Surely you have wondered why you do what you do, love one thing and not another, perceive one kind of music, but another “bleeds from your ears.” And at the same time you don’t understand how your friend can dress so badly, because you wouldn’t even dress an enemy in such clothes. It’s simple - these are all links in a big chain called “Worldview”.
Worldview has many scientific definitions and philosophical descriptions. But if you go into too much detail, you can get bored or even very upset. Therefore, it is better to first understand what worldview is in everyday life and take the first steps towards a conscious life.
In this article:
What is a worldviewWhere to start4 stages of changing a worldview7 rules from psychological practice
Stages of worldview formation
Over the course of a person's life, his views on the world can change. It all depends on the volume and quality of experience and knowledge that an individual receives. But the first steps in the formation of a worldview depend on age. Four stages of development can be distinguished:
- The starting point is the preschool period. The primary character traits of the child emerge. He learns to communicate through parents, relatives and educators. Family is the main source of worldview formation.
- From the age of 6–7 years, the horizons expand significantly. The process of alienation of a child from his parents and social life at school encourage the child to independently study the picture of the world. But until now, values and ideals depend on “significant adults.”
- By the age of 13–15, a certain amount of knowledge and experience has been accumulated. The teenager analyzes life situations and the actions of other people. Now the worldview depends not only on parents and the surrounding society. A teenager has his own idea of good and evil, his place in the world. An active search for oneself begins.
- After 18–23 years, a young man chooses a path in life. The worldview is formed using a system of concepts and beliefs. Now he is guided by personal guidelines. But ideas about life still change depending on the acquired knowledge and experience.
Gavin Kennedy “Anything can be agreed upon!”
Gavin Kennedy is the world's leading negotiator. The author rightly notes that we all begin to negotiate in childhood, and even when we have not really learned to speak. Moreover, some already know how to negotiate and achieve everything they need, while others, instead of what they want, receive punishment in the form of a reprimand or spanking. “The strength of child negotiators,” Kennedy writes, “lies in the asymmetry of values—theirs and yours. They quickly notice what is most important to you - and by threatening to take it away from you, they get what they need." Based on their ability to negotiate, Gavin Kennedy divides people into Donkeys, Sheep, Foxes and Owls. Donkeys don’t even realize that there is such a possibility as to reach an agreement. Sheep are happy to receive exactly as much as they are given. Foxes are aware of what is happening and are convinced that they deserve to get what they sought. And only wise Owls are able to see the prospects for negotiations and agreements. Which category of people we belong to can be determined using the tests contained in the book.
It teaches the basics of the negotiation process and makes our thinking more flexible, which is important if we want to win. For example, the author writes that the worst thing we can do during negotiations is “to accept the first offer. It undermines faith both in ourselves and in the completed transaction.”
Factors influencing the formation of worldview
When creating a system of views on the world, the human brain uses any information to analyze and gain new experience. The approximate structure from which a worldview is formed can be divided into external and internal factors.
External
The factors at this point are:
- Family and education. The child absorbs family traditions, norms of communication and behavior unconsciously. Then, in adulthood, an adult transfers some of them to his family. From childhood, parents lay down the concepts of what is good and what is bad. If the parents’ lives are full, they are educated and modern, then their view of the world is plastic. Despite their extensive life experience, they are still absorbing new knowledge. Then the child is given relevant information. A child who grows up in a safe and comfortable environment has a desire to explore the world. If, on the contrary, you raise a child in excessive severity, then a fear of expressing yourself will appear.
- Environment. The expression “tell me who your friend is and I will tell you who you are” is very popular. The society that surrounds a person significantly influences his views, values and habits. Friends, friends and colleagues act as examples for development. When a person finds himself in a successful environment, he improves his quality of life. New goals and a desire to expand your horizons appear. Regarding the right environment, Spiritual Economics says: “What I really called you to is that you should not associate with any of those who call themselves your brother, but themselves remain either a libertine or a money-grubber, and perhaps an idolater or a foul-mouthed man and a drunkard or a swindler. Don’t even sit down to eat with someone like that” (RBO, 1 Cor. 5:11). Once in a bad company, a person inevitably becomes one of its participants. The desire for a successful life disappears, interests become primitive.
- Authorities. The source of worldview formation is an authoritative person: parents, teachers, mentors, idols. The emerging person closely monitors the words, emotions and, of course, the deeds performed by the person designated as a spiritual guide. There is a strong desire to imitate her.
- Education and science. A person also gains knowledge scientifically in kindergarten, school, university, and training courses. This is where systematized information comes to the brain. It allows you to answer the questions: “How?”, “Why?”, and “Why?” For example, an older child will learn about how heat affects the skin and why it is important to avoid overheating. The more knowledge you have, the stronger your life position becomes. It is easier for a person to draw conclusions on his own, without relying on others. Theoretical knowledge does not always become fertile ground for the formation of a worldview. If a person receives new information in any way and tests it in practice, then new conclusions emerge based on personal experience.
The knowledge that a young person receives at school and university provides the basis for his worldview. Teachers and mentors themselves become authoritative figures for a person. They pass on their experience and knowledge. Quality education provides answers to many questions that arise when searching for yourself. It is also important not to forget about self-education.
- Religion. It leaves a noticeable imprint on people's thinking. Faith teaches a person patience and humility. It unites and supports those in need.
- National culture. The worldview is influenced by the country in which a person was born. Any culture has its own traditions and customs that shape beliefs and values.
- Mass media. One way or another, they are with people throughout their lives. They tell the news, describe events, teach how to live. The media have a huge influence on an entire segment of the population. Information influences the formation of horizons. This is why it is important to filter all information coming from TV, the Internet, newspapers and magazines.
Social media also has a huge impact on personality. 4.2 billion people today are registered on social networks. This represents 53% of the world's population. At the same time, social networking algorithms control what the user sees. In 2014, studies were conducted that involved showing people specially selected news. 700 thousand people took part in the experiment. One group of people was shown exclusively positive news, and the second - negative. After a week of research, the effect was noticeable. Those who watched negative news posted positive posts less and less often. When the share of negativity in the feed decreased, people’s mood improved. This suggests that social networks control mood and form the basis for worldview. Therefore, it is important to filter all information that comes from social networks. It is also important to limit the time you spend in them.
Domestic
Other factors are important here:
- Personal experience. From birth, a person learns about the world through experience. The brain receives scattered information about the outside world through experiments. For example, a small child of 3–4 years old does not want to wear mittens outside in winter. Mom allows him to go out without them. The child's hands are cold, and he ends up asking for mittens. The brain formed the concept of the unpleasant sensations that arose from being outside without mittens. This is how learning the world through experience works. A personal value system is based on personal experience. It allows an adult to sincerely believe in the rightness of his actions.
- Emotions and feelings. Some beliefs are formed based on personal experiences. In Spiritual Economics the following words are mentioned: ““Joy in the heart is the best medicine, but a depressed spirit dries up the body” (RBI, Proverbs 17:22). If a person approaches life situations with optimism, then it is easier for him to expand the boundaries of his worldview. The environment becomes interesting, you want to explore the world. But if a person has suffered serious moral trauma, then it is difficult for him to open up. The world seems dangerous and evil. In this case, it is recommended to gradually and carefully work with your life attitudes, because childhood traumas are the deepest.
- Character. Certain traits broaden one's worldview. This includes will, faith, and a tendency to introspection. These qualities help you achieve your goals and believe in yourself. Such a person does not go with the flow, but doubts the truth of new information and knowledge. He tests it and puts it into practice. This allows you to expand your worldview.
Brian Tracy “Change your thinking and you will change your life.”
Canadian Brian Tracy is the head of Brian Tracy International, a company specializing in coaching, a motivator and a business trainer. He is the author of almost 50 books, translated into many languages of the world and becoming reference books for people who want to be guided by the invaluable advice and rules offered by Tracy.
The main idea of the book “Change your thinking and you will change your life” is that a person can overcome difficulties and achieve any difficult goals thanks to himself, the potential of his own psyche. Thoughts are material - they can make a person feel powerful or pitiful, sad or happy, feel like a winner or a loser.
“What you believe becomes your reality,” says Brian Tracy.
Each person is unique and each person has many talents and abilities, you just need to be able to discover them and program yourself for success. After all, all people by birth have the right to be happy, healthy and successful. There are many opportunities open to everyone, but people themselves limit their future because they do not believe in them. Their own limited thinking prevents them from having what they want and living a wonderfully fulfilling life.
Tracy's ideas about optimism and opportunity in the book are simple, so most people are skeptical at first - until they understand them, learn to live by them, and change their lives for the better.
Active and passive ways to form a worldview
There are two paths that shape a worldview. The passive path requires no effort. The ideals, views and principles are the same as those of the society in which a person lives. A passive worldview does not require effort and self-searching. Individuality is erased. All views on the world are formed under the influence of life conditions.
The active path of worldview formation is associated with constant risk. A person asks himself questions and looks for answers to them, and does not always focus on the norms of the society in which he lives. Most of the time he studies, gains new experiences, and breaks stereotypes. At the same time, it is important for him to maintain balance. It is not always useful to go against public opinion and be a black sheep. It is possible and sometimes even necessary to acquire new knowledge, relying on the old experience of predecessors. And only then form a personal view.
Spiritual Economics says this: “You don’t even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? For you are like vapor, which appears for a while and then disappears” (NRT, James 4:14). Human life is short, it is important to understand this. Therefore, it is better to spend a short moment on knowledge, studying the world and forming personal views, than to go with the flow, always following the crowd. This will help you feel the taste of life.
John Parkin "Send everything to... The paradoxical path to success and prosperity."
Readers' opinions about this book were divided. Some believe that it is designed for immature teenagers who say “Fuck It” to all problems. Others, on the contrary, declare that teenagers should not read it categorically, because, following the principle “screw it,” they may never mature spiritually - they will become older, but not wiser, and will grow up to be infantile, indifferent people.
But the book is not as simple as it seems. By “send everything to...” the author means - listen to yourself, live as your own heart tells you, and not those around you. Life is too short to fill it with fears, stress, complexes, the desire to appear better than we are, the desire to dominate or, conversely, to be squeezed and constrained. People live in accordance with a value system that develops in the process of education and training. But it often happens that, under the influence of some events, they revise this system and what seemed super important loses its meaning. To become charismatic, creative, a leader, a millionaire, to make a dizzying career, to pump up muscles, to lose weight to the point of a hanger - do we want this ourselves or do we strive to correspond to something in order to be considered accomplished?
“Give yourself permission to do what you want, eat cheesecake, send your lazy partner away,” says John Parkin. “Live freely, letting yourself be carried away by the natural flow of life itself!” The magic words “Fuck It” are the keys to liberation from the captivity of stereotypes.
The author is interested in Buddhism, and his “Fuck It” philosophy is called Western-style Buddhism. He himself calls it the “Ideal Spiritual Path.” The book is written with great humor and is easy to read. Currently, John Parkin and his family have moved from London to Italy, where he and his wife Gaia opened The Hill That Breaths' center in Tuscany and teaches breathing courses.
How to change your worldview: tips from psychologists
You may be asking the question: “If a worldview is formed independently through a passive path, then why change it?” But this view of the world remains superficial. Would you like your personal values to depend on other people's opinions? You can change your worldview, but in adulthood it is more difficult to do this.
How you can try to change your worldview:
- Analyze your beliefs. Think about your attitude towards life. Self-analysis is a powerful weapon if used in moderation without turning it into self-flagellation. Identify the things that don't satisfy you.
- Weigh all the pros and cons of established beliefs. What happens if you remove some of them from your life?
- Work on problem areas. Since the initial worldview is formed through the family, problems with the perception of the world almost always arise due to improper upbringing and childhood trauma. Therefore, it is recommended to consult a psychologist to work out all the pain points.
- After analyzing and processing traumas, remove from your life all beliefs that cause discomfort or do not bring you any benefit.
- Motivate yourself. It is important to remember why you abandoned your previous beliefs. Discipline, patience and self-control will help you stick to your new position. And the realization that you have freed yourself from the burden of attitudes that interfere with you and have become a better person will be your guiding star on the path to a new “me.”
Many factors influence the formation of a worldview. If you want change, but are afraid that it is too late, then take the course “How to remove self-doubt from your head. And in just 14 days, believe in yourself.” In just 2 weeks, you can believe in yourself and never doubt your abilities again, regardless of age or upbringing.
Who's ready? - Units. Why?
For the most part, people behave as if they do not remember, are asleep, frozen, they are stricken with ignorance, they lack discrimination, and the entire focus of attention is directed, as before, only to comply with systemic norms, which is perceived by many as a necessary condition become happy (...) Does everyone now need to change to such an extent as to strive for personal freedom and live outside the system? Obviously not. This has its own wisdom, since everyone moves at their own speed, enjoying the life that they know, this is how the personality and soul mature.
There are people who have not yet finished playing, have not received all the experience due to them within the system, they keep themselves within the usual, sometimes comfortable framework, not wanting to change anything. This book simply will not fall into the hands of such people, and those who read it should not agitate anyone by doing more good than someone can accept. Even if these are your loved ones, and you wish them beautiful changes. Accept the fact that they are simply not ripe for a new raising of their consciousness, in order to complete many years of running in one circle, take stock and discover their new deep content, with an exclusive modeling of their life.
This creativity of life is not for everyone: it is still understandable only to those who are already ready, who are mature. When a person awakens, he begins to realize that the social script no longer fits him, he realizes that he has grown . The conscious person has outgrown the childish script written by the system - one for all, with variations in 500 templates. While the mass consciousness habitually replays stigmas in their heads like: “for bad behavior, the terrible God will come and punish you..., and reward you for good behavior,” the system has them on all sides. The very word God can be hidden, and the vivid fear of punishment simply comes from the system, from the very environment in which each of you lives, feeling this fear.
