As humans, we all have certain belief systems through which we interpret our lives and the world in which we live. Our belief systems are strongly connected with our thought processes, experiences, values and faith. Societies are formed, developed and sometime they tend to disintegrate and fall apart,due to belief systems. The need of the hour is for a toxic free belief system.
Mind, attitude and beliefs
There is a strong correlation between thoughts, belief systems and faith. Our mind is like a central processing unit and if we do not take control of our thought processes, it will have negative effects on our lives. People become demotivated when their minds are filled with memories or images of failure, pain and loss that they have experienced in the past.
If we go down memory lane, we will see that when we had negative things happen in our lives, on many occasions we had little or no control over those events or circumstances.
Power of thinking
When exploring our minds, we will understand how attitudes play a significant role in everything we do.
Every aspect of our life is driven by our attitude. Our attitude determines how we look at life, how we react to circumstances, how we feel and respond to each other, and to life in general.
Our attitude is a direct reflection of our beliefs, and at most times, our beliefs are moulded by our past experiences and what we were taught.
Collective research reveals that eighty percent of physical, emotional and mental health issues stem from our negative thought patterns.
When our thinking is dominated by fear, anxiety, unforgiveness, mistrust, anger, revenge, guilt, shame, inadequacy, depression, confusion, it affects our belief system, which in turn affects our lives.
Research also says that up to seventy percent of our self-talk is negative.
Do you know that it generally takes around 11 positive statements to reverse one negative thought? We flaunt negative words, but when things go wrong, we wonder what had happened.
In reality, it was caused by our own careless negative thoughts, words and belief systems.
Research confirms that faith and meditation increase frontal lobe activity, intelligence and overall health. On the other hand, it confirms that unforgivenss can lead to a number of mental health conditions.
Did you ever realize that having fun is more infectious than a virus? It will help detox your life, improve your health and keep you alert.
Make life delightful
Some medical experiments have shown that when cancer patients are shown comedy dramas or films and as they have a good laugh and enjoy those moments, it releases certain agents that help with the healing process.
Science says, when we sing, it helps our brain to function as one; different lobes working together and activating parts of our brain that has never been used before.
We see people involved in hard physical labour, often singing along as they work.
One such example is when fishermen propel their boats against the mighty waves or when they pull in the heavy nets.
As they keep pulling in those nets ashore, which sometimes can go on for hours, they keep singing, and this helps renew their energy levels.
As professionals, entrepreneurs and business people, we would do well to take a lesson from these simple fisher folk and sing some lively songs as we go about our mundane duties, because it helps expand places in our brain that we might have not used hitherto!
Take a closer look at your belief systems and re-evaluate them. It is vital that we take charge of things within our control, because it holds the key to our quality of life and destiny.
Let us take time to enjoy the gift of life and through our faith and belief systems, live our lives to the fullest with peace, joy and tranquility.
Because, as Charles E Popplestone points out, “You cannot always control circumstances, but you can control your own thoughts.”
(The writer is an HRD & Business Psychology Practitioner)