More on Beliefs

Can we change our beliefs without betraying ourselves? For the last few weeks, in these posts from Lou Tice at the Winners Circle, I’ve been including a few of Lou’s posts about the beliefs we hold about ourselves. This one continues that series.

If you really believe something to be true, why in the world would you want to change that belief?

When we talk about the power of beliefs in our seminars, we are sometimes asked the following question: “If I really believe something is true, how can I deliberately change that belief without betraying myself?”

This is an important question, and my answer would go something like this: “Belief systems are no more fixed and unchangeable than the length of your hair or the quality of your relationship with another person.”

Now, all of us have core beliefs that are so fundamental we might even die for them. Our ideas about family and God and patriotism may be sacred to us, but most of our lives are governed by beliefs about ourselves or success or happiness that we have unconsciously picked up over the years.

If they work for you, if they empower you and make you a better person, leave them alone! But if they are not working very well, if they cause you to get in your own way, you can change them. However, you are the one to make the choice; it is your accountability, and you must weigh the outcomes.

It is important to have beliefs that will support the outcomes you want. Read biographies of successful people you admire. How do your beliefs compare to theirs? If theirs seem more effective, why not make them your own?

Lou Tice
The Pacific Institute

In this post Lou Tice has answered the question that’s been niggling away at me since I started with this series of posts about our own beliefs about ourselves; without me actually being able to formulate it as a question. I realized that was what was bothering me as soon as I read Lou’s opening questions — strange how it works like that sometimes.

With that concern addressed, I wonder how much more I might be able to benefit from what Lou has been saying about the ways our beliefs about ourselves can affect so much in our lives. I quite enjoy reading biographies, but have never considered using them in the way Lou describes. I think, to get the best from this whole idea, I need to sit down and re-evaluate just what my beliefs about myself are, and, if possible, where they come from. Maybe then I’ll be able to move forwards with all this.

Another thought-provoking post from Lou Tice at the Winners Circle. If you think you might benefit from more, do please consider subscribing to the daily emails yourself; it doesn’t cost anything.