OBSERVATIONS OF A FOOL: THE ORIGIN OF BELIEFS

The powerful forces of soul are often inconvenient, they know no calendar, time or season and will pull us into deep inner oceans of dark, dark water where illusions are washed away. The soul has no regard for jobs, families, goals and personal agenda's... it has only one purpose: to bring us to the truth of ourselves.

WHY INVESTIGATE WHAT WE BELIEVE?

I believe we are on the threshold of a New Era, a time in which humanity will rise in consciousness and self understanding, a time in which we will see an end of war, an end to poverty, an end of ignorance, an end of dominions and empires, an end to fears that have driven us from the very beginning, an end of ignorance. There are two keys that will open the door to this New Era, they are a rise in consciousness and an understanding of the origin and power of beliefs.

It takes a great deal of courage for one to investigate his or her own beliefs, to determine their veracity or falseness. I commend you if you are one for whom the truth of things is more important than living in the bliss of ignorance. Let's begin right there: why is it so difficult to change one's beliefs?

It's more than just cognitive dissonance that makes us resistant to adopting new beliefs, especially if they contradict beliefs we consider to be absolutely true. Basically cognitive dissonance is a brain freeze. The mind goes into a state of near-refusal to believe something that goes contrary to ones established beliefs. A person becomes quite uncomfortable, even resistant, when confronted with two contradictory beliefs or sets of information. This is why it is nearly impossible for you or I to confront another person with new information that might disrupt their lives, and see them actually "change their minds". Conversely, you and I are probably extremely resistant to changing our minds ourselves!

We find one of the keys to our resistance to change in the phrase, "...change their minds." When one changes a belief one actually does change ones mind. How so? We know (or believe) that everything is energy. Even words and thoughts. Even dreams and visions and revelations. It's all energy. And all these leave a literal physical imprint on the mind. A recording of sorts. Beliefs are not just ideas, something separate from us, they become part of us. And most of us have an extreme resistance to changing who we are. Why? because unconsciously we consider it a threat. Yes? It seems so easy, but it is this simplicity that has eluded us. Why? Simply because this challenges established cultural beliefs. It's new, and unfamiliar, and no one in authority told us to believe it. Crazy, yes?

Here is another reason we experience cognitive dissonance: Let's say I belong to a particular political party or religion (the key phrase being: I belong to). That party or those people who share my beliefs become my tribe, my friends, my social network and in a very real way, my life. One of our fundamental survival instincts is to belong to a tribe, community, clan or nation. For most of history, to belong, meant security, protection, family, happiness. To be cast out, excommunicated, expelled, or rejected meant, quite literally, death. Even today, even here on Steemit one of our fundamental behaviors is to find community, we seek those like ourselves. It is a primary survival instinct. Indeed, have we not been told that to make it here on Steemit one must be in a community? Back to my example...I belong to a particular political party, that has become my tribe. If another person comes along and threatens my beliefs regarding my politics it becomes a direct attack on my ability to survive. It represents an attack on my tribe. My old survival instinct kicks in and I go to war. I will defend my beliefs because they are tribal beliefs and to threaten my tribe is to threaten my life. Do you see? Do you understand why when ones religion or political party is threatened that person will fight back?

But there is another dimension to this tribal connection. I have never been an avid team sports fan. It just wasn't important to me. About 10 years ago I decided to do an experiment. I wanted to see what the big deal was about being a sports fan, and frankly it seemed like I was missing something. There were so many of my friends who were die hard fans so I decided I would try it out. I became a gung-ho fan of the San Francisco 49ers. I bought the jersey's, hats and tickets. I learned about team members and coaches. I followed them online and watched videos and interviews. I read editorials and listened to broadcasts. I was INTO IT BABY. And I got really, really upset when they lost games or made stupid decisions. I felt great when they won and I felt miserable when they lost. I had quite literally become a 49er! I had infused myself with their energy. Now, this is not just a exercise of thought or mental attachment. No, I resonated and vibrated with the energy of the 49ers. It's who I was!

So if you or anyone else were to come and challenge my beliefs about the 9ers you would be threatening ME. Easy right? You would not just be threatening my tribe, you'd be threatening ME. So if I challenge a persons religious or political, or academic beliefs I am directly challenging who they are. Yes?

Interesting Note: My experiment with the 49ers was a success. It actually was quite fun. Here are a couple of things I learned: #1. My contribution of my minuscule energy to the 49ers team was insignificant. Oh, sure I added to the rest of the fans but still it was negligible. #2. I got it that I had absolutely no control over the team, the coaches, the game, the officials, anything. In other words I was a victim when they lost (because I had no control and I felt miserable), and I had no control when they won. But it was nice to feel good. #3. I was able to experience first hand the phenomenon of being a fan, being part of a tribe and adopting their energy as my own. I have to tell you it was enlivening and fun for the most part. #4. Sorry guys and gals who are fans of sports teams, but for me I came to the conclusion that being a fan wasn't worth it. I did not like being subject to something I had no control over. So I bailed out. But, this is the funny part I still say, "GO NINERS!" Isn't that nuts?

Now back to beliefs.

COW PATHS IN THE MIND

I grew up across the street from a cow pasture. Out in the meadow where the cows lived they had made paths in the turf that led from one part of the meadow to another where there was water. The path was about a foot deep and maybe a foot wide and the cows, traveled this path in procession each day. The more they walked it the broader and deeper the path became, And (this is a big "AND") the easier it became for the cows to walk it. They could probably do it in their sleep I imagine. What does this have to do with beliefs? Neurologists have discovered that the more we think of something, or say a word, or do a computation, or speak a foreign language the easier it becomes. Our brains actually develop neuron paths that become bigger and stronger and easier for energy to move along. We build Cow Paths in our minds. In other words, when I said my first swear word at the tender age of 8, and got such a good response from my older friends, it became easier to swear the more I did it because the neuron pathways were becoming not just cow paths but freeways in my mind. By the time I was 13 I was a champion curser and had a heck of a time stopping. In fact I didn't. It is still quite easy for me to blurt out some good curse words. So to is it with our beliefs. The more we exercise our beliefs through thought or voice or pen, the stronger they get, and the less likely it becomes that they will change.

Alright enough for today. Tomorrow we discuss Energy Banks as regards beliefs. This is a critically important subject that is essential to understanding human behavior. Y'all come on back now.

Blessings,

Mistermercury