Beliefs

Those who lack belief will not in turn be believed.
~Tao Te Ching no. 23

This quote resonates with me because beliefs are such a polarizing concept and influence your life’s experiences. The key aspect to beliefs is flexibility. Not being rigid in your beliefs allows for freedom to always reexamine your beliefs even if the likelihood of ever changing is small.

Problems with beliefs usually occur when people are so rigid with their beliefs that other viewpoints are not welcome. For example, for many years people believed that breaking the 4-minute mile was not conceivable and medical journals from around the world stated the “fact” that it was physically impossible to accomplish. However, when Roger Bannister broke the 4-minute mile for the first time, a new possibility opened up for all runners. Runners had a new belief that running the mile in under 4 minutes was now possible. Within 18 months of Bannister’s record breaking feat, over 45 runners broke the 4-minute barrier. Would they have accomplished this feat without Bannister paving the way and changing their belief?

When we examine our lives, do we set up “facts” like the medical journals did in the previous example which prevent us from reaching our potential? Are our beliefs too rigid? Is there room in our beliefs for other possibilities? Leaving the door open to other possibilities does not diminish our beliefs, but provides freedom to always explore our realities. Have a great week!

Peace,
Keith

Thank you

Thank you to everyone who has visited my new blog/website. I have received a lot of positive feedback and I appreciate your support.

This past week, I conducted a presentation reviewing the concept of "Immunity to Change" developed by Robert Kegan and Lisa Lahey. The presentation went very well and I hope to do more soon. I will add a post in the near future detailing the concept of "Immunity to Change", it is very interesting and has changed my life.

Finally, I learned an interesting visualization technique this week from a book about Tao sports (I'm trying to learn more about increase my focus during running). This visualization exercise illustrates how the body's central nervous system (the birth place of stress) is disconnected from reality. Try this: Close your eyes. Imagine a juicy, sour lemon in front of you. Now, slice a wedge from the lemon. Place the wedge in your mouth. Bit down on the lemon wedge. Feel the sour juices run through your mouth. Open your eyes. Did you pucker up or salivate? Isn't that interesting? Our bodies respond to the sour juices even if they are not real! Now just think about the impacts negative thoughts and worrying has on our body. Sometimes the greatest stress we feel comes from us and has less to do with the outside world (reality).

Have a great week, and let me know how this exercise works for you.