Paradigm Shift

Perspective means everything when we experience life's many challenges. Where are your thoughts?

There once was an old Golden Retriever about 10 human years old who roamed the streets of a small village in the middle of nowhere. One day a farmer walked into the village to purchase a new shovel to plant seeds on the land he owned. After purchasing the perfect shovel for the job, he started his short journey back home. On his way out of the village, this farmer was approached by a dog that appeared to be very weak, tired, and lost. The man walked the dog to a nearby water well. The man who just purchased this shovel and had much work to do before sundown, cupped his hands and allowed the dog to drink water from his hands.  The dog began wagging its tail in satisfaction and gratitude. The man grinned from ear to ear, he then stood up, grabbed his shovel, and began walking out of the village. The man looked back to wave at the dog goodbye as he noticed the dog was following him the whole time. He also noticed a little pep-in-the-step from the ole pooch. The man decided to allow the dog to keep him company on the way home and as they walked together, he even thought about keeping the dog as a friend and companion.
            After about halfway home the man noticed the dog’s tongue turning purple and eyes red. The dog appeared very fatigued and ill.  The man thought to himself “Oh no this dang dog is going to slow me down. The responsibility of caring for this ole lost dog is all mine now.” Eventually the dog became dizzy and staggered down a deep hole on the side of the dirt path. The man dropped his new shovel and put his hands on his hips as he looked at this dog that was laying in this dirt hole with those puppy dog eyes staring up at him. The man had no choice. With tears in his eyes, he picked up this shovel and began scooping dirt from the ground into the hole to bury the dog. The man wouldn’t investigate the hole as he just began shoveling dirt and tossing heavy scoops on top of the dog as he mumbled to himself very disgruntled.  “Damn dog! I know I shouldn’t have brought this dog with me. Ole mut wasn’t my problem until I brought him along. I should just keep on going and forget about this damn dog, but I’m sure the village noticed me walk out with him. Stupid dog! I knew something was wrong with him this whole time, but I still chose to bring this ole raggedy mut with me.”  He shoveled and shoveled and shoveled. Throwing dirt over his shoulder and into the hole until finally he turned around.
Break:
The man was so shocked at what he saw. He stepped back about two feet as he stumbled to the ground. It was the dog standing right there beside the hole the man just filled up. The dog appeared alert and attentive ready to conquer the world by the sway of its tail and the poke of his chest, you could tell this dog meant business. The man slowly stood up and his eyes were fixed on the eyes of this dog. The dog was facing the route in the path that led the man home. The dog was now leading the way as he the man paced behind him with astonishment. The man remembered how deep that hole was and would replay the many ways the dog found the energy and strength to climb out despite all the dirt that was thrown on top of him.
That dog lived the remainder of his days watching the sun rise and fall on the farm with the man who purchased that shovel and planted those seeds on that sunny summer day years ago. They lived happily ever after. 
But every now and again, that now old man thinks back to that day and wonders…How did that ole dog get out of that deep hole.
What really happened in that hole was a Paradigm Shift (An important change that happens when the usual way of thinking about or doing something is replaced by a new and different way).  The dog was presented with a new way of thinking and living, and it transformed his behaviors from that day on.  Each scoop of dirt was used to bury the dog and keep him below the surface. It also represented his destiny. Each scoop would get the dog closer and closer to death, which was not determined by the dogs’ choices or that of its higher power. It was the choice of the man who didn’t want the problems or the work to nourish that dog and bring it back to good health. Instead, the man continued to toss death on top of the dog.
The dog did not accept this. Despite what had been spoken into the dog’s life, the dog chose to use each scoop of dirt as a steppingstone to get him that much closer to the goal of living the life that he had always wanted to live.  You see, each scoop of dirt thrown in the hole, the dog would shake off and step on top of until there was enough dirt to jump out of the hole he fell into.
We all experience the dirt getting tossed on our backs. “You are ugly, you are stupid, you could never go to law school, you could never go to medical school, you don’t deserve it.” The list goes on and on and on. Each hurtful word is another scoop of dirt meant to bury you and keep in you in that hole you fell into after possibly years and years of bullying, trauma, different life stressors, or bad choices.  We get tired and become weak and fall. Then comes an old friend, a close family member, a close romantic partner, or coworker speaking death into your life.  We must be like that living spirit who chooses to live. Shrugging off negative influences and death to live the life nobody but us believes we can live. Sometimes we need to be faced with adversities so strong the only option is to sink or swim, fight or flight, thrive or just survive.  When presented with these types of options, the paradigm shift occurs. The power of the human mindset.

By: Jere’My Rankins, MA LPC