"We've all gone through our share of dramatic -- and often TRAUMATIC -- personal "paradigm shifts." Early in life, one's perception is like a slab of silly putty -- it is easily twisted and shaped by the influences of culture, education, religion, and family. Sometimes, the end result is a distorted mass of contradictions and falsehoods. To "shift" one's "paradigm" in the direction of clarity requires conscientiousness, honesty, and unbending courage. Without this diligence, one is doomed to walk through life without the ability to discern the truth."