Belief is at the heart of everything we do.
As business teams, as family teams, why would we do anything if we don’t believe that what we are embarking on is possible?
This makes belief an important topic of discussion in a business context.
Can you remember the book that you studied at college on how to create belief?
I can’t.
So why is it so neglected in terms of how we can be more deliberate, specific and conscious about it?
Personally, I don’t find the mantra “you’ve just got to believe” to be very helpful.
So, what is a belief, why does it matter, should be just let it “happen by accident” or can we be more deliberate about it.
What is Belief?
A belief is a feeling of certainty about something.
It covers everything from religion to self-confidence.
A Story from Science
Curt Richter’s brutal 1950s experiment with rats is a striking example of belief's power.
He placed rats in water to see how long they’d swim before drowning.
On average, they lasted about 15 minutes.
Then Richter tried something different.
He rescued the rats just before they drowned, let them rest, then put them back in the water.
These rats swam for up to 60 hours.
The difference?
Hope. A belief.
The rescued rats believed they’d be saved again, boosting their stamina and determination.
This experiment shows how hope and belief can dramatically increase endurance.
That’s a 240x difference in terms of how the rats pushed through discomfort.
Belief in Everyday Life
Richter’s findings go beyond the lab. In everyday life, hope and positive belief can transform outcomes. Patients who believe in their treatment see better health results. Athletes who trust in their abilities push through barriers. Employees who believe in their potential tackle challenges and seize opportunities.
Cultivating Positive Beliefs
What if?
What if rather than letting beliefs happen by accident, you became deliberate specific, and conscious of what you choose to believe.
Imagine that all you read for the next three years was all the ideas from just one newspaper. The Times, The Mail, The Wall St Journal..pick any paper.
What would you believe in 3 years?
I’d bet heavily your views would align with that publication.
I wrote more on this specific point recently - in the context of the rise of extremism. Link.
There are lots of techniques that can be used to shape what you believe.
External Influences
In the article on extremism, I cover three experiments you can use to shape the external influences that you give permission to act on you.
Internal Influences
There are a whole host of techniques we can use to directly shape our internal world.
Choosing what to focus on is one technique.
Another is shaping the internal story of who you are and how you show up in the world (more on this in a later article).
Visualising your story via the Theatre of The Mind activity is another.
In the final chapter of The Big Bold Mindset, I explore Beyond Cognitive and share cutting edge techniques from science that shape how we view the world by understanding how we process emotions.
Belief is an incredibly powerful force which shapes our reality.
Richter’s rats experiment underscores the transformative power of hope. By cultivating positive beliefs, we can enhance our well-being, achieve our goals, and navigate life’s challenges with resilience and optimism. Belief isn’t just a state of mind—it’s a powerful tool for shaping our lives.
Experiments to Explore Belief
Here are three experiments to play with.
1. 5-Minute Gratitude Exercise
Objective: Enhance positivity and belief in a better future by focusing on gratitude.
What You’ll Need:
A quiet space
A pen and a small notebook or a piece of paper
Steps:
Find a Quiet Space: Settle in a comfortable, quiet place where you won’t be disturbed.
Set a Timer: Set a timer for 5 minutes.
List Your Gratitudes: Write down as many things as you can that you’re grateful for. These can be big or small, such as good health, supportive friends, a sunny day, or a delicious meal.
Be Specific: For each item, add a short note about why you’re grateful for it. For example, "I’m grateful for my friend Sarah because she always knows how to make me laugh."
Reflect on Your List: Once the timer goes off, take a moment to read through your list. Reflect on the positive aspects of your life and how they make you feel.
Expected Outcome: This quick exercise can shift your focus to the positive, boosting your mood and reinforcing a belief in the goodness of your life. It can also help cultivate a more optimistic and resilient mindset.
2. The 30-Minute Visualization Session
Objective: To strengthen belief in your goals through the Theatre of your Mind technique (explored in depth in The Big Bold Mindset).
What You’ll Need:
A quiet space
A comfortable chair or mat
A timer
Steps:
Set Up Your Space: Find a comfortable place to sit or lie down. Ensure it’s quiet and free from distractions.
Set the Timer: Set a timer for 30 minutes.
Visualize Your Goals: Close your eyes and take a few deep breaths to relax. Begin to visualize a specific goal you want to achieve. Picture yourself accomplishing this goal in vivid detail. Imagine the sights, sounds, emotions, and any other sensory details associated with achieving this goal.
Feel the Success: As you visualize, focus on the positive emotions and sense of accomplishment you’ll feel once you achieve your goal. Believe in the reality of this vision.
Reflect: When the timer goes off, take a few moments to reflect on the experience. How did it feel to see yourself achieving your goal? Do you feel more motivated and confident?
Expected Outcome: Visualization can make your goals feel more tangible and attainable, enhancing your belief in your ability to achieve them.
3. The 1-Hour Belief Deep Dive
Objective: To deeply explore and strengthen your core beliefs through a structured journaling exercise.
What You’ll Need:
A quiet space
A journal or notebook
A pen
A timer
Steps:
Set Up Your Space: Find a comfortable and quiet place to sit.
Set the Timer: Set a timer for 1 hour.
Identify Core Beliefs: Start by writing down some of your core beliefs about yourself, your abilities, and your goals. These can be both positive and negative beliefs.
Examine Each Belief: For each belief, ask yourself the following questions:
Why do I hold this belief?
What evidence supports this belief?
What evidence contradicts this belief?
How does this belief impact my actions and decisions?
Challenge Negative Beliefs: Focus on any negative beliefs. Write down reasons why these beliefs might not be true and replace them with positive, empowering beliefs.
Create an Action Plan: Based on your new positive beliefs, outline specific actions you can take to reinforce these beliefs in your daily life.
Reflect: Spend the last few minutes reflecting on the exercise. How do you feel about your beliefs now? Do you feel more empowered and confident?
Expected Outcome: This in-depth exercise can help you uncover and transform limiting beliefs, fostering a stronger sense of self-belief and clarity about your goals.
By experimenting with these activities, you can explore the power of belief and its impact on your mindset and actions. Whether you have just a few minutes or a full hour, these exercises can help you cultivate a more positive and empowering belief system.
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