NationStates Jolt Archive

I am starting to take the position that life shows you exactly what you believe you will see. Thats why people argue their views so vehemently.

That doesn't mean that you can make anything you can think of happen right away. Saying, "I believe that I can fly" isn't going to sprout wings on your back that instant.

There is a difference between what we want to believe and what we have been taught to believe. There are beliefs that are held in our genetic code which determine a lot of what we see as well. Our deep seated beliefs bring us into situations that will strenghten our beliefs because those situations prove to us that our beliefs are true.

There are as many realities as there are people. These realities don't exist apart from other realities though. Other realities barge their way into our realities all the time. Especially those realities that are held by many people, because the more people that hold a belief the stronger those beliefs are because others help you to reinforce them.

If you want to change your life then you must change your beliefs. Take shamanism for example. There are shamans who practice shapeshifting. They dont decide to just turn into a crow or wolf and then it happens. They practice and practice and keep their mind on this and while doing so they take mind altering substances that break down their deep seated beliefs, while their attention on a certain goal helps them to rewrite what they thought they know (i.e. I can't change my shape). But after time they find themselves able to turn into the animal they ahve practiced turning into.

Or how about science. The atom was just a theory. They even guessed at what the atom might look like before ever viewing it. WHen they finally did, it looked just like they thought it would. THen they wanted to see what the atom was made of. Some theorized it was particles and build tools that showed them it in fact was comprised of particles. Some said it was a wave and lo and behold their tools proved that they were waves.

This may sound like utter nonsense and I bet you can prove that I am wrong but that is only because you believe I am wrong so life will comply and give you proof of my wrongness.

All in all I think this is the true basis of chaos majik. This is why catholics would see proof that Catholicism is the one true way or that jews see Judaism as the one true way. People who believe in UFO's see UFOs and people that believe in ghosts see ghosts. Those that don't, don't. Those of use that think there are unexplainable things in life see things we can't explain and those that think everything has an explanation can find an explanation for just about anything.

No, I'm not on drugs.

If you intensely keep your attention (for extended periods of time) on something happening it will appear in your life as if by magic.

too long to read? too hard to refute? :P

I dont think a thread that claims people can turn into animals needs any refuting, sorry to say.


Charming notions, but I disagree.

So if you believe that life sucks, it will suck?

I dont think a thread that claims people can turn into animals needs any refuting, sorry to say.


Charming notions, but I disagree.


thats because it doesnt fit in with your personal reality - disagree all you want - you have every right to live in your own personal reality

So if you believe that life sucks, it will suck?


of course, isn't that much obvious?

What a novel concept, lets call it self-fulfilling prophecy.

What a novel concept, lets call it self-fulfilling prophecy.

or chaos majik

or chaos majik


lets not make up words that make us look ignorant, alright?

Magic is spelled - m - a - g - i - c -

lets not make up words that make us look ignorant, alright?

Magic is spelled - m - a - g - i - c -


in your conformist world maybe :p

:fluffle:

anyway how is making up words (or changing the spelling of words) ignorant?

besides if you understand what I am tryign to say what is the different how it is said? or typed? if the point comes agross loud and clear that is?

This is why catholics would see proof that Catholicism is the one true way or that jews see Judaism as the one true way.

I agree with you. People see what they want to see and believe what reinforces their own lives.

However, I disagree with your statement above. Religion is deeply tied with many cultures, more so in the past than today's separation of church and state countries. Because of this fact and the fact that people try to pass on their cultures and push for its expansion as much as possible, I think that the various religions claim to be the only way.

It's a point that's a bit pff topic but just wanted to add it.

Actually, the atom looked nothing like what was predicted. Originally it was thought of as a "plum pudding", a large positive particle with specks of negative charge lodged it, like the plums in a pudding. Then the "little solar system" model was chosen, but that has since been shown to be false.

Science is the opposite of conforming to your beliefs. The reason it is so rigid in it's rules is to prevent someones beliefs from interfering. True, this doesn't always work, and people see what they want to, but this never stands up to rigourous examination.

Just my 1.33 UK pence.

Right. I guess everybody sees a different reality, then? Sorry, but things don't work that way.

There IS OBJECTIVE REALITY. Just because I turn my back on my television doesn't mean it pops out of existance. This is intuitive to being human. Months old babies were subjected to psychology tests where a bright ball was rolled down a plank. Then, the ball rolled behind a screen so the baby couldn't see it, only to reappear on the other side. As the baby physically and nuerologically matures, it is able to understand that the ball doesn't disappear just because the baby can't see it.

So, just because people "think" they can change into animals doesn't mean they can. In fact, they don't. They don't in "my" reality. They don't in "your" reality. They don't in ANY reality.

Right. I guess everybody sees a different reality, then? Sorry, but things don't work that way.

There IS OBJECTIVE REALITY. Just because I turn my back on my television doesn't mean it pops out of existance. This is intuitive to being human. Months old babies were subjected to psychology tests where a bright ball was rolled down a plank. Then, the ball rolled behind a screen so the baby couldn't see it, only to reappear on the other side. As the baby physically and nuerologically matures, it is able to understand that the ball doesn't disappear just because the baby can't see it.

So, just because people "think" they can change into animals doesn't mean they can. In fact, they don't. They don't in "my" reality. They don't in "your" reality. They don't in ANY reality.


Well if thats what you truely believe then that is surely true for you and everybody else who believes teh same way.

Those that shapeshift actually believe it so it IS true for them.

:)

I was wondering if others had the same theory so I just did a search and behold (I'm glad someone could actually explain what I was thinking):

Beliefs Are Not Facts
by Rich Rahn

"We see what we believe
rather than believe what we see.
-- Alan Watts

"If what you believe is actually true,
you don't need to believe it.
-- Ron Smothermon

What are beliefs really?
Beliefs are opinions, assumptions, prejudices, judgments, ideas, and attitudes through which everything you experience in life is filtered.

They're the psychological tools we use to interface with the world; that limited warehouse of stored knowledge we use to analyze, comprehend, categorize and interpret any given situation or event. They are the lenses through which we see the world.

Most beliefs are inherited
Many of your beliefs were probably inherited from your parents, grandparents, teachers, bosses, spouses -- whomever. And you've deduced a bunch of them from books, the media, magazines, movies -- whatever.

Your beliefs are based on information that was available when you formed them. Some of your beliefs are nearly as old as you. And beliefs you inherited from your parents were probably inherited from their parents, who in turn inherited them their parents and so on. There's no telling how old some of your beliefs are -- beliefs as old as the information they were based on. (We're not talking about tradition here, we are talking about beliefs -- we need tradition in our lives.)

Beliefs label your world
Beliefs dictate our experience whether we realize it or not. We automatically notice things we're expecting to see, because we're looking for them. In this way, the world largely conforms to our beliefs about it. The outer world is a reflection of our inner world. If you believe, for instance, that people are inherently bad, then you'll pay more attention to people doing bad things.

As you observe life, reality becomes one way -- your way. Your observations form a loop and reinforce your beliefs about the world. You'll look at the world and say, "yup, just like I thought!" Beliefs keep you in agreement with yourself.

Maintaining your beliefs feels safe mostly because they're familiar to you. They may feel safe, but in reality beliefs can be dangerous. On the pretense of helping you, they may be severely limiting. Though beliefs are supposed to define your world, they can often confine your world. They narrowly shape what and how you experience life. Sticking stubbornly to your beliefs is not a virtue if they're harming you. It's like driving your car with the brakes on.

You are responsible for your beliefs
Every once in a while you need a belief housecleaning. You need to pull them out, dust them off and take a cold hard look at them. Ask yourself: "Are my beliefs still working for me? Are they helping me or hurting me?" Common sense dictates we should evaluate our beliefs based on how they affect us and those around us.

Do you really want your mind possessed by static beliefs based on out-of-date or false information? Beliefs that limit your thinking and keep you from expanding your understanding of the ever-changing world around you? Beliefs that keep you from true fulfillment and personal development?

The world is constantly changing. It's a fact. However, to move forward - to evolve - you have to realize that beliefs are not facts. Your beliefs don't even necessarily reflect the truth. In fact, most of the time they don't. You may know what you believe, but believing is not the same as knowing.

But know this: Beliefs are not facts. Beliefs are just beliefs.


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
oh other sources for similar ideas:
-http://www.brucelipton.com/
-http://www.csp.org/chrestomathy/why_god.html
-http://www.2think.org/biology_belief.shtml

I thought that was called schizophrenia. :p

I agree with you. People see what they want to see and believe what reinforces their own lives.

However, I disagree with your statement above. Religion is deeply tied with many cultures, more so in the past than today's separation of church and state countries. Because of this fact and the fact that people try to pass on their cultures and push for its expansion as much as possible, I think that the various religions claim to be the only way.

It's a point that's a bit pff topic but just wanted to add it.

I think I get ya...

are you saying that people only say their religion is the one true way because they wants others to think so and not because they truely believe it?