The Power of Belief

The Power of Your Belief

You are what you belief. What you belief makes you who you are. Your beliefs rule your life. They condition the way you think, the way you behave and the way you do things. They can put limits on what you can say, what you do and what you have.

As Henry Ford once succinctly put it, “whether you believe you can, or whether you believe you can’t, you are probably right”.

One day, Socrates was having a walk outside the city of Athens. After a short walk, he decided to have a rest. He sat on a milestone by the side of the road a few miles from the city. As he was resting, he saw a traveller coming along the road. As he approached Socrates, the following conversation followed:

Traveller: “Greetings, friend! Can you please tell me; is this the road to Athens?”

Socrates: “Greetings. Carry on straight ahead. It is quite a big city. You cannot miss it.”

Traveller: “Tell me, what are the people of Athens like?”

Socrates: “Well, tell me where you are from, and what the people there are like, and I will tell you about the people of Athens.”

Traveller: “I am from Argos. I am very proud and happy to tell you that the people of Argos are the friendliest, happiest, most generous people you could ever wish to meet.”

Socrates: “Well. And I am very happy to tell you, my friend, that the people of Athens are exactly the same.”

A few minutes later, another traveller arrived and approached Socrates and again the following conversation ensued:

Traveller: “Greetings, friend! Can you please tell me; is this the road to Athens?”

Socrates: “Greetings. Carry on straight ahead. It is quite a big city. You cannot miss it.”

Traveller: “Tell me, what are the people of Athens like?”

Socrates: “Well, tell me where you are from, and what the people there are like, and I will tell you about the people of Athens.”

Traveller: “I am from Argos. I am sad and disappointed to tell you that the people of Argos are the meanest, most miserable and least friendly people you could ever wish to meet.”

Socrates: "Well. And I am very sad and disappointed to tell you, my friend, that the people of Athens are exactly the same.”

What do you think about Socrates, the two travellers and their belief system? What do you think about your own belief system? What judgements do you pass on others based on your own belief? What conclusions do you draw when you hear one side of a story before you have the opportunity to hear the other side? What assumptions do you make about the character of a person you are meeting for the first time who does not share your view on a matter you hold very dear to your heart? Your beliefs can help you to become the best of who you want to be. They can also help to make you become the opposite.

Identify any disempowering belief you currently have. Find out where it came from. If you cannot align it with any of your core values, you must consider dumping it now.

Dumping such unwanted belief would enable you to be a light traveller with no baggage to weigh you down in your journey in life. This should give you the needed freedom to move freely in your journey that takes you toward achieving your ultimate purpose in life.