Beliefs

Men often become what they believe themselves to be. If I
believe I cannot do something, it makes me incapable of
doing it. When I believe I can, I acquire the ability to do it
even if I didn’t have it in the beginning.

                                              - Mahatma Gandhi


Most of our beliefs
have their origins in childhood conditioning and our cultural background: they
were absorbed without any effort on our part. Others were acquired as we
matured and learned to interpret the world for ourselves.

A belief is a collection of thoughts that we accept as true.



Your beliefs affect everything you do:

■ Confident people believe they can be whatever they want to be and accom-
plish anything they choose. Even if their goals seem far off, they believe that
everything is eventually attainable.

■ Believing you cannot do something makes you incapable of doing it. But it is
not your actual abilities that determine the outcome, but what you believe
about them.

■ Negative beliefs are like the automatic brakes fitted to certain vehicles. Just as
you’re about to break through old barriers, on come the brakes!


Fortunately, no belief is permanently engraved on your brain.
 All beliefs are
learned, and all learning can be re-evaluated and updated.