying Jell-O." And guess what perturbs subatomic particles (here's where we get to the startling part): The observer--human consciousness.

Please understand that most physicists would never suggest that human consciousness is responsible for bringing the observed world into being. This idea seems bizarre (and its details are not yet clear). However, a growing number of physicists are stating that the findings of quantum physics--whether they like it or not--are just that: Reality boils down to the consciousness that is observing it. 

This idea is so radical because it flies in the face of everything that we have been taught about the nature of reality. Reality is solid; reality can be measured; reality has weight; reality is, well, real. We don't "think-up" reality! It exists, we discover it, we explore it, we define it, we exist in it--it does not exist in us!

But there it is. A century of scientific research taking us to this paradigm-shifting conclusion: Nothing in the universe exists as an actual 'thing' independent of our perception of it. If that is true, then we are blessed and burdened with the responsibility for what we see. And if we don't like what we see, the means of changing it are not "out there" in "reality," but within us, within ourselves, within our consciousness. 

The truly beautiful thing about a subjective universe is that it is subjective. We each are gifted with our own, individual consciousness capable of perturbing subatomic particles. So to create change you don't have to purchase any equipment. You don't have to lobby some government agency. You don't have to convince your friends and family to buy into this idea for it to work. All you have to do is embrace the new paradigm. All you have to do is change your mind. 

Yes, I know. It boggles, well, the mind. But perhaps you can try to see that as a good thing. The problems we face in the world today are pretty overwhelming when you stop to take a good look. And few will argue that the solutions we come up with to address the problems only serve to make things worse. We've tried every variation of the old theme (paradigm) yet the shoe keeps getting tighter and tighter! 

Doesn't it make sense that it would take something dramatically different, something of a much larger size, something that really requires an expansion of our consciousness to solve these problems and create new, better stuff for us to deal with in the future? Of course it does! 

Each paradigm shift invites us to view the world with a dramatic new perspective. At one time, Newtonian physics was the radical new alternative hypothesis, challenging the status quo while taking those willing to go to new levels of knowledge and understanding. Now, quantum physics is is taking on that role, answering questions left unanswered by Newtonian physics and taking those willing to go to new levels of knowledge and understanding.

Doesn't it make sense that it would take something dramatically different...that requires an expansion of our consciousness to solve these problems and create new, better stuff for us to deal with in the future?

When will we reach that critical mass? How many years will it take for the shift to be complete?  Those are questions I cannot answer. But I can tell you how soon you will be able to make the shift--as soon as you are ready. You don't have to wait for any other person or group to move forward, or any newspaper headline to give the go-ahead. 

  

As we each experience our own personal paradigm shift, we add to the weight of the critical mass. And as we learn to solve our individual problems as well as manifest our dreams from this fresh, new perspective, we gain knowledge, insights, and experience that will be valuable as we come together to address community, national, and global problems.

And the circle of history is being made complete. Or perhaps I should say the upward spiral of history, as that is more like what is happening. The last step in the process of paradigm shifting is "repeat." But we don't repeat the same old thing all over again. We have moved to a higher level of understanding and our roots have spread and grown deeper, finding untapped layers of soil for nourishment. This allows for new growth, new creativity, new ideas, new models--and a new age.

But how can we individually embrace the new paradigm? How can we use the scientific information coming out of quantum physics--that the world of physical experience is intimately connected to the world within our minds--in our day-to-day lives? What will that look and feel like? How do we explain to others what we are doing? Where do we begin?

In Part II of this article, "Creative Visualization and the Personal Paradigm Shift", I will give some beginning answers to these and other questions the reader may have. Because the paradigm is so new, we are still in the early stages of comprehending the impact it will have on our lives both personally and globally. Much remains to be explored and understood. But there's a lot of information already available to work with as scientists, teachers, researchers, philosophers, journalists, scholars, and others have  been busy for some time studying this new paradigm and the ways in which it will transform our lives. 

--by Patricia F. Hare
Copyright © 2003

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