“I Just Think It’s Better To Have Ideas…”

A long time ago, when I was first introduced to the movie Dogma from Kevin Smith, I about died laughing. As a woman who was raised Catholic, and someone who is capable of critical thinking while still maintaining a sense of humor, it spoke to my heart, my head and my belly full of laughs. Then eventually it spoke to my soul since Archangel Metatron likes to show up in my meditations and healing sessions looking like Alan Rickman from the movie. He is often dressed like Johnny Cash. My guides also have a keen sense of humor.

Anyhow, this was one of my favorite scenes from the movie, and it really drove home the concept of beliefs versus ideas (thoughts), well before I was prepared to have those conversations with myself or anyone else for that matter.

Beliefs, thoughts, ideas, all of them swirl around in our minds and most of us don’t know how they got there. They just pop-in throughout our daily existence. I’m not a fan of pop-ins, be they thoughts or guests, so figuring out how to graciously usher unsolicited visits out my physical and metaphoric doors was a challenge. You know, being raised to please and serve and all.

Why is it so hard to get Aunt That’s Not The Right Way out of my mind when I’m trying new things? How come I hear Uncle You’re In Over Your Head when I’m mid project? Why am I hearing my Mom say “I told you so?”

Why do I hear my own voice echoing these words?

It was through my own frustrations, and a brain that must be solving problems at all times, that I started to break down the barriers of my thoughts. I learned to engage them, and through examination determine their origins. And some of those origins were beliefs I picked up from others.

I’ve mentioned in previous posts the importance of engaging your thoughts rather than just letting them run rampant. A few weeks ago I suggested you give unproductive thoughts a name. Taking it a step further, you might personify a challenging thought or belief as a toddler. Would you let a toddler run amok with magic markers in a room full of intentionally white walls?

Your mind and heart start out totally pure. Thoughts that shape ideas that then morph into beliefs are the colors on the pallet. Some of them mix together beautifully. Some of them create colors we did not intend to make. No, I absolutely don’t want burnt sienna, I was going for aqua. How do I get aqua???

Well, we get aqua (intended beneficial belief) by examining the colors (thoughts) we mixed to create the burnt sienna. We check the color wheel (examine existing thoughts) to see which colors are needed for aqua. We remove the colors (thoughts) that don’t make aqua and we add the colors that do. Et voila, aqua, aka the beneficial belief.

Something needs to be said for self awareness in this practice. It is your job to become an observer to collect data. This helps remove emotional attachment and gives the brain the job of witnessing and recording information. Most of the time the brain is trying to analyze threats and determine safety (judgement) thanks to our primal DNA. By giving your brain a different job, you have an opportunity to look at things from a new perspective.

It’s totally normal for the ego to want to protect the mind by twisting or muting certain aspects of the self to suit a thought or belief. This is your ego doing its job. And it’s your job as a conscious minded human to allow yourself the space to be open and receptive so you can integrate new information. Change only happens when we make it happen. This includes the way we think and believe.

Not all beliefs are intended to be harmful. Many of them serve beautifully in our lives. It’s the beliefs that create discord or cause harm that we need to evaluate.

Does my belief cause harm to me?

Does my belief cause harm to someone else?

Does my belief or belief system remove my autonomy, or classify me as less than others?

Does it classify others as less than me?

Does my belief system lead me to believe that a certain way of thinking is the only right way?

WHERE. DID. THOSE. BELIEFS. COME. FROM?!

For me, religion, culture, society, and a hyper-fixation on pleasing others as it gave me the positive attention I needed so I felt like I was accepted by the group and my caveman DNA felt safe and secure in that manipulation of behavior because I wouldn’t be expelled from said group and die by way of a saber tooth tiger or Ice Age. 🫠

Where did yours come from? 😉