The Power of Paradigm Shifts—Seeing Problems Through a New Lens

Have you ever looked at a drawing that seems like a young woman, but then someone insists it’s an old woman—and eventually you see both? Paradigm shifts are like that: they snap us out of our assumptions and help us see the same facts in a new way. The real magic happens not when you push harder or try to win an argument, but when you pause and consider the ‘map’ you’re using to navigate the conversation.

A classic experiment at Harvard Business School showed students two nearly identical images—one primed to see youth, the other old age. Later, given a merged image, each group argued passionately for their view, even though both were technically ‘right’ from their angle. It wasn’t until they calmly discussed their specific interpretations—necklace versus mouth, small nose versus large—that they began to see the other’s truth. Only then did real communication happen.

Every day, our upbringing, past experiences, and emotional state color the way we see problems. What seems stubbornness to one person might be fear to another. At work, a manager’s insistence on detail could come from anxiety over mistakes, not a desire to control.

Paradigm shifts are at the heart of almost every major scientific breakthrough and personal breakthrough alike. Our willingness to question not just what we see, but how we see, is what opens the door to true understanding and creative solutions.

Think of a situation where you keep butting heads—maybe at home or in class. Pause and notice the story you’re telling yourself about it. Now see if you can ask a question, or simply imagine, what the other person’s ‘map’ might contain—what pressures, needs, or fears shape their actions? Finally, take a moment to turn your frustration into curiosity, looking at the issue from a fresh angle. Next time, try sharing your new perspective aloud to build a bridge across those different maps.