The quality of our beliefs determine the quality of our lives, in addition to our progress in, our peace of mind, and our experience of life. Becoming an expert in this area, as part of the Happiness skills, is imperative.
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NAVIGATION AND OVERVIEW OF TOPICS
DISCUSSION AND OVERVIEW OF THE BELIEFS SECTION
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"The quality of our beliefs determine the quality of our lives."
The BuddhaKahuna
"When one cannot distinguish between one's beliefs and the truth, one cannot avoid suffering nor can one be happy."
The BuddhaKahuna
"It ain't what you don't know that gets you into trouble. It's what you know for sure that just ain't so."
Mark Twain
THE QUIKSUMARY
QUIK OUTLINE
The Process:
BORN with INSTINCTS
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LIVE LIFE and, as you go FORMULATE, ACCUMULATE BELIEFS ↓
RUN LIFE ON BELIEFS, determining QUALITY OF LIFE
The Cause Effect Truth
BELIEFS CAUSE EMOTION, NOT PEOPLE OR CIRCUMSTANCES
(A vital, essential, massively important truth for you to know for sure!)
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SOURCE OF BELIEFS
PROVIDE RAW MATERIAL FOR BELIEFS: OTHERS
FORMULATION OF BELIEFS BY: OURSELVES
RESPONSIBLE FOR BELIEFS: OURSELVES (100%)
CORRECTION OF BELIEFS
MANY BELIEFS ARE INCORRECT AND UNTRUE
IDENTIFY BY - WHATEVER PRODUCES A "BAD" FEELING
EXAMINE, IMPROVE BELIEFS → IMPROVE QUALITY OF LIFE
UNRAVEL INCORRECT UNDERLYING BELIEFS
REPLACE WITH NEW BETTER, TRUE BELIEF
RELATED STEPS
SUPER BRIEF DISCUSSION
We acquire and formulate and accumulate
We are born with a few instincts and two fears.
We then are exposed to "operating rules" from our parents first and then from others, which we either reject or accept. Many of them are untrue and dysfunctional.
("Operating rules" are "if this, then this". Generally, they are 'If this occurs, feel this and do this in response.')
We also formulate operating rules on our own, to cope with what occurs and to adapt to the world. Many of these are untrue and dysfunctional.
Most of these operating rules (beliefs about how things work) are accepted or formulated by us when we have little logic and little knowledge and when we are powerless and dependent.
The choice on whether to correct them or not
If we leave those beliefs in place as they are, then they will have us operating from the viewpoint of a powerless, dependent child and many will just remain untrue and dysfunctional. (Not good!!!!)
As one becomes more knowledgeable and is able to apply reason, it makes no sense to allow those beliefs to keep running one's life.
Some beliefs will fall away naturally - and many people believe that is sufficient.
However, the signs are all around us that there are still many dysfunctional beliefs - any degree of anger or blame, any suffering (which is needless!), being overweight and/or unhealthy, any limitations we put on ourselves that are not physical limitations, watching too much tv, seeking relief, stress, etc. - all are sure signs of untrue and dysfunctional beliefs.
AND, it does little good to change a few beliefs on the top of the pile if we don't change the basic beliefs underlying them all. Correcting that is "Job 1".
No one to blame, only something that must be done (to live a good life)
There is no one to blame for one's beliefs. Beliefs, since they can be changed, are not a "part" of oneself, but just a recording we carry around with us. Accordingly, there is nothing to defend.
We are 100% responsible for our beliefs. We accepted them, even though we were often unknowledgeable, not yet logical, and were powerless and dependent at the time.
See, decide, learn, correct, be happier
Part of life is "learning". And, as part of that process, we make "mistakes" (out of not yet being knowledgeable enough!) after which we get to choose to learn from the mistakes and/or fill in our knowledge in some way... or not learn.
The champion in athletics, as well as the excellent liver-of-life, seeks frequent feedback and input and corrects often and quickly, so that they can be more effective at what they do. They do not tolerate dysfunction staying in their lives!
The minute you see a "not-good" result in your life know that that is an opportunity to correct the cause, which is either lack of knowledge and/or beliefs.
Notice that I did not include circumstances or other people in that, as a truly wise person knows that they are not the source of suffering in life.
Your rapid and complete correction of untrue beliefs will lead you to success in life, to achieving the life you love and loving the life you live.
Settle for nothing less
I personally will settle for nothing less than that. I hope you choose to join me on this journey, using what I've written and the resources I point to and using the forms provided to facilitate the process.
You may wish to "tack this down" by completing My Commitment To Correcting My Beliefs, which includes which principles you agree with (as part of what is necessary to proceed) at the time. (Note that you might not yet believe all the true principles and facts about beliefs, so you might come back later to checkmark them. However, you can still commit to the process of changing your beliefs.)
