Core Frame of Reference Themes
These are the interpretive lenses and developmental anchors used to evaluate moral behavior, decision-making, and societal direction:
- Frame of Reference (overall interpretive lens)
- Transitional Characters (those who break generational cycles)
- 6 Blind Men and the Elephant (perspective rotation)
- 6 Thinking Hats – Edward de Bono (diverse cognitive approaches)
- Moral Intelligence (knowing right from wrong and acting on it)
- Emotional Intelligence (self-awareness and relational empathy)
Moral & Spiritual Foundations
- Principle or Divine Centered Living – Stephen Covey
- Serving Two Masters / Trap of Idolatry – Matthew 6:24
- In-the-Box vs. Out-of-the-Box Thinking – Arbinger Institute
- Character Ethics vs. Personality Ethics – Covey’s 7 Habits
- Godly Path vs. Worldly Path – Eternal vs. temporal priorities
- Forgiveness, Compassion, Justice as Fairness and Consistency
- Kindness as a Guiding Virtue
Moral Philosophy & Development
- Lawrence Kohlberg’s Theory of Moral Development
- Emphasis on Stage 4 (legalism), Stage 5 (social contract), Stage 6 (universal principle)
- C.S. Lewis – The Abolition of Man
- Objective moral values vs. relativism
- Viktor Frankl – Will to Meaning
- Purpose over pleasure/power
- Carl Jung’s Individuation & Shadow Work
- Becoming whole and morally integrated
Mindset, Identity & Inner Growth
- Mindset Theory – Fixed vs. Growth vs. Faith-Filled Mindset
- Victim vs. Agent Paradigm – Paul Jenkins
- The Hero’s Journey – Joseph Campbell & moral transformation arc
- Feeding the Good Wolf vs. Bad Wolf – Native wisdom: choice of character
- The Egg, Potato, and Coffee Bean Parable – Response to adversity defines you
- Everyday Greatness – Covey’s lived character in daily moments
Societal Cycles & Political Insight
- Tytler’s Cycle of Civilizations – Faith → Courage → Liberty → Abundance → Selfishness → Complacency → Apathy → Dependence → Bondage
- The Overton Window – Shifting acceptable political/moral discourse
- “What One Generation Tolerates…” – John Wesley – Warning about generational drift
- “A society that teaches conformity…” – John Dewey – Conformity vs. freedom
- “If people are good only out of fear…” – Albert Einstein – Condemning Stage 1-2 morality
Economics & Stewardship
- Robert Kiyosaki’s Assets vs. Liabilities – Wealth and responsibility thinking
- Dopamine Nation Concepts – Pleasure-pain imbalance, addiction, and its place in Tytler’s yellow zone
- Abundance → Complacency → Bondage – From Tytler and historical patterns of decline
Family, Parenting, and Legacy
- Authoritative Parenting Style – High warmth, high expectations
- Stephen R. Covey’s 7 Habits of Highly Effective People
- Be Proactive, Begin with the End in Mind, etc.
- Dr. Paul Jenkins’ Parenting/Control Maturity Model – Stages of control vs. influence
- “The Sacred Mantle” of Parenthood – Parenthood as divine stewardship
- Generational Consequences of Divorce, Passivity, and Ignorance
Spiritual Warfare and Moral Responsibility
- The Gospel as Twofold: Personal Sanctification + Public Moral Courage
- The War in Heaven Continues on Earth – Ezra Taft Benson
- Standing Alone with God vs. Following the Crowd – Benson, King, Cramer, Campbell
- Life is a Battleground, Not a Playground – Steven A. Cramer
