Blog 785 – 09.25.2017
Change Any Unserving Beliefs Lately?

The Second Intent of the Ten Intentions For A Better World that I purpose to live by states:

“I follow my inner compass and discard any beliefs that are no longer serving me. I go to the source. I seek truth.”

I am sure that part about discarding beliefs raises eye brows among the religious set and we are all quite religious about our own beliefs and guard them as if changing any of them would be heresy in the highest degree. The fact is all beliefs are not equal. And we should be quite intolerant with our own personal beliefs that are no longer serving us. Oh, I think we should be kind and patient with ourself and others for holding on firmly to familiar beliefs like Peanut’s Linus holds tightly to his blanket. But before we can grow we have to let go.

I am not required to hold on to unserving beliefs, mine or yours, in fact it is unhealthy, unsafe, and insane to do so. One definition of insanity often quoted is: “Doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result.” Still somehow we put beliefs in a sacrosanct category and say “Hands off, no trespassing.” I cannot tell anyone what to believe but I can and should, if I love myself and I do, discard any belief in my own life that is no longer serving me.”

How long has it been since you discarded a belief whose shelf life is passed. Let me do a little of that “Fools rushing in where angels fear to tread” thing and name a few of the kind of beliefs that I am supposing we might jettison:

1.  My race (there is really only one – The Human Race) is better than others, smarter prettier the one that should be supreme.

2.  My religion, my opinion, my country, my party, my church my team are better than all the others, mine is true, all the others somehow false or less.

3.  I cannot change, that is just the way I am and the way it is.

4.  Actually all the “I can’t’s” in general (Oh, but you can if you choose to.)

If your BS meter (BS stands for among other things – Being Stupid) is not going off it ought to be. I go on.

4.  Men are bigger, stronger, more capable than women and worthier of better pay and benefits. It is and will always be a man’s world. (Silly little man once your whole was your Mama or a girl, you were smarter then.)

5.  People whose sexual preferences differ from mine are immoral, perverted, and sick (a wise lady I met years ago said we are all “sick puppies” I smiled.

6.  Vengeance is mine I will repay. (Actually that saying was attributed to God but I think even He/She knows that is a BS concept. Vengeance only promotes more of the same till everyone is dead.)

Well, if none of those struck a tender nerve you are a pretty highly evolved mammal or self-actualized human being or as Yogi Bear would put it, “Smarter than the average bear.” But don’t get too cocky or you might find yourself guilty of one of the most stupid worn out beliefs of all – that we are smarter, kinder, and more loving than others. Let’s give ourself and others a break. Most of the time, if not always, we and they are doing the best we can with what we have to work with. Tired old beliefs that are no longer serving us or anyone else need to be dropped so we can rise to better things. Have you identified any candidates to be discarded? Yeah, me too, almost daily. A mind is a terrible thing not to change.

Your friend and fellow traveler,
David White