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Humor me as I go off the deep end.
Why invest yourself with beliefs instead of opinions? Beliefs are difficult to change and revise as they tend to symbolize the essence of who you are. People usually don't refute beliefs because they're typically integral to one's character.
The concepts of honesty and integrity are widely held personal beliefs, taught from a young age from like-minded parents, mentors, role-models and personal experience. Religion, women's role in society and equal justice for all are some of many that fall into that category. So are thoughts on entitlement, greed and descrimination or any number of topics. The challenge is to decide what eventually goes into that belief compartment in your psyche. Why restrain yourself into accepting a piece of data (whatever it is) as a belief when that data may turn out to be false or negative? It's harder to deny the falsity if you have taken it to heart.
People tend to seek facts that support one's beliefs. It's either reassuring or self-affirmative as opposed to seeking new answers to old questions. This thought process is more comforting to most people. It's human nature. However, it's usually easier to revise a position if it's merely an opinion w/o the burden of one's belief system in conflict. On the other hand, beliefs result in less contradictions in the face of varying and conflicting information - I believe, therefore, it is so.
There are down sides. Changing an opinion takes some work and can produce disappointment - that's life, but you move on having learned more. Changing a long-held belief can result in personal turmoil, but can release negative burdens taught, experienced or absorbed in formative years. It can also result in personal growth as a human being. The old adage comes to mind: "The more you know, the less you know." This is frightening to some and realistic to others.
If possible, I suggest choosing or examining ones beliefs wisely and carefully less they limit one's ability to think and act rationally and objectively. Something to "think" about, unfortunately more difficult to accomplish.
We all have baggage,
Sherwood
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