What is a belief? Where do our beliefs come from?
By definition, according to my Google query, a belief is “an acceptance that a statement is true or that something exists.“
If we take a closer look at this definition, a belief seems to be something that we allow to live within our personal operating system because we mentally accept it. After all how does a belief become a belief? Are we born with beliefs or are beliefs given to us?
Why is it that we believe in things that others don’t?
In my opinion, beliefs are derived by so many environmental conditions from birth and accumulate as you grow up. The “code” of your belief is embedded in so many factors such as family traditions, rituals, parental figures, friends and individuals you associate with. Beliefs are also derived by informational resources – for example – books, magazines, radio, podcasts, and blogs (thank you).
The biggest area that I feel we need to be concerned about, to understand how a belief is created, is the point where information received becomes belief – and how we can prevent negative beliefs from being accepted within our personal operating system.
By negative belief – I am talking about those things that we strongly believe that triggers some mechanism in our brain to defend. Sadly, the defense of these beliefs lead us to pick up a gun, knife – any weapon of choice – even scream off the top of our lungs – to protect and uphold the belief.
What we are blind to, from the action that we are defending these negative beliefs, is that in-turn we are doing more harm than good – not just to others – but ourselves.
Is the fight for negative beliefs even worth the energy? Furthermore, how do we even know a belief is negative or positive? I mean – if our mind tells us to defend what others see as negative beliefs such as those we fight for in honor of country, religion, government, etc. – how is that we can over come this?
It’s this very fork in the “belief system road” that is the reason for why we brew such negativity within us. I mean if we believed in the good of all things and the good in all – won’t we just take good action since we have contained within us positive beliefs?
The shift from negative belief to being indifferent is the probably the only way to overcome our negative belief system. Now, I am not saying to be indifferent to all information and believe in nothing. I am also not saying not to believe in your country, rights, religion, or people.
What I am asking is if there is a way to defend those things you strongly believe while still believing it – without fighting or killing someone over it. Meaning – to contain the belief – but not show it by doing harm to others. Instead performing such actions as biting our tongue, not lifting a weapon, or not screaming at others.
The issue is not the inability to recognize negatives beliefs – but the ability to recognize the effect words, thoughts, or actions will have toward the party you are targeting your negative beliefs. What we are blind to is recognizing how others will react to our negative beliefs. It’s impossible to reconcile if you have negatives beliefs toward others. It’s impossible to forgive if you have negative beliefs toward others.
So, what will it take to make your negative belief go away? Let’s try an experiment – what if for one day you mentally decide you will be indifferent to your negative beliefs. Throughout the day I want you show lack of concern about any negative belief – this could be any negative thought you have toward someone – just ignore it. Just say inside your head “whatever” to that thought.
So, if you believe a particular class of people with a particular skin color is bad – show no concern, just ignore it.
If you belief a particular party person is bad because he or she cut in your driving lane – show no concern, just ignore it.
If you believe a group representing an idea is nonsense – show no concern, just ignore it.
If you hate your partner because they broke up with you – show no concern, just ignore it.
Look, this exercise is going to be the most difficult one to perform as most negative beliefs are directed toward people – our bond with humanity – as it is questioning those things that your mind is trained to accept based on association. To re-program yourself will be the most difficult endeavor in your life – as you are becoming indifferent to all negative beliefs, thoughts, and ideas toward others.
Indifference is the way you accept things. If you are not concerned or non-opinionated, any negative belief that comes in your way will be rejected by your personal operating system over time. The most difficult position is fighting for what you “believe” to be true when it is not even close to the truth. I mean who is right when two people are fighting for what is true? This only tells me that what we think is relative truth, not the absolute truth.
Relative truth involves the principle of belief and “fighting” for what we “believe” with the result of potentially creating tensions between one or more parties since we need to convince others we are right. The truth this no one wins by fighting when harm is done. Negative beliefs also hold us back from progress – toward making peace with ourselves.
Absolute truth uses principles of indifference and involves building consensus to potential ideas through agreement until there is a win-win with both parties. The result of consensus is peace and creation of a congenial environment within yourself, and toward others.
You can be hot-headed regarding what you really believe, but these beliefs are intrinsic to you, without considering others. To operate in this word, you must have beliefs that are intrinsic to you AND consider others. Try it and you may be amazed how your world changes.