What actually is a belief?
A belief is simply a thought we have over and over and deem to be true.
It might be your own belief you have created, or maybe you have adopted them you’re your family, community, or even society unconsciously over time.
A belief started as a thought… and then you found some proof as to why it could be true and then chose to trust it.
Some examples could be;
Your calculated BMI is relevant to your health.
You are overweight if you are above X kg.
Breakfast is the most important meal of the day.
Playing with your kids makes you a good parent.
Working hard is the only way to get ahead.
Money is hard to come by.
Family is the most important part of your life.
Friendships are forever.
A lot of beliefs and repetitive thoughts serve our life. When you have a wonderful family and all get along and there is no tension or concern, thinking that family is the most important thing in the world is good. On the other hand, if you do not like or are in constant stress over your family and being around them is causing you a lot of grief, then this thought will keep you in this state of stress, worry, and anxiety and have you showing up always trying to “fix” others. Sometimes it is OK to think: ‘Just because they are family, does not mean I have to be in or part of their lives if it causes me stress.’ This is a choice we get to make.
I have lived this. I know first-hand the pain of thinking sisters should always be close and connected. It’s just not always true. As soon as I figured this out and decided to take care of myself and choose a new belief, my life got better.
So if we believe that losing weight is hard and that it is impossible for you, your brain will get to work, presenting you with all the reasons why you are right. (Our brain becomes hyper-focused on what we give it!) It will highlight all the food you will have to give up. It will make everything seem so much more satisfying than they really are. All of a sudden you want chocolate every night rather than just on Friday. It will give you a huge list of reasons why this is a bad idea.
Our brain is trying to keep us safe and that means keeping us in comfort.
But from comfort, nothing grows. Not our self-esteem, our self-discipline, or our ability to manage our emotions and actions.
But if you choose to believe that it is possible, the same will be true. The brain will go to work and find all the reasons why it is so. So why not give that a test, and see how your life changes?
What will unfold? What light and peace will you bring into your day-to-day existence?
And one last thought. Just because you have never done something before or have never believed in yourself enough to achieve a goal and follow-through does not mean it can’t happen.
We get to choose our life. Everything we have in our life alread came from a thought. Nothing in our life is by chance. Some things are out of our control, but a lot of what we want is!