clock   Time to Confront Our Beliefs

Throughout life we’re taught to listen, obey, conform, to not cause trouble, to keep quiet.  We innocently and ignorantly trust that those individuals in positions of power are telling the truth.  As children we believe what our parents, teachers, preachers and public leaders say.  Then later in life we face the choice of conforming to the systems of thoughts that we were taught, or confronting those mindsets to assess their validity.  

Confronting our beliefs is never easy.

As I watched the presidential debate last night I appreciated that to me, the candidates were, for the most part respectful. They shared where their plans differed; beliefs shaped by their own interpretation of truth and facts. They stated the facts as they came to see them.  And these supposed facts, as has been through out history, are debatable, not absolutes.

Having parties, Republican and Democrat, or Independent, shapes conformity.  People generalize that the Republicans are for the rich and democrats are for the poor, and Independents meet somewhere in the middle.  And this system of thought works to keep peace among groups of people.  It helps people to generalize, belong, and make conclusions more easily by summarizing information. However it also shapes problematic thinking processes.  

Many people assume what they think is an absolute truth is based on all the facts.  And when you “think” you have all the facts, and “think” what you believe is completely and undoubtedly true, you get into trouble.  You shut your mind to receiving any more information that could expand your understanding.  In this boxed in system of labeling, people surrender their own insight, neglect intuition, and stop questioning.  Labels blind people, and bind people to tradition. They decide to do something simply because they want to be acknowledged as a part of a specific group.

During the Holocaust, many people believed Hitler’s ways were worthy. They listened to what he believed as true, that certain people were a detriment to a prospering society. They took those twisted truths and created a belief that these people were useless. In turn it was acceptable to brutally murder people to create their ideal world.  Hitler’s truth was that the chronically or mentally ill, the Jewish people, and the dependant elderly were a critical problem and needed to be eliminated.  Humanity under Hitler’s “truths” lost the truth that all people matter.  Now both truths can be argued, however when we face the facts, we must ask ourself, ‘What if I was on the other side, what would I want others to do? “

As a mind coach I teach people that we have a habit in our thinking processes that defaults to what we were taught.  Our mental programming will use any fear or “pounded into your head fact” as evidence as to why you should not change, or believe something else, try a new approach, or think a new thought. If you want to live in a cocoon and never change anything in your life, then your inner critic or habitual programming will be happy — but you won’t be. Remember this: Our mental programming is NOT looking for solutions. It’s looking for ways to keep you stuck where you are.

That’s what happened to the governor of New York in 1829, Martin van Buren. He wrote a letter to the President of the United States, saying, “The canal system of this country is being threatened by the spread of a new form of transportation known as ‘railroads’ … As you may well know, railroad carriages are pulled at the enormous speed of 15 miles per hour by engines, which, in addition to endangering life and limb of passengers, roar and snort their way through the countryside. The Almighty certainly never intended that people should travel at such breakneck speed.”

Most people I know do not listen to presidential debates to decide who to vote for; they listen to prove why their “label” is the best choice. Voting for people in office is certainly challenging, and admittedly it requires an investment of time to listen and learn about what is going on in our country.  I for one have often brushed off my responsibility to research candidates thoroughly. Yet fortunately, prompted by those I respect, I listened to the debate.  And in truth I was full of respect for our presidential candidates by the vast amounts of information they need to process, remember, and analyze. There are many pros and con’s to take into consideration.

As you’re making your decision to vote for your candidate this year, I encourage you to ask “How true is that? Do I have all the facts?” I encourage you to put yourself in the other side’s shoes, and walk a mile or 1,000 to see what it might be like, if you even can.  Then decide. It’s better to decide something, than nothing. Do your part.  Your voice matters.

Then and only then, will we have a country that is for the people, led by the people, not labels.

 

This article was written by Lori Bestler-Strategic Mind Coach and Award Winning Motivational Speaker with MindScapes Unlimited.

Lori Bestler, know as America’s Positive Thinking and Mind Mastery Expert specializes in working with stressed out entrepreneurs and business professionals with busy minds. She teaches people the mechanics of the mindset that enables them to overcome barriers in beliefs and behavior for unlimited success and well-being. Through her Strategic Mind Coaching program and speaking engagements, Lori has helped thousands of individuals live the life they desire most. Ms. Bestler runs a private practice in Lino Lakes assisting clients in Minneapolis, St. Paul and surrounding Twin Cities Metropolitan Areas. For a no cost consultation contact Lori at www.mindscapesunlimited.com.

©2012 MindScapes UnLimited www.mindscapesunlimited.com 651-260-4540