At first glance, the term worldview suggests only a general perception of the world, however, it is a much more complex phenomenon. The worldview is a system of generalized points of view of the environment that surrounds us and the place that each person occupies in it, of the relationship of man with nature and of the interpretation that people have of this general image of life: its beliefs, socio-political, moral and aesthetic ideals, the principles by which they are governed and the evaluation of material and spiritual events.
In other words, the worldview has to do with our beliefs about reality and the world, particularly in regards to our origin and destiny. Although both issues are fundamentally philosophical and religious, our point of view of the answers to the questions that arise from them has an impact on our personal life and our culture.
The vision of the world is our root
The image of a tree can be useful to understand the concept of worldview. Its roots are invisible, but generally they give stability during storms, the same happens in life, the worldview has to do with asking ourselves why we exist, what is the nature of God and his purpose for our existence. This, therefore, should not be chosen arbitrarily.
From our vision of the world arise our fundamental beliefs, which we can compare with the trunk of the tree. The trunk relates to our purpose in life and how we respond to resistance to that purpose, including the origin, overcoming adversity, and the nature of the highest good that we can achieve in life.
Our guiding principles are derived from our core beliefs and attitudes. These can be compared to the branches of the tree and expressed in our character or the attitude we have towards people, work and ethics, and creation itself.
Finally, there are the fruits of the tree, which in this analogy would be represented by the practical decisions, behaviors, words and actions that are guided by our principles. Fruit is what most people see and we can say that it is what characterizes us. The way we live our lives is largely determined by our view of the world.
From the roots of the worldview, almost everything flows
The foundations of the worldview deeply affect our personal lives, as well as all the institutions of society - political parties, social policies, educational philosophies, institutions of philanthropy - nothing remains intact. For this reason, among others, it is important to choose wisely what we believe and what will govern our way of proceeding in life.
Photos: iStock - slavemotion / Connel_Design
