One of the great challenges of living in the world is finding a way to get all of your beliefs in line. Most people live their lives as a “house divided” and the internal conflict of competing and conflicting beliefs spills over constantly in their expression and function. Consider this example:
A common dissonance in the southern United States is found in those who espouse the conservative-minded “stay out of my business and keep government small” belief while at the same time failing to take care of their personal health (typically due to dietary preferences and a lack of regular exercise). Many of these people get older and end up being dependent on governmental support for their health care. My message to those thus afflicted is that liberty does not mean license. Responsibility must be taken if freedom is to be maintained.
Inner conflict is far more limiting than outer circumstances will ever be. When faced with failure, most people look around them to assign blame or to justify their shortcomings. In my view we would have a different and better world if more people would take the time necessary to align their internal beliefs and to follow those harmonious beliefs all the way through in every thought, word and deed.
Gregory Hake 
Thanks Gregg for your congruent words today. It is good to consider what brings us into alignment with our true self and path.
LikeLike
The old adage of “divide and conquer” comes to mind, and when you think of it nearly everything in our society today has two opposing views to it, and that is considered healthy. But one brief look at our governmental system should bring that into question. Recently I found myself looking for an external place of quiet and no matter what I did or where I went, it just wasn’t there. It eventually dawned on me that what I was really longing for was that ‘internal” place of quiet that comes (as you mentioned Gregg) from a heart that is not divided. Most people I think never know that they are living with massive internal conflict… I am grateful for the opportunity to examine my own internal state, I am grateful to know what I do know, and I am grateful to be able to make a conscious choice as to where my heart belongs. Thank you as ever Gregg, for your posts.
LikeLike
This is something that is rarely heard, and I think it is unfortunately because so few are willing to “put their money where their mouth is”. It can be uncomfortable to line up your beliefs, particularly because they are often self-contradictory and therefore untenable together, requiring you to discard or modify something that is fundamental to you.
This is something that can benefit from some “pen and paper” time. Write down what you believe are your fundamental beliefs, and keep a running tally, especially when you realize you have done something that you are either really proud of or really ashamed of. When you lay the words out starkly like that, sometimes it is easy to get rid of something that would be harder to get at in an amorphous state.
There are so many advantages to having an undivided house. It gives an innate self-confidence, and much of the energy you spent deciding which decision to make can be re-focused into other activities. Most important of all, however, it lets you make progress along the path you wish to trod, rather than sitting in the tepid stasis that most end up in.
LikeLike
Freedom demands ultimate personal responsibility – no ifs, ands or buts.
LikeLike
I think often people don’t know what they believe. They may espouse certain beliefs consciously, but the deeper, actual belief is forced out under pressure, to the surprise of many!
LikeLike
I find some of the disconnect can be a result of living on automatic pilot. When I take the time to consider aspects of my habitual behavior I sometimes will recognize that it’s not really in line with or up to date with my current understanding. Perhaps the trendy words mindful living would apply.
LikeLike
Great point, I agree!
LikeLike