The Power of Beliefs
by Rebecca Carswell

After a talk I gave, someone in the audience came up to me and said, "You have a great memory. I could never remember all that stuff." She could never remember all that stuff because she believes that she could never remember all that stuff!

When we believe something about ourselves - or other people or the world - very strongly, it can become a "fact" to us. It's not a fact, it's just a belief, but because we subscribe to the belief so strongly, we become convinced that it is a fact. The "fact" is this: there are very few facts. Gravity and electromagnetism are examples of facts. Not many people would argue with those facts. But mostly what we think are facts...are just beliefs. And the good news is that you can change beliefs.

Beliefs originate from things our parents, teachers or peers told or taught us about ourselves - or others or the world - and from our own experiences. If we are told something enough times, we begin to believe it. And once we believe something strongly enough, it becomes a "fact" in our mind. And then our mind continues to play it over and over, convincing us that it is indeed a fact.

Have you ever been told any of these things? Do you believe any of these things?

"You're stupid."
"People can't be trusted."
"You need money to make money."
"You're not smart enough to do that."
"The world is a dangerous place."

Or do you believe these things?

"You can do anything you put your mind to."
"People are good and trustworthy."
"You're deserving and worthy."
"Life is an adventure."

Your experience of life depends largely on what your beliefs are. A belief is just a belief - a thought we think over and over - it's not necessarily the truth. However, life becomes a more pleasant experience when we decide to have supporting, empowering beliefs instead of negative, limiting beliefs. And the choice is ours...in every situation.

We also form beliefs based on experiences - things that have happened to us in life. And if a similar type of event has happened to us more than once, those events can strengthen our belief, reinforcing the "factual" nature of it.

I worked with a man who believed that life was hard and unfair. He had a difficult childhood filled with poverty, abuse, and neglect. He was told negative and limiting things by his mother and he had experiences which became the foundation for his belief that "life is hard and unfair." Because his belief - that life is hard and unfair - was a "fact" to him, he would interpret everything in his life to support this fact. We've heard the phrase "seeing life through rose-colored glasses." My client would see and experience everything that happened to him through his "life is hard and unfair" colored glasses. Seeing life this way continued to support his belief - and it became a vicious cycle! He was seeing life through his own "belief glasses." We all do. What we need to realize is that we are doing this - and that we don't have to.

When I broke my back from my skydiving injury, I was told many negative and limiting things by a lot of different doctors. I was told I would never be the same, that I would always have pain and my back would be weak. I was told I should never jog again. One doctor actually told me that I should never open a window, or sweep and vacuum the floor again because of the stress it would put on my back! (Initially I thought, 'Finally, something positive has come out of this experience - no more sweeping and vacuuming!' But the truth is that I don't want to have limits placed on what I can or cannot do - even if it does involve cleaning the house!) The more I was being told these things by doctors, the more I believed them and, consequently, the more it became "factual" to me. As it became more and more factual, my life was going down that road - I had more pain, I felt weaker; I couldn't do everything I used to do - I was beginning to resign myself to a difficult life.

I began to see the part I was playing in this experience. The doctors beliefs did not have to be my beliefs. The doctors were giving me information based on their belief systems and their experiences. (Don't misunderstand me here - I have respect for everyone's profession, including doctors. This does not have as much to do with the doctors and what they told me, as it has to do with my beliefs.)

Through changing my beliefs (it takes some work, but you can do it!) none of what I was told by doctors applies to me any longer. I am actually stronger - physically and mentally - than before my injury. I am happier and healthier than I have ever been in my life, and I still love to jog. AND...I open windows, sweep, and vacuum whenever I want!

Become aware of your own beliefs. What are your beliefs regarding aging? Money? Your ability to heal yourself? Your memory? Are any of these beliefs negative or limiting? Do you ever say the following things to yourself or out loud to others about yourself?

"I'm terrible with names."
"I have an awful memory."
"I'll never be able to lose weight... quit smoking... get that promotion... find a mate... get out of debt..."

There is a lot of power in the thoughts we think about ourselves, and in the words we say about ourselves - mainly because we think they are facts. But they're not. They are beliefs. And if they limit you in any way...you can change them.

The client I mentioned who believed that life is hard and unfair, now experiences life in a completely different way. By changing his beliefs, he now sees life as an adventure from which to learn and grow. He sees obstacles as opportunities. Rather than blame or complain, he learns from his experiences and moves on, stronger and wiser. He is happier, healthier, and more empowered...because he changed his beliefs.

"What we can or cannot do, what we consider possible
or impossible, is rarely a function of our true capability.
It is more likely a function of our beliefs about who we are."
- Tony Robbins, author, speaker