Beliefs!

Oh y'all thought I was gonna let August pass by without dropping something for my besties.

And no I wasn't sick or dead. I just got really busy, and I had a lot on my sleeve, and... apparently, time slipped right through my fingers!

The above paragraph had been on repeat in my head for the longest time. Not for any particular reason than the fact that it was a good excuse. And guess what, even though it isn’t exactly true, I grew to believe it. 

As humans, we hold on to certain beliefs for the sake of survival. It's a dance as old as time. And one of the most delulu things I used to believe was that... reality was a fixed menu. 

I believed that everyone and everything was fixed in existence. Reality was unity, and there were no grey areas.

Little did I know, that existence is more of a potluck, where everyone brings their own dish of perspective to the table. And boy, was my coconut rice of certainty half-done! 

For years, I tried to fit the world into my mental frame, only to end up realizing that my beliefs were more like pieces of puzzle, which was part of a much larger picture – and each piece kept falling off whenever I tried to solve it. Never making complete sense.

Heaven knows how many times I lay awake at night wondering why my friends and I couldn't agree on what we thought about Miley Cyrus. What I believed held no effect on what they believed.

Now, why do you think I decided to talk about beliefs today? Well that's because sometimes, it's necessary to talk about things that make absolute sense.

Take me back to the days when conversations had depth. When minds could wander through ideas, no topic left untouched.

Now our chats are fragmented and strange, switching from philosophy to nonsense in one quick exchange. Fluttering above everything but never quite landing.

So, today, I thought we'd have a conversation on Belief.

How are Beliefs Formed?

Our beliefs begin forming early in life, influenced by our environment, experiences, and the people around us.

As we grow, these beliefs become the lenses through which we view the world, often without us realizing it.

They silently shape our perceptions, decisions, and actions. While we often think of beliefs as conscious choices, many of our most influential beliefs operate beneath the surface of our awareness.

How do Our Beliefs Influence Us?

One of the most fascinating aspects of beliefs is it's self-fulfilling nature.

When we strongly believe something, we tend to act in ways that make that belief come true. This can work for or against us, depending on the nature of the belief.

I remember a time in secondary school when there was a heated debate between my peers about who would get to use the school hall. Since the school was owned by the Anglican church, tensions ran high between the different denominations. The argument escalated, and some people threatened violence, believing their actions were justified by a noble cause. But in all sincerity, everyone was just acting in accordance with their own belief systems.

Everyone genuinely thought they were right. And that is a humbling thought.

Our beliefs shape our realities, and in most of our individual worlds, we're the heroes. Which makes you wonder about people who do bad things.

While we see them as terrible people, there is a good chance that they think they're doing right by the world, or themselves.

A strong belief stands to be a great deciding factor in who a person turns out to be, whether good and bad. That's exactly why what we believe in and how those beliefs evolve over time is important, not only to us but to the rest of the world.

Can our Beliefs Change Over Time?

The answer to this is both satisfying and questionable. I say this because, of course your beliefs are bound to change over time. The brow raising question is change in what sense.

Growth often requires challenging our existing beliefs – something that can be done with conscious effort. This process can be uncomfortable, as our beliefs are closely tied to our sense of identity and security.

Contrary to what a lot of people believe---people can change…because beliefs change.

However, questioning our beliefs can lead to profound personal development and a more nuanced understanding of the world.

To show the extent of change you can achieve with your belief, recent neuroscience research suggests that our beliefs can actually change the physical structure of our brains. Amazing, right?

This concept, known as neuroplasticity implies that by consciously working to change our beliefs, we can rewire our neural pathways and potentially alter our behaviors and experiences.

To wrap this up, our beliefs are one of the most powerful natural  tools we have to control who we are and what our world looks like. It can either limit or expand our potential. 

Whatever you do with it determines how far you go in life. So, analyzing and updating your beliefs as you grow, go a much longer way than you realize in shaping your world the way you like.

Like me in the instance presented above---deciding to believe that I had no time for our special talks, created a reality where I truly didn't. While I go work on tearing down that reality, why don't you pop into the comments to share stories of realities you've created with your beliefs?

What are some weird beliefs you’ve come across? Let's discuss in the comment section.

Fun Fact:

Your brain physically changes shape when you learn something new!