There are other beliefs that lie deep in our unconscious. They are unspoken assumptions that guide our actions, even though they are never written down in an employment contract or legal document. And although we rarely stop to examine them, it is these beliefs or inner narratives that guide our lives.
We live by our beliefs. Some of them we know well. A Christian knows that he believes in God. A vegetarian for ethical reasons knows that he believes that eating animals is wrong. But there are other beliefs that lie deep in our unconscious. They are unspoken assumptions that guide our actions, even though they are never written down in an employment contract or legal document.
And although we rarely stop to examine them, it is these beliefs or inner narratives that guide our lives. They are the reason we get up every morning, think a certain way, and pursue the dreams we have. Philosophy has been concerned with these narratives since ancient times. We find them in Ancient Greece, in the Bhagavad Gita, and even in this article. Philosophers try to bring our secret beliefs to light, dismantle them piece by piece, and critically evaluate them. Then, they keep those that are valuable and useful, while rejecting everything else as failed ideas that no longer deserve to guide us. Here are five of them that it may be time to leave behind:
- “I MUST CONTROL All.” We live by our beliefs. Some we know well, while others operate silently, without us being aware of them. One of the most dangerous is the belief that we must have control over everything.
But the truth is that we are not gods. There will always be things that are beyond our control: the past, aging, the opinions of others, or events that we cannot change. The Stoic philosopher Epictetus advised us to focus our energy only on what we can change and to calmly accept everything else. The same idea is found in Buddhism, Taoism, and monotheistic religions. We spend a lot of time fighting battles that we cannot win.
- “WHEN I FIND THE ONE OF MY LIFE, THEN I WILL BE HAPPY.” One of the most widespread myths is the idea that there is a “soul mate” who will complete us. Philosopher Simone de Beauvoir considered this a dangerous idea. When we believe that our happiness depends on another person, we create emotional dependence and lose our freedom. Love is compromise, companionship, and understanding. It is not a complete surrender of our identity.
- “I AM THAT I AM AND I NEVER CHANGE.” Many people believe they have an unchanging identity. René Descartes reinforced this idea with the concept of the permanent ego. But other philosophers, such as David Hume, argued that there is no unchanging “self.” We are a stream of thoughts, memories, feelings, and experiences that are constantly changing. Eastern philosophies also see the “self” as an illusion. We grow, change, and evolve throughout our lives.
- “THE UNIVERSE OWE ME.” The world owes us nothing. We are born with nothing, and everything we have is the result of circumstances, choices, and fate. Albert Camus argued that the search for a grand cosmic meaning often disappoints us. The universe is not designed to fulfill our desires. Therefore, instead of expecting what we “deserve,” we must work with what we have and give meaning to our lives ourselves.
- “WHEN I MAKE MORE MONEY, HAVE A BETTER JOB, AND A BIGGER HOUSE, THEN I WILL BE HAPPY.” This is perhaps the most widespread lie of our time. Almost all philosophical traditions agree on one thing: after a certain level of well-being, more wealth does not bring more happiness. Epicurus said that he who is not satisfied with less will never be satisfied with more. Even the Buddha taught that infinite desires produce infinite suffering. Happiness is not found in what we will have tomorrow, but in how we live the life we have today.
This is why philosophy remains so important. It does not teach us how to win the race of life, but how to understand ourselves. When the world convinces us that happiness is always in the next goal, philosophy reminds us that it begins within us. Therefore, before we change the world, it is worth entering our own mind and making sure that everything is in its place. (Big Think)