What If Dorothy and Toto Had Stayed in Kansas?

What If Dorothy and Toto Had Stayed in Kansas?

For one, there would have been no movie…read on.

Sometimes the most challenging part of accepting new ideas or changing an entrenched point of view (see my IMAGINE on assumptions ) is the fear of change. Or, more accurately, the fear of leaving the familiar behind and having to re-evaluate long-held beliefs, traditions, ideas, dogma, philosophies… you get the point.?

Even when we make the right noises and seemingly embrace the new, we often remain stagnant, allowing the old to persist without real change—mere lip service.

There are so many examples to cite:

  • Think about the climate. It is changing. For example, I can remember when the Hudson River in NY was frozen bank to bank. My grandchildren have never seen that. What about the heat this summer and drought worldwide? But we are lost in a dogmatic debate of why instead of a practical discussion of what we can do—now.
  • Gun violence. A plague. Few argue that mass killings are a good thing. Yet we can’t seem to be able to restate the issues in ways that everyone can get behind and put an end to the wrong people having access to weapons.
  • Rights of others. Why do we seem to discriminate between who has a right to rights? A Bible quote for the point—KNEE JERK ALERT—not about religion…all of humankind was created in one image, yet some think it was only in their own image.

And on and on.?

The critical track is to begin with self-awareness... a true acknowledgment that change has occurred, even if the acceptance makes you uncomfortable.?

Think about the:

  • Church and Galileo
  • Smoking and cancer
  • OxyContin and addiction?

Sounds obvious? I don’t think it is. In each case, entrenched believers of all kinds, with many different motivations and, frankly, incentives, refused to confront any of the possible proof points presented. They did all they could to stop new thinking from taking over and leading the way.?

Maybe it was a fear of:

  • Change?
  • Loss of power
  • Inability to contribute to the new
  • Being left behind

A quote from one of my favorite movies (my loyal readers know it well):

“Toto, I've a feeling we're not in Kansas anymore.” —Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz

I use that line a lot. It helps to jolt me into the right frame of mind. Follow the order:

  • Inquisitiveness
  • Openness
  • Acceptance?

Be curious.

Look around.

Ask questions.

Research.

Keep your eyes and mind wide open. The only filter is the pursuit of actual facts—regardless of where they take you.?

And finally, the BIG ONE: Acceptance of the new. Like Dorothy found out, you never know where that might lead you… even if it means, my dear readers, back home but forever changed.

Are you still there?

At the very least, begin to admit that things are changing—fast. In fact, dear reader, let’s begin…

We’re not in Kansas anymore.

What's your view?

Mohannad Sarsak????,PMP?,PBA?

Consultant at PwC ME | Foundation for the Future Program “FftF” | Building T-Shaped Competence | Learning Enthusiast

1 年

Stepping into new ideas often feels difficult because it means confronting the fear of letting go of the familiar and reassessing long-held beliefs, traditions, and philosophies that shape our worldview.

PLINIO BRITO

PB SAFETY SERVICES Training, Education & Compliance LLC CSHO (dual), HAZWOPER

1 年

Too many want change for whos benefit? and nothing gets accomplished. IMO I accept all the changes in the world but I will do what is right for ME! and for those I run with. As long as God keeps my mind, vision, and physical position moving; I am good and right on mate for writing stories like these. I won’t be left behind and thank God we have freedom of speech. God-Family-Coprs. Semper Fi

Mike Dullaghan, AIF?

Director of Retirement Sales Execution

1 年

David Sable this is a great read with much wisdom, thank you. I am reminded of how we opened a top producer meeting last year: change has never been this fast, yet change will never be this SLOW again. As change seems to accelerate, others suggest focusing on any “new normals” is not as helpful as focusing on “next normals”. I really appreciate this quote as a powerful tool, “Keep your eyes and mind wide open. The only filter is the pursuit of actual facts—regardless of where they take you.“ A version of this was shared by a friend in the HR industry when he said, “look for people who focus on what is vs what if” during times of change. Keep the wisdom coming. Thank you.

Thomas Young

Forensic pathologist. Author of The Sherlock Effect.

1 年

“Sometimes the most challenging part of accepting new ideas is the fear of leaving the familiar behind and having to re-evaluate long-held beliefs, traditions, ideas, dogma, philosophies…” I am with you about the need to re-evaluate long-held beliefs. This applies to my professional interest: science applied to the courtroom. We need to recognize that facts exist outside our heads. Everyone can observe the same facts and adjust their beliefs accordingly. Beliefs, on the other hand, are imaginary, only existing inside our heads. We can communicate our beliefs but never observe them like facts. Chasing facts and comparing them to other facts lead to what is measurable and true. Chasing beliefs while ignoring or not observing facts is like a dog chasing his tail: experience is circular and doesn’t lead to real progress. This leads to the #InferentialTest, a concept yet to catch on in the forensic and legal communities. The IT is: “One can be reasonably certain if witness accounts of the past are consistent or not consistent with physical evidence in the present, but one cannot reliably surmise past events from physical evidence unless there is only one plausible explanation for that evidence.” #SherlockEffect

Myles Saulibio

$130M revenue for clients through contract proposal wins | Helping businesses boost outreach responses | Reach out: [email protected].

1 年

Yes, David Sable -change is inevitable, misery is optional as long as we keep uninvited guests in one’s mind like Fear. Daily re-evaluation/meditation/mindfulness help in breaking through stagnation and fear. Detachment and letting go is another new idea, difficult but not impossible.

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