Constructing Your Personal Worldview

Weltanschauung is the term we have borrowed from the Germans to describe one’s perspective on life. Weltanschauung literally means “world view.” It refers to a comprehensive conception of the world from a specific standpoint. A personal worldview, then, refers to the framework of ideas and beliefs through which an individual interprets and interacts in the world.
An individual’s worldview is his “big picture,” a medley of all his beliefs about the world. It is his way of understanding reality. A worldview is the basis for daily decisions and is therefore extremely important. It is important to remember that every person has a worldview, the question arises; “is one aware of it?” By raising one’s awareness it will allow an individual to make decisions that are more purposeful with a greater understanding as to why the decision was made. “
A worldview asks questions regarding the following distinctives:
1.    What is human nature? ?
2.    What is truth and what is false? ?
3.    What is the nature of work? ?
4.    What is ultimate good? ?
5.    What is the nature of history? ?
6.    What is knowledge? ?
7.    What should we do? ?
It is important to remember that a worldview is comprehensive. It affects every area of one’s life, from money to morality, from politics to work.
This exercise is a starting point for bringing focus to what you already believe. The goal? “Making better choices.”
Below are some questions and actions to think about regarding the worldview distinctives.

First…Read, think and consider what you believe inside of You.

What is human nature?
Is it good? …evil? …neither? Why so??Are you created in the image of a/the God or higher entity? If so, should you not value other people as God values you??You have the ability to chose; therefore you can make good choices or bad ones in relation to the ultimate good or right?Is you life choices based upon Determinism = If >> then
or?Is your life choices based upon Free Will = If >> (extemporaneous variables, priorities, etc) >> I decide what to do.

Ways to see it impacting one’s workplace:
•    How do you treat your co-workers??With dignity, respect, compassion and integrity? Never raising your voice in ANY situation.?As part of the system or as people? ?
•    How do you treat the clients of your organization? Are they “always right” or an “inconvenience?” ?
•    Who IS the customer…outside and/or inside your organization? ?
Worldview 2
What is truth and what is false? (what is real and what is true?)
Do you accept an absolute starting point for truth? Is this point real to you??How do you know?
How do you display to others your sense of reality and truth? Is any belief system important to the truth in your life?
Is it displayed? …if so, how?
Ways to see it impacting one’s workplace:
•    Are attributes of good character displayed & promoted by yourself in the workplace? How? ?
•    Do your employee’s know what is acceptable and unacceptable behavior on the job? ?Are you always consistent in displaying such? ?
•    What is the turnover rate in your organization? ?
•    Is morale an issue in your organization? ?
•    Do you treat everyone the same; with dignity respect, and integrity at all times, regardless of ?the situation? ?

What is the nature of work?
Why does one work??How hard and how much work is acceptable??Is “serving others” a part of your work ethic??Do you see yourself working by yourself? …with God??Is life success and work success one in the same??Is monetary success necessary for work success??Does your work have an impact “beyond” your generation and lifetime??Is your work a part of who you are; your passion and desires? …or is just work?
…if not, can it?

Ways to see it impacting one’s workplace:
•    Do you encourage your employees to take time to be with their families? How is this displayed? ?
•    Do you promote from within or go externally when position openings ?
•    Have you provided the systems and methods “to do everything possible for your employees ?to succeed?” ?
•    What is your attitude towards your employees? Why are they valuable (or are they?) ?How is this displayed? ?
Worldview 3
What is “ultimate good?” (right and wrong)
Is there such a thing as an ultimate good? …what is it based upon??Is “a supreme being (impersonal) or “your God” (personal) your absolute truth in EVERY way?
How is it displayed??If you do not believe in God; what is your “ultimate good?”?If you believe you are created in the image of God and God is good; is to be like Him your goal? Is right and wrong determined by how you are made up and by your own choices/ circumstances? i.e. do you design your sense of right and wrong so as to promote your own survival?

Ways to see it impacting one’s workplace:
•    How do you treat your employees i.e. discrimination, harassment, ADA treatment etc ?
•    Do you provide quality benefits to your employees? ?
•    Are the wages you pay competitive and one’s to provide a living for your employees? ?
•    Are you “family friendly” to/for our employees? ?
•    Are you 110% honest and demonstrate complete integrity with your employees? ?
•    How far are you willing to go to be “honest” with your employees? …your clients? ?
•    Do you provide clear, up-to-date policies and processes for your employees so they can ?perform their jobs free of ambiguity? …do you promote the processes and follow them? ?
•    Is discipline in your organization based upon what the person did and not who the person ?is? ?Ways to see it impacting one’s workplace: ?
??Do you have a mission and vision, supported by values for your organization? ??Are they followed? How do you know?
•    Are viable, breathing performance management systems a part of your organization? ?
•    Do you have a strong retirement system in place for your employees? ?
•    After working with your organization for an extended period of time, can employees feel ?comfortable they will be able to “retire” with your organization rather than be “retired”? ?

What is the nature of history? (i.e, purpose, direction, eternity)
Is history there for one to learn about one’s purpose in life? ….or what not to screw up …or what you can get away with??Can you make a better place here by learning from history??Are you preparing to be in eternity or are you fatalistic in your approach to life?

Worldview 4
What is knowledge? (how do you know what you know?)
Is what I know always been there or am I discovering “new” things for this world??Does knowledge have a source??What is the source??Is all I know, consciousness and rationally developed on the basis that I must “know” in order to survive throughout the life (and beyond) process?

Ways to see it impacting one’s workplace:
•    Do I promote and then applaud new ideas, concepts etc. that are generated by my employees? ?
•    HowdoI show my employees they have value? ?
•    Do I give credit, and acknowledge to those who deserve recognition, in an appropriate ?manner? ?
•    HowdoI respond to the failures of my employees? ?
•    When needed, how do I show justice and loving discipline? ?

What should we do? (ethics and values)
Do I know what true is? Does it come to my filter or from my filter? Is there true truth or is truth relative?
What determines this for you? Does your values have a source?
What is the source? …internal? …external? Can truth be the same for every person?

Ways to see it impacting one’s workplace:
•    Do I believe and stand firm on the organization’s mission, vision and values? ?
•    Do I practice the organization’s values in al situations at work, in the view of my employees ?and when I am alone? ?
•    How do I make difficult decisions at work? What is my process? What variables do I ?consider? ?
•    Do I treat all employees the SAME; with dignity, respect and integrity in all situations? ?
•    Do I have personal values? What would it take to compromise them at work? ?
•    How do I determine if what I should do in a situation at work is “good?” ?

Worldview 5

Second…Do a value – needs analysis of what is important to You.

List both the tangibles (T) and intangibles (IT). Make sure to share “WHY” it is important” to you.
Tangibles Intangibles
ex: wife?money (lots)
ex: quiet reading
Tangible or Intangible?
my partner, cares for our children, does the bills to buy things
allows me to gather myself?allow me to be knowledgeable and gives me information
What you say you Why is it important to you? value
In my personal life:

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Third…Write out KEY Thoughts for YOU.

Based upon what you determined to be important, you can now start to write out your own personal worldview statement(s).
The beauty of this is, like goals, you can change parts of it over and over until you are satisfied. You can evaluate them on a regular basis (annually?) and redo what you find to not be a part of who you are.
Take a moment, go back and review the distinctives as you begin to discover your worldview thoughts.
Meditate on the questions following each statement below and consider how you will respond to the action items. Everything is relative to the “world” you work lies within, your family and your very person.
What is a human being?
Human beings are both unique and special within our world, worthy of dignity and respect.
Question:???How do you treat your employees in the workplace? …your clients? …your family?
Action Item to Consider:???What will you do to treat people with dignity, respect, compassion and integrity?
How does one determine right and wrong?
Morality is discovered, not created. Moral values ultimately come from a source. Every human being has a moral sense that is personal. Where did yours’ come from?
Question:
•    To what degree will you be “upright” in your transactions, dealings and interactions with ?your employees? …management? … government? Why do you say this? ?
•    Do you allow a “low” moral value to be displayed and accepted throughout your organization? …through stories, and talking? …through computer usage and messaging? ?Action Item to Consider: ?
??What can be done in your workplace to reflect a positive morality?

Worldview 7
What are we here to do?
Our goal as human beings is to be satisfied by how we invest our lives. Reflected through our character should be pursuing life with excellence by seeking to maximize our skills and talents.
Question:???Is your heart, mind and soul continually focused on solid values rather than your own
throughout your doings at work and at home? …would those around you agree?
Action Item to Consider:???How can you spend your time growing deeper in your understanding of your purpose in
life? … and with others?
What is one’s destiny?
Our destiny is not ultimately tied up in the short term. How can one leave a legacy with significance after he/she is gone?
Question:???Do I openly demonstrate my integrity such that others want to inquire into why I do what
I do? Am I proud of my actions?
Action Item to Consider:???What areas of my work life do I need to re-focus that will then demonstrate I truly care
for my employees, clients and those in management I come in contact?
How do we know what we know?
How can we know things with certainty? The lenses through which we see the world are clouded by our own filters and our knowledge is subject to correction.
Question:???What filter, other than myself, do I use for all I say and do within the workplace?
Action Item to Consider:???What areas of my work life do I need to re-focus that will then demonstrate I truly care?

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Fourth…Write out your Worldview.

Based upon your answers to the questions, coupled with what you have determined to be important to yourself, write out your worldview statement(s). Be clear, be concise but also recognize there is no right or wrong answer. Use more space if necessary.

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Sample Worldviews.

Christian Theism
Why is there something rather than nothing? Answer: There is an infinite-personal God who has created the universe out of nothing.
Question: How do you explain human nature? Answer: Man was originally created good in God’s image, but chose to sin and thus infected all of humanity with what is called a “sin nature.” So man has been endowed with value by his creator, but his negative behavior is in league with his nature.
Question: What happens to a person at death? Answer: Death is either the gate to life with God or to eternal separation from Him. The destination is dependent upon the response we give to God’s provision for our sinfulness.
Question: How do you determine what is right and wrong? Answer: The guidelines for conduct are revealed by God.
Question: How do you know that you know? Answer: Reason and experience can be legitimate teachers, but a transcendent source is necessary. We know some things only because we are told by God through the Bible.
Question: What is the meaning of history? Answer: History is a linear and meaningful sequence of events leading to the fulfillment of God’s purposes for man.
Christian Theism had a long history in Western culture. This does not mean that all individuals who have lived in Western culture have been Christians. It simply means that this worldview was dominant; it was the most influential. And this was true even among non-Christians. This is no longer valid. Western culture has experienced a transition to what is called Naturalism.
Naturalism
Even though Naturalism in various forms is ancient, we will use the term to refer to a worldview that has had considerable influence in a relatively short time within Western culture. The seeds were planted in the seventeenth century and began to flower in the eighteenth. Most of us have been exposed to Naturalism through Marxism and what is called Secular Humanism.
What are the basic tenets of this worldview? First, God is irrelevant. This tenet helps us better understand the term Naturalism; it is in direct contrast to Christian Theism, which is based on supernaturalism. Second, progress and evolutionary change are inevitable. Third, man is autonomous, self-centered, and will save himself. Fourth, education is the guide to life; intelligence and freedom guarantee full human potential. Fifth, science is the ultimate provider both for knowledge and morals. These tenets have permeated our lives. They are apparent, for example, in the media, government, and education. We should be alert constantly to their influence.
After World War II “Postmodernism” began to replace the confidence of Naturalism. With it came the conclusion that truth, in any real sense, doesn’t exist. This may be the next major worldview, or anti-worldview, that will infect the culture. It is presently the rage on many of our college campuses. In the meantime, though, the past few decades have brought us another ancient worldview dressed in Western clothing.

Worldview 10 New Age Pantheism
Various forms of Pantheism have been prominent in Eastern cultures for thousands of years. But it began to have an effect on our culture in the 1950s. There had been various attempts to introduce its teachings before then, but those attempts did not arouse the interest that was stirred in that decade. It is now most readily observed in what is called the New Age Movement.
What are the basic tenets of this worldview? First, all is one. There are no ultimate distinctions between humans, animals, or the rest of creation. Second, since all is one, all is god. All of life has a spark of divinity. Third, if all is one and all is god, then each of us is god. Fourth, humans must discover their own divinity by experiencing a change in consciousness. We suffer from a collective form of metaphysical amnesia. Fifth, humans travel through indefinite cycles of birth, death, and reincarnation in order to work off what is called “bad karma.” Sixth, New Age disciples think in terms of gray, not black and white. Thus they believe that two conflicting statements can both be true.