WHY IT IS IMPORTANT TO EXAMINE OUR BELIEFS
“Why do you believe in that? You should believe in this instead.”
“Why do you live your life that way? How about living your life this way instead?”
“Why are you voting for that person? Consider voting for this person instead.”
“Why do you attend that church? You are safer in our church.”
“Do you believe in God? You should at least believe in God.”
Based on personal encounters, these are some commonly asked questions and unsolicited opinions one can also encounter as reactions to preferences and differences in beliefs.
Why is this happening?
They are asked based on different intentions and projections. Some would ask others to offer alternative sources of help and tools for self-improvement based on a belief that theirs is only the best.
Others would ask these questions as a sign or a gauge to continue or discontinue the relationship with one another.
A few would use these questions to consciously and unconsciously shut someone up, proselytize, impose on others, and even instill fear and show superiority over others.
A handful of them ask out of innocence.
Why is it important to examine our beliefs, then?
Beliefs are how we make sense of the unknown through our consciousness. They are the repetitive thoughts we keep focusing on and thinking about that we deem true. They affect the way we conduct ourselves in our daily lives. There are many beliefs humanity has created, influenced by love and some by fear. One of the most dangerous ones is the “separation beliefs” based on race, religion, politics, etc. Observe the current condition of the world for one to realize.
The current condition of our world is the physical manifestation of our beliefs called experiences through our thoughts, words, and deeds, otherwise known as the tools of creation, processed and managed by the laws of attraction and vibration.
Creation is the game of the Universe, which makes one a creator. Everyone creates his reality or his experiences if one realizes and everyone sees the world according to his lens. Every lesson and wisdom revealed and discovered has several interpretations based on many levels of understanding and perceptions.
Everyone changes at different levels and times, and we sometimes forget to accept this process that resistance happens through mudslinging, bickering, broken relationships, and wars. We also forget that the same experiences happen until the message is understood, a lesson and wisdom is learned and gained, or until one changes his mindset. It is a cycle of life if one realizes it again.
We live in a world of contrast where opposites are present for us to realize we have choices beneficial for growth. Some call this the earth school. We go through processes of learning and unlearning, choosing, deciding, and discovering and rediscovering beliefs that contribute to our evolution. As we create our experiences, the truth unfolds and changes. We meet a newer and better version of ourselves every time, which can also be known as — the remembrance of our true nature.
Nothing is static. Everyone and everything changes and grows as beliefs. The beauty of this process is it reveals those who are to stay in our journey and those who are not left and replaced. These are also known as the coming and going of people in our lives. Nothing is personal. Life is in constant rhythms and ebb and flow.
How does one examine beliefs?
1. Waste not your time on trivial matters of superiority and inferiority in support of the whims of the ego and being consciously or unconsciously obsessed with fixing others to conform to personal standards and beliefs.
2. Continue working and focusing on yourself and your mindset. Always examine one’s intention in words and actions based on the chosen belief and ask oneself, is it influenced by love or fear?
3. Allow oneself to realize that no one is walking on the same path and journey back to home, to love, to oneness, and the God of his beliefs.
4. Allow oneself to observe, get curious, and question one’s beliefs, particularly those causing further separation and self-righteousness.
5. Allow oneself to realize that arguments start with wanting others to think, believe, behave, feel, speak, and act like us, and this is a resistance to accepting and respecting each other for who and what we are.
6. Remind oneself that our only difference arises from the judgments we pass on to each other from our questionable thoughts and the made-up stories we add to them.
7. Make it a habit to ask oneself, are my beliefs working in my favor, benefiting people, or judging them instead?
8. Allow oneself to see through everyone as teachers who teach and remind us about respect, acceptance, and living harmoniously despite differences. Others can also inspire and show us another path, way, and a new perspective to see the world. No one is right and better than the other because of one’s philosophies.
9. Practice asking oneself this question: “What will love do and say now?” when challenged by another person’s belief. Realize that many messengers are sent to everyone to provoke, push, nudge, remind, and inspire us. They are called family, friends, relatives, co-workers, acquaintances, etc.
10. Allow everyone and everything to change, create, and evolve in their way. Accept the fact that some people are happy and satisfied with their set of beliefs.
As a single thought affects our behavior, attitude, and perception, let these questions turn our life around and liberate us from imposing on others, making assumptions and judgments about someone, something, and even yourself:
1. What am I thinking about?
2. What kind of thoughts have I been focusing on?
3. What thoughts have I believed in?
4. What made me believe these thoughts?
5. Are these thoughts true for sure?
6. Can I know for sure if these thoughts are true?
7. How are these thoughts true?
8. How can I prove these thoughts to be true?
9. Do I know what others are thinking about?
10. How can I be sure what others are thinking about?
11. How can I prove others’ thoughts to be true?
12. What are my proofs for these thoughts to be true?
13. What stories have I been concocting and adding to these thoughts?
14. What narratives have I been playing in my mind?
15. How do I react when I think of my chosen thoughts?
16. What choices of words am I saying influenced by my chosen thoughts?
17. What actions am I displaying influenced by my chosen thoughts?
18. Who am I without these thoughts and stories?
19. What is taking place without these thoughts and stories?
20. Where am I while consumed by my thoughts?
21. What if my beliefs are wrong?
Learn more here:
