Believing doesn't make it so

Beliefs. We all have them. Essentially everything we say is a belief.

The trouble with beliefs is that, well, we tend to believe them.

And they tend to contradict each other, and cause us to go around in endless loops, wasting endless amonts of time and energy.

• You should work hard.
• People should be loyal.
• You should be lazy.
• Only people in their 20s can start really great companies.

The thing is, most beliefs are not true. They’re something you heard someone say at some point – your parents, your friends, your teachers, a book you read, a talk you attended – and now they’re a voice in your head. A thought, really.

But just because you think it doesn’t make it true.

There’s an endless supply of beliefs, most of which are bullshit, and some of which are contextually true.

You can boil most of the beliefs that are globally true, that is, their truth does not depend on the context, down to just two handfuls. Beliefs like:

• It is what it is.
• All you can do is your best, the rest is not up to you.
• You don’t have to do or create anything to be okay.
• Everyone is always doing their best, given their resources.

These are beliefs that help you let go of resistance and the illusion of control, and instead accept reality, including yourself and everyone else.

The realization that beliefs are far from always true, that you can decide for yourself whether you think they are, holds enormous potential for freedom.

Letting go of all the false and conflicting beliefs frees up mental energy and running around in loops, and lets you focus on the things that work and move you forward.

That is one of the great virtues of coaching.

To book a talk, workshop, or team coaching session for your company, get in touch at lars@pinds.com or by phone at +45 27 28 47 07.