One thing I have learnt in life is not to challenge other people’s beliefs and value; instead I generally align myself with whatever they may be saying or talking about and at the same time try get my point across. Most of us will hold on very strongly and dearly to our beliefs which can be viewed as strong opinions or convictions. It’s sometimes literally impossible to disagree or dismiss another fellow(s) beliefs and values and try to impose yours on them. But yet Beliefs are merely assumptions we make up about ourselves and the world around us .If belief(s) are just assumptions we construct to organise our behaviours then what makes us hold on to them so strongly?
 Okay! So as we formulate social constructs to organise our society, so do we develop behavioural constructs to organise our behaviours. Our Belief(s) can obviously be very strong with great significance to our lives. An example here could be …“I belief to do on to others as I do upon myselfâ€! This serves as a deterrent; it simply keeps me in check and reminds me to behave appropriately at most times. I suppose you will agree with me that this belief serve a good purpose. But then you may say this it is not necessary true as there may be times I could be driven by emotions and fling this belief out of the window! So what happened here? (Any suggestions)?
 This post aims primarily to highlight the fact that belief(s )are not necessarily affirmed fixes, but simply constructs we make up and can easily be deconstructed. What I am hoping to point out here is that although belief(s) are powerful as well as useful, there are times we need to deconstruct what’s not working for us anymore. Remember they are your constructs created by you so you have the power to deconstruct them at any time.
 As we hold on to valuable belief(s) as in the example given above, so do we hold on to those that are either not serving us or no longer needed in our life(s). Belief(s)can be constructs formulated and embedded into our subconscious when we were growing up or can be picked up from our culture, society, families or peers. The crazy thing about holding on to some beliefs is that it can be so powerful and may end up becoming a reality; as our mind is very good at listening ,influencing and directing our life’s . For this purpose we want to embrace only priceless beliefs and values which will serve us!
 Our values, on the other hand, are guiding principles which keep us in check too. it’s made up different qualities. For some it could be characterized by honesty, openness, respect, upholding peace and many more. We all have values either good or bad.
 Belief (s) and values work hand in hand to help not just us but for other people around us; to provide us with  a sense of whom we are and what we stand for. But are there times we need to look deeply within ourselves to establish if our beliefs and values are still serving us. Is it time to review or change some or all of our beliefs? Are they limiting us or making us excel? The main key here on realizations of belief(s) which are not working for you is to implement change; remember we are dynamic beings all subject to change.
 Good luck and Happy Easter Holidays 
Questions
What are your belief/s and values? Are they still serving you? Are your belief/s and values fixed?
4. April 2010 at 5:41 pm
Interesting post. Gets you thinking.
I think we can all benefit from being a little more open minded and listening to others,and their beliefs. It is all so very fascinating.
I truly believe that no good deed goes unpunished, so I laugh every time I selflessly do a good deed, knowing that my kind act is oh so worth it, regardless of the punishment that will no doubt be coming my way.
5. April 2010 at 12:24 pm
This is a wonderful post this time of year. We all need to look inside of our hearts and find the love we need that empowers us to do for self and others, during hard economic times, people have a tendency to cause pain and conflict. We all need coping skills to manage our own actualization to help other, that is why your post is so meaningful.
5. April 2010 at 1:26 pm
Happy Easter to you!
Sometimes it’s easier to agree with people just to keep things civil. But sometimes other people’s beliefs collide so much with mine that I have to speak up.
Beliefs lead to actions. And if a person’s actions are getting that person into “trouble” it might be time to change his/her belief system.
5. April 2010 at 3:53 pm
Byran Katie’s “work” has helped so much in this area. She advises us to “drop the story” we tell ourselves. The more upset I am the bigger the story and when I drop it the bigger the freedom.
5. April 2010 at 4:42 pm
I love what Robert Frost said: “I have no tenets, only tentatives.” When our beliefs run counter to reality, it’s time to drop our beliefs.
6. April 2010 at 3:29 am
There are times when we need to change our beliefs and values. We should be flexible to change our beliefs and values with time, as long as we do not do harm to others and to ourselves.
6. April 2010 at 6:32 pm
This resonates with me: “Belief (s) and values work hand in hand to help not just us but for other people around us; to provide us with a sense of whom we are and what we stand for. But are there times we need to look deeply within ourselves to establish if our beliefs and values are still serving us. ”
When I was in my early thirties I uncovered some negative core beliefs and I replaced them with my own truths.
- Ideas, theories and beliefs are not necessarily truths.
- A belief is not an idea held by the mind; it is an idea that holds the mind.
- We don’t see things as they are; we see things as we are.
I recognize that change is the only constant in life, and I am able to be flexible, adaptable and to flow with its ever-changing events. That includes reassessing my beliefs and values and sometimes replacing them with others.
8. April 2010 at 1:09 am
Good article Fatima I have recently got ride of a belief that had not been serving me . I use to beliefs it’s a womans job to do just basic work , but now I have just come up with a busness Idea I belief I can make it work. Thanks for posting
9. April 2010 at 1:46 pm
Good post. You cite the golden rule “do unto others as you would have done unto you”. I suggest this be modified. Sometimes others would not be comfortable with what we would accept done onto us. The rule should read do unto others how they wish to be done unto. For example I might be okay with being told a joke about another race or religion, however the next person may be highly insulted. We need to appreciate and know what the other person desires.
9. April 2010 at 2:47 pm
Thanks for your awesome comment @Jillian.. being open minded can be fascinating and simply opens us to more learning .Thanks @Dr James for bringing in our need for coping skills ..@One of the Guy, definitely this is where we take action to facilitate change. Thanks @Tess…… Katie ‘work ‘is such a good example here . Thanks @NP love the quote . @BK, being flexible certainly helps but like you have mentioned as long as we “do not do harm to others and to ourselvesâ€.
@TimeThief.. I appreciate your contribution .. I can’t help but love the three points you raised which sits quite well and nourishes this post. In addition, our ability to “recognize that change is the only constant in life†like you have mentioned simply enhances our life..Thanks.
@Anita ..thanks for your comment and I wish you well with your business.
@Mark.. Interesting and so true “We need to appreciate and know what the other person desires†which I suppose will link to our ability to show more awareness and respects others .
11. April 2010 at 10:25 am
The whole concept of beliefs as being fixed and unchanging is a very limited way of thinking. While each of us does come to the conclusion on “the way things work”, not reevaluating on a regular basis means that we can be broadsided when something comes along that does not fit the model. Instead, it is important to apply some logic and ask ourselves why we believe what we believe. We will often find that something we though was “true” at some time in the past is more likely a a spectrum and certain other factors may not make our belief as absolute.
11. April 2010 at 12:48 pm
Thanks@Wellescent for your contribution, I particularly love the manner you have brought in the need to apply logic..
24. June 2010 at 3:23 pm
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1. July 2010 at 11:43 am
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