I came across this website today.

This I Believe is a national media project engaging people in writing, sharing, and discussing the core values and beliefs that guide their daily lives. NPR has aired these three-minute essays on its newsmagazines Morning Edition and All Things Considered every Monday since April 2005. The project is based on the popular 1950s radio series of the same name hosted by Edward R. Murrow.

 Since I can't post pics and post on my trip, I thought I'd do one on this topic.
For the past 15 years, I have learned about how beliefs make us who we are, and by discovering what our beliefs are, we can transform our lives.

By beliefs, I am talking about everything, not just religious beliefs. Our beliefs are created by what we are taught, our environment and what we experience daily. From something as simple as one thinking "'Everytime I get on the road, there are stupid drivers!", to how you experience God, your perception of life anchors your beliefs and creates a life that exactly matches your beliefs.

When I first discovered this concept, it took a while to really get just what it meant...it then took a while for me to see just what my beliefs were...and then to decide which ones were aiding me in a positive way and which ones needed to be dumped into the garbage can.

"This I believe"... is so much more powerful than we realize.
When you state your beliefs and live by them, you set up your reality.
A belief that life is unfair and will always be about sorrow and pain sets up just that. Someone else may believe that life is fair and just and that in each and every moment there is something good and positive to be seen...so they will live that exact life.

I love watching Inside the Actors Studio. Mainly because I love to see inside people's lives and hear them talk about why they are who they are. One thing that I see each time is those who are successful and happy are so because at some point they believed that is what they would become. From actors who had nothing and started out at the bottom to those who rose out of travesties, they each at some point set an intention of what they believed in...and it was always that they believed they could succeed.
It really is very simple and  the only fair way to set up an Universe. You get what you believe you will get and you are free to imagine and believe in whatever you desire.
 Believe me, I've asked all the typical questions one poses when considering this...but what about??.....but each question can be answered if you know what that person/situation believed in.

While I was in New Mexico, my cousin and I had long talks about our family and why certain members acted as they did, which caused a long life of negative living, I thought a lot about this and it reminded me all over again to be sure that I lived my life according to what I intentionally believed in...and not by default. In other words, not letting someone else or a situation affect me and set my beliefs willy nilly.

I still have to work hard at it and am still learning, but it is very interesting to catch yourself the next time you make a comment of fact......and ask yourself...now why do I believe that? You might be surprised at the answer...and that the fact can be easily removed or changed in your life.

An excellent post! And one worth studying, as are our beliefs and where they came from. "Know Thyself" is not just a phrase we spout now and then. It is a very worthwhile pursuit for all of us.

What a clever way to put things. When people are mean to me I have come the conclusion that it is something within them that is possessing them to act that way. When people aren't happy with themselves, they generally want others to be unhappy.

I'm glad you are back and sorry it took so long to get to you but I couldn't get in your blog yesterday for some reason. It just kept timing out.