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MY SUNDAY JOURNAL
By Dalton Roberts
IPS Features
4-6-03
BREAK THE JUG.
A farmer eased a tiny pumpkin into a jug just to see what would happen.
It grew to the shape and size of the jug and ceased to grow. The sides
of the jug limited the potential of the pumpkin.
Our self-concept and beliefs about our lives form a limiting self-image.
A jug! Those beliefs may be clear to us or they can be unconscious.
Maybe even transparent, meaning we see right through them without even
becoming aware of what they mean. We are unable to become aware of the
role they are playing in our lives.
Have you ever listed your dominant beliefs and then listed the
implications of those beliefs? For example, what does it mean to you to
believe in original sin - the idea that the first sin in the garden
passed on the "seed of sin" to you? Conversely, have you
considered the impact of believing in "original blessing," the
idea that we are children of the Creator?
It was a belief that made the Aztecs throw young virgins into volcanoes
as a sacrifice for the sins of the people. In some cultures it was a
firstborn son. This demonstrates the power of a belief and the
importance of looking at them.
Beliefs can get to be so "sacred" that we feel we cannot touch
them. We cannot evaluate them and decide whether or not we wish to
continue holding them. We need to clean out the closets now and then,
getting rid of beliefs that no longer serve us.
Many experts in human behavior think we get most of our beliefs from our
parents and our culture. They say if you are born in Pakistan, it is
likely you will be a Muslim. If you are born in Texas, you will likely
be a Christian. Being born in Jerusalem would make you more likely you
will believe in Judaism. What we believe we become. It is important that
we choose our beliefs or they will be passed down to us like second-hand
clothes.
There come times in our lives when we must break our jugs. Each time be
become aware of beliefs that are locking us into limitation, it's time
to see where we got the jug and whether or not we wish to spend our
lives in it.
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