“Some things have to be believed to be seen.” Madeleine L’Engle
We walk through our world doubting and believing. We often do this without reflection, and often develop strongly held views, some based upon unexamined assumptions and biases that no longer serve us or align with our values. Our beliefs (and doubts) create our sense of reality; how we think, act, and feel is based upon both.
Beliefs are basically the guiding principles that provide direction and meaning in life. We use our beliefs to understand and navigate our world. For all these reasons, we tend to preserve our beliefs after they’re formed and guard them carefully.
But what do we mean when we talk about belief?
A belief is something we consider to be a fact. Belief is the attitude that something is the case or “true.” Belief does not require active introspection and circumspection. For example, we don’t wonder whether the sun will rise. We just assume with confidence and without question that it will.
Our beliefs also dictate what we consider to be possible or achievable. Philosophers use the term “belief” to refer to personal attitudes associated with true or false ideas and concepts. As such, beliefs can be empowering or limiting:
- Empowering beliefs allow us to act resiliently, believe in ourselves, and invoke positive thoughts and emotions.
- Limiting beliefs prevent us from fulfilling our true potential, hold us back, and give rise to negative thoughts and emotions.
And yet, whether empowering or limiting, beliefs are in fact simply self-created filters that originate from what we hear and keep on hearing from others. The sources of beliefs include environment, events, knowledge, past experiences, and visualization, just to name a few. In addition, culture, habit, upbringing, religious or superstitious practices, history, and accustomed pessimism are all powerful factors that underlie and inform our belief systems.
“Sometimes I’ve believed as many as six impossible things before breakfast.” Lewis Carroll, Alice in Wonderland
Most people are not aware of their own beliefs because they’ve never taken the time to analyze them carefully. Our beliefs tend to function as our subconscious autopilot. Once formed, these beliefs become ingrained in us. We take them for granted, and we also assume our beliefs to be factual, whether they actually are true or not. When we have deeply rooted beliefs that we cling to subconsciously, our minds will constantly look for proof to validate and bolster them.
The Greek philosopher Epictetus made one of the most powerful observations of how our beliefs influence our reality when he wrote, “People are disturbed, not by things, but by the view they take of them.”
The problem with not being willing to change our beliefs is that it can limit our ability to experience life as it unfolds. To change the experience, you must willing to change those beliefs that created the narrative and direction of your life so far. And your life will take on new meaning when you feel you’re pointed in the right direction.
Belief is a choice. Willingness is the key.
“False beliefs about your limitations will hold you back from gaining freedom.” Ernie Zelinksi
Interested in learning how you can reprogram your subconscious autopilot? Watch my video, “Releasing Limiting Beliefs: Two Simple Steps to Gaining Freedom,” on my YouTube channel.
You’ll look at how belief impacts your perception of the world around you as well as how you navigate your daily life as a result of that perception. More importantly, you’ll look at what benefits might come to you if you are willing to let go of any limiting beliefs in order to carve out for yourself a more informed, connected, and comforting path through the wilderness that is your time here on Earth.
“One’s destination is never a place, but rather a new way of seeing things.” Henry Miller
Here’s to seeing things with new eyes along the way!
