If you listen for them, you will hear people express their worldviews. These worldviews are a representation of how the person understands how life works. They determine what a person expects and shapes their choices and behaviors. Worldviews can hinder us in a major way or they can truly propel us forward.
Here are a couple worldviews I’ve heard people express lately and how that worldview will likely affect the person.
“Nice people get taken advantage of.”
We heard this one at a party. A mom was talking about her young son. Actually, my 14-year old son spotted it and said to me and John after the mom left the room, “Well, that’s a worldview.” Clearly she doesn’t want her son to get hurt, but she will be giving him messages about how to treat people. She sees being nice as a liability, so she probably doesn’t want to be too nice to other people. In fact, I would expect an overriding fear of being taken advantage of. The lack of trust will be a hindrance in relationships.
“We don’t deserve it.”
This takes a little explaining. I was on a walk yesterday and a man getting his mail said “hi” to me. I said “Hi” back and commented that it was a lovely day. He replied, “It’s gorgeous. We don’t deserve it.” I was a little stunned and quickly retorted, “I’ll take it!”
I’m not sure what to make of his comment. I found myself wondering if he had profound issues around worthiness. I mean, really, we don’t deserve nice weather? I was kind of tripping out for the rest of my walk. I wondered about what other basic things in life he thought he shouldn’t have. That’s got to limit the good stuff he gets (or attracts) in life–health, wealth, relationships, and more.
Here are some other worldviews I’ve heard over the years. Consider how having these beliefs will affect the person and his or her life.
- “I’d better spend this money now because it won’t be there later.”
- “Successful people are lucky.”
- “I don’t know if I want to make a big impact. Look at Mother Theresa and Martin Luther King, JR. I’d probably end up poor or dead.”
- “I’ve always struggled with my weight. I guess I always will.”
Make an effort to listen for other people’s worldviews. It can be truly astounding. Even more important, though, is to identify your own worldviews. Once you’ve spotted it, you can assess if it’s an accurate representation of how the world works and if it’s beneficial to you or harmful. Finally, if it needs replacing or adjusting, you can choose a new worldview that is more beneficial for you.
Here are a few examples to consider:
- “I have more than enough time, energy and money.”
- “I have what it takes to make a difference.”
- “God rewards those who earnestly seek him.”
- “Failure is not a barrier to success. It is the path to success.”
Can you see how these ways of seeing the world would be helpful? Choose today a new worldview that will help you move forward in life. And be aware that whatever you are expecting, you will get more of it. If for no other reason, you will be looking for instances that confirm what you believe to be true.
