Book Review: Positive Paradigm Change Handbook

Positive Paradigm Handbook

Patricia E. West, PhD

2014 +A Positive Action Press

Muscoda, WI

ISBN 978-1495470325

15.95 paperback

5.99 e-book

Buy on Amazon

My review:

Using a Wheel of Change model to promote self-discovery and positive change, the author proposes readers can develop a personal plan of improvement. “Some things Change. Others never do. Knowing the difference between absolutes and ephemerals is matter of life and death.” Pg 37

At the heart, this handbook is an intellectual guide to survival of the species. Axiom five states: History is Neither Progressive or Linear, Nor can human survival be taken for granted. West says (pg 38) “Those who love life and take human survival to heart have passed the basics of how the world really works on to those with hears to hear. In contrast, others hoard this knowledge as if to prospect themselves at others’ expense. They deny or even ridicule it, keeping perceived enemies “in the dark” to prevent their success.”

Parts 1 and 2 of roughly fifty pages defines the need to change; from the individual change to positivity that affects the universe, “the one manageable unit is the one closest to home: yourself” as “Unity is accomplished through personal effort, one person at a time” because “global unity through world organizations” are unnatural. There is some basis for this thought, as anyone can see how diverse cultures all seek to establish a global platform based perceived success.

Part 3 describes dysfunctional paradigms, “being aware of current beliefs and recognizing that they’ve created a place you’d like to leave.” (pg 55) People create lifestyle choices to suit themselves at any given time, and West says these “distortions” have negative consequences for mental health which, spiraling outwardly, affect society.

Part 4 shows how West’s Wheel of Change model can be employed individually. Using examples, and a series of self-examining questions and answers, readers are shown how to fill out and develop a personal Wheel, which leads to accomplishing various goals to bring life into a healthy harmony.

Part 5, Make Yourself Whole, shows how the Wheel works, giving readers instructions and thought-provoking questions to work on.

Wrapping up in Part 6, West shares her story.

For those who like lots of charts and diagrams, clearly designed and reasonable axioms and corollaries, West’s Wheel of Change in the Positive Paradigm Handbook is an intriguing tool for self-examination.

Patricia West discusses the Positive Paradigm of Change

I was first introduced to the Chinese Book of Change as a history major at Oberlin College. For its historical value alone, Americans should know more about it. Though different in content, the I Ching's influence on Asian cultures is equivalent to the Bible in the West – except that it has inspired the thinking of entire civilizations for more than 8,000 years.

The Common Sense Book of Change is an easy-to-read version, suitable for young people as well as adults. It maps the cyclical patterns experienced as yearly seasonal changes as well as the seasons of our lives, from birth, growth, maturity and decline into death. It sums up the Law of Karma, compatible with the biblical teaching, “As ye reap, so shall ye sow.” As such, it's the foundation of practical ethics. For thousands of years, this book was the premier leadership manual used by decision-makers in every walk of life.

In terms of international business and political relationships, the Book of Change is required reading for an understanding how our Asian counterparts think and behave. From a psychological point of view, its profound insights into the dynamics of human behavior and relationships is far more sophisticated than anything evolved in the West. The popular concept of Emotional Intelligence is the closest equivalent.

The Book of Change informs the philosophy of Confucius as well as Taoists like Lao Tze, who wrote the world-loved Tao Te Ching. Hence my version, called Two Sides of a Coin: Lao Tze's Common Sense Way of Change. The reference to common sense indicates the relevance of this wisdom to Americans, both historically and right now.

Unfortunately, these seriously undervalued books are rarely included in public school curriculum, in part because early translations were hard to understand and didn't do them justice. Therefore, Conscience: Your Ultimate Personal Survival Guide includes a Q & A section that dispels common misunderstandings.

Rethinking Survival: Getting to the Positive Paradigm of Change tells the personal story of how my ideas evolved. It's based on the premise that Einstein, a fellow violinist, already had the Unified Theory, but didn't know it. The title comes from his saying, "We shall require a substantially new manner of thinking if mankind is to survive."

The Positive Paradigm Handbook is the easy-to-read summary of the wisdom and methods embodied in the Book of Change reformulated to meet the needs of today's leaders and decision-makers in every walk of life. Consistent with the wisdom of the original, it gives illustrations along with examples and forms to increase self-awareness and improve our lives,

one person at a time.

Bottom line: Ignorance of natural law encoded in the the Positive Paradigm of Change represents a fatal deficit in our knowledge banks. This blind spot in our way of thinking explains the current leadership deficit as well as related budget deficits. Restoring this information to public awareness now would be a major step towards realizing the positive change everyone wants, many promise, but few succeed in achieving. 

Contact Patricia: 

Patricia E. West, Ph.D.
+A Positive Action Press
http://RethinkingSurvival.com
positiveactionpress-at-yahoo.com
Amazon author page
https://www.goodreads.com/PatWest

Thursday, June 12, see my review of Positive Paradigm Handbook