Don’t believe everything you think.
Recently, while driving in to the town of Lock Haven, PA - I saw the title of this week’s blog on a bumper sticker. There was no name quoting who said it – so we will just give anonymous the credit.
What we believe shapes everything about us.
For years people thought the earth was flat. Then, that theory was proved incorrect.
But everyone believed what they were told, which was probably based on a visual presumption while looking at the horizon.
There is a story of a young woman who was going to cook an Easter ham for her young husband and their family. The young woman’s mother was coaching her along and teaching her how to make the holiday feast.
The mother told her young married daughter to cut the ends off of the Easter ham before putting in the pan and baking it. When question the mom stated that she always had cut the ends off the Easter ham. In fact, that is what her mom (grandma) did when she baked a ham. The two women talked about why this action was taken in preparing the meal. Perhaps it helped in making the ham flavorful. Maybe it was done so the glaze could ooze in to the ham. Possibly it was done to allow the ham to cook all the way though. Or maybe it cut down on the cooking time in the oven.
The mom decided to ask her mother (grandma) why the family always cut the ends off the Easter ham before putting it in the cooking roaster. Grandma then shared the family secret as to why the ends were trimmed off the Easter ham.
Grandma said she had been doing that since she was first married. “You see, “ she said, “When grandpa and I were first married, we were extremely poor. I only had one roasting pan and it was small. So, I would cut the ends off the Easter ham so it would fit in the pan.
You see, we all know what we know.
Or to make that less confusing – we all know what we have been taught, told, experienced or accept as “the way it is”.
So one of the key components of what we believe is – where are you getting your information?
One may read that and think – is the source credible?
That certainly is part of it. But more accurately what qualifies that person to share their knowledge with us? How successful in that area or arena are they?
A college dropout could not tell you what it is like to get a degree.
A podiatrist could not give you much more than general advice on taking care of your teeth.
A person who has never taken a cruise could not tell you much about a cruise – other than what they have read or been told.
Yet, all too often – we tend to put value in what people tell us, or information that they share with us – without questioning their knowledge of that subject.
One of those who we tend to really listen to and believe is ------- that inner voice within ourselves.
We tend to listen to – and believe things like:
• You’ll never be good at that
• Don’t try that, you’ll fail at that like you have at so many other things.
• You’re so stupid
• Go ahead do that, no one is looking
• You’re just a lazy bum
• You aren’t good enough
• Why change, everything is so comfortable where you are at
The list can go on forever.
The man or woman who believes everything they think – becomes very limited by what they know.
A former business associate, Mike Parr, once said, “Why is it – we whisper our successes and scream our failures?”
If you start second thinking yourself, doubting yourself, putting yourself down – simply test it. Ask yourself is this info negative? Is it 100% true?
Or is the old me trying to prevent change in the new me? Is the self doubt I am hearing due to my own limited thinking? Is my subconscious being my cheerleader or a wrecking ball to progress and growth.?
This week – pay attention to what you think AND what you believe.
Ron Orendi
