--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Paradigms are like glasses. When you have…" description: "\"Paradigms are like glasses. When you have incomplete paradigms about yourself or life in general, it's like wearing glasses with the wrong prescription..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8fc/sean-covey-10136_about_paradigms-are-like-glasses-when-you-have_1835501.jpg" --- # Paradigms are like glasses. When you have incomplete… ![“Paradigms are like glasses. When you have incomplete paradigms about yourself or life in general, it's like wearing glasses with the wrong prescription. That lens affects how you see everything else.” quote by Sean Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8fc/sean-covey-10136_about_paradigms-are-like-glasses-when-you-have_1835501.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8fc/sean-covey-10136_about_paradigms-are-like-glasses-when-you-have_1835501.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8fc/sean-covey-10136_about_paradigms-are-like-glasses-when-you-have_1835501.jpg) > “Paradigms are like glasses. When you have incomplete paradigms about yourself or life in general, it's like wearing glasses with the wrong prescription. That lens affects how you see everything else.” [Sean Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sean-covey/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Our mental models shape perception; flawed paradigms distort reality like wrong‑prescription glasses. **In simple terms:** Bad mental models blur reality. Key Takeaway Re‑examine your assumptions. Themes perception mindset paradigms self‑awareness growth Mood reflective motivational Type self‑help philosophical When to use this quote - career planning - personal development - coaching sessions Key Concepts cognitive bias self‑reflection mental models Questions to Reflect On - What assumptions are you holding? - How do they affect decisions? A Different Perspective Changing paradigms can be uncomfortable. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [About](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/about/) [Affects](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/affects/) [Else](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/else/) [Everything](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/everything/) [General](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/general/) [Glasses](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/glasses/) [How](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/how/) [Incomplete](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/incomplete/) [Incomplete Paradigms](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/incomplete-paradigms-2307909/) [Lens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lens/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Life in general](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life-in-general/) [Like](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/like/) [Like Glasses](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/like-glasses-782482/) [Paradigms](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/paradigms/) [Paradigms Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/paradigms-life-2307908/) [Paradigms Like](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/paradigms-like-2307907/) [Prescription](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/prescription/) [See](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/see/) [Wearing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wearing/) [Wrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wrong/) [You](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/you/) [Yourself](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/yourself/) ## Related quotes > [“Just as negative self-paradigms can put limitations on us, positive self-paradigms can bring out the best in us, as the following story about the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-covey/just-as-negative-self-paradigms-can-put-limitations-on-us-positive/) [Sean Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sean-covey/) > [I like to have glasses for day and night.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brad-goreski/i-like-to-have-glasses-for-day-and-night/) [Brad Goreski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brad-goreski/) > [ “I just like how \[glasses\] look on me and how they make me feel more confident. Isn’t that the point of anything we wear,… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tommy-tighe/i-just-like-how-glasses-look-on-me-and-how-they-make-me-feel-more/) [Tommy Tighe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tommy-tighe/) > [I like how glasses suggest intelligence instead of broken eyes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelly-oxford/i-like-how-glasses-suggest-intelligence-instead-of-broken-eyes/) [Kelly Oxford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelly-oxford/) > [I like your glasses,” he said. “I like your Simon Snow T-shirts. I like that you don’t smile at everyone, because then, when you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rainbow-rowell/i-like-your-glasses-he-said-i-like-your-simon-snow-t-shirts-i-like/) [Rainbow Rowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rainbow-rowell/) > [Words, like glasses, obscure everything they do not make clear. Before using a fine word, make a place for it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-joubert/words-like-glasses-obscure-everything-they-do-not-make-clear-before/) [Joseph Joubert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-joubert/) > [Yeah, My fans are like my glasses, without 'em I'd be blurry!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-bieber/yeah-my-fans-are-like-my-glasses-without-em-i-d-be-blurry/) [Justin Bieber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-bieber/) > [My fans are like my glasses. Without them I'd be blurry.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-bieber/my-fans-are-like-my-glasses-without-them-i-d-be-blurry/) [Justin Bieber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-bieber/) > [Yeah, my fans are like my glasses, yeah, without I'd be blurry!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-true-belieber/yeah-my-fans-are-like-my-glasses-yeah-without-i-d-be-blurry/) [A True Belieber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-true-belieber/) > [I think hearts are very much like glasses. If they do not break with the first ring, they usually last a considerable time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/letitia-elizabeth-landon/i-think-hearts-are-very-much-like-glasses-if-they-do-not-break-with/) [Letitia Elizabeth Landon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/letitia-elizabeth-landon/) > [I am a little suspicious of industry paradigms. I feel like so many movies and TV shows feel so familiar because of over-reliance on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-ball/i-am-a-little-suspicious-of-industry-paradigms-i-feel-like-so-many/) [Alan Ball](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-ball/) > [Question Your Paradigms, your perceptions of reality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-n-robinson/question-your-paradigms-your-perceptions-of-reality/) [Daniel N. Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-n-robinson/) > [We do have the ability to shift our paradigms - by shifting our belief systems, by working on ourselves, by looking very closely at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mariel-hemingway/we-do-have-the-ability-to-shift-our-paradigms-by-shifting-our-belief/) [Mariel Hemingway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mariel-hemingway/) > [We see the world, not as it is, but as we are -- or, as we are conditioned to see it. When we open…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-covey/we-see-the-world-not-as-it-is-but-as-we-are-or-as-we-are-conditioned/) [Stephen Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-covey/) > [Because we believe that somewhere in the nest of paradigms contained in the phrase "missional church" lies nothing less that the future viability of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-hirsch/because-we-believe-that-somewhere-in-the-nest-of-paradigms-contained/) [Alan Hirsch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-hirsch/) ## More by Sean Covey > [“Boyfriend/Girlfriend-Centered This may be the easiest trap of all to fall into. I mean, who hasn’t been centered on a boyfriend or girlfriend at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-covey/boyfriend-girlfriend-centered-this-may-be-the-easiest-trap-of-all-to/) [Sean Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sean-covey/) > [Instead of trying to blend in and be like everyone else, be proud of and celebrate your unique differences and qualities. A fruit salad…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-covey/instead-of-trying-to-blend-in-and-be-like-everyone-else-be-proud-of/) [Sean Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sean-covey/) > [You can usually tell when a couple becomes centered on each other because they are forever breaking up and getting back together.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-covey/you-can-usually-tell-when-a-couple-becomes-centered-on-each-other/) [Sean Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sean-covey/) > [If you could envision the type of person God intended you to be, you would rise up and never be the same again.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-covey/if-you-could-envision-the-type-of-person-god-intended-you-to-be-you/) [Sean Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sean-covey/) > [Don't struggle about the struggle. In other words, life's full of ups and downs. So if you're struggling, don't worry, everyone else has or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-covey/don-t-struggle-about-the-struggle-in-other-words-life-s-full-of-ups/) [Sean Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sean-covey/) > [“If who I am is what I have and what I have is lost, then who am I?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-covey/if-who-i-am-is-what-i-have-and-what-i-have-is-lost-then-who-am-i/) [Sean Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sean-covey/) > [My dad told me that when I was born my cheeks were so fat the doctors didn't know which end to spank.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-covey/my-dad-told-me-that-when-i-was-born-my-cheeks-were-so-fat-the-doctors/) [Sean Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sean-covey/) > [Don't let your pride or a lack of courage stand in the way of saying you're sorry to people you may have offended.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-covey/don-t-let-your-pride-or-a-lack-of-courage-stand-in-the-way-of-saying/) [Sean Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sean-covey/) > [“We see them come. We see them go. Some are fast. And some are slow. Some are high. And some are slow. Not one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-covey/we-see-them-come-we-see-them-go-some-are-fast-and-some-are-slow-some/) [Sean Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sean-covey/) > [Some of the more popular life-centers for teens include Friends, Stuff, Enemies, Self, and Work. They each have their good points, but they are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-covey/some-of-the-more-popular-life-centers-for-teens-include-friends-stuff/) [Sean Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sean-covey/) > [The average teen today spends about 35 hours a week in front of a screen of some kind: iPod, movie, TV, video. And a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-covey/the-average-teen-today-spends-about-35-hours-a-week-in-front-of-a/) [Sean Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sean-covey/) > [You are free to choose what you want to make of your life. 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Are we nothing?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-covey/if-we-are-what-we-have-and-we-have-nothinh-thenwho-are-we-are-we/) [Sean Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sean-covey/) > [Honesty is always the best policy, even when it's not the trend.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-covey/honesty-is-always-the-best-policy-even-when-it-s-not-the-trend/) [Sean Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sean-covey/) [Explore all 66 Sean Covey quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sean-covey/) ## More About quotes > [If you ask an introvert a question, wait until she thinks about it. Introverts think before speaking, not through speaking. 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That means I write about guys - so far. I'm interested in the people closest to them, the people they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doris-kearns-goodwin/i-write-about-presidents-that-means-i-write-about-guys-so-far-i-m/) [Doris Kearns Goodwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doris-kearns-goodwin/) > [That's something a lot of folks don't know about me - I'm pretty darn funny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-jai-white/that-s-something-a-lot-of-folks-don-t-know-about-me-i-m-pretty-darn/) [Michael Jai White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-jai-white/) > [I learned a lot about myself at Oakmont.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shane-lowry/i-learned-a-lot-about-myself-at-oakmont/) [Shane Lowry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shane-lowry/) > [I don't think about the press or the crowds or the other leaders of the race. The focus is only on myself. 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