Challenging the status-quo

In this article: Typically we understand challenging the status-quo to mean resisting and confronting.

But this invariably creates conflict and almost certainly more deeply entrenches the very mindset assumptions being resisted, and the status-quo itself. It makes change laborious, expensive and time consuming.

Rather challenging the status-quo means making the effort to more deeply understand and expose the less-rational mindset assumptions upon which systems are built. Of educating ourselves and those who insist on defending and maintaining them. And of experimenting with new systems based on new more refined and coherent theories and beliefs.

We cling to old ideas and systems because we have vested interest, stand to gain or are paralysed by the prospect of change, and the loss of personal and cultural identity that would mean.

We cling because we are afraid of loss.

But once a system has been established simply transforming the underlying assumptions, will probably not be enough to change the system itself.

And tearing down systems without transforming and changing the underlying cultural mindset assumptions are almost certainly going to result in... Just more of the same. Surface change with regime continuity.

Effectively challenging the status-quo requires the aligned, purposeful and focussed endeavours of demolition experts, philosophers, teachers, architects (professionals), artisans, builders, and soldiers.