A belief is a method that we use to define the world around us. The fact that we believe something doesn’t make it true nor does it make it false.

Small children believe in Santa Clause, the tooth fairy and that everything mommy and daddy tell them is true. They also believe that the way their family, culture and religion do things is right, good and normal. As adults, we realize that Santa Clause and the tooth fairy are harmless fantasies that bring joy into the lives of children.

We all create beliefs based on the things we see, hear and experience. From birth on we are developing our belief system and it changes as we experience new things.

For example, if I eat something and it makes me sick, I might try the food one more time to be sure that it was the food that made me sick. But, if I get sick the second time, I will create a belief that I cannot eat that food because it makes me sick. Once I adopt that belief, you will have a very hard time getting me to ever touch that food again. However, I really have no idea exactly what made me sick, just that something in the food I ate did and I don’t like getting sick so I will never willingly eat it again.

Have you ever really examined your beliefs?