Who Are You?

From the day we are born, we start becoming a product of our environment. Everything we absorb through our five senses helps to create the person we become. And every person we encounter contributes to our makeup in some way. Our parents, siblings, teachers, peers - each of them burns their mark on us, and helps to forge us into who we ultimately become.

And therein lies the problem.

As long as we accept the person that life has molded us into, we will never be the person we really could be, and therefore it is unlikely we will find the happiness we seek. Why? Because we are not ourselves - we are only what others have made us. Think about it - are you a republican or democrat because Dad was? And do your religious beliefs reflect those of your parents? And what about the beliefs you have about money, relationships, love and family - exactly where did those come from?

As children, we have little choice about our beliefs, our life choices - most are made for us. And many of those will hamper us in later life, as we enter adulthood. For example, only 4% of all Americans ever achieve financial independence. Therefore, 96% of us have no clue how to achieve it, yet we go about teaching our children what we (don't) know. So, they won't be any better off.

If your life is not what you would like it to be, chances are you are simply carrying around too many preconceived and wrong notions and beliefs, instilled as a child. As an adult, it becomes your responsibility to either accept all that, and live with it, or change it. Again, we have little choice as a child, but once we become adults, we do have a choice.

Start by writing down all of your beliefs. Then, ask where you came by them, and why you believe them. Ask if those beliefs can be supported by facts. If not sure, investigate. Study. Learn. As you do this, you will be creating newer, better and stronger beliefs. Beliefs that are founded in truth and reality, and not simply because it was taught to you by someone else. But use caution - you are looking for established facts, and not merely another person's opinion. Too many of us allow ourselves to be swayed by others who are pushing their own agenda. It happens every day on college campuses around the country. It happens in schools, gangs, organizations and political groups.

Of course, not all beliefs can be supported with facts. Belief in a Supreme Power may be one of them. In such a case, you simply need to follow the logic - and, to some degree, the "odds". Or just go on faith.

Just for the record, here are the odds:

If you believe in God and He exists, you win.
If you believe in God and He does not exist, you do not lose anything.
If you do not believe in God, and He does not exist, you do not lose anything.
If you do not believe in God, and He does exist, you lose everything.

So, if you believe, you cannot lose, either way. But if you do not believe, your chances of losing are 50/50.

The ONLY way you can lose is if you do not believe.