Beliefs are deeply held opinions or views about the world that we perceive to be 'truth', but they are simply our map of how the world is, not the territory. New beliefs are formed as we go through life. They may be changed, discarded or become stronger and more resistant to change. Beliefs determine what you pay attention to. What you pay attention to then guides your behaviour.

Our beliefs are formed unconsciously at different times and from different sources. When you are a child you are exposed to your family's ways of thinking about the world, even if they never talked directly about what they believed. You form new beliefs from any experience that has made you think about life in a different way, and when you encounter new areas of llife about which you have no existing opinions.

Most people presume that beliefs and opinions change as a direct result of the information that comes through the senses. In fact, we delete and distort that information according to our beliefs - we only notice the information that proves our existing belief, making it self-fulfilling and resilient to change. In other words, beliefs help to create the reality around us, and you act according to the reality you have created.

Example:

Imagine two people who are overweight. One person might say, I am overweight because I have a slow metabolism and I am genetically predisposed to this condition. Because the person believes it to be an absolute truth, he won't make diet and lifestyle changes since he 'knows' whatever he does will be doomed to failure.

The other person may have the same physical problems but believe that he can change his fate because he has seen someone else do it. So he will investigate what foods are unsuitable for him and what kind of exercise will best help him. Because he believes he can change, he takes actions.