Would you believe that what you believe is alive and well in every aspect of your life today? What do you have faith in? What do you believe to be true? If you let this question live in you for a while, you may be surprised at some of your many answers.
You each probably have faith that the sun will rise every morning and usher in the light of day, and that it will set each evening and with it, the light will dim. Here in the coldest of Boston winters I have faith - when I remember to tune in - that despite appearances, tiny little crocus heads will quietly and beautifully break ground and trumpet in the Spring season of new growth and warming temperatures in March.
DO YOUR BELIEFS SUPPORT YOU?
Then there is the wide array of beliefs we have developed about the ways we are, the ways other people are and the way life is, most of which has been learned. How many times have you heard someone say some version of “That’s just the way I am,” “That’s the way people are,” or ”That’s just how life is?” It follows that we naturally look for and find evidence that supports our beliefs. We also think, speak and act in ways that support them. The question is, “Do your beliefs support you?”
The doubter’s credo, “I’ll believe it when I see it,” is a statement that puts an exclamation point on something (s)he already believes to be true in a way that closes off any other possibility or new way of looking. Some different ways of saying the same thing are “Yeah, right; No way; or That’s impossible.”
If you slightly rearrange the words of the previous statement you get a spiritual truth that has been scientifically proven - “I’ll see it when I believe it.” I want to underline the implication that you will see, eventually, what you believe. It, whatever “it,” is will always show up in your life if you truly believe it.
FAITH IS THE EVIDENCE
Some 2000+ years ago, it was written that “Faith is the substance of things hoped for, evidence of things not seen.” I want to add a word to this quote and restate it. “Faith is the substance of things hoped for, evidence of things not (yet) seen.” The “yet” is important because whatever you believe will eventually show up or manifest. Your faith or belief is the evidence.
How can we use faith to have a better life, to become our best self, to fulfill our potential, to have greater joy and aliveness? First we can trust the process of life. This is easier to do when you realize that the purpose of Life is to create more life. That’s what Life is, always has been and always will be about. Each one of us is a unique individualization of Life. Our spiritual DNA compels us to increase and expand; to be, do and have whatever brings us greater aliveness.
Life is naturally conspiring on your behalf. If you don’t already believe that, try it. This belief alone will positively change your life in both subtle and profound ways.
Second, faith is key to the process of consciously creating our lives. “Consciously” is the operative word here. Life is continuously creating and since Life flows through us as us, we are always creating something. You can look around you and see “what” you are creating. The question becomes “how” are you creating? Consciously or unconsciously? In other words, deliberately or by default? Creation begins with a thought. Consciously creating begins with focusing on the thoughts you choose to think about. The object of creation comes to fruition, or not, based on what we believe.
THE KEY TO THE LIFE YOU DESIRE
There is a short version of the Process of Conscious Creation that I call the Two-Step:
The first step is get clear, very clear, about what you really desire.
The second step is believe that you can have it.
Faith or belief is the key to living the life you really desire. You can practice all the many versions of conscious creation that you may read or learn about but if you doubt that you will achieve what you want, you won’t. There is a great quote by Henry Ford in The Secret film that speaks to this, “Whether you think you can or can’t - either way you are right.” So let’s get your beliefs in line.
ACTION STEPS
1. Write down something heartfelt that you desire to be, do or have.
2. Ask yourself, “What would I have to believe in order to achieve this desire?”
3. Make a list of all the beliefs you would need to have to manifest your desire.
4. Practice each of these beliefs for one week by acting as if it is true for you.
5. During that week, look for evidence that matches your belief.
And most of all remember, You are a natural! You are brilliant! You are magnificent! Simply by being you. Let your light shine!
Reggie Odom LICSW, CPCC, PCC, founder of Inspired Works, is a Life Coach, speaker, lecturer at the Simmons College School of Social Work and faculty member of the National Institute of Whole Health. She is considered a master teacher and unforgettable speaker. Reggie inspires and empowers professionals and solopreneurs to do the work that makes them come alive while living their whole life with passion and authenticity! She can be contacted at (617)524-6153, reggie@reggieodom.com or you can visit her web site at www.reggieodom.com.