Bryan Dunlop - News

How we form our Beliefs

27 May 2009

Read Bryan's May article from the Business First magazine

In this second article for Business First, Bryan goes on to look at how we form the beliefs which are at the core of what makes us who we are, and how we can challenge these beliefs if they are limiting our potential.

Most people overlook the fact that our beliefs are habits – they are simply habitual patterns of thought. A lot of trainers focus on our behavioural habits unaware of the importance of the need to identify what we believe and why we believe it.

A belief is defined as a feeling of certainty or something that we hold to be true. Some people believe that if you see a magpie, this will bring you bad luck. They salute, they greet, they look out for a second one to reverse the luck to “two for joy”. If you see one magpie does that really bring you bad luck?   If you break a mirror, does that bring seven years’ bad luck? Some people believe that it is.  The question is: are they right?

Here’s the big point: almost all beliefs are without much concrete evidence.  This sounds problematic, but actually it is the consequence of the belief rather than the belief itself that matters.

Viking soldiers believed that there was a special part of heaven, called Valhalla, which was reserved for only the bravest. Who knows if Valhalla really exists? What we do know is that as a consequence of this strongly held belief, the Vikings were undoubtedly fierce – and brave – in battle.

So how can something that may or may not exist have such a huge bearing on how we behave? Because we believe it.

Our beliefs come from people, experiences, the media. The people who help us develop our beliefs tend to install theirbeliefs into us. These can be beliefs that they have never questioned and which have come from someone else. Are they necessarily right?  Do we challenge them?

Look at these two different attitudes, based simply on a belief:

Firstly, I know someone who believes that your past is no indication of your future potential.  Who knows if this is true but if he really believes it, this will surely have a bearing on the challenges he is ready to take on in the future.  On the other hand, if you believe that your future is governed by (and therefore limited by) what you achieved at school and you didn’t get or take the opportunity at school, this will certainly have a bearing on what you achieve in your future.

The consequences of these two beliefs are radically different – unless the second guy takes action.  But how often do we actually try and consciously identify our beliefs?  How often do we question them?  The answer is usually never.  Even more exciting is the fact that once we have examined our beliefs, we have the potential to change them and make a huge difference to the way we think and behave.

Our one day event “What really is (im)possible?” examines belief and gives you a chance to demonstrate to yourself that it is possible to walk barefoot across a coal bed burning at 1100?F, if you simply believe!

Finally, in 320BC, people believed that the world was flat. Plato argued that the world had to be curved. He lived near the sea and he pointed out that when ships came into view, the first thing that anyone saw was the top of the mast. As the ship got closer, people then saw the sails and when it got still closer, people were able to see the body of the ship. Plato argued that this meant the earth was curved. If the earth was flat, you would see a very small version of the whole ship which would then get bigger as it got closer.

Even in the face of this logical argument, people were not prepared to change the belief they held, it was too much for them.  Of course, as we now know Plato’s belief turned out to be right.

The next time someone tells you something is impossible, remember Plato. As long as you maintain the right beliefs, your ability to take action will remain strong.

In the next article, I’ll look at how to identify and then change your beliefs – the part of the process that could dramatically change your approach to life. 

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