By Dennis Merritt Jones, DD
If you want to change the DIRECTION OF YOUR LIFE
Know the Difference between a THOUGHT and a BELIEF
“Plant a belief; harvest a thought.
Plant a thought; harvest feelings.
Plant feelings; harvest words.
Plant words; harvest actions.
Plant actions; harvest a habit.
Plant habits; harvest a character.
Plant a character; harvest destiny.”
~ Source Unknown
Have you ever wondered where your thoughts come from? In the Dhammapada, the Buddha teaches, “Our life is shaped by our mind: we become what we think. Suffering follows an evil thought as the wheels of a cart follow the oxen that draw it.” By “evil thought,” Buddha did not mean only malicious intent, but any thought that is negative, unproductive, or destructive. It is undeniably true that negative thinking produces suffering. Yet this raises a deeper question: if thoughts shape our lives, what shapes our thoughts? Perhaps it’s time to drill down a bit deeper on this topic.
Simply Put – It’s All About Your BS (Belief System)
Centuries after Buddha, Jesus came along and offered insight into this query through his understanding of the law of cause and effect when he said, “It is done unto you as you believe.” Notably, he did not say, “as you think.” In the chain of cause and effect, belief precedes thought. Belief initiates the process; thought follows. Just as suffering follows negative thinking, thinking itself follows core beliefs. From this perspective, thoughts are not the primary cause of our experiences, but a secondary effect
of our BS.
The movement of belief into lived reality follows a clear pathway of cause and effect. Our deepest core beliefs give rise to thoughts. Those thoughts generate feelings. Feelings then influence our words and actions. As we speak and act, we experience emotional and tangible outcomes that appear to confirm what we already believe. This reinforces the original belief, and the cycle repeats. Over time, this contiguous loop – belief, thought, feeling, words, behavior – solidifies into habit energy.
Habitual patterns shape character, and character ultimately determines destiny. For this reason, the most important question is not “What are you thinking?” but “What do you believe?” The totality of these beliefs form what can be called consciousness: the accumulated set of assumptions, interpretations, and conclusions we carry in the mind. In other words, if you wish to change the direction of your life learn to focus more on your core beliefs and less
on your thoughts.
THE TAKEAWAY: Changing thoughts alone is not enough, because thoughts are effects, not causes. True transformation begins at the level of consciousness – the internal framework you have been building from the day you were born. However, this framework does not change overnight. Beliefs formed through a lifetime of experiences cannot be undone instantly. But meaningful change does not require immediacy; it requires intention.
Begin by choosing awareness – an awareness of your unity with life and a creative universe in this moment. From that awareness, plant a new belief. In doing so, you begin to reshape not just your thinking, but the direction of your destiny.
Peace, Dennis Merritt Jones, DD
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Dennis Merritt Jones’ vision is “Guiding People to Purpose.” He is an award-winning author of seven books, a keynote speaker, and personal mentor/coach who loves living in St. Petersburg. If you would like more information regarding his availability as a speaker, his mentoring programs, and his books, please visit his website at DennisMerrittJones.com.