“Truth lives, in fact, for the most part on a credit system. Our thoughts and beliefs pass, so long as nothing challenges them, just as bank-notes pass so long as nobody refuses them.” William James
Our Beliefs form the foundation for our lives. We are either building our lives on sinking sand or on solid rock.
We build our whole lives on what we believe, even if we never stop to think about, challenge or chose our beliefs.
“I know this now. Every man gives his life for what he believes.
Every woman gives her life for what she believes.
Sometimes people believe in little or nothing, nevertheless they give up their lives to that little or nothing.
One life is all we have and we live it as we believe in living it and then it’s gone.
But to surrender what you are, and live without belief-
that’s more terrible than dying- more terrible than dying young.”
Joan of Arc in the play, “Joan of Lorraine” by Maxwell Anderson
Take a moment to review your answers to questions 90. and 91. (see 3/4/16 post) and consolidate the beliefs you hold in each area or your life into a guiding Statement of Belief for each of the following areas of your life. A guiding statement that tells you what is important and what you are ultimately aiming for in each area of your life.
94.) Use a separate piece of paper for each Life Area to create your guiding Statement of Belief for each of the following areas-
A. General Statement of Belief about Life as a whole-(Time, Contribution, Meaning, Happiness, Fulfillment, Community, etc.)
B. Statement of Belief about your Physical Life-
C. Statement of Belief about your Vocational Life-
D. Statement of Belief about your Financial life-
E. Statement of Belief about your Mental/Emotional Life-
F. Statement of Belief about your Relational Life-
G. Statement of Belief about your Spiritual Life-
H. Statement of Belief about your Purposeful Life-
In a few days, we will look at determining the “One Thing” that you value above all things, the “One Thing” you will serve, depend on, live for and die for. The “One Thing” that identifies the essence of who you are and what you are about during your time on earth.
95.) To validate these Statements of Belief ask yourself why these beliefs are true- challenge them. Are any of your Statements in conflict with other Statements? Can you successfully live in accordance with the Statement of Belief in one area of your life without negatively impacting another area of your life?
Consider what you really believe to be true (based on your current actions) by asking yourself the following two questions about each of the above Life Area Statements of Belief-
96.) What words, thoughts and actions are in conflict with what you believe to be true? Why?
What undermining, hidden beliefs are causing you to act contrary to what you believe?
(Example- You BELIEVE in saving/investing, but you are in debt. Why?)
97.) What words, thoughts and actions are you committed to that would best support and align with what you believe to be true?
“We are incredibly heedless in the formation of our beliefs, but find ourselves filled with an illicit passion for them when anyone proposed to rob us of their companionship.” James Harvey Robinson
