What do you believe now that you didn’t year ago?

I used to think beliefs were static. Or maybe it was just that I didn’t think about them much at all? I associated beliefs with big, structured institutions like religion and politics. Beliefs were things other people wrote down and you bought in to one set or another. They were external- something you might shop around for a bit in college and then get on with your life.

Now, I see them very differently. They’re deeply personal and specific. They have very little structure, and I probably couldn’t walk you through a rational argument for “why” they are what they are. But the good news is that I’m getting to know them a lot better. And I can see them morph over time.

A personal example is running. I used to believe that real runners ran fast. Unless your pace was under 10 minutes a mile, you weren’t really a runner. Maybe a jogger? But certainly not worthy of the title “runner.” Since I’ve never hit that speed for any distance over a mile, I didn’t call myself a runner- even though I’ve gotten up nearly every day for the last 25 years to… run.

Now I believe that if you put on running shoes and run (defined as moving faster than walking, according to Merriam Webster), you’re a runner. That’s it. I’m a runner!

While it was just about running, this shift in beliefs changed my attitude, pride, and sense of possibility—specifically about fitness but, I think, it spilled over into other things, as well. Not needing to meet some external criteria to be the “thing,” is empowering. If you do the thing, you are the thing.

If you lead, you’re a leader. If you write, you’re a writer. If you paint, you’re a painter. No other criteria, coursework, or prerequisites are needed.

Maybe this example resonates with you. Maybe there is something else.

So, for this week’s reflection, ask yourself: What do I believe now that I didn’t a year ago?

Can you point to something- a thought, an experience, a feeling that caused the shift? If not, that’s okay.

It’s enough just to notice the change… and believe that future change is possible.

Amazing, isn’t it?