Replacing an Old Belief
What belief did you grow up with that you later chose to let go of?
What did you replace it with?
Was there a moment or experience that finally made the old belief no longer fit?
The Journal Circle
In the Journal Circle, we spent 5 minutes responding to this prompt in writing. We all found it challenging to answer.
It wasn’t until later that I was able to get my teeth into it. I needed to broaden my perspective so I could see smaller details.
I remembered growing up believing…
- Chewing gum is terrifying (if I didn’t choke on it, I might accidentally swallow it and leave it undigested for seven years.)
- Crusts on bread give you curls
- Carrots give you night vision
Where do our beliefs come from?
- Folklore (myths, old wives’ tales, received wisdom – often containing wise actions with exaggerated justifications)
- Perceived beliefs (England lose in major football tournaments if the game is on ITV)
- Highly subjective beliefs (The Manic Street Preachers are the greatest band in the world)
- Societal constructs (big boys don’t cry, a successful life looks like this)
- Religious/spiritual beliefs (the existence of God and what that means)
- Cultural/National identity beliefs (stereotypes)
- Public Service Announcements (causes for awareness, vigilance, and fear)
- Character beliefs (the right/wrong way to be in the world that become internalised beliefs about self-worth, e.g., “I’m too sensitive,” “too quiet,” “I need to be perfect to earn love”)
And who do they come from?
Parents, teachers, friends, siblings, strangers, celebrities, marketing, politicians…
The Stories That Shape Us
Beliefs are stories that form and shape us. That’s why it can be hard to identify many of them. They become part of how we carry and relate to ourselves, subconsciously informing our decisions and judgements. These stories help us make sense of and survive in the world, freeing us from needing to run everything through an objective rationalisation filter.
But there is a shadow side to this. It is not difficult to see how someone can become blinded by belief to the point of dehumanising those who don’t share it, or how the way they defend particular beliefs can reinforce and even amplify others’ opposition.
Where does your mind initially go with these questions? Have a play with it and let it inspire something creative.
Ways to use this prompt
You might have an intuitive sense of how you want to respond. In which case, go for it. If you’re feeling stuck or you’d like to open it up further, try one of the following…
A Journal Practice
If you have a journal practice (or you’d like to start one), use these questions to prompt your reflections. Set a timer or a word count and write freely within that limitation. If you’re struggling to get started, break the question down and try free association with its different aspects.
A Playful Experiment
Remember that no one is watching. The aim isn’t to produce a finished result. Rather, it’s about giving yourself permission to play with forms and ideas. It’s a playful workout for your creative muscles. Something that, like physical exercise, benefits you across different areas and seasons of life over time.
And as with physical exercise, success is about showing up and consistently going through the motions.
The more freedom we experience in that way, the more open we become to seeing, experimenting, and connecting the dots. Creativity is not the same as productivity!
Play Safe
Notice what helps you feel safe and free to play. I know some people give themselves permission to burn or shred their words afterwards. Its temporality lets perfectionism and any anxiety about others seeing it fall away. You might use particular frames that keep it low-stakes and experimental.
Play Prompts
Here are some example starting points. Use them for inspiration to get you going, and adapt them as you go…
Explain beliefs to an alien
You’ve just met an alien who has recently arrived on Earth. They come in peace and want to belong. Describe why humans hold beliefs and explain how yours have changed through your life.
Build a playlist
Go to your music-listening platform of choice and pick 5-10 tracks that encapsulate how a belief changed.
Capture only the shadows
Draw, photograph, or describe the shadows. Where is the light? What might be found in the darkness?
From an object’s perspective
Pick an object. Give it life and tell a story from its perspective.
Leave it there
This question was inspired by our current season’s theme, “Leave it there“.
Is there something you want to leave behind (like an old belief)? Do you want to get better at letting things go? Or maybe, the opposite, persisting with important things even when others tell you to drop it. Have you stumbled across something left somewhere, deliberately or accidentally? Do you want to leave nice things for others to discover? Maybe you’d like to get better at spotting and ignoring bait that others want you to react to. Or you want to trust your preparation and know when something is good enough, rather than sabotaging it through overpreparation.
It’s a phrase that offers a wide range of possible interpretations and angles.
Share Your Discoveries
If you would like to share an experiment, creation, musings, questions, or discoveries with us in The Haven, add a post on the Activity Feed. It would be lovely to see what you’ve been up to! No pressure, of course.
