A belief is defined as an opinion or conviction based on the confidence that it is the truth [dictionary.com]. It is a construct (a complex theory formed from a number of simpler elements) based on the existence of something not immediately susceptible to rigorous proof. It is contrived from your ego’s desire to protect itself at all costs; to establish a set of rules to live by to secure one’s safety and security, moving toward pleasure and moving away from pain.
Beliefs are established over the course of time in order to program your subconscious mind with the parameters and paradigms necessary to either allow your growth and expansion or reduction and regression. Living by and not removing erroneous beliefs from your subconscious mind will lead to a stifling of appropriate action and the stagnation of any motivations that lead to creating a fulfilled life.
Your beliefs are collected and collated into a belief system; which triggers emotional responses to environmental stimuli. Emotions are beliefs in action. The beliefs combine to form a complex system or whole construct that actuates fight or flight. Beliefs are learned behavior that we derive from our experience; whether external or internal.
A belief system is a set of mutually supportive beliefs [Wikipedia.com]; beliefs that work in tandem to support an experienced set of principles that allowed you to arrive at an internal conclusion about whether they were effective or not in securing pleasure or avoiding pain. When a belief is challenged the person holding firm to the belief feels threatened and either avoids the pain of the challenge or rigorously defends its veracity.
The problem is that many beliefs are true without being valid. Validity requires multiple occurrences of the same result in the manifestation of the belief. If there is any variance, then the belief can only be considered valid for those who have manifested similar results. Beliefs don’t apply to everyone’s experience; only to those who have come to similar conclusions based on similar experiences.
When people impose their beliefs or their belief system on others it is clearly negating another’s experience. It is, in effect, telling them WHAT to believe based on their interpretations and NOT on what another has experienced. This is where judgment comes into play. Opinions are beliefs or judgments that rest on grounds insufficient to produce complete certainty [dictionary.com].
How can one effectively judge what another does without experiencing what they have experienced? How can one tell another what to do when they haven’t walked a mile in their shoes? What is the motivation to judge another instead of just judging their behaviors? You can judge behaviors as being appropriate or not but to judge another for adopting those behaviors will cause them to judge you. Jesus NEVER said not to judge; he said that if you choose to be judged for whom you are then judge others for whom they are; he never said not to judge another’s BEHAVIORS as a result of their beliefs!
In fact, if you develop a discerning mind unfettered by erroneous beliefs you can judge another’s beliefs and behaviors as being worthy or not for you to practice. We have been given the gift of judgment based on our truthful AND valid beliefs to lead to effective behaviors that take others, as well as ourselves, into account. “I cannot do anything of my own will, but according to that which I have heard, I judge, and my judgment is just, for I am not seeking my will, but the will of him who has sent Me” (~Yeshua, Aramaic Bible in Plain English (©2010)).
When you seek Divine will you let go and allow the Divine to guide you and discharge any and all erroneous beliefs that lead to improper judgments and rigid opinions. You need to actively participate in the discharging of erroneous beliefs by challenging each and every belief with your experiences in order to arrive at the truth and the validity of the truth.
You are not a static ‘do-nothing’ being. You are in constant perceived motion expressing yourself dynamically into an omniverse of energy and motion. Your beliefs, judgments and opinions lead to who and what you value in life. Your values are the relative worth, merit, or importance of what you ‘believe’ about your experiences. What you value is what you use to navigate through your life. Do you value the truth? Do you seek to understand what others believe and value? Or do you adopt a rigid position based on erroneous and unchallenged beliefs the YOU determine are correct for yourself and others?
Make the time each and every day to immerse yourself in the peace, joy and understanding of the stillness and silence of the Divine. Release any and ALL erroneous beliefs that don’t contribute to the understanding, growth and expansion of yourself and others. Judge what behaviors are good or bad for you without judging others for their behaviors. You don’t know what they have experienced and it is not your job to live their lives.
Your ‘job’ is to live in truth, beauty and unconditional love. Until you express that each and every day you are living with beliefs, judgments, opinions and values that are dependent on the behaviors of yourself and others. “Be therefore perfect, just as your Father who is in Heaven is perfect” (~Yeshua, Aramaic Bible in Plain English (©2010)). ~Dean A. Banks, D.D.
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