Belief Systems

If you really believe something to be true, why in the world would you want to change that belief?

When we talk about the power of beliefs, invariably the following question comes up: “If I really believe something is true, how can I deliberately change that belief without betraying myself?”

This is an important question, and an answer would go something like this: “Belief systems are no more fixed and unchangeable than the length of your hair or the quality of your relationship with another person.”

Now, all of us have core beliefs that are so fundamental we might even die for them. Our ideas about family and faith and patriotism may be sacred to us. However, most of our lives are governed by beliefs about who we are and what we can do, or our definition of success or even happiness, that we have – unconsciously – picked up over the years.

If they work for you, if they empower you, make you a better person, and a positive contributor to society, leave them alone! But if they are not working very well, if they cause you to get in your own way, you can change them. Keep in mind, you are the one to make the choice; it is your accountability, and you must weigh the outcomes of the choices you make.

It is important to have beliefs that will support the outcomes you want. Our beliefs become the foundation upon which we build our behaviors and how we interact with the world around us.

And if you aren’t sure what to believe, or where to start, why not read biographies of successful people you admire? How do your beliefs compare to theirs? You don’t need to become a “belief clone” of others, but it will give you a somewhere to start.