Our World Requires a New Mindset

Strategies to manage change in the midst of the unknown

We struggle to accept change because the new expectations do not align with past protocols. We resist changes that implement new systems because we ask the wrong question.

Wrong question

Why change our practices if they worked in the past?

Correct question

How will change improve the system?

Our changing world requires us to assess reality. We can never be so naive as to not evaluate the authenticity of claims with the support of logical, scientific, and proven intellect.

The following strategies allow individuals to understand change in the midst of the unknown and thereby, accept change when it is needed or determined to be effective.

Question either-or ultimatums

“Do not ever say that the desire to ‘do good’ by force is a good motive. Neither power-lust nor stupidity are good motives.” — Ayn Rand

Patrick Henry was one of the Founding Fathers of the United States. He presented this ultimatum in a speech, “Give me liberty, or give me death.” It’s a memorable line but extreme. When a person’s choices are limited, they are provided a false dilemma; life choices are not that simple.

We understood the rationale for Henry’s famous line was to unify Americans to fight for freedom. Few Americans will disagree that his words promoted the Revolutionary War which helped establish the United States of America. Thus, we understand the value of ultimatums, but also, must understand the motivation behind them.

Actions to Take

If pressure is asserted in a situation, when you are faced with an ultimatum, especially if the choices are undesirable, check your reality because there are always other options.

If you concede to force, you sacrifice your personal visions and become a slave to a master. However, if you accept an ultimatum with a clear understanding of the rationale and motivation, you are making an informed choice.

Verify information

“There are two sides to every issue: one side is right and the other is wrong, but the middle is always evil.” — Ayn Rand

A consumer of media knows information can be presented with different slants that alter the message. Too often, we accept news because it is the initial fact we hear, it comes from a source aligned with our beliefs, it is repeated in our community, or it is easier to accept than question and investigate.

Unfortunately, none of these are reliable reasons to believe what we read and hear. Informed citizens digest information with a discerning mind. They apply intellectual inquisitiveness to identify reality. Conflicting information is dispensed daily; however, within the reports, facts exist. It becomes our responsibility to actively evaluate information.

Action to Take

If you are uncertain how to identify fake news, check out this article. It provides concrete strategies to help verify the information.

Be wary of the wisdom of the majority or those in power

“The hardest thing to explain is the glaringly evident which everybody had decided not to see.”

“We are approaching the stage of the ultimate inversion: the stage where the government is free to do anything it pleases, while the citizens may act only by permission; which is the stage of the darkest periods of human history, the stage of rule by brute force.” — Ayn Rand

In The Wizard of Oz, the great and powerful OZ is a man who gained power through fraud and maintained it through fear. He hides behind the curtain to shield him from questions, protect his authority, and create an ominous appearance to secure his power.

We choose to follow leaders who earn respect. We chose to join groups that share similar missions. We remain in control of our destiny by remaining individuals who make choices.

Actions to Take

Never stop questioning authority and be ready to pull back the current to unmask mistaken power.

Accepting a decision from the majority of those in power without the support of science and logic will produce flawed results. Society twists words and changes perception, often using science for negative results. The purity of science and knowledge must be maintained and used to govern decisions.

Live a Life that leaves a legacy

“I swear, by my life and my love of it, that I will never live for the sake of another man, nor ask another man to live for mine.” — Ayn Rand

“Happiness is that state of consciousness which proceeds from the achievement of one’s values.” — Ayn Rand

Life’s goal for many is to be wealthy, healthy, and popular, but if a person achieves all of these but does not remain true to their values, the rewards are temporary. Identify what provides these tangible outcomes and then align them with your values so that when you achieve success, you haven’t lost yourself in the process.

Actions to Take

A person’s character is defined by what they do when nobody is watching. By applying that definition to our actions, we are forced to be honest about the motives. We can monitor our behaviors by asking three questions:

• If the behavior was spotlighted on the news would I be honored?
• Does the behavior model appropriate behavior for others?
• Would I be proud if my children imitated my behaviors?

Be the person you were meant to be

“The man who does not value himself, cannot value anything or anyone.” — Ayn Rand

“Do not let your fire go out. Do not let the hero in your soul perish, in the lonely frustration for the life you deserved, but have never been able to reach. — Ayn Rand

The movie, The Knight’s Tale, ends with Count Adhemar laying on the ground after being beaten by William in a jousting match. Adhemar is a member of the nobility but a villain in the story. William is a common man who is admired and respected by the community. After winning the tournament, William and his friends look down on Adhemar and say, “You have been weighed. You have been measured. And you have absolutely… been found wanting.”

Actions to Take

Make a list of your heroes or better yet, a list of heroic characteristics. Then weigh your actions and measure your character against the qualities on the list. Ask yourself if you are the person you are meant to be?

We evolve as individuals each day. Change is a constant. With this knowledge, the questions is not, “Why do we have to change?” The question should be, “Which changes will empower us to be active participants in creating a better world?”

When a quote provides a scale to help me weigh and measure myself, I file it away for future reflection. The quotes referenced in this article come from Ayn Rand’s novel, Atlas Shrugged, a story of fiction that forces philosophical questions about current events and personal life goals.