Bob got into trouble and was kidnapped by some shady people. They threatened to torture him until he gave them the information they needed. The kettle was filled with water and placed on the stove so the water could reach boiling point. He listened as the kettle whistled, signaling that it had reached its boiling point. Not only that but the hostage was placed in a position to watch the kettle as the water boiled. He watched in terror as his assailant walked towards him and then made his way behind him. Again, he was reassured that the boiling water would be poured onto his back. Unknown to him was a bucket of room temperature water behind him. He lay on the floor, sweating profusely, while mentally preparing himself for the excruciating pain he was about to experience.
Bob was reminded a final time that the hot water would be poured onto his back just before his assailants poured the bucket of room temperature water onto him. Bob screamed at the top of his lungs. Immediately, water bubbles and burn marks formed all over his back.
“Perception is reality.”
Army University Press
The story above probably seems a bit gruesome. I think you’d be relieved to know that it was taken from a movie and is not something that happened in real life. If you’ve ever spoken to someone in the military long enough, it is highly possible that you would have heard them say that perception is reality. This famous quote communicates a very profound truth- the mind, your mind, has the ability to create. Yes, it allows you to create external things; inventions that help improve our lives, but it is so powerful that it can create your reality. Just like what happened to Bob- he created a reality that manifested in his physical environment. Though it was just a movie, this scenario presents a perfect picture of just how powerful our thoughts are. Why is this important? Well, some of what we blame family members, friends, enemies, the government, and exes for might be the realities we created and are now living in.
For example, you might blame your parents for the way your life turned out because they did not have the money to give you the kind of education you think would have prepared you for your dream career. Or, you blame the government, citing that if they were running the country better you would have had more opportunities and your life would be better off. The truth is though, that while you did not have those things, you had an idea. An idea that was placed inside your heart and a desire to go after it with everything within you but you were scared. You kept telling yourself that your past and background disqualified you so you did not move. That idea was enough to give you the life you always dreamed of. It was an idea that would change the world but you believed a lie and it inevitably became your current reality.
BELIEFS INFLUENCE IDENTITY
“As a man thinks in his heart so is he.”
King Solomon
Anything we believe about ourselves is going to manifest in our choices and actions and ultimately becomes our identity. Yes, you read right, it becomes your identity. Anything we value we often attach our identity to it. If you place much value on your hair, you are likely to be intentional about the products you put into it, and you probably spend hours trying to get the perfect slick back or ponytail. But, if by some unfortunate circumstance your hair starts breaking profusely, or it stops growing, you feel ugly and unattractive. If you believe you are a world-class athlete, it is highly likely that you will demonstrate the thought patterns and behaviors of a world-class athlete. You will work out regularly, watch your diet, spend hours training every day, and take care of your body. An artist will spend hours perfecting his music because he loves it, but also because he finds his identity in his craft. Hence, when asked, “What do you do?” he replies, “I AM, a musician”, or “I AM an athlete”.
When something becomes an important part of our identity, we make conscious decisions to protect it. What about those things that we have subconsciously accepted as our identity? Things like, “I AM a procrastinator”, or “I AM a workaholic”, or “I AM a drinker”. Well, likewise, we subconsciously produce evidence of those things. We procrastinate on everything, become hooked on working that taking a break causes serious discomfort, etc.Then, the more evidence we have of a particular behavior, the more we accept the action as part of our personality which then becomes our identity. Hence, whatever we perceive to be true of ourselves, supported by evidence, will become our identity and is ultimately evidenced in our reality. You believe these to be true so eventually they became your reality.
GREAT NEWS!
The beautiful thing about human beings is that they have the ability to change. We have the ability to shift the current trajectory of our lives so that it becomes one more satisfying. It takes time, of course, so it is important to remember to be patient with yourself. Starting today, be intentional about looking at your thought patterns and trying to figure out what you really believe about yourself. After asking those questions, look at the evidence around you. Do they communicate those beliefs? What about your speech? Does it align with your views of self? What are you declaring over your life that you have managed to gather sufficient evidence to support? Dissatisfied with what you’re seeing? You have the power to change it, but it begins with the mind. If you can change your mind, you can change your life. What reality can you create if you become intentional about the way you think?
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