Let’s look at the fourth characteristic of high resiliency. We are never stuck in old ways of thinking and can easily change paradigms.

Google’s AI tells us a paradigm is a model, pattern, or standard framework that shapes how we think about and understand the world.

When the Lord appeared to Abraham to tell him at 99 years old, and Sarah at 89 years old, that they would have a son by next year, that was outside the box. When an angel appeared to a young virgin girl to tell her she would get pregnant by the Holy Spirit, that was definitely a paradigm shift. Yet, both adjusted their thinking and allowed God to do amazing things through them.

When we are presented with the opportunity to think about something in a new way, many of us feel immediate resistance.
“That’s not how I was raised.”
“That’s not how it works.”
“That’s not possible.”

Sometimes the old way is the right way, but what if sometimes it’s not? What if God is saying, “I’m doing something new. Look at it this way?” We don’t want to dig our heels in on what’s comfortable when God is pushing us forward. I promise you, what’s ahead with God is far better than what we imagine, but often we have to let go of the old.

Who was the biggest disrupter of what was expected, and was considered “normal?” JESUS.

He was constantly challenging the status quo, making unsettling statements, violating the social conventions, and gathering the least expected around Him. He talked to immoral people, unclean people, and unethical people. He offered a way of life that was radically different than they were used to and told to do.

A resilient person has space in their mind and heart to consider new ways. Those ways have to align with God’s character, but if they aren’t wrong, then maybe they’re the new right?

Pride messes us up in this area. Pride makes us feel threatened by change, especially if it upsets what we designed or planned or pulled off. It makes us feel defensive and lessened, when it can be invigorating and borders-expanding instead.

All change feels like loss at first, but then what? What’s waiting for us on the other side of yes? A highly resilient person wants to find out.