AimHi Publishing - Evaluating Beliefs

Evaluating Beliefs

Beliefs create certainty about our mental map of life. They validate our experiences and give us emotional and mental security in an ever changing world. Often, however, our beliefs can be generalizations about the past and they may not necessarily be true in the present time. Such beliefs can dis-empower us in the present and create mental and emotional anguish when the world outside of ourselves does not conform to the belief. Some beliefs may indeed be simply untrue for us today and we might benefit from re-evaluating or even changing them into more appropriate and supportive empowering ones. To do this simply select a belief that you have about your life, your abilities, skills, desires, hopes or aspirations; one that you find dis-empowering in some way. Consider the following:

1. What experiences, memories, feelings or thoughts do you have (just like the roots on the tree) that hold that belief in place?
2. Now select just one of these factors (a root).
3. Ask yourself, "is it really true or does it just feel true?" What evidence do you have to indicate that this belief is true?
4. Now step outside of your own belief system for a moment and ask yourself; "What evidence is there outside of me in the world to show that my belief might not always hold true? Is there a person or group of people who hold the opposite belief to mine? What evidence might they have that validates their belief? Why is it that they have different experiences than me?"

Now consider this: (next page)