8 Guidelines(ˈgīdˌlīn) for Choosing Effective(iˈfektiv) Beliefs(biˈlēf)

8 Guidelines(ˈgīdˌlīn) for Choosing Effective(iˈfektiv) Beliefs(biˈlēf)

By Steve Pavlina

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Effective beliefs are…

Accurate(ˈakyərit). Effective beliefs must be consistent(kənˈsistənt) with your observations(ˌäbzərˈvāSHən) of reality. Your beliefs cannot contradict(ˌkäntrəˈdikt) any facts you know to be true.

All-inclusive(inˈklo͞osiv). For your beliefs to be effective, they must collectively(kəˈlektiv) address your entire(enˈtīr) field(fēld) of experience(ikˈspi(ə)rēəns). If you experience things you cannot explain(ikˈsplān) from within your belief system, then your belief system is incomplete(ˌiNG-,ˌinkəmˈplēt). And an incomplete belief system can never be fully trusted(trəst).

Flexible(ˈfleksəbəl). Effective beliefs adapt(əˈdapt) well to new circumstances(-stəns,ˈsərkəmˌstans). They serve(sərv) you well regardless(riˈgärdləs) of your career(kəˈri(ə)r), income level, relationship situation, lifestyle, etc(et cetera).

Ethical(ˈeTHikəl). It is never effective to choose beliefs that lead you to harm yourself or others. Such beliefs are rooted in fear, and fear comes from ignorance(ˈignərəns). If your beliefs are true, then you can accept reality rather than fear it, which means there is no cause for violence(ˈvī(ə)ləns) or dishonesty(disˈänəstē).

Congruent(kənˈgro͞oənt,ˈkäNGgro͞oənt). Either your beliefs must be internally consistent with each other, or you must have a higher order meta(ˈmetə)-belief that tells you how to resolve(-ˈzôlv,riˈzälv) lower level incongruencies(kənˈgro͞oəns,ˈkäNGgro͞oəns).

Consciously(ˈkänCHəs) chosen(ˈCHōzən). You inherit(inˈherit) your initial(iˈniSHəl) set of beliefs from your upbringing(ˈəpˌbriNGiNG) and societal(səˈsīitl) conditioning. But as a fully awake adult(əˈdəlt,ˈadˌəlt), those beliefs should be identified, examined(igˈzamən), and then deliberately(diˈlibəritlē) altered(ˈôltər) or integrated(ˈintiˌgrātid). This is an ongoing process that can take years, if not your entire lifetime.

Pleasure(ˈpleZHər)-increasing and/or pain-reducing. Effective beliefs make you feel good, either by elevating(ˈeləˌvāt) your emotional(iˈmōSHənəl) state directly or as a side-effect of generating results you desire(dəˈzī(ə)r). Effective beliefs also reduce fear; when your beliefs are accurate(ˈakyərit), certainty(ˈsərtntē) replaces(riˈplās) fear.

Empowering(emˈpou(-ə)r). Your beliefs should allow you to experience whatever is technically(ˈteknik(ə)lē) possible; they should never mislabel(misˈlābəl) the possible as impossible. Subject of course to ethical/moral(ˈmär-,ˈmôrəl) considerations, your beliefs should not unduly(ˈd(y)o͞olē) limit your abilities. If you believe something is impossible for you, then it must truly be impossible regardless of your thinking. If a belief shift would change your abilities (like the placebo(pləˈsēbō) effect), then your belief is both disempowering and inaccurate.

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https://www.stevepavlina.com/blog/2006/07/8-guidelines-for-choosing-effective-beliefs/