What Do You Believe is Truth?

The Universe is Love. Love is the only reality. This may not be new, but an awareness of an incredible process may be. We are here to remember, or, rediscover, ourselves as part of the Universe – as Love. We remember who we are as we experience what Love is and what Love is not. Both help us define the nature of Love. So now the Universal dilemma: how can what Love is not be created in a Universe of only Love? Since Love is the only reality, only a “temporary illusion” can pose as Love’s opposite to define it. The illusion is the physical dimension. Our Spiritual Self is the master illusionist while our physical self is the audience participant mesmerized by what we think we see.

The word “illusion” is derived from the Latin “in ludere,” which means “in play.” Shakespeare told us, “all the world’s a stage, and all the people merely players.” If you think of the world as a big play where you portray a special role, you get a more accurate idea of the nature of what you see around you. Writers write plays; you write your life. Instead of reacting to the world, understand that you can act any way you choose and write a new script at any time.

Only our Spiritual Self can accurately define the true nature of the physical world. When we remember our essence as spiritual beings in physical form, we remember the world’s true nature. If you are ready to remember and transcend the physical illusion, you must first challenge your belief system and perceived impressions of yourself and the world.

Your illusory belief system

Most difficulties with your perception of the world stem from your belief system, or, more precisely, your limiting belief system. To create anew, happier life, all you need is an open mind the wisdom to challenge the belief system that currently creates your reality. Anything can be changed if you are ready. Writer John Powell asked, “What are the ifs and buts that limit my enjoyment of life?” What are yours?

Your limiting beliefs are part of an illusion holding you back from realizing your potential. Such beliefs usually come from the things you were told when young, so that you could survive on your own one day. Things such as life and death; the nature of God; making a living; marriage; right and wrong; good and bad; and much more. Without such information you would have had to reinvent the wheel.

However, some of the information you received may not have been the best for you. It was told to you by people who had it told to them by people who had it told to them, and so on. If you’ve ever played the game of telephone, you know that the way information is originally communicated is not necessarily how you finally receive it. The version you get is subject to the experiences, motivations, perceptions, and the moods of each person who relays the message. Most important, the information you received as a child most likely came from people who didn’t know the world is an illusion and accepted what they heard and saw as “fact.”

Once you are ready to make you own decision, you can take any information presented and decide if it is believable. One difficulty is that we are very impressionable when young. Information is given to us by “authorities” whom we respect, trust, and want to believe. Even if it seems wrong, we tend to accept what they say as fact because we think we have to or because everyone else does.

History provides us many examples of this type of thinking. Science is full of “facts” that are later disproved. A century ago, most people believed it was impossible to fly, but a few challenged this belief and experimented with flying machines. Once they proved the “authorities” wrong, everyone changed their beliefs about flying. At one time, people believed the stars were pinpoints of light put in the sky for decoration, that the world was flat, and that the earth was the center of the universe. Some people still believe we are only physical beings — and when we die, are gone forever.

An elephant is trained to stay in one spot by placing a very strong chain around its ankle. After repeated unsuccessful attempts to break free, the elephant accepts the belief it can’t. After a while, all that’s necessary is a small ankle band and the elephant won’t even try to break free because it “knows” it can’t. History tells the elephant so.

Put some fleas in a closed jar and they will try to escape. Once they realize they can’t, they never try again, even if you remove the lid! They learn they can’t escape, and believe it will always be so.

How many of us are held back with imaginary chains? How many are living in jars with imaginary lids? If we can let go of our egos for a moment, we can accept the possibility that some of the information we learned is not the truth for us and that our “reality” may not be as real as we once thought. It is never too late to change our views of the world and ourselves.

Psychologist Frances Vaughan once said, “A mind possessed by illusions is healed when it awakens to vision and Self as Spirit, eternally free.” When we open ourselves to the possibilities of change, we expand our horizons to create a new vision of ourselves and our environment.

Change is difficult. We resist because we fear the unknown. If you have the courage to face this temporary fear, however, you are on your way to being fearless, forever. When you’re ready for the possibility of change, try the following exercise.

Application: Challenge and change

Assess all aspects of your life. Is your world the way you want it? Do you get comfort and peace from your beliefs? Repeat to yourself, “Any reality I now see that doesn’t describe what I want to see, I am changing into a more descriptive reality.” You can change your beliefs and, in turn, your entire life.

Adapted from Relax, You’re Already Perfect: 10 Spiritual Lessons… to Remember, copyright, 2002 by Bruce D Schneider, Ph. D., reprinted by permission of Hampton Roads Publishing.

Bruce D Schneider is a Master Certified Coach, licensed psychotherapist, Reiki Master, founder and director of the Institute for Professional Empowerment Coaching (www.IPECcoaching.com).