Whether we realize it or not, our beliefs have a great impact on directing and influencing our lives. Research shows that we subconsciously collect data from our experiences which forms into emotional memories. These emotions amplify in our brain to create feelings, which transform thoughts, and form beliefs to help us make sense of our experiences. Over time we identify patterns. These emotional memories create an unconscious lens through which we view our world.
We form beliefs around all types of things such as food, relationships, politics, religion, etc. Sometimes our beliefs can interfere with our ability to grow and learn. Through relationships with others we can see our beliefs from various angles, allowing us to re-examine and re-evaluate our opinions and feelings.
When we change our thoughts, we change the way we are affected by them, and can create more positive experiences. By being selective of what situations we put ourselves in, we can reduce unwanted emotions and thought patterns.
Whatever we focus our attention on and invest our energy into has a great impact on what we experience. The environment you surround yourself with can greatly alter the information that you consume, the attitude that you take, and the beliefs that you form.
Suggestions:
- Be selective of the people that you spend most of your time with. Increase the time you spend with those that inspire you to be your best self and lift you up. Decrease the time you spend around people that bring you down or reinforce negative behaviors.
- Be selective of what you focus on. Think about the outcome you want, the current "gap" between reality and your ideal goal, and how you can get there. Review progress often and refine your approach. Striving for a goal is what Frankl believed was the greatest "meaning of life". :) When you notice yourself focusing on worry or negativity, redirect your attention.
- Be selective of the information that you consume. It can be very easy to believe what we hear, even when it's not true. The best of us can start to believe false information when we hear it repeatedly. We are living in a time when "fake news" is a common phrase and many people aren't even aware of it when they see it. Be critical about what you read and/or listen to. Find unbiased sources that highly vet information before they publish it. Below is a picture that was created by Nicholas Gwynne based on the methodology linked below.
Click on the picture to enlarge
References:
- Feeling is Believing - Psychology Today
- 5 Ways to Get Your Unwanted Emotions Under Control - Psychology Today
- Methodology behind checking media bias and level of factual reporting
No comments:
Post a Comment