THE THOUGHT

When I was 2 years old, I had a severe allergic reaction to penicillin.

That one moment, frozen in time, shaped countless decisions over the years. Every doctor visit involved the same conversation. Every prescription was carefully cross-checked. Over time, it became more than just a note in my medical records; it became part of who I thought I was.

Recently, doctors have suggested testing to confirm a fact I never thought to question. They’ve explained that reactions in young children aren’t always what they seem and that allergies can fade as the immune system matures. Has my body moved on, while my mind stayed behind?

Certain beliefs settle into us, like fingerprints in wet clay, hardening over time until they feel inseparable from us. When was the last time you revisited a belief you’ve carried for years? How much of what we "know" is simply what we’ve never stopped to question?

THE DIVE

The Stubborn Grip of Belief

Belief Perseverance is the human tendency to hold onto beliefs even when they’ve been discredited by new evidence. It’s a phenomenon deeply rooted in our need for consistency, both in how we see ourselves and the world around us. Once a belief settles into our mental framework, it can act like scaffolding, holding up other ideas and assumptions about life. To dismantle that structure feels unsettling, even threatening.

Psychologists suggest that this reluctance stems from our emotional attachment to beliefs. Beliefs often represent more than mere facts; they are tied to our identity, past experiences, and sense of stability. For example, if someone believes they’re a naturally unlucky person, evidence of positive events might be reframed as random luck rather than shifting the overarching narrative.

From a philosophical perspective, belief perseverance highlights our struggle with uncertainty. Friedrich Nietzsche once argued that humans are wired to favor truths that are comforting over truths that are challenging. This emotional bias explains why so many of us double down when our views are questioned. It’s not just the content of the belief that’s at stake, but a deeper psychological need to feel grounded.

The way we respond to evidence also fuels the phenomenon. Studies show that people don’t process information in a vacuum; instead, we approach it through the biases we already hold. Confirmation bias, for instance, means we’re more likely to notice evidence that supports our existing view and dismiss anything that contradicts it as unreliable or irrelevant.

But the most interesting layer? Our willingness to defend certain beliefs isn’t always rational. People remain loyal to disproven ideas about health, culture, or relationships—even when a better alternative is presented. It’s not only about logic but about how deeply intertwined the belief is with our sense of being.

But, if beliefs are not merely ideas but cornerstones of our reality, what happens when those cornerstones start to crack? What else begins to tremble?

THE PRACTICE

An Invitation to Rethink One Belief

What if we chose one belief we’ve held tightly and explored its roots? Not to disprove it, but to see how it shapes our actions and connections. Imagine examining it with curiosity, like uncovering layers of a story. Here’s a simple practice:

1. Identify a Belief: Pick one you lean on often. It could be about yourself, like “I can’t handle challenges,” or about others, like “People always disappoint me.”

2. Notice Its Influence: Over the next few days, pay attention to moments when this belief surfaces. Write them down briefly. What triggered it? How did it shape your feelings or actions? Did it create closeness or distance with others?

3. Ask Curious Questions: Once you have a few examples, ask, “Is this entirely true?” or “How has this belief served me?” Don’t rush to conclusions. Just notice what comes up and how it feels to wonder.

This exercise is about noticing the beliefs that guide us and thinking about whether they still serve us. What might shift if we softened just one belief? It’s something we can reflect on, together. But for now, I’ll go schedule an allergy test.