The idea that we are finished, once we have sorted out our beliefs and that we never have to examine them again is a very limiting idea. The truth is that the beliefs we grew up with may not serve us very well at all when we are grown. They might, but then again they might not and it is our responsibility to ourselves to figure that part out.
Once upon a time, when we were just starting out learning new ideas, we had no old beliefs to change. Whatever we accepted into our hearts was true, we had no filters in place to keep ideas away from our hearts. As we walked along a bit farther on the path of our lives, we did put those filters into place, but they only served to protect the beliefs we already had.
Even though our old beliefs had value, they worked for us, brought us comfort and made our journey understandable, sometimes it simply get to the point where we need to replace them, because they just don’t cut it anymore. Then it is time to let them go and get ourselves some shiny new beliefs that work for us in the present moment.
Tagged with: beliefs • change • image of the day
Filed under: Change • Incredible Images
Nicely put, Michael. Too many people are products of FIBS (Falsely Implanted Belief Systems) and conditioned thinking — they believe what they were taught to believe and never question those beliefs. The Buddha said, “Believe nothing, no matter where you read it or who has said it, not even if I have said it, unless it agrees with your own reason and your own common sense.” If we never question, we never grow.
Thank you Steve. You’re right, we inherit so many of our beliefs and ways of thinking. And if we are never taught that it is OK to question those beliefs, we have them forever, even if we know they aren’t serving us. Letting go of the old ones and getting new ones for ourselves can make our lives a whole lot easier and fun to live.
Michael…
I have always been a big believer in “when you think you know it all, you have lost it”. I love what you discuss when you bring out the point that even though our beliefs had value before, we must re-visit them and sometimes that might painfully mean that we need to make some changes. Great article!
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Thank you Martin for your kind words. Sometimes it is time to let those old beliefs go. Sometimes they are classics, and its good to keep them. Things we learn like being kind, showing respect and courtesy and believing in our own abilities are great kinds of things to grow up believing. Some other things, meh, not so much. And they can get let go.
Hi Michael,
great article which make a good point about re-evaluating our beliefs.
Recently I learned that we develop most of our beliefs by the age of 7 since we are mostly in alpha brainwaves. Then we go into Beta (maybe not really better
??)and we defend our belief subconsciously. That is one of the reasons it seems not that easy to change them, even if we want to.
So what we could do is sooth, and reassure that part of us that wants to hold on as we reprogram our thinking.
Thank you so much for sharing.
P.S. Great photo – a picture that says it all.
Yorinda recently posted..Human Empathy
Thank you, Yorinda.
I have not heard that it is by age 7, but that makes a lot of sense to me. You are right, it is much easier to change when you go about it gently and with kindness towards yourself rather trying to force yourself into a defensive mode.
So true, Michael. You bring up some excellent and insightful points. Thanks so much!
Robin Reichert recently posted..Weight Gain? Blame It On Your Thyroid
Cool, Robin. Thank you for your kind words.
I really enjoyed this post Michael…thanks again for a great read.
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Cool, Michael, thank you for coming by to take a look. ;-0
Bonjour Micheal!
Oh yes I completely concur with you! Life is too short and we need all be adaptable to change. For some people they seem to find it easier to discuss often for month and years how something or something in their life do not please them to anyone who will listen! Yet all they ever do is chase the situation around in a circle.
Strange isn’t? you would think they would leap of the merry-go-round and get on another one but often they do not … they stay on the same merry-go-round of miserableness for life… Why often because they lack the courage, drive or determination to say … “Okay, time for a change!”
Good post I enjoyed coming here
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Hi Sadie-Michaela. Thank you for your kind words. It is important to be adaptable and to be willing to change if needed. That is a great phrase, the “merry-go-round of miserableness” it says exactly how some spend their lives going around and around in a circle and just being so sad all the time. Real change brings us relief from our sadness inside and it is possible for anyone to make real change in their lives if they want. That’s a real super power.
Thank you, Michael, for sharing this inspiring post.
Your words “it is time to let them go and get ourselves some shiny new beliefs that work for us in the present moment.” would really benefit people to remember in their day by day lives.
The picture in your post is a great analogy.Just like the ‘cars’ in the picture won’t get us anywhere neither do our outdated beliefs.
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Thank you Doug for your kind words. It is so true, that we do have the power to create new beliefs and to let go of those that no longer serve us. It’s a cool thing to know that we are in charge of ourselves.
Hello Michael
Beliefs are perceptions of reality, a conclusion we’ve come to, or perhaps something we were told we had no reason to doubt at the time. Most people would be astounded to know how many of their beliefs are based on lack, limitation, and shortage – and that these thoughts reproduce themselves directly into their life experiences. Your incredible image is a supreme view of the results of life without giving yourself some new ones. It should serve as a reminder to change our old beliefs.
Thanks
Perry A Davis Jr
Music City
You are so right Perry, it is exactly that way, that so many people learn their beliefs form a position of lack, and think that is the way the entire Universe is, instead of seeing that it is their own perception. Sometimes all it takes is a little nudge t start thinking differently; sometimes though(like for me on occasion) it takes a series of nudges, or even whack-a-mole whacks to see that there is something different that could be in my life instead of somewhere else.