02.07 – Transforming False Beliefs – Part 2

This business of taking on the beliefs and habits of others can be very tricky. Of course we each need to learn some things… perhaps many things… from others. But most of us are NOT trained how to properly evaluate knowledge from others, and how to truly make it our own after we verify it for ourselves.

What usually happens is that other people’s beliefs become your beliefs, and they are integrated into you… they become a major part of your self-identity. When beliefs become part of you, part of your self-identity, you will find yourself defending those beliefs when challenged. In fact, what you are actually doing is defending someone else’s beliefs that you passively took on.

Your treasured beliefs are a huge part of your ego sense of self-identity, a sense of self-identity which you secretly cherish and treasure above all else… though you may have never thought of it that way.

Many of the beliefs you hold are false, but you do not know that, because deep-seated beliefs are very difficult to objectively see, to challenge, to examine, and to eliminate. Rather than openly considering and evaluating new ideas and concepts, most people automatically defend their current belief system… because defending your beliefs is defending your ‘ego-self’… your self-identity. You treasure your self-identity, so you protect it by defending it… rather than remaining open to new, and better information.

If you are beginning to see what I am saying – that nearly everything you believe about yourself and the world around you are actually beliefs you have taken on from others – it can be a shocking realization. But don’t worry… we’ve all done it countless times throughout our lives. I am as guilty as anyone. Most people have made it a habit to automatically believe so-called ‘authorities’ without questioning them, or thinking it through for themselves. And nearly all of those people continue to operate that way, often throughout their whole lives. They are stuck… afraid to think for themselves.