MOT • Personal Growth #1: How to reach a Worldview that sets you Free

Hey Steemians,

A few days ago I was hanging out with my friends, the classic gathering. One brought some wine and beers, the other surprised us with hand-made regional specialities. A welcoming, open atmosphere was flourishing and after another glas of wine we found ourselves in deep talks and discussions about our generation, bold visions, and the future.

It was great fun, but while we were talking I started to realize that most of my friends, even though they have great jobs, healthy relationships, and some even young families, they were all struggling with themselves and the world surrounding them on a very fundamental base. They had gained phenomenal skills in complaining about everything, spreading gossip they picked up from random sources, and making sure that everybody in the room got worried about the future.

Watching the scene, I asked them about their ideas for potential solutions and how their contribution could look like. Unknowingly, this stimulation unveiled a whole new level of underlying questions they weren’t able to give an answer to, like ‘Why me? I have no power, others have to take care of it and make it right.’ and ‘What are my skills?’, ‘I only want to live my life and feed my family, leave me alone.’, ‘How? I don’t know.’, ‘My contribution?’, ‘There are no solutions. It is as it is. OK for me.’

Well…it wasn’t OK for me.

Even though they are all smart chaps, they were neither able to articulate their core believes, nor define their roles in a global context, and show any true compassion in a bigger sense. They had doubts about themselves, were extremely unhappy, unfulfilled, and helpless.

This evening really got me thinking and I was trying hard to understand the core issue they are all struggling with.
Then I came across a video with Pharrell Williams where he says:

“With no conviction, there’s only confusion … If you don’t believe there is a change that is due to you then you will never, ever find it. Change won’t come and tap you on the shoulder. You have to be open for change.” Pharrell Williams

I understood that they were lacking in conviction. A lack in conviction in their core believes, their potential, their roots. They weren’t even able to define and explain their values, their perspective, their world view. Maybe they have never even thought about it. The problem with this is, that all of us have a world view, especially on a subconscious level. It constantly influences ourselves, but also the world around us.

The way how you look at your life will form it.

Your world view determines your life and drives your behavior. If you are not clear about it, if you can’t control it, reframe it, adapt it, and actively work with it, world views of others will start influencing you and this will lead to doubts and confusion on your end. So, what to do: make up your mind and get clear on your world view, right now. Otherwise you will be lead into the wrong direction.

So how about your world view?

Let’s start with some core facts about life:

1. Life is a challenge and will test you over and over again. You may ask ‘What’s my job in this?’. The answer is: Build your character! Take every chance you get to develop it and let it grow. You will be challenged in your faith, how you deal with your possessions, your relationships, your love. But, once you have learned to trust no matter what, you will understand that no challenge will be too big. Life will only confront you with challenges you will be able to handle!

2. Life is a loan and nothing in this world truly belongs to me, to you, or to any other person. How could it? Once you die you will not be able to take anything with you. But here is the point: While you are on earth you have the job to manage all the things you are provided with. Plus, the more you have to manage, the bigger gets your responsibility. Now the question is about your management qualities and if you will use the confidence placed in you for good or for bad.

3. Life is limited and especially two characteristics stand out: time and power. Everyone’s life is limited to a specific amount of time and you will not be able to change or influence that. Which is already the perfect example for your limited power in this universe. You simply are not God and almighty.

I believe we are all on the same page with this framework, so let’s have a look at some famous world views people have on this planet:

Materialism → #more
More, more, more. People with this world view believe that the more they have, the more they possess, the more they are worth. But they forget that ‘net worth is not self worth’. They believe that possessions will bring them freedom, but most of the times we can witness that their possessions possess them. They confuse values with valuables. What they don’t realize is that the greatest things in life aren’t things. Life in not about collecting, and you will never be able to meet that need as you will always want more.

Individualism → #mefirst
Individualists are self-centered people who put themselves first, only focusing on their own needs. They have to constantly compare themselves with others and they are driven by being better than the rest. They have not understood that ‘great leaders eat last’, they have not experienced the beauty of sharing and true love, and that one of the great secrets of a fulfilled life is serving. My take on this: ‘You are blessed to be a blessing for others.’

Hedonism → #fun
They believe that life is a game full of fun and pleasure. It is the most important thing to feel good, live for comfort and the kick. They do whatever feels good and comfortable! But as we know, life is not always fun, life is a challenge. The problem with hedonism is that the pursuit of pleasure is never satisfied as it’s a vanishing emotion and not a state of mind. Thus, people with this world view will never be able to feel fulfilled and truly happy. To enjoy pleasure is great, but it is not the goal of life. It rather should be the byproduct of doing the right thing. This is also correlated to the strive for freedom. Freedom does not mean doing nothing and just lying on the beach, instead choosing to do the right thing with pleasure and dedication.

Pragmatism → #noopinon
For them it is most important that things simply work, but the how and why come second. ‘What ever works for you’ people don’t have any opinion and practical doing is more important than theoretical thinking and rationality. These people are easy to manipulate and control. Also they are most often careless as ‘the end justifies the means’. A life based on this world view has not much to do with a human being, but if you look carefully you will find it more often than you’d think.

Humanism → #IamGod
Humanists believe that they are the master of their faith. They are their own god, being in full control over their life. They worship themselves and care about status symbols. What I don’t understand is if people are that powerful, why do they struggle so much? Why do they have doubts and can’t find answers to some of the most pressing questions? That doesn’t sound very god like to me.

Naturalism → #NatureRules
Naturalists believe in laws of nature, facts they can prove and explain, or at least “statistically guess”. It is very rational and analytical, which I appreciate, but it is also full of doubts and hypothesis as we simply don’t have answers to all the questions out there, and I don’t think we ever will. So here, my life is based on some things that I can understand, but most things that I can’t understand. That’s not a solid foundation to build a life on. Have you actually ever thought about the statistical probability that this universe, the earth, and you as an individual exist? Chances are not higher than calling it an accident…also this is not a very satisfying statement.

Do you believe in any of these world views?

Your most powerful tool:
Every decision you make in your life is based on your believes, which ultimately makes them the most powerful tool you have. Period. Maybe your mind is filled up with the wrong input, the wrong believes, as you allow too much crap to get into your mind. Be careful about what you think as your life is shaped by your thoughts. But maybe you are already connected to the right sources and you just have to fully comprehend, embrace, and live them. That’s something only you know. Here is a hint: If you are not sure about who you are, what your role is in this world, what your purpose is, your mission…and you worry about it, then you have not found your world view yet.

Unfortunately, most people really don’t know what they believe in, and those who believe in the wrong things clash with each other which causes all kind of problems, conflicts, even wars and destruction. Think about it.
If you are now checking on your own believes, here are some of mine that I am happy to share with you:

God exists, he is good and he created me. He loves me, supports me, cares about every single detail in my life. He is my hope and my future, I matter to him. I put my attention on him, I build my life on his promises and his foundation. I don’t have to worry. He is my unshakable source of energy and unconditional love.

Life is a challenge, a test, preparation for the next, and you are here to fulfill your purpose, which ultimately leads to a fulfilled life. You am responsible for your character to let it grow on a daily base, with every new situation. You have the free will and can decide, every single time, to trust and believe, to get active and do good.

It is your job to be an authentic and significant role model to others, to strive to learn and improve every day. To help and support others, to be a blessing to them with the gifts and resources you got provided with. You have to make your contribution to make the world a better place for this and the next generations to come.

What to do next: define your own core believes, know them by heart, and then live them! Be a person with a clear world view. That will change the world. Your world — and the world of others you interact with.

Life is hard and God is good. But most people want it to be the other way around.

Thanks so much!
MOT

P.S. I look forward to your thoughts, comments, and please upvote if you liked the post