You may believe in some, but not all of those. There’s no way to prove that any of them exist. One mentor defined belief or faith as commitment without knowing. Another friend claims that we do what we do because we believe what we believe.

I invite you to consider what you believe. Everyone is entitled to their own belief. Your belief does not guarantee that what you believe in is true. If what you do is based on what you believe, then your beliefs are extremely important, even if they’re not provable.

Here’s a way to consider beliefs. Imagine two people on opposite sides of the globe.

Near You

Suppose next week I feel sick and visit the doctor. My doctor makes a diagnosis and prescribes some medicine. I go to the pharmacy, where a stranger in a white coat gives me some tiny colored pills, which I take. Next week, I return to health and am further convinced that Western medicine is terrific.

Or…

Maybe next week, there is no improvement. I return to the doctor for more tests. She tells me my condition has a different cause, and no pharmaceutical remedy exists. I might leave hoping that Western medicine discovers the cause and cure for my affliction or that Big Pharma can get approval from the FDA for their exploratory drug.

On the Other Side of the Earth

On the other side of the globe, a fellow gets sick. He goes to the shaman, who examines him, kills a chicken, prescribes some herbs, and instructs the patient to do a chant for a week.

A week later, the fellow is healed, and he tells his neighbors how powerful the shaman is.

Or …

Maybe a week later, he is still sick. He returns to the shaman, who reports that the spirit is stronger than the shaman realized. They both wish that the great spirit of the universe would subdue this nasty demon.

The Effectiveness of Belief

In either example, the patient may have lacked faith but gotten well independent of the prescription. The patient may have had keen faith, but the diagnosis or prescription could have been incorrect.

In medical science, we can verify the amount a placebo may contribute to pain relief. In most situations, faith in the cure or the healer has no effect on what will happen. Either the ice will crack or not, or the plane will crash or not, independent of the faith or hope of the skater or the passenger.

In situations where your confidence or doubt can’t influence the outcome, do you believe in aliens, angels, demons, ghosts, or spirits?

How do you know whether your beliefs make sense or are helping you?

-o0o-

Terry Moore, CCIM, is the author of Building Legacy Wealth: How to Build Wealth and Live a Life Worth Imitating. Read his “Welcome to My Blog.”

Click here and find out how Terry and his team can help you make the most important financial decision of your next decade.