What people believe, what people think, actually not the same.

What people believe, what people think, actually not the same.

It is true that most of us believe we know what we believe. And it is true that most of us are wrong. We actually do not know what we actually believe. Yes, I did use actually twice in the same sentence. We learn what we believe when we are hit with the hard questions. We discover how we respond when we are called on to respond, instead of just consider.

Law enforcement and the military train continually because we all default to our lowest level of training. So in order to handle the high level of stress and demands needed for combat and law enforcement continual training is required. But the crazy truth is it is similar in our belief systems. We default to our core beliefs in times of stress or when we are faced with hard questions that hit us where we live. That is when we learn just what we actually believe. There is that word again.

Now I am not talking about where you believe dogs are good and cats are bad though it does apply, I am referring to our core beliefs; God exists or does not, People are inherently good or they are not. What you believe matters, just like who you trust. But what you actually believe matters even more. And you might not even know what that is.

Actuality is the truth behind the curtain. Actuality is reality not our perception of it. Take the time to figure out what you believe. Ask yourself the hard questions. Talk to people who do not always agree with you. Read the books that hold a view that is not aligned with yours. Now I am not saying change what you believe, I am saying learn what you believe then reinforce it so you are ready for the times when you need to stand on those beliefs.