How often do you challenge your thoughts and what you believe to be true?
When we are growing up, we have people around us who challenge our way of thinking, they encourage us to see things from a different perspective, and to expand our way of thinking to explore the possibilities.
We are curious, we want to learn, we want to hear stories and experiences and we listen with an open mind, without preconceived ideas or beliefs to shape our perception.
As we get older, we form our own opinions, we become more confident in the beliefs that we hold, and we start to live our own experiences.
We become less intrigued or curious as our ego tells us that we already know, that we already have an opinion or belief, that we are already informed, and so we delete, distort or generalise what we see, hear and experience, to fit the narrative of beliefs that we already hold in our mind.
We surround ourselves with people who are like us, who think like us, who hold opinions like us.
..and so the narrative gets stronger.
In our internal conversations, we repeat the same pattern. Someone tells us something about us, (or often we tell our self something) and then we repeat it, we distort, delete and generalise and strengthen that belief.
Even when it limits us and holds us back.
Even when it closes our mind and prevents us from challenging our own way of thinking and an opportunity to learn and grow.
How often do you consciously challenge your thoughts?
How often do you look for a different perception or alternative belief?
When do you spend time with people who hold different beliefs, thoughts and narratives to your own and be curious and open-minded about what they have to share based on their experiences?
Are you curious to learn or does judgement and your ego, the need to be right, the need to know more or know better, take over?
A belief is simply that, something a person believes to be true. It is not a fact or evidence-based.
Abraham Lincoln is quoted to have said:
“I don't like that man. I must get to know him better.”
Whilst he was referring to others, you could apply this to your relationship with yourself.
If this is something that you would like support with why not check out how Phoenix Coaching may be able to support you HERE.
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