The Challenge Of Changing The World
The Interplay Of Beliefs, Values, And Identity
The Challenge Of Changing The World
The Interplay Of Beliefs, Values, And Identity
Written by a human, for humans, always.
There is a question that I like to ask people...
Who are you?
It is always interesting because it reveals different aspects of people.
What we identify as usually points to what we believe and value in life.
Now, I was reading an interesting article talking about this dynamic...
They said that...
Beliefs are our current understanding of the world...
Values are the standards we live by...
Identity is who we understand ourselves to be.
Now, they began to discuss something that I agree with...
That often we take our beliefs on “as” our identity.
They also correctly stated that this can become extremely problematic.
Why?
Because when we identify “as” something...
And that is challenged in any sort of way...
It begins to feel like an attack “on” us.
So...
If we have a belief...
And that belief is challenged by another...
And we have also taken that belief on “as” our identity...
Then the challenge to our belief stops feeling like an intellectual process of questioning ideas...
And begins to feel like a personal attack on who we are...
Which can and frequently does create real problems.
So what was the solution that was proposed?
Stop identifying with our beliefs...
Start identifying with our values.
Instead of starting with belief systems and questioning them...
Start with the standards we choose to live by.
It sounds like an interesting idea...
But fails to actually work for a very simple reason.
People’s values are usually directly linked to their beliefs.
Let me give you a perfect example of this.
Let’s say that you and I believe that humans have value.
We create a better world together because we have the value that humans have value and are worth making it better for.
Sounds great on paper.
Some people still disagree with that, of course, but that is beside the point for this experiment.
Now you have the two people who agree that humans have value.
But...
Why are they of value?
Well...
If one of the people is a Christian...
The Christian will say that the value is God-given and inherent from the moment of conception.
Nothing anyone does can or will change that value.
If the other person is an Atheist...
There is no inherent value given to humans above anything else on the planet...
So where does the value of a human come from?
The answer that many (but not all) will say is that their value is derived from their contribution.
The more someone contributes, the more valuable they become.
So now...
Even though both individuals believe that humans have some sort of value...
What they “mean” by “having value” is incredibly different and directly informed by their beliefs.
When you then have to decide on how to do something, such as make laws, that involve this value of “humans having value”...
There is a fundamental difference...
Which we see play out in policy.
Even if you agree generally on what “values” to live by...
Those values are directly informed by our beliefs...
Which means you are just shifting where you start...
But landing on the exact same challenge.
When you begin to look more deeply into these...
Beliefs, Values, and Identities...
They are fundamentally intertwined.
You cannot have any without the others.
Starting in one will naturally lead to the next.
Each points to the other.
This is why it becomes so important to really pay attention to these...
In our lives and in others’ lives.
There is an undeniable interplay between these that shape every individual’s perception of the world...
And how they end up interacting with it.
You cannot dismiss one without dismissing the whole.
But this then begs the question...
If we are to create a better world...
Requiring us to come together...
How are we to do it?
Especially when we already know...
That many of our beliefs, values, and identities are fundamentally at odds with each other?
The answer...
Is to first seek to understand...
Then...
Help people discover where their beliefs, values, and identities do not align within themselves...
Then...
Help them find paths where everything does align.
This is the formula that all help works on.
For example...
Counseling looks at who you are being (based on values misaligned with identity or beliefs) and who you want to become (based on values aligned with identity or beliefs).
As you become more aware of where the misalignments are...
There is an inner desire to find homeostasis within ourselves.
It may require us to change a value...
Or a belief...
Or an identity.
We also may need specific types of help...
Such as frameworks...
New thinking patterns...
Even some form of physical structures, such as rehab centers...
But the goal is to find that internal homeostasis where these all align.
The challenge with this...
Is to find the common ground with others that allows us to come together to find these misalignments.
How do you have a conversation with someone...
Who has a belief, value, or identity that is directly opposed to your own?
The answer...
Is that it is not easy.
Worse...
Even if you desire to find a common ground...
Sometimes...
No matter how passionate or right you may be...
Others have no interest in hearing any part of what you have to say.
In those situations...
There is little to nothing you can say.
A heart that is hardened cannot simultaneously be open to receiving anything outside itself.
Either someone is willing to allow themselves to be challenged...
Or they are not.
Now...
If you get to know someone...
Take time with them...
Get to truly understand them...
Then, sometimes, they may eventually open up to allowing themselves to be challenged.
But it is not guaranteed.
It may never happen.
However...
If you truly have a desire to change the world...
It is still something that you must work toward...
While simultaneously...
Allowing yourself to be questioned.
I think this, too, is where so many people go wrong.
If your own heart is hardened and unopened to being challenged...
Then you will meet equal opposition from others.
The only people who will agree with you...
Are those who already agree with you...
And that does not change the world.
If you are so self-righteous as to believe that you are free of potential error...
You will never help others find their way towards agreement with you.
You will only ever create an echo chamber...
And in many cases...
You will also turn your allies into enemies.
I have watched this happen time and time again.
But...
If you are honest about keeping your own heart open to being challenged...
And genuinely engage with others with this...
Not to attack them...
But the help them understand themselves better...
Eventually, you will find those who are open to engaging honestly.
It is from that unity that we change the world.
To Your Sageship,
Cody
P.S. - It can be Difficult to Figure Out How To Achieve…
Stress Optimization
Psychophysiological Freedom
An Exemplar Wayset
If you want Aid on the Path to Sageship, let me know - I’ll be Your Coach and Guide.
Just Send Me A Message.