What’s the difference between something you believe and something you just think about a lot?
Nothing.
Zilch. Zip. Nada. No difference.
A belief is just a thought you have thunk lots of times (to paraphrase Geneen Roth).
A belief doesn’t have to be true. You just think it is.
But beliefs are powerful things, because they are thoughts. And thoughts drive everything: how you feel, how you show up, the actions you do (or don’t) take, and the results you see.
“But what about questions?” you ask. Of course you do, because you’re clever! Questions are still thoughts, and when you repeat them, you underscore the belief that you don’t know the answer, or you’re confused, or don’t know enough yet. See. Still a belief, and one that doesn’t really serve you.
How do you stop believing something you don’t want to believe anymore? Stop thinking it. Stop thinking about it. Stop asking questions about it. Think something else. Think something that feels better and look for new evidence to support it. Choose what you want to believe. Keep thinking it.
Oh, by the way, a belief can be hidden. A hidden belief is something you have thought so many times that you don’t even think it out loud anymore. You aren’t even aware, but these hidden beliefs are what mess you up – because you’re running on autopilot. You don’t even know to question the hidden beliefs, look for new evidence and update them. Because they’re hidden. There’s a book for that.
