What Do You Believe?

It's day 24 of documenting 2025.

Today, we're talking about beliefs.

I read something about it last night and I'm going to share my notes.

But before that, life update.

Things are going well.

Yesterday, I helped a friend understand some concepts in affiliate marketing.

Cause, I've done it before.

She started a few days ago and asked me some questions.

Seems there's a lot of hype about affiliate marketing.

And it's justified.

Affiliate marketing is a great way to make money online.

But most times, people get it wrong.

Like I did.

I believe that helping people is more important than the commissions earned.

Unfortunately, most people just want to make money.

Why won't they?

The economic situation is getting worse and prices of basic necessities are getting higher every day.

I've stopped it for now.

But it I were to start affiliate marketing all over again, I would start by gaining an audience.

You know, followers on social media.

Then I would form a group that anyone can join and share valuable content.

Once they trust my recommendations, I can start promoting.

But I didn't do any of that.

I know better now.

The only way I could have figured this out was by doing it.

Even if it wasn't so successful.

There's so much you can learn from trying to do something.

Even if it doesn't work.

Experience, they say, is the best teacher.

So, my friend, my word for you today is this:

Never think that something won't work for you until you try it first.

Anyways, that's all for life updates.

We move to today's topic.

Beliefs.

I'm not sure I fully understand all about it.

But, I have Anthony Robbins to guide me....through his book.

It's called, Awaken The Giant Within.

And I'm on the fifth chapter titled,

'Belief Systems: The Power To Create And The Power To Destroy'.

Right under the heading is this quote by Antonio Machado:

"Under what we think, lies all we believe, like the ultimate veil of our spirits".

And I took down some notes as I read through the section ✍️

I'll share them below. 

Beliefs are what make the difference between a lifetime of joyous contribution and one of misery and devastation.

Our beliefs are the guiding force to tell us what will lead to pain and what will lead to pleasure.

Tony gave examples of people who suffered immensely but see their suffering as a way to inspire and ensure that others don't go through the same suffering.

He also gave an example of two women turning seventy.

One believes that her life is almost over and starts to wrap up on her relationships.

The other believes that there is still more to her life and starts rock climbing.

Two decades later, she becomes the oldest woman to ascend Mount Fuji.

A wonderful illustration of two separate beliefs in the same circumstances.

Back to my notes ✍️ ✍️ ✍️ 

Whenever something happens in our lives, the brain asks two questions:

1. Will this mean pain or pleasure?

2. What must I do now to avoid pain and/or gain pleasure?

The answers are based on our beliefs and our beliefs are driven by our generalizations about what we've learned could lead to pain or pleasure.

Most of our beliefs are generalizations about our past, based on interpretations of painful and pleasurable experiences.

Most times, there's a three fold challenge:

📌 Most of us do not consciously decide what we're going to believe. 

📌 Often our beliefs are based on misinterpretations of past experiences.

📌 Once we adopt a belief, we forget it's merely an interpretation.

Here's what I understand. 

I'm going to use an example for this.

A schoolgirl believes she's unattractive because of a mark on her face that she was born with.

This is because of past experiences.

Maybe classmates telling her how ugly she looks and making her feel sad.

Maybe missing out on school dances because boys don't ask her out.

Maybe feeling lonely because no one sits with her during lunchtime.

Even if her parents tell her how beautiful she looks, she doesn't believe that.

The emotional pain she linked to the experiences from school caused her to believe otherwise.

But it's a false interpretation of her beauty.

That's my take.

What's yours?

I believe in possibilities and abundant opportunities.

And I hope you do as well.

Thanks for reading, my friend 😊 

I'm glad I caught your attention.

Thanks for getting to the end of this post.

By the way, I have started the Instagram page that will house my creative works.

Mainly poems.

I especially love the logo I used ♥️

You can check it out here.

I'm Duon Ada and I'm documenting 2025.