This quote from St. Augustine can be applied two ways – a positive faith in something where there’s no proof of its existence but that we want to see manifest, and also a negative faith in something that also has no proof of existence but holds us from making any progress. And the result in that faith, whether positive or negative, will be that we get to see what we have put our faith in to.
If you believe something isn’t possible, then it stands to reason that you won’t even attempt it, yes?
For example, prior to the 6th of May, 1954, it was widely believed and accepted that it was impossible for anyone to run a mile in under 4 minutes. So, no runner did. However, on the 6th of May, 1954, Sir Roger Bannister ran a mile in 3 minutes and 59.4 seconds.
And then what happened?
Well, now people knew that it was possible and since then, over 2,000 athletes have broken that “4-minute barrier”. In fact, that record set by Sir Roger Bannister, has been cut by 16.27 seconds!
Nobody believed it could be done, so nobody did it. Once it WAS done, once the proof was there, then that belief was obliterated. It COULD be done.
Beliefs are the strongest determining factor on the life we get to live.
You see, we’ve been taught, from the very beginning of our lives, what to think, how we see ourselves, how we see other people and how we see the world. Depending on your family, your schooling, your friends, society, media, social media – pretty much everything around you – what you’ve been taught determines what you believe is possible and also not possible.
The thing to remember is that when you don’t challenge those believes, you remain constrained by the boundaries of those beliefs.
Your mind is such a powerful tool, and the beliefs you hold will drive what you think, how you act, and therefore, how you get to experience life.
If you want something in your life to change, you have to first believe it is possible, even without seeing any proof. That’s positive faith. On the other hand, if you want to wait for proof before you let go of that negative faith that change is impossible, then the reward of that faith will be that things won’t change.
