The Belief Must Come First

In the five years since leaving my salaried job as a research scientist and undergoing the process of becoming an entrepreneur/writer, one crucial thing I’ve learned is this: The belief must come first.

For things to become different than they previously were, you first have to believe that different future, or whatever circumstance, is possible. Otherwise, how could you possibly work at it, particularly when the inevitable failures and self-doubt crop up?

You literally cannot create something that you don’t intentionally imagine and believe in.

I see this same phenomenon in peoples’ financial lives.

If you only believe you’re “poor,” or “bad with money,” or “prone to bad luck,” then it’s impossible to create a future that’s not those things.

How could it possibly be if you don’t believe in the truth of a different possibility?

The “broaden and build” theory in psychology describes that positive emotions literally change what’s possible for us, because positive thinking and feelings stimulate greater creativity, promote more elastic thinking, and also support stronger and more various social bonds. These shifts literally open new possibilities, including physical, intellectual, and social resources that bring about new opportunities.

I recently sat down with a young woman who I met through absolute happenstance, but I knew she’d recently graduated with a PhD. So when I noticed her license plate frame noting her university and field, I asked what kind of work she was doing or looking for, knowing I had dozens of connections in that field. Her enthusiasm for her prospects, down to her license plate frame, proudly displayed her hope for a productive future career – and it paid off because it attracted the attention of someone with the connections she needed.

We’ve heard this philosophy about the power of positive thinking a million ways. But it’s worth thinking about why and purposely harnessing its power.

Believing you are bad with money or can’t manage bills is harmful simply because it closes the door to hope and belief that your habits and skills are changeable.

Believing the job search is hopeless because research funding has been destroyed may be based in reality, but that way of thinking closes you off to connecting and building despite the difficulties.

Believing our country is doomed may be rooted in observable evidence of turmoil all around us, but falling into this pattern of thinking closes the door to hope and belief that these circumstances are repairable.

Even when based in truth, negativity shuts out all the possibilities still available to us.

And without this hope, what is the point?

And that is exactly the point. No rationale person can carry on their effort to bring order to chaos, repair what’s broken, or build from scratch if the outcome is hopeless.

Instead, we must believe we can do better, whether it’s getting our bills paid on time, becoming a research scientist, succeeding as an entrepreneur, or participating in our political processes.

Monitor your beliefs about your financial life and check yourself. Are you creating more possibility or closing doors?