There is a Law of Beliefs. Just like the Law of Gravity, whether we know it or don’t know it, whether we believe it or don’t believe it, we are subject to this law. The Law of Beliefs states that whatever we believe is true is real for us.
- If I hear a sound on my porch and believe someone is breaking into my house, I will feel fear.
- If I hear a sound on my porch and believe my neighbor is bringing me a homemade apple pie, I will feel grateful.
In reality, neither belief may be true. The sound might be from the paper boy dropping off the morning paper.
Our beliefs need to be taken seriously and need to be seriously considered.
As a freshman in a Top 20 class at Wayzata High School, Julia Gray created a video project on what she believed. Julia’s fundamental belief was and still is: “I am stronger than this challenge and this challenge is making me stronger.”
In her class video essay, Julia shares some of the many challenges she has experienced as a student.
“I know that taking longer than others does not mean that you have failed….I do not stop when I am tired. I stop when I am done. My name is Julia Gray and I believe that test scores do not define you. I rarely get A’s on my tests. I’ve stayed after school for hours to finish a 40 question test…I’ve had multiple tutors ever since first grade when I was put into a learning lab which I dreaded going to because it was known as the dumb kid class….I’ve cried because homework assignments take me five times longer than what I call ‘normal’ students….My older sister was a straight A student…I aspired to be like her. I am constantly comparing my academic knowledge to hers.
Yet through all of this I constantly feel this fire inside me. One that almost wants to give up, but one that feels I can’t give up now because I have come so far….Yes, it’s hard to see my grades but…all of us have strengths and weaknesses…whenever you find yourself doubting how far you can go, just remember how far you have come, everything you have gone through, and all the times you have pushed on even when you felt you couldn’t….I believe I am going to succeed because I am crazy enough to think that I can….I have always been curious of the question, ‘I wonder what would happen if I don’t give up?’
I have come to a conclusion that there is no secret to success….it is simply the result of preparation, hard work and learning from failure….Please, ‘Do not judge me by my successes, judge me by how many times I fell down and got back up again.’ Nelson Mandela”
Although Julia’s experiences could have resulted in beliefs that were life denying, she developed powerful beliefs that are life affirming. Now just a few days from graduating from high school, Julia was selected by her senior class to give their graduation address.
If you want to be inspired by Julia, you can watch her video essay by clicking HERE. Please share Julia’s story with anyone whose beliefs have become roadblocks in their life. You can also meet Julia and the teacher who inspired her by listening to The Inside Ride: A Top 20 Training Podcast – Episode 2 by clicking HERE. If you’d like to see the video of our interview, click HERE.
Reflection:
- What life affirming beliefs have I developed?
- What life denying beliefs have I developed?
From our Top 20 team…Kevin Brennan, Willow Sweeney, and Tom Cody…who keep asking the question, “I wonder what would happen if we don’t give up?”
Paul Bernabei
Director
Top 20 Training
paul@top20training.com
