What Are Beliefs And How Do They Create Our Reality?
What really defines our reality? Is it the world around us? Is it the way we interpret it? The answer lies in our beliefs. What we believe about ourselves, others, and the world largely determines how we live and experience life.
Beliefs have a profound and often invisible power over our decisions, our actions, our emotions, and our achievements. If we can identify and understand them well, we can learn to shape them so that they work in our favor, instead of limiting us. In this article, we will explore what beliefs are, how they influence the construction of our reality and how to change our beliefs in order to radically transform our lives.
We can define beliefs as thoughts, ideas or principles that we consider true, even without the need for tangible proof or evidence. They are subjective interpretations that we have formed about ourselves, others, and the world in general, often based on our experiences, education, and cultural environment. These beliefs can be conscious (that is, beliefs that we easily identify and verbalize) or unconscious (deep ideas that guide us without us practically questioning them).
Beliefs have their origin in our childhood, when we begin to interpret the experiences we live and what those around us teach us. As an example, if a child is praised every time he tries something new, he is likely to take a positive interpretation of it and grow up believing that he is capable and competent. But if you are constantly criticized or told that you are “not good enough,” you are likely to develop the belief that you are not capable of doing things well. As we grow, these beliefs are reinforced with new experiences, and little by little, they begin to shape the way we see the world.
It’s common to hear the phrase “beliefs create your reality,” but how does this actually happen from a psychological perspective? The answer lies in the close relationship that exists between thought, emotion and behavior.
Beliefs directly influence our perception, emotions and behaviors, connecting deeply with the reality we experience. They act as filters that distort how we interpret the world, focusing on certain aspects and reinforcing our pre-existing ideas. These beliefs also affect our emotions. If we believe, for example, “I am incapable of facing difficult situations”, any challenge can generate anxiety or fear, since the core belief activates these negative emotions. On the other hand, if a person believes “I have the skills to overcome obstacles”, they will feel greater confidence and peace of mind in similar situations.
Beliefs or thoughts plus the emotions we feel will guide our behaviors, prompting us to act in a way that reinforces those same beliefs, which can lead us to self-limit or promote our opportunities. Continuing with the previous examples, if I believe that “I am incapable of facing difficult situations” and that generates fear or anxiety in me, the most likely behavior is that I will not try to face difficult situations or if I do face them, I will not solve them, a fact that will further reinforce our belief (this is what we call confirmation bias).
If, on the other hand, I believe that “I have the skills to overcome obstacles” along with feelings of confidence and calm, the most likely behavior will be to confront and resolve my problematic situations. a fact that will also reaffirm our positive belief in this case. And that process is what ends up creating our reality.
The impact of beliefs on reality is not simply psychological; It also has social implications. Beliefs influence our expectations, and our expectations influence how we act. The so-called Pygmalion effect describes that the expectations we have about ourselves and others can become self-fulfilling prophecies.
For example, if a teacher believes that a student is talented, he or she is more likely to offer more attention and support, which increases the chances that the student will actually succeed. In the same way, If a person believes they are capable of carrying out a project successfully, they are more likely to put in the effort necessary to make it happen.
Limiting beliefs vs. empowering beliefs
One way to classify beliefs and see how they influence reality is when we classify them into the following two groups. On the one hand, limiting beliefs, those that make us doubt our abilities, others or the world, restrict our potential and prevent us from growing or advancing: “I am not smart enough”, “I will never be happy”, “No one “he loves me.” These ideas act as mental barriers, preventing us from pursuing our goals and living fully.
On the other hand, there are empowering beliefs, those that motivate us and push us to advance and grow: “I can improve”, “Every challenge is an opportunity”, “If I work I am capable of learning whatever is necessary.” These beliefs not only make us feel better, but they open new doors and opportunities. They allow us to move forward with confidence and prepare us to face life with a more open and optimistic attitude. The key here is to realize that our beliefs are not facts. They are just thoughts, and thoughts can be changed.
How to transform our beliefs
The first thing is to observe them and be aware of them. For many people, limiting beliefs have become such an ingrained part of their thinking that they don’t even realize they are there. But once we begin to identify those beliefs, we can begin to question them.
Therefore, when we find ourselves faced with a limiting belief, it is useful to ask ourselves: “Where does this belief come from? Is it really true, or have I simply accepted it without questioning it?” You may discover that many of your beliefs are not based on real facts, but on past experiences, fears or insecurities.
The next step is to replace those limiting beliefs with more empowering and realistic ones. For example, if you’ve always believed that “I’m not good at languages,” you can start to challenge that idea: “Maybe I haven’t spent enough time on it, but by studying and practicing I can learn.” By repeating and acting under this new belief, little by little you will see how your reality begins to change.
Conclusions
Our beliefs are, in many ways, the map we follow in life. They determine what we see as possible or impossible, what we try and what we avoid. The good news is that we are not chained to that map forever.
If we begin to question our beliefs and replace them with more realistic, empowering and useful ones, we can transform our reality, change the direction of our lives and live with more confidence and fulfillment. So the next time you face a challenge, ask yourself: What belief am I carrying with me? And if that belief is not serving you, remind yourself that you always have the power to change it.
