How beliefs work is so utterly simple that most will not believe it. This disbelief is proof that what I write is true because beliefs agnostically self-reinforce by creating feelings, thoughts, and actions. Those reinforcements create more of the same.

If you don't believe me, then that disbelief will be self-reinforced.

In his book "Biology of Belief", Dr. Bruce Lipton demonstrates how 90% of all beliefs are formed by age 7. This means beliefs reside in your feelings. That makes sense as beliefs are extremely difficult to change.

With the advent of Dr. Lipton's creation of epigenetics at Stanford University, I posit that beliefs are formed decades before one was conceived. Epigenetics explains how that's a logical statement: everybody's life began in their grandmother's womb when their mother developed all of the eggs she was ever going to have. This is an epigenetic bumper sticker: "If I knew grandkids would be so much fun I would've had them first."

It matters not that something believed is true or false, north or south, black or white. It matters only that it is believed. Each person's beliefs are unique to them. Epigenetics demonstrates that grandparental response to stressors in life is a good predictor of how grandkids will respond to stresses. This response is hard-wired into one's DNA and can be scientifically proven.

For one to change their DNA - and they can - wouldn't it be helpful to know how beliefs work? I say yes.

Plato touches on the problem of beliefs in his "Allegory of the Cave" in which subjects see the shadows but not the object that created the shadow. Our beliefs cast the shadows and are rooted so firmly in our gut feelings that it's difficult, if not impossible, to see the real things instead of their shadows.

To wit, one can think of stereotyping people as "shadow casting". One's beliefs carry forward to multiple generations. These things are rarely, if ever, talked about because they are deeply personal. No one likes having their beliefs questioned.

Knowing how beliefs work enables anyone to take a good look at their beliefs and dig to its root. It's an unpleasant chore. but those who do are rewarded with a 'Rosetta Stone' that will enable one to separate truths from the truly stated.

I believe it.

Gravity of Beliefs