beliefs信念

In The Early Sessions Book 1, although the core proposition that "beliefs create reality" is most systematically elaborated in later works, this volume already lays a deep foundation concerning the decisive influence of "beliefs," "confidence," and "subjective cognition" on individual reality. First, beliefs and expectations directly determine the success or failure of actions and experiments. Seth clearly states that subjective disbelief leads to failure; for example, the wardrobe experiment failed precisely because the members "did not believe it would work" ^[1]. On the contrary, "positive expectation and inner confidence always bring the best results with the least effort" ^{[2] [3]}. The outer ego's manipulation of camouflage matter depends to a large extent on its confidence, and this confidence is strong only when it follows the patterns of the inner self ^[4]. Second, the individual's physical health and immunity are deeply influenced by such forms of belief as "tacit agreement" and "suggestion." Seth points out that human beings have a general immunity to viruses and infections, and only when the individual gives "tacit agreement" do these fragments cause harm to the body ^[5]. In addition, "suggestion is a good tool" ^[1], while strong negative suggestions from others may become a turning point in health or fortune ^[6]. Worry is also a corrosive negative attitude that strengthens negative beliefs ^[1]. Third, erroneous self-perception and external judgments (that is, limiting beliefs) lead to physical and psychological paralysis. Seth analyzes in detail how Jane and Rob adopted the "unhealthy attitudes" and "misconceptions" of their parents, thereby producing "groundless feelings of inferiority" about themselves, and how this psychological sense of powerlessness was directly concretized as physical stiffness and back spasms ^{[7] [8] [9]}. Jane's fearful belief of "being caught and crippled," arising from childhood experiences, also directly led to her physiological tension and sinusitis symptoms ^[10]. Fourth, beliefs have historical limitations and collective projective characteristics. In particular historical periods, the shared cognition of a group determined their way of life; for example, villagers in the past believed that drinking water was unhealthy and therefore drank only ale ^[11]. In addition, any scientific or religious "fanaticism" is an extremely narrow, restrictive belief that leads to a dangerous contraction of focus ^[12]. Finally, the publication information appended to this book also summarizes that the core of the Seth material lies in helping individuals "free themselves from limiting beliefs and create the life they want" ^[13], and clarifies how personal beliefs converge and combine to form mass events such as wars and epidemics ^[14].

In The Early Sessions Book 2, Seth offers an in-depth treatment of "beliefs" and the closely related "expectations." Seth points out that beliefs and expectations are the core driving forces by which the individual creates his or her own material reality. The following is a summary of the core discussions of the concept of beliefs in this book:

1. Beliefs are the blueprint for material reality Seth emphasizes that all material structures are the result of energy being transformed into thought, and thought then being constructed into material reality. Without thought, there is no material reality; and without the belief that "a goal can be achieved," no achievement is possible ^{[1] [2]}. Beliefs and expectations not only change people's attitudes toward matter, but also directly change matter itself ^[3]. For example, if everyone suddenly believed that the world would end at a specific time, this collective belief would bring about the end of the material world, because people would stop constructing material ideas ^[1].

2. Expectations are frameworks shaped by emotional force Beliefs often operate in daily life through the specific form of "expectation." Seth points out that expectations are frameworks shaped by basic emotions, and the force of emotion transforms expectations into material reality ^{[4] [5]}. If negative emotions such as inner aggression or hatred are not constructively channeled, they solidify into negative expectations, thereby creating unfortunate material constructions in the outer world ^[6]. Therefore, to change material results, one must first change the basic inner emotional climate and expectations ^[7].

3. The harm of limiting beliefs and self-imposed restrictions Many of the individual's limitations are self-adopted, and these limiting beliefs often originate from childhood experiences, parental attitudes, or past-life backgrounds ^[8]. Seth analyzes in detail the following typical limiting beliefs:

4. The belief in scarce energy: many people subconsciously believe that energy is exhausted once used, and this erroneous belief limits their ability to transform infinite universal energy into material form ^{[9] [10]}.

5. The belief in the impoverished artist: if a person firmly believes that "a true artist must be poor," this belief becomes part of his or her framework of expectations. In order to protect his or her artistic talent, the person will subconsciously resist wealth and may even feel guilty when acquiring it ^{[4] [11]}.

6. Conflicting beliefs: for example, Ruburt once deeply believed that a good writer could not have children, and this belief, which set talent in opposition to childbearing, severely constrained his personality framework ^[12]. Seth points out that when people face concrete material choices (such as buying a house), their actual expectations manifest concretely. If they are inwardly full of financial fear or doubt about their own abilities, these limiting beliefs hinder the full release of energy and lead to failure in action ^{[13] [14] [7]}.

7. The openness of beliefs and the "two-way door" characteristic Seth compares beliefs to a "two-way door" and emphasizes the importance of maintaining an open mind ^[15]. Sometimes one abstract belief seems to negate another, but this is often because the individual's acceptance or expectations are not broad enough to contain both at the same time. In fact, beliefs do not necessarily conflict, just as believing in red does not prevent believing in green ^{[15] [16]}.

8. The relationship among beliefs, confidence, and commitment Confidence and belief in an idea imply a certain commitment, and commitment depends on expectation. Without expectation, there is no commitment, and without commitment, there is no achievement ^{[17] [18]}. Although the scientific community tends to belittle "confidence," the birth of any new concept or discovery must first be built on the confidence of "believing that it truly exists" ^[17]. In addition, stubborn belief in "camouflage" concepts (such as time and space) hinders people from using the inner senses for extrasensory experiences (such as time-space travel), which requires people to temporarily suspend so-called logic and establish deep belief ^[19].

9. The nature of religious and mythological beliefs Seth also discusses human belief in "God." He points out that, in terms of hard facts, there is no such personalized God as human beings imagine; but from the perspective of myth, mythological beliefs are humanity's attempt to objectify its own higher instincts and establish contact with the inner self ^{[20] [21]}. Because human beings created this myth and generated strong emotional needs, this belief possesses great reality on the psychological and spiritual levels ^[20].

In The Early Sessions Book 3, Seth offers an in-depth exploration of "beliefs" (often expressed through terms such as "expectations," "suggestions," and "inner beliefs"), revealing how subjective cognition shapes both individual and collective physical reality. First, beliefs have a direct causal relationship with physical health and the materialization of illness. Seth points out that disease does not arise from nothing; rather, the body's vulnerable points reflect inner fears and imperfect energy manipulation, and these vulnerable points often originate from early environmental and conditional constraints ^[1]. When an individual faces external suggestions (such as a doctor's diagnosis), if there is "fertile soil" of inner fear, negative expectations will transform harmless physiological phenomena into genuine functional disorders ^[2][3]. Because suggestions from authority figures are more readily granted trust, their shaping effect on individual beliefs is also stronger ^[4]. Even the normal functioning of instruments is closely related to individual expectations and beliefs ^[5]. Second, negative beliefs and expectations are enormously destructive. Seth emphasizes that negative expectations not only fail to protect the individual but are instead as devastating as an epidemic ^[6]. For example, excessive attention to negative external news intensifies an individual's pessimistic beliefs, thereby weakening vitality and triggering physical illness ^[7]. Conversely, joy is a powerful weapon, and individuals who possess the capacity for joy can to a large extent change their world ^[8]. In addition, the fear of failure is also a subtle negative belief that must be overcome, while an atmosphere of confidence can maximally promote the release of ability ^[9]. Third, the formation of beliefs is deeply influenced by early experience and the subconscious level. An individual's early Puritan-style education or childhood experiences form deep-rooted inner beliefs, causing the individual to subconsciously judge and resent family members ^[10][11]. At the same time, external ideas can easily be transformed into individual beliefs without awareness. For example, Jane only began to be troubled by noise after reading the claim that psychic classes should exclude external interference, which shows that beliefs and expectations are manipulating the individual's sensory experience ^[12]. Fourth, the reshaping of beliefs and the pathways of change. Seth mentions that when the ego rests, the individual can rebuild positive past expectations through dreams, thereby breaking the vicious cycle of present negative expectations and changing the material environment by elevating inner expectations ^[13]. Furthermore, by breaking inner compulsive psychological patterns, external addictive behaviors (such as smoking) will also disappear accordingly ^[14]. Finally, there is an inevitable connection between personal beliefs and collective events. Personal beliefs merge with one another, thereby forming group reactions and collective events such as wars, epidemics, and changes of government ^[15][16]. In summary, in this stage of the sessions, Seth emphasizes the key role of beliefs (expectations) as the bridge between psyche and matter. Whether it is the state of physical health, the sensitivity of the senses, or the historical direction of the collective, all are materialized manifestations of the inner beliefs of individuals and groups.