Why You Should Question Your Beliefs
How our beliefs can hold us back and impact our mental health
Every life is lived within a set of beliefs. Our beliefs tell us what we think is possible for ourselves and in our lives. They guide our behavior and influence our values. According to Tony Robbins, “beliefs create the maps that guide us toward our goals and give us the power to take action.”
Part of personal growth is learning to recognize the beliefs we hold and adopt new beliefs when needed. The majority of our beliefs are handed down to and accepted by us during childhood, without much thought. We owe it to ourselves to examine what we believe and determine whether it is still accurate. And, more importantly, decide if the belief is still serving us.
Without examining our beliefs, we become victims of belief bias. Belief bias is a psychological phenomenon where we rely on prior beliefs and dismiss evidence that conflicts with them. That means our beliefs can keep us stuck and unwilling to accept new ideas about ourselves and what’s possible for our lives.
It isn’t just whether we believe in a higher power that influences our lives. Contrary, it is often the smallest and seemingly unimportant beliefs that have the greatest impact on who we become and what we do.
