The Power of Spiritual Vigilance

Chapter One

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Challenging Belief Systems

“Whether you think you can or you can’t,
either way you are right.”
Henry Ford

Challenging belief systems. How did you interpret this title? What was the first thought that came to you when you read it? Did you read the word “challenging” as an adjective, describing belief systems as demanding of effort, or was the word a verb, as in “to challenge or confront” belief systems? It all depends upon your perspective. In this instance, both answers are correct. Throughout this book, you will be encouraged to examine and evaluate every belief you hold, those that are dear and clear to you and those that you are unaware of that may surface as you continue to read and reflect.
In his timeless book, “Psycho-Cybernetics,” Dr. Maxwell Maltz described how he was able to treat depression and low self-esteem in patients through the use of cosmetic surgery in the long held belief that if they physically saw themselves in a new way as more attractive, they would also feel more attractive and increased self confidence would naturally follow. Although this worked for most of his patients, there were some he was unable to help in this way. For these individuals, whenever they looked into the mirror they still saw their old image. There was something deeper at work in their subconscious opinion of themselves. Their self-esteem, or the lack of it, was not linked to their facial features.
Being aware of our perceptions of reality is the beginning of the path to wholeness. Our perceptions are never right or wrong. They are our personal impressions about the way we see things, our own view of the world, however distorted by our beliefs, fears or experiences. As Anaïs Nin so clearly stated, “We don’t see things as they are, we see them as we are.”
Our thoughts, beliefs and spoken words have great power. They create our experience of the world around us. Events and circumstances are not, in and of themselves, stressful. I realize this is a radical departure from conventional assumption, and many of you may disagree with the statement at this point, but it is what we think and perceive about an event or situation that places us on what I call the downward spiral where chronic, negative stress creates disharmony, dis-ease and illness.
In order for an event or the behavior of another person to become stressful for us, we must first have a thought, opinion or a judgment about it based upon our perception of what is taking place. The downward spiral works as follows:

Event ----» thought ----» perception ----» judgment ----» dis-ease ----» emotional reaction ----» brain releases chemicals ----» signals sent to endocrine system ----» resistance ----» friction ----» heat ----» inflammation ----» illness.

An experience elicits a thought from us. Our perception, often based upon a previous experience, leads to the formation of a judgment or an opinion about what is currently happening. A negative opinion leads to lack of ease or dis-ease which creates an emotional reaction. That reaction causes the brain to release chemicals, which in turn, send signals to the endocrine system to produce its own set of hormonal responses. If, by our thoughts and feelings, we resist what is taking place, that resistance leads to friction, and friction creates heat. Excess heat in the body is also known as inflammation and inflammation has been shown to be the primary catalyst for many illnesses in the human body. Chronic inflammation is now linked to heart disease, auto-immune disorders, rheumatoid arthritis, and many other health challenges.
But what if, with watchful alertness or vigilance on our part, we could retrain ourselves to use new patterns of thought that over time, become positive, self-empowering habits instead of the negative thought habits we are currently using? Dr. Wayne Dyer, one of the most influential people today in the field of self-help states very simply, “When you change the way you look at things, the things you look at change.” For many people, the reply to this statement may be, “But how do I change the way I look at things? What do I have to do?”

The Challenge

As a yoga instructor, I share with students my own understanding of the unseen power of our belief systems. Since early childhood and throughout our lives, we have been taught by our families, science, the medical community, and many others about heredity, hereditary factors, genes, and the human body’s pre-disposition to certain conditions and illnesses. Many of my students are above the age of fifty, so their belief systems have had a lifetime to establish themselves. I say to them, “Belief systems are just that, BS! The two most powerful hereditary factors in our lives are our diets and our beliefs, and we have full control over both of them! We can change our eating habits to make healthier choices, and we can examine and reflect upon the beliefs we presently hold and challenge whether or not they are true for us.”
What are the sources for these beliefs? Are we willing to question the truths behind them? Are they serving us or are we serving them? As stated earlier, many of our beliefs are the result of indoctrination by others. Family members, cultural heritage, religious traditions, government and national pride, out-dated educational systems, the medical community and the pharmaceutical industry all have a vested interest in our adherence to their pre-established belief systems.
What are you willing to question?