You might wanna get comfortable for this post. It’s long. And deep. Perhaps grab yourself a cup of tea or coffee. You also might wanna clear your mind and eliminate any distractions for ten minutes. Do your very best to read and consider this article from a perspective of absolute objectivity. All the truth and wisdom in the world is of no value, if we’re not open to the idea of exploring different things, or perhaps seeing old things in a new way.
Where do Our Beliefs Come From?
Have you ever wondered why you believe what you believe? Have you ever considered where your beliefs came from? How they got there? Was it an intentional process? Did you embrace those beliefs consciously or did you just wake up one day and there they were; curiously stuck inside your head? Possibly with a big “do not remove” sign on them. Do you ever question them? Doubt them? Resent them? Are you even aware of them, or do they exist independent of your conscious self? Did you intentionally choose them? Did you learn them via your experiences? Did you adopt them from someone that you respect and trust? Or perhaps you had them rammed down your throat by an authority figure somewhere in your past? Do your current beliefs propel you towards greatness or do they keep you trapped in mediocrity, monotony and misery? Do they serve you, or do you serve them? Who’s really running the show?
Under-Achievement Central
Do they help you achieve your dreams and goals, or do they keep you in your own private mental and emotional prison? Do they enable you to explore your potential and do amazing, or do they keep you in your safe, familiar, predictable little box (Under-Achievement Central)? Do they help you see things clearly and objectively, or do they predispose you to looking at the world through a very (very) small window? Are your beliefs flexible and subject to change depending on your experiences and your life lessons? Or are they set in stone? Do you determine them, or do they determine you?
But What if it Ain’t True?
Have you ever thought about living your life with a different set of beliefs? Have you ever considered the possibility that perhaps some of your life-long, firmly-entrenched, non-negotiable beliefs… could be completely wrong? May even be the very things that have caused you to inhabit an existence that you don’t enjoy? Does it make you uncomfortable to consider the possibility of having to completely change the way you think and believe about certain things in your world?
“Our ability to effectively change a belief, will be largely determined by our level of emotional investment in that particular belief.”
In other words, there are certain beliefs that we desperately want to be true and when we’re presented with information, ideas and/or situations which challenge or contradict those beliefs, then we will typically react negatively and possibly, irrationally. Of course you don’t want to believe that Dear Old Dad has been having an affair for the last five years, after all he’s Your Dad; the poster boy for morality, stability, integrity and family values. You know (believe) he would never do anything like that, yet now you’re presented with a situation that throws your stable, predictable and comfortable internal world (your mind) into turmoil. It completely messes with your belief system. You’ve just walked in on Dear Old Dad kissing Mrs Granger from over the fence in a non-neighbourly manner. Your non-negotiable belief (that Dad is the high-watermark for moral behaviour) has been smashed in the face with reality. You feel sick, repulsed, hurt and betrayed because something you’ve believed for so long has just been ripped out from under your feet. One of your core beliefs (that Dad is an honest, reliable and moral man) has been shattered. Even though you see it with your own eyes, on some level you can’t believe it. It doesn’t match the reality in your head. You frantically try and reconcile what you’re seeing with your belief about your Father. You desperately try to create a scenario in your head which will keep your core belief in tact and allow you to stay in your delusion. “I’m hallucinating. I’m drunk. I’m imagining things. I must have mis-interpreted the situation.” Yep, that’s right Junior; Mrs. Granger has hijacked your Father’s lips against his will.
Is Religion an Emotional or a Spiritual Thing?
Religion is a great example of being emotionally invested in a set of beliefs. While most people would consider religion to be an essentially spiritual thing, I would suggest that more often than not it’s also largely an emotional thing. For some, it’s an entirely emotional thing. You and I both know people who have been going to church (synagogue, temple, etc.) for years, with little or no spiritual understanding or awareness. Their ‘religion’ is based on a bunch of emotions (guilt, fear, anger) and rules that need to be complied with (that’s what their beliefs tell them anyway). People who have life-long religious beliefs typically won’t even consider that perhaps there’s something else. Option B. They have too many years and too much emotion invested, to even entertain the notion that they could possibly be misguided, misinformed or even completely wrong in their thinking.
What do You Believe about that Whole Messiah Thing?
Let’s take Jesus for example; either he was the Son of God… or he wasn’t. I can’t really see the Jewish and the Christian communities getting together any time soon for an informal, open-minded chat on the matter. “Hey what do you guys think about that whole Messiah thing?” Nup, not gonna happen. Both religions know that they’re right, so it’s not up for discussion. Their beliefs are non-negotiable. Let’s be honest, I wasn’t there, you weren’t there, none of us were. We don’t actually know, we just believe. If we categorically knew that Jesus was the son of God, then we wouldn’t need faith because we would have indisputable knowledge, and faith is all about believing in something that we can’t prove. With me?
A Different Truth
He may have been the Messiah, he may have been a gifted prophet, or he may have simply been a great bloke. I don’t know, but I do know that just by writing this paragraph I will alienate and offend some people because their level of emotional investment in their religious beliefs won’t even allow them to consider something different. Some people will get angry, disappointed, resentful and even hurt; all emotional reactions to a logical discussion and some reasonable questions. But we feel like guilty betrayers (more emotion) if we even dare to consider another truth, or sneak a peek over the spiritual fence. So we cut ourselves off to the possibility of learning something different or new. By the way, this is not an article about spiritual exploration, I’m simply using the religious example because most of us can relate in some way.
There are things we know to be true (the sky is blue) and there are things we want to be true (my partner would never cheat on me). When we’ve believed something for a long time, we have (knowingly or not) an emotional attachment to that belief. That belief is familiar, comfortable and safe for us; three things we enjoy. It gives us a level of predictability and certainty. It could be said that “who and what we are, is because of what we believe”; our beliefs shape us. For some anyway. For others it could be said that “who and what we believe is because of who we are”; we shape our beliefs. For far too many people, their life simply becomes a process of conforming to pre-existing (often negative and destructive) beliefs. Kind of like living out a pre-determined script for our life. Which is why many people become clones of their parents.
So Where do our Beliefs Come From?
1. Our influences. From the moment we’re born, we are constantly being bombarded with information from a myriad of sources. Our beliefs are often heavily influenced, if not shaped, by the people in our world – especially those closest to us. Those we love and respect the most. Or perhaps just those we spend the most time with. Both our conscious and our unconscious minds are continually absorbing, interpreting, filtering and processing information. Much of what you and I absorb in a typical day happens without our conscious awareness; it happens despite us. From infancy, our parents, our siblings, our friends, our teachers, our heroes, the TV we watch, the music we listen to, the books we read, the places of worship we attend and in 2008, even the websites we frequent, have been influencing us to think, behave and believe a certain way. If you grew up in a situation or environment which taught you that education and academic excellence is paramount, then there’s a fair chance you’ll demand that your kids finish school and go to college.
2. Our experiences. What happens to us, teaches us. Some of us see ourselves as poor students when we’re actually not. We all have an amazing capacity to learn (we do it constantly) but most of our learning happens unconsciously and unintentionally. Sadly, not all of our ‘lessons’ empower us or put us in a better place. Some of our lessons teach us that we’re stupid, ugly, undesirable and incapable. Some experiences are the basis for many of our disempowering (or totally debilitating) beliefs. For many of us to move forward and into a better place (mentally, emotionally, physically, practically), we need to unlearn much of what we’ve made ‘truth’ in our world. That is, we need to change our beliefs. We’ll talk about how to do that in part two.
Different Types of BeliefsTypes of beliefs have been classified in various ways by various people over the years, but I’m going to dumb it down and lose the psycho-babble because I’m not nearly as clever as them. For practical reasons I will break beliefs down to three simple categories:
1. Positive Beliefs. These are Beliefs that enable us to stay in a positive, productive, creative and empowered headspace. Beliefs that allow us to explore and fulfil our potential. Beliefs that push us through the discomfort of life, allow us to deal with our fears and to come out the other side stronger, wiser and better equipped. Beliefs that give us the confidence to do what we need to do to create our best life.
2. Negative Beliefs. Obviously, the polar opposite of the positive kind! They will destroy your potential, your happiness, your relationships, your career, your confidence, your mental health and your life… if you let them.
3. Incidental Beliefs. Exactly as they sound; not typically life-shaping or changing, just there. I believe Tasmania is a beautiful place. I believe a Lexus is a better product than a BMW. I believe the sun will come up tomorrow. I believe boxing is one of the most effective cardio workouts. We have thousands (millions perhaps?) of beliefs that just exist somewhere in the recesses of our brain. Mostly they don’t live in the conscious realm unless we are required to wheel them out for a particular conversation or situation.That’s enough for now… my head hurts!
See you next time with Part two.
Ciao x
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Hey Craig,
Have you ever considered including Panadol with these post???
This has been a very deep and thought provoking post and I will re-read it over the weekend when my kids are at their dad’s and I can concentrate on it properly. (my son is sitting behind me and annoying me at the momnent, he keeps trying to shove a frozen freezer block down my back! – not impressed)
Inspite of my head spinning, I am looking forward to part 2!
A well written post, thanks. Have a great weekend and trip to QLD. (Here’s hoping there are no more mobile phone using twits on any of your flights – that was a funny story by the way!)
Hugs
Michelle xx
Hi Craig
Sorry- I had no advice that would be of any use re: the dog. I’m a cat person! I hate how dogs lick you all the time and put their dirty paws on you!
I have another update re: uni. Saw course coordinator this morning. I didn’t quite have the outcome I was after, but I have agreed to their terms. Lets just say I have heaps to do by 7 Nov. AND, I have 2 essays de 27 Oct. They’re going to have to be done by Sat night too because I’m coming to the Syd RYL and I dont want to be stressing about incomplete essays.
On beliefs: I’ll have to read that a bit later and will post my thoughts on it then. Right now I have an appraisl to write on an asthma clinical practice guideline. Joy!
But one random question: you say that you can’t rely on the emotional state known as motivation to create success and amazing. Why then do you class yourself as a ‘motivational speaker’? What does that even mean?
Looking forward to part 2, it’s a bit mean leaving us waiting! Great article so far, can’t wait for the rest!
Great thought provoking post Craig.
If only we could all get to the place we were at the time of our birth – the place where we were miraculous, amazing, awesome beings. In other words our true authentic selves as God designed us to be. Unfortunately as you aptly put it as we grow and develop our conditioned nature begins to emerge.
Then one day (like now) we say hey is this all there is to life? We begin to read, visit craig harper and others for inspiration and encouragement. Soon we get excited about the prospect of having a life other than the one we have. Some people stop right here……. Now for those few who are brave enough to begin to strip away the conditioning and dismantle their belief systems a fantastic surprise awaits – yep your true authentic self is the treasure within that you have been searching for all your life. Stripped down and emotionally naked (like the day you were born) is the juncture of true spiritual enlightenment – this is where we reconnect with our creator – we not only believe but KNOW that we are loved and were divinely created – your miracle in life is YOU – this is the place of true “freedom”
Free to be me
Cheryl ( )
It would have to be cyber-panadol Michelle
( )
Hi Jules
1. The licking and the dirty paws is the fun bit
2. Good work with the study…
3. I classify myself as a coach and a teacher but when it comes to companies finding a speaker like me they often use the search term ‘Motivational Speaker’ so that’s why the term is used – it’s commercially smart
( )
Hi Hilds… yep, I’m a meany!
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Thanks for sharing your thoughts Cheryl..
( )
Craig,
You really stepped on my toes this AM. BMW’s are clearly superior to Lexus! You should not challenge my beliefs like that
Great post – always seems what we really believe (not what we say we believe) comes out over time in our actions and results. Look at world financial markets – we are seeing what our cultures really believe about money and about how to handle crises…
Orville from Iowa
Hey Craig ! Your religious example reminds me of a couple of people who used to belong to a mailing list I frequent. They absolutely KNOW without a doubt that their religion is the only REAL one. The debates got quite nasty… good thing it was all done via email or it may have come to blows… what a fantastic religion that is then… definitely the only REAL one !! Well, they eventually decided that if the rest of us didn’t absolutely share their beliefs, we weren’t worth knowing. Their loss… we’re all doing just fine without them !
{{HUGS}} Tina
Labas, Craig!
First question, how are you doing, Craig?
Amazing logical explanation of our beliefs. Really enjoy reading it. Can’t wait for second part!
Manhug ( ),
Saulius
The emotional attachment part is very true. Some say that political debates don’t actually make the two sides hearing each other out, but rather, it polarizes them: the liberals become more liberal, and the conservative becomes more conservative. It’s like gambling too. Once you believe that you’ll win, it’s hard to stop even when the odds are against you.
Craig,
As a person who rarely uses Panadol anyway, cyber-panadol would be fine thanks.
Enjoy your day…will you be on Light tomorrow? Catch you there.
Hugs
Michelle xx
Dear Craig,
(sigh)….it's funny – have been having lengthy conversations about this very topic all week Craig! You've set it out well on the screen.
Belief/beliefs is/are the very thing I have struggled with for over 30 years of growing. Not knowing what mine were, kept me in a private, mental & emotional prison. When I was a child, I think I was like any other – I absorbed everything those who loved me, said & did. As I travelled through life, and was presented with new ideas, I struggled greatly with understanding what was 'right' and what was 'wrong'. Not knowing that I did not have to conform…or tick all the boxes….and there was no real 'right' or 'wrong'.
I remember the feeling after each time I parroted a belief of someone else. It was gut-wrenching. I felt like a lier – but because it was all such a muddle, I didn't have the strength the think or say otherwise….or possibly I was just caught up in a busy life?
It has only been a short time since finding that strength to make pretty big changes to my journey, that I have been able to see, think & feel with a certain clearness. It's because I found my own beliefs. I haven't found them all….(I'm definately sure you can – and they may change)… but each one I discover, is celebrated. Not just within…with others as well.
Beliefs helps your own self to discover the real you. I know sometimes I may be surprising my family with some of my newfound beliefs, but you know what? I think they are loving meeting the real Kathryn!
A great post Craig….
Have a fabulous weekend….looking forward to Sydney.
Kathryn
Hi Orville – BMW!!!
Thanks for dropping by and sharing
Enjoy your Friday
Tina… how dare you not share their beliefs.. why should you think for yourself… no wonder they dumped you… you know compliance is mandatory in a good friendship
( )
Labas Saulius – I am good thanks Champ. Glad you’re looking forward to part two… now, if only I knew what to write for part two!
Manhug..
Kathryn, I look forward to meeting the real you in Sydney…
( )
Hey Craig,
Ah, yes…I liked the bit about pre-existing beliefs predisposing you to looking at like through a very, small window.
I think it's great, even paramount that we have childhood experiences that give us certain beliefs – even Santa and the tooth fairy have their place. And even religious ones can be good (if they're positive, life giving) but it's so sad if you don't then challenge, expand or ascertain your own ideas/beliefs when you & your life experiences have grown.
It's really quite astounding that churches don't seem to have any more expansive insights or teachings for adults – it is, as you say, the same stuff set in stone, with people living out their lives still with these childhood beliefs.
Somehow, we think it's okay to stop believing in Santa, but all the other beliefs I think we are a little too afraid to think too deeply about.
Until now……!!
Look forward to tomorrow,Craig…
Hope Marly's having a good day and thanks for the thought provoking post. Hope you have a great day, too..
Hugs,
Monica ( )
Hello Craig,
I have a huge headache now!!!!
Great post!!!!Can't wait for part 2
This hit me right at home, my ex had been having an affair for over 12mths, I couldn't believe he would ever do this to me, tried to block it out of my head, pretend it hasn't happened, would wake up every morning thinking its all just a dream, but it wasn't.
My belief that I had a honest, & loving partner had been crushed, hurt, betrayed, I felt numb & I could see it happening right in front of me but didn't want to believe it.
I did for a while doubt my thoughts tried to think of excuses as to why he dumped me & my daughter for this other person.
I now believe that I will always go with my gutt feelings, never doubt myself, & that the decisions I have made now to move on which does scare me, makes me very uncomfortable, fear being on my own as a single mum, is making me stronger day by day & that I no with a positive outlook on all of this I will acheive a much better, peaceful, happier life now that I have deleted the bad negative rubbish that was constanly going through my mind & destroying me.
Hugs
SC xxxxxxx
Challenged my beliefs too, Craig. Messiah? “He’s not the Messiah- he’s a very naughty boy”
Hey Monica – thanks for dropping by. ( )
Hello SC
Wow! Someone’s learning, growing, chaging and getting tough!!
Good for you…
(xx)
Hi Craig,
Have fun in Queensland. The sky actually isn’t blue it’s an optical illusion, but far be it for me to destroy anyone’s deeply held beliefs.
Hugs,
Jo
Hi Jo
WHAT!!
It’s not beige is it?
( )
Hi Michelle… yep, I’ll be on Light x
Hi Kelvin – you’re making sense Man.
Again.
Cheers
Not sure where my beliefs about myself came from but i decided a long time ago that i was a dumb, ugly good for nothing loser who didn’t deserve to live. Nobody told me this or did anything bad to me to make me think this. i just remember standing in front of a mirror at around 7yrs old and i just decided this is what i was. I believed i was just born to be like this. Unlucky. From then on i started to behave like that and people then started treating me the way i treated myself. That just cemented my beliefs about myself, others and the world in general. Even though deep down i doubted what i believed. It’s only lately i’ve been challenging this and winning. What’s worked for me is to like you say, see things in a different way. Not sitting around like Plato just thinking thinking thinking, analysing, analysing, analysing. I can’t do that anymore. Doesn’t work for me. And i’m starting to think it’s not necessary to do that all the time with every single frickin thing. I need action, you know.
All i can say is changing the way you see things makes everything so much easier and uncomplicated. Example:
1. I really don’t want to wake up at 5am every morning to workout. I’m too tired, too undisciplined it’s just too much. I’m too fat to work my body hard everyday.
Ok so you don’t want to wake up early but hey at least you have a bed to wake up out and all your limbs are still intact maybe tomorrow they won’t be so move them while you have them.
When i think about it in that way it’s actually real easy getting up and moving every morning. Just takes a little practice that’s all. The more you practice the easier it becames where you don’t really even think about it anymore.
2. I’m so sick of eating vegies and this healthy crap all the time. How come my friends can eat what they want and not get fat and i can’t? Why has god cursed me? This food is so boring and i’m so sick of it. Why do i have to put up with this crap. It’s not fair.
Sure it’s not fair but maybe tommorrow you might not have food. I wonder what it would be like to not be able to get food for a couple of days. Can you imagine what that must be like, to worry about whether or not you will have food the next day.
No food huh? Living off the streets eating from garbage cans? And those friends of yours stuffing their faces with KFC every week? In 10yrs time they’ll be in heartattack central.
Well when you think about it these steamed vegies i have to eat all the time aren’t so bad. They give my body what it needs right? Clean out all that heart clogging gunk. I luuuuuvvvv tasteless steamed vegies yuuummmm!!
3. What? I’ve been working out 10hrs a week for 4 weeks and i’ve only lost a measly 6kgs. I don’t get it why? What do i have to do? Why is this hard for me? Why does my body hate me so much? Why is it easier for everybody else? Only 6kgs? In the past when i was doing an extreme diet i could lose 6kgs in a frickin week but 4 wks? What is the point? I’m useless i should just give up now. I hate my body i hate myself. I’m obviously meant to be unfit and fat my whole life. All that work for just 6 frickin kilos?
Ok first thing, just stop and breath. Now get off the scales and stop crying cause everyone in the gym is staring at you now you big baby. Now think about it. Think about all those past diets. Remember that 6kgs you would lose in 2weeks? Where are those 6kgs now? That’s right their now filling up your sweat pants. Now tell me what you want. What do you really want from all this? Why are you putting in all this hard work? Well what i want is to lose all this weight once and for all and never have to worry about this ever again? Ok then great. That’s just 6kgs you’ve lost that are now gone forever. You will never have to worry about them again. That extra 6 is no more. What a relief huh? Wow you mean that i will never carry that 6kgs on body ever again? That’s right, never again. And you know what else? Next week when again you workout hard and eat well and you get on those scales and you see you’ve lost only 1kg, remember that’s another 1kg you will never see again. 1kg? You mean i will sweat my ass off for 10hrs next week, eat lots of good but tasteless food and still only lose a couple of kilos? Yep that’s right only 1kg that will never see the light of day ever again. Only 1kgs? Woohooo Excellent!
(Just so you know, the above is the conversations i’ve been having with myself for the last couple of months).
My whole life, the one thing i made sure kept me back (my body) and caused me so much grief is all of a sudden not such a problem.
Craig would you believe me if i told you that getting fit, healthy and losing weight isn’t so hard and can in fact be even a little fun? Do you believe me when i tell you this? Noone else seems to they think it’s crazy.
Change the way you see things and it can change your life.
Ange
Geez… I take off the tin foil hat for one minute and yr. right. there. arent ya?
I am currently challenging all of my beliefs because I have been unhappy of late and quite frankly, they dont make any sense (they were instilled by an alcoholic mother & drug addicted father.. noice!)
The result- I am starting to find my 'own' way and I am getting happy. However, I have been alienated by my own family and I have been labelled a 'princess'. Pffft to that!
I rock, so im not buying into that but it has been difficult and I hope Im a better person when I come out the other side.
Sorry to dump all that here..
Cheers big ears.
Happy Friday.. Have a great weekend everyone!
xx
This gets tricky Craig.
What if your beliefs about beliefs are wrong.
What if stupid is best?
Blue is just a label that we collectively invest in.
I’d like to see you go even deeper into this.
I do agree with everything you say I just want you to push the envelope a bit.
Wow Ange – that was more of a post than a comment but I appreciate your thoughts – keep ‘em coming and keep doing what works for you..
Hi Evan – You’re telling me! My brain hurts just exploring this stuff. And yep, stupid is often best. One man’s stupid is another man’s clever…
If I push the enevelope any further it might fall off the table…. BUT I accept the challenge.
I can refer all the confused people to you!
Cheers
Hi Craig,
This post has stirred up a lot with me, but in a good way. I have over the years challenged my faith – born and bread a catholic girl, and have come to find my own beliefs within catholosism. I was told by my local priest that this was called “dispensationalism” – i.e. to believe in what I want to and not believe in all aspects of that faith.
I truly feel that my faith and beliefs in God and the “good bloke” Jesus bring me a lot of comfort and inner peace. It is that faith that gets me through tough times, and although no-one else gets why i believe, i really don’t care.
Why do we as people find it so hard to accept those who differ from us? If I believe and someone else doesn’t – who cares??? How will that affect me personally?? It doesn’t.. only if I make it affect me and get precious about it, that’s when religion and faith become a topic that people fight about.
I think religion / spirituality / faith, is what you make it and what you make it is what you get out of it. (confusing?)
I can’t wait for part 2, bloody good decision sending a post like this on a Friday and make us wait 2days before we see anything again….
Have a great weeked and enjoy QLD!
Hi Asma
If you explore most religious texts it seems that the underlying message is one of unity, acceptance, love and tolerance (yes, with a few notable exceptions of course), whereas the underlying message of ‘some’ religions seems to be the exact opposite – if their history and typical behaviour is any indicator. BTW, religion and spirituality are different things. Going to church (synagogue, temple, etc.) doesn’t make a person spiritual any more than owning a tracksuit makes someone an athlete…
Ciao.. ( )
Fantastic article and very eye openning, I’ve learned about the power of beliefs and the way they affect our lives from Tony Robbins and I am forever greatful to him for it.
Againg, great article:-)
X C
Another update: I just submitted the assignment (online) that was due midnight last night. 1 day late. Oops. I’ve barely got time to take a deep breath before I have to start the next two that are due Mon 27th.
Your voice keeps echoing in my head: You just need to do what you have to do to get what you want…
It’s simple. I want my degree at the end of THIS YEAR + I want my graduate job in Melb in 2009 (which obviously is dependent on me finishing my degree at end of THIS YEAR). So, I just have to do these last three assignments and I’ll have what I want! It’s not rocket science. I don’t need to feel motivated to do the work, and I don’t need to have tons of energy either. I just have to do the damn work. I CAN CREATE AMAZING!
Thanks Craig- you’re really helping me change my mindset towards uni work, fitness/nutritionand just life stuff in general. I do slip up now and then though. Like today I fell back to my habit of turning to junk food when I’m stressed as a ‘coping mechanism’. All I could think about this afternoon was chocolate! Really need to eliminate that behaviour though. I’ll have to do a big cardio session at the gym tomorrow (Sunday).
All the best in Bris tomorrow too.
Jules
I wrote a lot about this in Transcending Limiting Beliefs—I think it’s really important that you determine your beliefs yourself, because only you know what’s best for you.
Negative beliefs usually have negative words like “can’t” or “shouldn’t” in them, i.e. “I can’t be successful” or “I shouldn’t ask someone else out.” Following that, there’s some justification like “because I’m undeserving.” Usually it’s far less solid than this, but the belief still has the power to cripple your potential.
Keep growing and learning! Organized religion is often crippling… being a Christian, for example, is a huge responsibility (says the Bible). You have to constantly be sacrificing for others, following love, fairness, and compassion in your own heart and actions, and spreading the good word toward others. Those are good things. But 99% of Christians do far too little of this, cling to material possessions, and obsess over stuff that doesn’t matter. For them, Christianity is a limiting belief, and they are usually the ones who got it from their parents rather than consciously choosing it.
What ratio of positive: negative:incidental beliefs would be healthy? OK, just positive: negative believes then, since the incidental don’t really affect too much. If you say 1 positive to 0 negative is that realistic? No one is perfect? Craig, do you even have some negative beliefs from time to time if not constantly?
I definitely have several negative beliefs that dont appear to be in a hurry to leave my mind. They certainly are a major barrier in my quest to create amazing and live a happy, fulfilled life.
Thanks ‘the brainy one’…
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Thanks Jules – keep doing what you need to do.
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Thanks for sharing Richard X
Cheers
Jules – ratio???
The less negative the better…
( )
HI Craig
Is there not such a thing as absolute truth?
or have i missed something here.
It amazes me in the year 2010 we are deceiving ourselves with philosophy and that which seems right in our own eyes.
I have no doubt i will be looked at as being intolerant and one of those narrow minded believers, but this whole relativistic thinking about truth is just as worse as the disgraceful religious empires men have built, its another ishmael.
After 32 years of living i have come to see that men do all they can to turn away from the Living God in pursuit of SELF at any cost. Independence is humanities great cry, we are Gods!!! The same temptation that took place in the garden of eden is daily being succumbed to… You can be Like God !
There is a God, the creation testifies to this fact, He has supreme authority to command His creation because of his infinite Value and worth. The wisest thing to do is acknowledge this truth that every man truly knows within, repent from our ego and deception. Loving obey the LORD and walk in all his ways.
The bible is fact anyone who would sincerely humble himself will come to see the truth. You have to suppress undeniable evidence in order refute the content. Its Gods masterpiece written with ink and made alive to the humble.
We have all gone astray, lived in sin and done what is evil in the sight of God, but Jesus Messiah took our iniquities upon himself. He who knew no sin became sin for us that we might become the righteousness of God in Him. From torah all the way to the book of Revelation God has unveiled his mighty plan for man in infinite Love and holiness.
Its good news, its the gospel, its the power of God to save a lost perishing humanity. Jesus Messiah is the last Adam, everything God ever intended man to be, Messiah fulfilled. He is the forerunner, prototype, blueprint on what it means to be a geniune Human on the earth.
Its not denominations and its not non denominations its Messiah. Its humility, brokeness, Faith working through Love, sacrifice, brotherly Love, Holiness, righteous anger and wrath at that which harms and causes unrepairable eternal consequences.
Our relationship with God is never based on fear of punishment, or hope of reward although there is truth here. Primarily and firstly we Love God because of who is and not because of what he can do for us, rather His intrinsic value and worth. Loving God for Himself alone. Job was a man who loved God in prosperity and great suffering. The Lord gives and takes away blessed be His Name.
Read the book of Job! Its amazing.
Jesus Messiah suffered more than we shall ever know. He saw him who is invisible and knew His Father God in his value and worth. Even suffering was no barrier, he would even endure unimaginable suffering of all sorts in order to guard his relationship with his Father God. What a Son! A What a Father God must be!
Messiah is calling all to come in repentance and faith, he will pour out the true spiritual water of life upon your being and graft you into the true family of God on the earth. The New Race of humanity.
Messiah is the head of this new spiritual race of mankind, we must be born from above to enter in. Its not by works of religion, rituals and good works, but God being rich in mercy and Grace has made a way for you to come by trust in the sacrifice of His obedient Son Jesus Messiah. The Father never forced His Son to die in our Place. Messiah willingly and lovingly sacrificed His sinless life for our sinful life.
Salvation from Sin and a renovation of your soul back to the original purpose of God is a free gift. God offers it to all freely. You must turn away from your sinful way of life and receive it thankfully.
Relativism is a lie, there is an absolute truth.
Messiah said I am the way, the truth and the Life no one can come to God except through Him.
Wether your catholic, jew, JW, mormon, baptist, pentecostal, Buddhist, free thinker, new age etc…. Messiah is the Only way not man made religion.
Your God loved you so much he went to extreme measures to save you from your sins which lead to eternal destruction. He watched humanity crucify His innocent Son on the cross. Unthinkable pain that would have caused the heart of God, yet he endured so that our sins could be atoned/Covered/ Taken away.
Thank you Father for your great unrelenting Love for us, you did not judge us according to the sins we committed, nor did we get what we truly deserve. With you there is forgiveness and mercy. Where sin abounded your Grace and love abounded all the more. You loved us so much that you did not just ignore our sins and leave us to our egos and selfishness, but you made a wise and glorious way to cleanse and restore us. We are eternally thankful. We walk in Reverence and awe for all that you have done, the troubles of this life, the pain and suffering are no barrier to enduring in our relationship with you. In fact all things good and bad work together for our good to those who Love you with their hearts and not just with their lips and religious rituals/ philosophies.
Your are the Holy One Messiah Jesus, our great Hero and saviour you have paved the way, the word of God made flesh, something we can see, touch and handle. Empower us all the more by your Holy Spirit the true spiritual water of Life, that we may be conformed to you image and Glorify The Fathers Name in this world.
In Messiah
Dan
He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose. Jim Elliott.