Do you believe? In something? In anything?
“Believe!” seems to be a popular maxim these days.
But let’s think about it a minute.
What is a belief?
It’s something that one accepts as true or real; a firmly held opinion or conviction.
Yes, firmly held.
There was a time when it was a commonly held belief that the world was flat. People felt they “knew” this. But was it true? We know now that it wasn’t, contrary to all evidence.
Is this computer screen you’re looking at solid? Not really. It’s composed of much more space than solid matter. In fact, it’s up for grabs whether anything solid actually even exists at all.
A lot of people don’t believe in psychic phenomena, or energy healing, even in the face of proof. So even if they experience it, they’ll write it off as something else. Do you see how they are limiting their experience of life? And limiting their options?
And we actively reinforce our beliefs.
It’s human nature to look for proof of what we already believe. How many politically active people do you know who read the columns of those on the other side of the fence, with an open mind? Typically, we read or listen to those whom we’re already in agreement with, to reinforce our “proof” that our point of view is correct.
Now, it’s apparent that some beliefs can be truly helpful. If they weren’t, we wouldn’t have such helpful results as are provided by the placebo effect, for example.
But a lot of beliefs are harmful. If you believe in something negative, you’ll continue to strengthen that reality’s likelihood of showing up in your life. You’ll see what you expect to see. This happens even with subconscious beliefs, such as “I’m not good enough”, or “I have bad genes”.
These beliefs become rigid patterns at our energetic levels and then they manifest difficulties.
But in either case, positive or negative, whenever you believe in something, you’re strengthening duality, not one-ness.
It’s like you’re drawing a circle around some part of what you perceive of as reality, and declaring that everything outside it is not true, or can’t exist. Ever.
By definition, belief is limiting.
And if we believe there’s no such thing as — for example — magic or miracles, we’re not as likely to experience them.
But wouldn’t you rather have a mind opened by wonder than closed by belief?
Can you see the value in opening to new possibilities?
Today, let’s open our minds by playing with the concept of belief a bit. Let’s loosen its hold on us.
Things change. We change — if we allow it. Maybe something’s shown itself to seem true in the past, but what if we open to a new possibility?
What if we allow this moment to speak for itself, without any restrictions? And if we must believe, then let’s at least allow for some free play.
Loosen your grip on belief … or rather, its grip on you!
Today, see if you can catch yourself whenever you think or say or write “I believe …”.
Or notice if certain reactions or actions you take are based on a belief.
If you do spot a belief, be aware that at some level you are choosing that belief.
Is that belief helping you? Is it limiting you?
Are you still open to ideas that might not fit that belief?
If so, take a moment to see if you can loosen its hold on you.
Instead of “I believe …”, say to yourself:
- “I choose to think …”
- “It’s possible (or probable) that …” (and here, include the opposite as well; see if that makes sense)
- “I choose to act as if … “
- “I theorize that … “
- “Right now, it seems to me that … “
- “This isn’t serving me or anyone. Maybe it’s possible that …”
Any of these will help you be open in the moment.
You’ll often find that you don’t really see it to be true right then.
Loosening its hold or actually questioning it opens a space for a new possibility.
Best of all, you’ll be willing and able to see something new.
So, why not let your NOW be alive, to reveal what it will?
Why not open yourself to its gifts?