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 %HIT BOTTOM OUT ALCOHOL ADDICT FAILED PARADIGM NEW+961123
 %REVOLUTIONARY SHIFT IDEALS VALUES PRINCIPLES LAWS+961123
   %CONFLICT RESOLUTION VIOLENCE TRANSCENDENCE WARS 961123

     When we  finally  acknowledge that  our   traditional
paradigm  is fundamentally dysfunctional we need to seek a
healthy  way  to  make a fundamental  paradigm  shift:   a
revolutionary shift in assumptions,  attitudes,   beliefs,
perceptions,  ultimate concerns,  foci,  convictions,  and
ways of thinking  and associating with people,  ideals and
values.

     We  may  need  to shift our  primary  attention  away
from:  alcohol,   drugs,  work,  sex,  knowledge,   power,
technology, research,  manipulations, controls, standards,
perfection,   reputations---and  whatever  else  may  have
been   in  the spotlight of our dysfunctional patterns  of
striving.

     We  cannot  make  such  a fundamental paradigm  shift
under  the  guidance  of our traditional  paradigm!     We
cannot  plan  and  control  the outcome of making  such  a
shift!    We  cannot even anticipate the outcome of making
such a revolutionary paradigm shift.

     The best we can do is to recognize the ways in  which
we  have  seen  our  old  paradigm  to  be  dysfunctional;
perhaps in terms of  why and  how our traditional paradigm
has led us into personal and communal disintegration.

     What  has  been lacking?   What has been dominant  in
ways which have pushed essential considerations out of our
lives?  How and why have we lost our balance?  How and why
have we become alienated and lost or destroyed our friends
and intimate relationships?

     What hints are there of new ways, paradigms, friends,
ideals,  values and  principles which  are  more likely to
promote  both  personal and communal integrity---than  our
paradigm  and  its  supporters?    Where can we shift  our
trust  to?     What seems most likely to be worthy  of new
kinds of trust in risky situations?

     We  do not have to make just one big jump into a  new
unknown.  We can make little steps to tentatively test the
reliability  of  new ways,  paradigms,  friends,   ideals,
values and  principles which  are  more likely to  promote
both  personal and communal integrity.   On the  basis  of
what  we learn through honest searching using such  little
steps,     we  can  venture  farther  and   farther   into
new   territory   which   at   first  may   have    looked
exceedingly dangerous.

     As we learn bit by  bit  we can develop confidence in
taking bigger steps which at  first  might  have  appeared
exceedingly dangerous --- because we could  not anticipate
or  control   the  outcome of taking  such   steps;    and
cannot  control  their  outcomes.     We  can,    however,
learn  to anticipate  when  the  outcomes  are  likely  to
be  integrative---and when the outcomes are likely to   be
disintegrative.  Such anticipation is not knowledge of the
outcomes---even though it may give us confidence that  the
outcomes will enhance our personal and communal  integrity
in the long term.
                                                                                                                               
                         (c) 2005 by Paul A. Smith in      
                    (On Being Yourself, Whole and Healthy)  
                                                                                                                               
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