How ‘Love Shack’ teaches us to hold our beliefs lightly

Every year, I sense into a personal affirmation.

My definition of an affirmation is: a phrase to repeat in my mind or even out loud, that uplifts and reminds me of the kind of thinking or behaviors that I want. (Instead of what I don’t want).

My 2019 affirmation is: I am holding my current beliefs lightly.

I imagine most of us don’t even realize how tightly we hold on to our beliefs. You likely have beliefs that have been entrenched for years, decades, or perhaps even back to childhood.

So far this year, whenever something shows up that I hold a strong feeling or opinion about, I use this powerful affirmation to gently question its relevance.

Like when a parent directs a small child, ‘Here’s what I want you to do.’ Then watch as the toddler digs in their heels, ‘I’m going to do it my way! This is what I know, what I feel safe with!’

Our strongly held beliefs are a bit like that defiant, child-like version of ourselves. We wrap ourselves in them like a security blanket. The familiar becomes our safety zone, which is completely natural.

What requires more conscious awareness is the questioning of why we believe what we do. It can sound something like this: