do you CONTROL your BELIEFS or your BELIEFS control YOU?

Answer 1

Who can doubt that beliefs shape destiny? Beliefs color our every experience -- of people, of events, and even of ourselves. They determine what we feel, how we act and react. In particular, anyone who wants fulfilling love ought to understand the impact of beliefs on intimacy.


Are we products of experiences, or of beliefs?

Interpretation (belief ABOUT experience) is even more powerful than experience itself. How can we control the beliefs that shape our lives? One way is to try to control experiences. You see, many people maintain that beliefs are the result of experiences. And from that premise, it follows logically that the best way to control our beliefs -- perhaps the ONLY way -- is to control our experiences: avoid bad experiences, and create good ones.

But there's a flaw in that approach: owing to ingrained beliefs and attitudes, there is absolutely no guarantee that better experiences will change our mind. Imagine, for example, a man decides to take a vacation to improve his state of mind. But if he interprets all the events of his trip negatively, he will eliminate almost all of the positive value of his experience.

Interpretations are a form of belief, and as such, they are not dictated by experience. No matter what we experience, we always have the choice to interpret the experience however we choose. Therefore, experience is NOT a reliable way to control our beliefs.

Fortunately, belief is quite amenable to DIRECT control: We can simply believe what we choose to believe. That is freedom of interpretation. TOP

Taking control over interpretation

Experiences change us in the manner and degree dictated by our interpretation of experiences. Experiences change us. But HOW do they change us? Specifically, the WAY experiences change us is determined and controlled by our interpretation of those experiences. Accordingly, the direct way to improve our life experience and unlock the potential in ourselves is to change our beliefs directly. By adjusting our beliefs, we can change the present, the future, and even the past. Here's how it works:

Changing the present: It's how you look at it

How the present IS what we believe it to be. We change the present by controlling our present attitudes. Therefore, the important question in human life is not, "What happened?" The important question is, "What did we make of it?"

Example: A woman was depressed about losing her job. To cheer her up, a friend said, "Maybe it would help to think of it this way: You wanted to make a career change. Well, this is your chance!"


The fact of losing her job could not be changed. But the beliefs about the meaning of the experience -- the INTERPRETATION of it -- could easily be changed. And that was a lucky break, because thinking differently about the apparent misfortune cheered her up (proving, once again, that our THOUGHTS about an experience affect us more powerfully, in the end, than the experience itself).

Both depression and joy result from interpretations. Note, too, that the actual experience of losing her job could not, in and of itself, create depression. Only the negative thoughts ABOUT the experience -- "I've lost my job; I'll never be able to find another one," etc. -- could do that. The depression was eliminated by replacing those thoughts with constructive, uplifting ones.

By choosing how we INTERPRET, we literally choose how we FEEL. For example, if we believe everyone is out to get us, we feel bad. And conversely, if we believe life is generous and good, we feel good. Interpretation ALWAYS makes a difference where it counts -- at the level of feelings. New beliefs create new experiences IMMEDIATELY. It FEELS different to think differently, and to see new possibilities.

Now we know why one person walks away from an experience satisfied with the way things worked out, while another person, given the exact same experience, walks away resentful and bitter. Each person is affected in accordance with their different interpretations of their experience. Therefore, the responsible view of life is this: IT'S ALL IN THE WAY YOU LOOK AT IT. TOP

Changing the future: Control expectations

Expectations represent yet another form of belief. Expectations are just beliefs about what's likely to happen. But with expectations, we enter the magical realm where we create what we expect -- the realm of self-fulfilling prophesy.

Why expectations don't just PREDICT what will happen --they often DETERMINE it. If we expect something bad to happen, our fear will become a factor -- a powerful influence -- in determining the outcome of things. Imagine, for example, a woman believes she cannot talk effectively to groups. When she stands in front of a group, she freezes in fear. That is the result of her belief.

The reverse is equally true: If we believe something good will happen, we will feel optimistic, and our positive feelings will encourage positive results. For example, a man firmly believed that his buddy would be an excellent choice for personnel manager of his company. His convictions boosted his friend’s confidence, impressed his employer, and thereby set in motion a chain of events which led to his friend getting the job.

There can be no doubt that belief works powerfully through the life-shaping power of expectations. TOP

Changing the past: Reinterpret events

Belief can craft experience in the present and future, making experience be what it is, and what it will become. But if you think changing the present and future is powerful magic, how about the power to change the PAST! Belief can interpret -- or reinterpret -- past experience, making it what it WAS. For example:

A woman noticed two of her co-workers whispering at lunch. She spent the rest of the day worrying that they were criticizing her. Driving home, she tried to figure out what she could have done to merit their disapproval. She realized that she hadn't given anyone reason to blame her, and that she had misinterpreted what she saw. Her worry faded instantly and her peace of mind returned.


How to change the effects of the past in the present. In an important sense, the past is never over: If we re-interpret the past, we change how it affects us. Just as we are completely subject to the beliefs or interpretations we cling to, we are immediately freed from the effects of a belief or interpretation we change.

Celebrate the freedom of belief!

As we shape our life experiences through our beliefs or interpretations, we become co-creators of ourselves, our identity. In the Christian lexicon, this would be "in the image of God"... the Creator. This may well be one of the greatest gifts that God gives us, the opportunity to participate in the act of creation through wisely choosing interpretations.

this beautiful article answers your query .

Answer 2

I must agree my beliefs direct almost everything I do. But all beliefs can be delusions. That's why I question them constantly in the hope that my intelligence will be in control. All beliefs need the abrasion of information and observation, and the recognition of ignorance, to keep them at heel. But whatever mine are, I let the world know, as appropriate. That way I'm never under false colors - and often learn, to at least see the world through a different window.

Answer 3

Hhhhhmmm interesting, well to answer this I would have to say that how I act is defined by my beliefs in god, myself as a person and my conduct as such a person (behavior) so yes it does control me in that aspect however, it is my choice to choose which beliefs I will follow therefore I control my own beliefs. This is a question that I had to stop and think about several times. I really like these ones that seem to stump me. Hello sweety hope you are having a great day, I hope you have the weekend off and are going out and enjoying yourself. Have fun. bye bye

Answer 4

Do I control my Beliefs or Let them take the wheel in controlling me? I see where this is going, and it is a good point. Beliefs can control what we decide to do 'decision-making' or the kind of life we lead. For instance, I am a professing Christian (not so sure I am a true one) and the beliefs that have been inspired by the scripture I read in the Bible Dominate my life. Sure I want to party, profane, be just like the world, what I have read dictates my actions. I know the Bible says be not Drunkards, all Drunkards shall have their part in the lake of fire. So the fear of what I read and know it to be true, because let's face it, God does not lie, nor does he say something if he does not mean it. Therefore, the beliefs that I have known control me, but I have 'free will' to go against them, and to go against God, something will take over control of you, and it won't be of him. I control my beliefs on other examples not related to religion, like views such as abortion, murder, racism, adultery, etc. Even if I knew nothing of Religion I by Moral Duty and Obligation would believe these and others to be unethical - wrong. I hence, can control my beliefs that are not related to spirituality because the fear of God would not be there, if I was say, an Atheist and Could control my beliefs, but who is to say the controller/Atheist has good judgement, he/she has no foundation of right vs. wrong. There is no God that they consciously consider, no hell,
They know not that the Bible (God) says, whatsoever a man soeth, that shall he reap. That even if they control what they believe, they will be judged by the standards of upkeeping.

Answer 5

Good question!

My belief doesn't control but rather it is me who control my beliefs. If you will notice i just ask this question: " If i doubt, does it mean i have faith? There are a lot of different views to the question and i enjoyed reading them. They are very inspiring and some our based on their opinions.

Be that as it may, the belief am into is still in doubt that's why i have a control of it. I am still searching for answers that's why am still in doubt. I will take some of the advice given to me in my question above.

Thanks for asking. Have a great day!

Answer 6

I think this Question you can implement to any other thing not only belief - but also traits - like anger, envious so on.....

and very important to understand . human being should be FREE . and if something conrol him - it should be changed -
if for intance , one's belief controls him - he slave for it - and he wouldn't have open mind - when problem rises about the belief he reject it .-- so he is not free man .

same as he has lust for something - thats control his actions .
And all the action and tought should be decided by the best attribute for human == his MIND . and if your mind tells you not to do something and you do it - you are slave to the thing that causes you to do this thing .

man should not own an belief - but rather use his mind and choose to believe this belief . but still he is not own it . so he will have open mind . why ? - because if problem arises he can think again and choose - but if he owned the belief - it is hard to get out of it . thats pretty much about what humility is -- who will accept new ideas the proud or the humble?. the humble person does not own anything - that why he gives a lot .
{what I mean by saying : not own anything - that doest mean he doesnt have thing like money, belief, so on == but he see them as present - and GRATITUDE of having it . == thats why he donates much>> he just doesnt see himjself as owner of anything - he is a free man}. and this true richness :-).
the humble one : all the belief are in front his face and he can choose..

and about your question . every person should check himself - whether he chooses what to believe or the belief he own chooses for him what to believe.
Is he FREE or SLAVE .

and as I wrote not only belief .everyone should choose what to do in each moment - time to be angery , time to be quite . == to use his traits in the right quantity , in the right time , in the right place . but requiers hard work . so GOOD LUCK ! for everyone.

Answer 7

I believe that I control my beliefs, but my beliefs just set a moral guideline.

Answer 8

My beliefs control me.

Answer 9

My beliefs are on suspension for being bad. I have found that belief and dis-belief are evil twins. You can't have one without the other. In order to believe in something, you necessarily have to dis-believe anything contradictory. Either way you end up with a closed mind.

Answer 10

my beliefs control me

Answer 11

It depends on every individual, if your Beliefs control you, or you control them. This are my beliefs, I believe with all my heart, that God, sent his only Son, to die for the Sins of the Sinners, and also Jesus knew why he was Born, to die for us. But that does not make me Sin free, on the contrary, we all sin even without knowing we did. So, I do not think I control my beliefs or that they control me. I, live my Life the way God would want me to do, and with that I am satisfied.