We Can Choose What We Choose To Believe

 I am a strong believer in the idea that when the student is ready, the teacher appears.  Or at least, that is what I have noticed in my life.  I find that I can be going along, living my life as I usually do, when all of a sudden I am struck by a realization right in front of my face.  This happened most recently while out on a run this past weekend.

Back in the mid-eighties, I was a big fan of a band called Crowded House.  I loved all aspects of their music from their catchy tunes to their insightful lyrics that were all wrapped in playfulness and joy.  I still have some of their songs embedded in my playlists for that extra boost I need on long runs.  One of these songs is titled "Now We're Getting Somewhere" and always adds energy to my strides.  After listening to the song as many times as I have, I thought I had the lyrics memorized, and as it played in my headphones I was silently singing along.  That's when it happened - I noticed that I had been singing the last line wrong all this time.  When I listened to the song this time, I heard distinctly how the lyric actually went "We can choose what we choose to believe".  Huh.  Interesting idea.

That got the gears turning, and as I finished up the last few kilometres, I started to ponder this idea of personal choice.  What I liked about this thought was the power shift it presented.  Moving to internally directed versus externally dictated beliefs, and also putting the onus on each of us to make these choices in our own lives.  The timing of this a-ha moment could not have come at a better time for me, as I have been facing some change in my life that has had me revisiting what I believe and how I see both myself and my path forward.

Taking time to reflect honestly, I was able to identify narratives I hold about myself that I have bought into over the years, and are not serving me.  Keeping the idea of choosing what I choose to believe in mind, I was able to make a decision whether or not to hold onto these ideas or to let them go.  It was my choice either way.  There was no blame attached, no right or wrong to be assigned - simply the act of choosing.  The other benefit that I realized was the fact that we not only have the ability to make choices around our beliefs, but we also possess the power to change those choices when we come to a place where they no longer fit.  I think that was the most powerful part of this learning for me.

I have often had a hard time letting go of ideas or beliefs, especially ones that I have held onto for long periods of time.  They become enmeshed and despite knowing that they are stale and inaccurate, they sometimes provide comfort.  They allow me an out if I find myself facing a challenge that feels difficult or overwhelming.  I can lean into these old stories and use their negative energy to provide a safety net of excuses as to why I cannot push myself outside of my comfort zone.  It is really an exercise in self-preservation, I suppose.  The discomfort that comes with trying and potentially not succeeding feels worse than breathing more energy into negative beliefs that are also hurtful.  

I wonder what would happen if instead of simply taking a deep breath and using it to sigh and accept that change is not possible, we used that deep breath to energize a new choice?  What if we simply gave ourselves permission to make new choices about ourselves and our story?  Moving from a place of powerlessness to a position of power in our lives is game-changing, exciting, scary, and unpredictable, and I am here for all of it.  Who's with me?