Article Presented by:
Wouter Havinga
When I look at the difference between faith and beliefs then, to start with, it is noticeable that you can have more than one belief but that you have only one faith. One doesn't use the word faith in the English language in the plural in relation to one person.
The word faith to me is more related to the religious side of life or call it the spiritual side of living. I compare beliefs with stepping-stones on our time line: faith on the other hand I compare with a spiral staircase towards a greater understanding of the Universe. My beliefs are the steps on this spiral staircase.
Faith also implies to me an adventurous, courageous side to one's being, a side that is willing to risk pain in order to make progress. This pain to me is the pain of letting go of the old self. It actually implies for me an overcoming of pain. It is the birth "pang" of the new You. Sticking to a limiting belief will cause suffering, because it causes a continuation of pain.
Beliefs have two sides to them, there are empowering beliefs and limiting beliefs. The empowering beliefs help us to shape a better life for ourselves and others around us. Limiting beliefs can cause us to continue to suffer certain disadvantageous situations.
So living in faith is like a continuous upward spiral cycle of letting go of parts of your old self, unhelpful parts of yourself dying off and out of the ashes a new you, like a phoenix, can arise. This new individual holds more resourceful states than before and can make greater developmental steps and contribute even more effectively to the world at large.
About the Author:
"Life Is Wonderful Make IT Happen!" by Dr. Wouter Havinga, "The brilliance of Dr Havinga is in writing this book from experience and passion for life. I have read several "improve-yourself" books; many made no change in my life, though some gave me hope. This one differs in a colossal way from the rest." Dr. Havinga's book is available at http://www.lifeiswonderfulmakeithappen.com . Dr. Havinga has worked in the substance misuse service and worked with "Motivational Interviewing Techniques", "Solution Focused Brief Therapy" and building self esteem and is a life coach and NLP practitioner.
