The Power of Liminal Thinking.
“…but they who behold where [truth] comes trickling into this lake or that pool, gird up their loins once more, and continue their pilgrimage toward its fountain-head”
We forget that our beliefs and thoughts are not absolute Reality. We may not even know where our thoughts and beliefs originate or understand why we believe what we believe.
It is vital to get as close to the source of our thoughts and beliefs as we can. The “pilgrimage toward its fountain-head” is not only noble but necessary if we are to understand ourselves and our world better.
Dave Gray’s drawing of Reality, our pyramid of belief, and our bubble of self-sealing logic.
This profound work takes us to the very core of our lived experience. It challenges our individual interpretation of the world by shining a light of understanding on it. It allows us to define our path instead of letting it define us.
Dave Gray, author of Liminal Thinking- as well as the YouTube video below- describes a process that can assist our journey to the origins of our beliefs.
Gray points out that we stand atop a giant pyramid of our own experiences, observations, assumptions, conclusions, and beliefs. This pyramid is the foundation of our personal view of the world. For most of us, though, this pyramid is hidden below the sands of our subconscious.
“Until you make the unconscious conscious, it will direct your life and you will call it fate.”
Unless we uncover it, we may continue to be blindly driven by its unseen causes. We must dig below the surface if we wish to change our outlook, perceptions, and core beliefs. We must be willing to take an honest look at this structure that supports our reality.
I held many ‘obvious’ beliefs about alcohol and its role in my life. I believed it was a manly thing to drink the way I did. I believed I showed toughness to work day after day with a raging hangover. I believed alcohol was a great way to bond with others. I believed alcohol took away the stresses of the world. I believed it made me funnier, wittier, more conversational. I believed it eased the self-loathing and pain I felt inside.
I was on top of my pyramid, thinking I was on the ground of Reality. I didn’t realize that I stood on a structure I had built. I didn't know how separated from Reality I was. Once I comprehended this, I knew I needed to drill to the core of that pyramid to understand where my thoughts, beliefs, and actions came from. Some questions that helped initiate this process were:
Why do I believe these things about alcohol?
Where did the thoughts originate?
Were they absolutely true?
What did these beliefs contribute to my life?
Were they serving me in a positive manner?
Once I got the necessary tools to start digging deep, my assumptions, conclusions, and observations began to change. I saw them for what they were: mental constructs that weren’t the Truth nor grounded in Reality.
Most of my beliefs were not even my own. Once I explored their origin, I found that they came from outside of me. They had been put there by decades of advertisements, cultural conditioning, and long-held societal norms.
“Yeah, well, you know, that’s just like, your opinion, man.”
My experiences and observations were simply my interpretation- not objective Truth. I found that some of my assumptions, conclusions, and beliefs were unfounded. It no longer made sense to hold onto them. This began the process of letting go, which led to healing.
Assessing my beliefs around alcohol was just the first part of the expedition. Exploring these obscured, dark places within is an ongoing process. It is a journey I have found very rewarding and healing- difficult though it may be. There is much more to be uncovered, many more belief systems to take apart and examine. It will be up to me whether or not I need to discard or keep the things I find.
P.S.
I know how it feels to even think about reaching out to someone. It doesn’t mean you are weak or broken. It shows you dare to change your own life.
I am happy to coach you on this topic, and I have spots open. You can schedule a free and completely confidential call by clicking here. There is no obligation in this call. We will discuss where you are, where you would like to be, and if you think working with me would be a good fit. I look forward to hearing from you.
