When you think of your beliefs do you have the sense they are wholesome and thus justified? Do you have the sense that these beliefs would not be a part of your existence had they not been tried and tested over time? Do you feel that you are flexible enough to change your beliefs if new information were to come to light?
Many of us harbor beliefs about all aspects of life. Beliefs are a part of patterned behavior that has developed over time based on our perception of reality. These perceptions are often rooted in experiences that took place before mature cognitive development gave us the ability to decipher the reason for an experience. This provides the basis for misconceptions and the development of beliefs that are ill-conceived and shadowed by the emotional aspects of that experience. These are often termed irrational beliefs. But are they really? And how do we change them?
Context
Beliefs are often created within the framework of the originating experience or second hand habit. Therefore beliefs are contextual. They are gridded within the context of the era and thinking of their creation. When looking at belief systems we are often baffled how these could have been created and how different they are to our intellectual/rational thinking about that subject. What is missed, as I mentioned before, is that most beliefs were created with the limited thinking of a youngster that did not have the cognitive abilities to decipher whether it was reasonable or not. It just is and it is real (this is very similar to our domesticated animals). Understanding that beliefs are contextual begins to bring a real understanding about the system of belief creation. It is rooted in cultural aspects, systemic aspects (governmental and societal norms for e.g.), the psychological, emotional and the physiological corresponding state of the individual. Hence if we are looking at beliefs they are a full body-mind phenomenon. Indeed, Candace Pert's (1986) research found that 50 neuropeptides and their receptors stored emotional information. What is even more intriguing is that this emotional information was stored throughout the body - hence the idea of psychosomatic considerations is real!
Projections
Let's examine the second hand habits which flow to become beliefs a little more deeply. If your Mother was scared of dogs for example, it is very possible (at a very young age) that you will learn that fear from your Mother and will perpetuate this experience, regardless of whether you have experienced it directly yourself. Over time this fear habit (as I like to call it) is reinforced with multiple repetitions and it becomes a known. This belief has been projected upon you based on the belief of another individual. This is how we develop fears that we have not tried and tested and can be deemed irrational. (These do not include instinctual fears such as fear of snakes and spiders). Projections are easily 'dumped' from one person to another in an attempt to not deal with uncomfortable emotions and experiences thus off loading them on another. This gives relief to the projector as they let off steam (emotional steam) at the expense the individual projected upon.
Shadow
The shadow is considered to be closely related with projections. It is the part of ourselves that we have denied the existence of. Many emotions that we do not accept as our own become part and parcel of the shadow. We use projection to continually throw these upon others when they have no said involvement in the emotion or action. Not in the way that the shadow perceives. You can see that this type of 'noise' becomes energy consuming and keeps us small. It keeps us from understanding our actual selves. It also becomes a part of what is known as the shadow self. A part of us we would rather not see or admit to being.
What is truth?
Often we humans talk about speaking our truth. What is this exactly? Is our current psychoemotional state indicative of who we truly are? How can this be unless we have sufficiently understood our shadow self and projections? As we begin to create awareness and are honest with each other we can bring to light understanding and transformations beyond our limited understanding. This evolutionary step would greatly benefit humanity and the propagation of compassion beyond the self.
The present moment
As we navigate through life we are often told to be in the present moment. It is my experience this is hard to do when we are unaware of the simmering projections, unresolved traumas and shadow aspects of who we are. To be in the present moment means to be in tune with ourselves and be honest about our emotions, whilst understanding what is our projection and what is another's projection. Where do we begin, end and everything in between. Once we begin this process we can begin to 'walk our talk'. To see beyond just the self.
Beliefs are shaped by our perception of reality and reality in turn is shaped by beliefs.
Transformation involves tracing our beliefs, their truth in our regard and move from projection of unresolved trauma to understanding, compassion and self-love.
It is in loving the self that we can love others.
References:
Pert, C. B. (1986). The wisdom of the receptors: Neuropeptides, the emotions, and bodymind. Advances, 3(3), 8-16.
Wilber, K. (2000). Integral Psychology: Consciousness, Spirit, Psychology, Therapy. Boston, Massachusetts, USA: Shambala Publications, Inc.
