The Frame of Reference

By Phumeza Patra

The book has taken the approach of life being an open system. A frame of reference being the operational process in this system, which defines the quality of our lives through our behaviours and decisions.

The book’s inspiration is the understanding that not everything we do remains in the physical realm. Rather, there is a higher authority operating in a higher dimension than what a man’s ability and intellect can ever hope to reach. This is the spiritual dimension that we sow our decisions and behaviours into, which we reap from in return. The spiritual dimension controls all the physical dimensions, including every activity we participate in with our lives, our careers, our relationships, and our beliefs. This book balances the concepts of spiritual life and physical life. It also considers what we define as successful in this world and how it may be as worthless in another.

The intent of the book is for the reader to re-evaluate their frame of reference and possibly transform their lives forever. After each chapter, the book offers the reader an opportunity to reflect and develop an action plan for themselves. May you be blessed and divinely touched to expand your understanding and lifestyle.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Phumeza Patra
• Release date: Feb 16, 2022
• ISBN: 9781005203481

Book preview

The Frame Of Reference

Copyright © 2022 Phumeza Patra

First edition 2022

Published by Phumeza Patra Publishing at Smashwords

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording or any information storage or retrieval system without permission from the copyright holder.

The Author has made every effort to trace and acknowledge sources/resources/individuals. In the event that any images/information have been incorrectly attributed or credited, the Author will be pleased to rectify these omissions at the earliest opportunity.

All Scripture is quoted from the New King James Version.

Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission.

All rights reserved.

Phumeza Patra

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Table of Contents

Acknowledgements

Introduction

Contextualising the Book Title Through Insights and Analysis on Terms Used

CHAPTER 1 - Rules and Values

Chapter 2 - Authenticity and Freedom

Chapter 3 - Aspirations and Action

Chapter 4 - Intention and Interpretation

Chapter 5 - Change and Transformation

Chapter 6 - Scarcity and Abundance — Giving and Receiving

Chapter 7 - Operational View Versus Strategic View

Chapter 8 - Success and Achievement

Chapter 9 - Sufficiency and Dependency

Chapter 10 - Obedience and Sacrifice

Chapter 11 - Wisdom and Intelligence

Chapter 12 - Leadership and Self-Actualisation

Closure

Acknowledgements

My great appreciation to God for the insight and courage He has given me so that I am able to share this book with you. God enlightened me when my eyes were blinded by hurt, frustration and tears, and He has allowed both positive and negative circumstances to mould me to be who and where I am today so that I can share my experiences with you.

It is written: ‘For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways,’ says the Lord (Isaiah 55:8) We may interpret something as a tribulation in our lives because of what we feel, but in God’s plan it maybe the tipping point to take us to the next level in life.

I have learnt a lot from my spiritual leaders and what they have taught me through the Word of God. I thank my family and friends for their support — they believed in me even when the best of me was feeling a bit hesitant; they gave me feedback and encouragement to bring me back to the bigger purpose. I have a great appreciation for their enduring support and guidance.

The balance of God’s grace and abundance of His love and mercy in my life built my faith in God in a way that I cannot properly express in words. I believe that the people in my life are there for a divine purpose, whether that is to give or receive. As the Word of God says, As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another (Proverbs 27:17).

I did not write this book because I think I have succeeded or am immune to life’s troubles; I am sharing my experiences as I continue, with more thorns in my flesh, to struggle with my weaknesses. However God continues to manifest His strength and power in my life and yours by His sufficient grace.

I hope this book will challenge our way of living through the topics that are covered.

May you be blessed and be able to apply some of what I share in this book to your own life and impact the lives of others. May your faith be established, renewed or increased as you continue reading!

Introduction

This book is intended for all age groups, with the emphasis being on the importance of acknowledging the frame of reference our lives are shaped by, how that affects the decisions we make and the consequences thereof. I believe that each and every person is ranked high or low in terms of worldly standards, but is equal before God, and that before God the soul is ageless; as this book is meant to speak to the soul, everyone should be able to relate to the contents.

This book relates to all environments — individual, family and/or organisations. I have integrated what we as individuals, families and organisations do, and interpreted that in terms of the frames of reference we use to direct our behaviours and decisions.

I would like to refer to Douglas McGregor’s Motivational theories which he called Theory X and Theory Y. The theories relate to human work motivation and management. While we tend to associate human work with employment, I would like to suggest that human beings are always at work in the multitude of portfolios we hold. As an employee or manager, a child or parent, whatever the role we hold in our personal life, career life and spiritual life is regarded as work. People are multidimensional beings, i.e. we not only hold multiple roles but are also both flesh and spirit. So just as there are rewards for all the work we do that benefit the flesh, there are also spiritual rewards for the work that we do. It would therefore be remiss of us to recognise only rewards attained in the flesh in the form of money, promotions, recognition, etc. The intent of this book is to awaken us to the other side which half of us tend to ignore — that is the spiritual reward we get from our works. Through this book I hope to help readers appreciate whole self in all that we do, so we do not neglect the other roles that are equally as important if we’re to live a fulfilled life. I define a fulfilled life as a life that is harmoniously balanced in the right proportions and complete with nothing lacking.

According to McGregor, Theory X assumes that employees dislike work, are lazy, dislike responsibility, and must be coerced to perform. Theory Y assumes that employees like work, are creative, seek responsibility, and can exercise self-direction. Both perspectives (Theory X and Theory Y) coexist in the way individuals behave, however these are changeable depending on various aspects of nurture.

Wayne Weiten (2016) refers to the old psychological debate of whether behaviour is determined by genetic inheritance (nature) or by environment and experience (nurture). I describe the frame of reference which is the master creator of our mindset, as one of the aspects of nurture. The frame of reference is the key to the chain reaction which causes a person to behave in a certain manner. The frame through which each of us looks at life provides an attitude that makes us behave in a certain way. Individuals do not exist in isolation, they are part of the communities we live in and organisations we work in. However human beings view life through different frames of reference, and as a result their ways of doing and ways of being are different and unpredictable. While as people we have the power to channel what we want (positive or negative) to receive and/or reject certain things in our lives and systems, the power that the frame of reference has over human beings is that it frames the belief and also frames the outcomes which become self-fulfilling prophesies. This also means that we can detach ourselves from the frame of reference when it no longer serves us, but it takes one a long time to get off the autopilot by default and become active intentional pilots of their life by design.

If we go back to the Garden of Eden when man was created, God placed a man in the garden to tend to it and God made a day of rest, meaning that men are naturally workers. Survival on earth is based on hard labour which is based on the curse of the old Adam. However, prosperity in the blessings of the new Adam is within our grasp. A man’s stomach shall be satisfied from the fruit of his mouth; from the produce of his lips he shall be filled (Proverbs 18:21).

Many theories and many laws — both in the legal system and psychological research — have been developed that prove the co-existence of different frames of reference, but there can only be one frame of reference that will live beyond the earth to eternity, and that is God’s Word. When we filter all things through it we will see that we do not need to think too much or experience strife in our lives on this earth.

Through this book I hope to assist readers in reviewing their frames of reference that dictate the choices and decisions they make and consequences thereof which ultimately determine their quality of life. My search on identity and spiritual interactions in the search for my purpose, by God’s grace has driven me into action; may this book not only be for your consumption, but may it urge you to take action too. But be doers of the Word and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves (James 1:22).

Contextualising the Book Title Through Insights and Analysis on Terms Used

Frame Of Reference (F-O-R) is a system of assumptions and standards that sanction behaviour and give it meaning. A system is a group of interacting, interrelated or interdependent elements forming a complex whole. In combination, therefore, F-O-R is a group of interacting, interrelated or interdependent elements (assumptions and standards) forming a complex whole [a compelling perspective formed through the combination of mindset (attitude) and belief (conviction)], that sanction behaviour and give it meaning.

Let us