In business and in Life, we eventually get down to a fundamental question: What do you REALLY believe?
This is a deceptively complicated question. We all have a set of basic concepts about life that we claim to believe. But do you really believe them? How do you know? It is rare (VERY rare!) that a person will actually go through the difficult - and risky - process of examining the answer to this question. Despite the wise and timeless truth that the unexamined life wasn't worth living.
So how do you know whether or not you believe something? The same way that others know whether or not you believe something: Your behaviors!
When we truly believe something, our behaviors consistently reflect that belief. If someone claimed to believe in gravity, yet consistently clung in fear to fixed objects to keep from floating into space, any observer would have doubts about those claims. Behaviors follow beliefs.
When we start to believe a new concept (whether that you can or that you cannot), our behaviors change accordingly. If you believe something - REALLY believe something - you act accordingly.
What do we call someone who believes one thing and then does another? Clinically, it is termed "mentally disturbed". Commonly, it is called "a lack of integrity". Either way, it is unhealthy - and should be unacceptable.
Make a gutsy move: Ask others what they think you believe. (Be prepared, you may get a shock!) Your values are leaking out as your behaviors.
Gut check: Consider a values-based cause you claim to support/believe in - such as "love for your family" or "commitment to your company" or "dedication to your spiritual beliefs" and then answer this BIG question: Is there enough proof to convict you in a court of law that you, without a doubt, believe in that cause? In other words, do your behaviors prove to anyone observing you that you truly believe what you claim to believe in?
Think about it. But more importantly, do something about it...today!
This is a deceptively complicated question. We all have a set of basic concepts about life that we claim to believe. But do you really believe them? How do you know? It is rare (VERY rare!) that a person will actually go through the difficult - and risky - process of examining the answer to this question. Despite the wise and timeless truth that the unexamined life wasn't worth living.
So how do you know whether or not you believe something? The same way that others know whether or not you believe something: Your behaviors!
When we truly believe something, our behaviors consistently reflect that belief. If someone claimed to believe in gravity, yet consistently clung in fear to fixed objects to keep from floating into space, any observer would have doubts about those claims. Behaviors follow beliefs.
When we start to believe a new concept (whether that you can or that you cannot), our behaviors change accordingly. If you believe something - REALLY believe something - you act accordingly.
What do we call someone who believes one thing and then does another? Clinically, it is termed "mentally disturbed". Commonly, it is called "a lack of integrity". Either way, it is unhealthy - and should be unacceptable.
Make a gutsy move: Ask others what they think you believe. (Be prepared, you may get a shock!) Your values are leaking out as your behaviors.
Gut check: Consider a values-based cause you claim to support/believe in - such as "love for your family" or "commitment to your company" or "dedication to your spiritual beliefs" and then answer this BIG question: Is there enough proof to convict you in a court of law that you, without a doubt, believe in that cause? In other words, do your behaviors prove to anyone observing you that you truly believe what you claim to believe in?
Think about it. But more importantly, do something about it...today!
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