Imagine standing in front of a mirror. When you smile, the mirror smiles back at you. It doesn't have an opinion, it doesn't decide whether to reflect a frown or a smile—it simply reflects what you are giving it. If you want to change the reflection, you don’t try to adjust the image in the mirror—imagine going up to the mirror and trying to physically force a frown into a smile! You’d look ridiculous. Instead, you simply smile. Reality works in exactly the same way.
How Beliefs Shape Reality
Our belief systems shape our reality. What you believe, you will see. If you believe you are unworthy, life will offer you endless proof that you're right. You'll notice every setback, every mistake, and every disapproving look as confirmation. On the other hand, if you believe you are smart, capable, and deserving, you'll begin to see opportunities, successes, and people who uplift you. The world reflects back what you hold inside.
The Power of Focus
Here’s a little exercise to demonstrate this: Look around you and find five blue items in the room. Now without looking at the room again, try to name five red items from the room. It’s difficult, right? That’s because you weren’t paying attention to the red things; your focus was on blue. The same thing happens in life. When you believe something to be true, your focus naturally shifts to finding evidence that supports that belief. If you believe people are generally rude, you'll notice every time someone cuts you off or ignores you. But if you believe people are kind, you'll see every smile, every door held open, and every small act of generosity. It’s all about what you’re tuned into.
The Nature of Beliefs
Let this sink in: no belief inherently holds any truth until you decide to believe in it. This might be hard to wrap your head around, but that's exactly how it is. Beliefs only become true for you when you choose to believe them. Think about sports fans—each side is convinced the referee is biased against them. Or imagine two people discussing a political issue at a family gathering—one sees it as common sense, while the other sees it as completely misguided. Both are absolutely convinced they're right, and neither can see how the other could think differently. The same situation, but drastically different interpretations. The truth is entirely dependent on the belief. Your beliefs shape what you experience, but they’re not fundamentally true until you make them so. This realization is freeing because it means you’re not bound by any belief that doesn’t serve you.
Choosing Beliefs That Serve You
Since all beliefs are created equal, you are literally free to choose whichever serves you best. You can drop the beliefs that hold you back, just like taking off a heavy backpack you no longer need. There is no belief that is inherently truer than another. The only reason a belief feels true is because you’ve convinced yourself that it is, and you’ve gathered evidence for it over time. But remember, the evidence pilled up because you held that belief in the first place—just like finding blue items because you decided to look for blue.
The Power You Have
Changing your beliefs is simpler than you might think. The beauty of it is that you have the power to shape your own reality, starting from within. Imagine realizing that the filters you see the world through are entirely yours to control. You can adjust them to create a reality that supports and uplifts you. Once you take control, your whole experience changes for the better.
You have the freedom to choose the beliefs that empower you, that make your world better. And life will reflect that back to you, just like a mirror that’s forced to smile when you do. This isn’t just a metaphor—it’s truly how reality works (if you choose to believe it).
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