‘There are no facts, only interpretations’. Freidrich Nietzsche.

As humans we act, feel, and perform in accordance with what we perceive to be true, not just about the world around us but also our self.

The mind is a powerful thing, but it is far from honest.

Everything that we see, hear, and think is ‘filtered’ in our mind by our beliefs for it is these that convey to us a sense of ‘what is’.

Our beliefs help us to interpret and make sense of ‘our world’ yet we selectively perceive only a part of the total world around us. We make assumptions that are consistent with our beliefs and ignore or ‘discount’ those that are not. As a consequence many of our beliefs may not be factual even though to us they may be ‘the truth’ and will vary in how absolute they are. This is, for instance, why people who may sit in the same meeting have different versions of what was discussed.

We develop many of our beliefs early in our life largely by our installing the beliefs of influential or parental figures adding our own through life through our experiences and learning.

It is important to understand that our beliefs are our best but flawed thinking about something, someone, or our self that limits us in how we behave, perform, and live: 'habits of mind' that unconsciously prevent us from enjoying a healthy and fulfilling life.

The three main filters of our beliefs comprise of:

Deletions – this is where we ‘delete’ some of the information available by ignoring or leaving out a portion of the data. Given the sheer amount of information - ‘stimuli’ - that confronts us each and every second of the day we can only consciously process a small proportion if we are to remain ‘sane’. It is therefore important to ensure that we don’t ‘delete’ the useful bits.

Distortions – here we chose, primarily unconsciously, to alter, misrepresent, mistake, or twist information in order for it to fit with the mental image - the model of the world - we currently hold in our mind. It is important to recognise that not all distortions are un-helpful with many being useful.

Generalisations – these are broad statements that are not entirely true (they may contain a deletion or a distortion or both) because they oversimplify situations, stereotype, or make general conclusions without recognising the exceptions to ‘our rules’. Similar to distortions, generalisations can be both helpful and un-helpful with much learning in our life actually taking place through the use of generalisations.

Many of our beliefs can be a ‘silent killer’ but they needn’t be. Using the foregoing knowledge here are six-steps that you can take to start changing your perspective:

1. Stop those negative beliefs in their tracks by recognising when these start to creep into your thinking. Identifying what is causing these beliefs to kick-in by looking to get to the source is vital, for if you can understand what is causing you to be pessimistic you can stop this before it starts and turn the negatives into positives.

2. If you wake up thinking the ‘glass is half empty’ then it will be, for you will never have, nor develop, a positive mindset. Aim to wake up every day and think about the good things in your life and all the reasons you should be appreciative of what you have and where you are.

3. ​Recognise that life can seem ‘unfair’ and even a rollercoaster ride but that does not mean you always have to focus on the ‘downs’. Statistically most people actually experience more ‘ups’ than ‘downs’. Recall and think about these ‘ups’ especially when you may be feeling ‘down’ for you will be shutting out the potential for negative beliefs to creep in.

4. Complaining and/or feeling bad are sure ways to invite our self into a downward spiral that if we are not careful will lead to a negative mindset that can become a major habit of mind. Your life is a lot better than you think and it is you who can make it better. Viewing things with a positive outlook - an opposite perspective – will mean that you are not letting negative beliefs ‘creep in’.

5. When you think something bad will happen you unconsciously do small things that will make bad things happen. Life need not be a negative self-fulfilling prophecy. If you begin to think that good things will happen you will shut down the opportunity for negative beliefs to invade and dominate so creating a higher opportunity for positive things to come true.

6. Life is full of possibilities for happiness, change, and growth. Only you can make the decisions that will change the direction of your life - you alone are in charge of what you do and importantly it is you who controls your happiness – become future orientated, drop the cynicism, and criticism (particularly of self) and look forward to life with optimism.

Be patient, for personal change takes both commitment and time.

Research suggests that New Year fitness resolutions begun on the 1st January are most likely to be given up by the 12th of January[1] and importantly, a habit change can take 66 days of commitment to fully take effect[2].

The ‘Beliefs and Attitudes Mindset Questionnaire’© has been created to help people understand how their beliefs and attitudes impacts their effectiveness and what they can change and develop to heighten their performance as leaders, sales people, team members, and in most fields in life.

[1] British Dietetic Association (2017) research reported in Sunday Times, 31st December, 2017.

[2] Gardner, B., Lally, P., & Wardle, J. (2012) ‘Making health habitual: The psychology of ‘habit formation’ and general practice’, British Journal of General Practice, 62, pp 664-666