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Over the years we have been asked about changing beliefs of every kind – money, love, family, health, how we look, the state of the world – the list goes on and on. This month we received a question about changing racist beliefs from South Africa.

Gerrit B. from Cape Town, South Africa writes:

I am of European descent, living in an African country. My forefathers came here 350 years ago. Our country is rife with racism, and although I don’t see myself as a racist, quite often a racist thought crosses my mind. Especially with regards to the running of the country . Having read The Power of Belief, now realize that I have a racist core belief. Which is difficult to accept, as I love so many people of colour that I either work with, or just know. I don’t want racist core beliefs. How can one get rid of them?

This heartfelt question brings up a memory for me. My mother was heavily involved in the civil rights movement of the 1960’s in the United States. Prejudice of any kind made her very angry. And yet, I remember that when she was approached by a black person that she didn’t know it made her nervous. As a child I always thought that, despite what she professed to believe, she was afraid of people of color.

Ninety percent of the process of changing beliefs is awareness of what you truly believe. Without that awareness it’s hard to make different choices.

So let’s practice a little awareness.

Generalizations or stereotypes, no matter how innocent, are a form of prejudice. At their core thay are just stories we tell about how things are. By definition stories are full of untruths.

If you listen closely racism and prejudice have a voice. Notice what that voice is saying. Does it whisper things like:

They’ll ruin everything.
I don’t want my children exposed to that.
She’s just not capable.
They don’t belong here.
They are hardworking but not very intelligent.
They are not very intelligent but hardworking.
Things have gone to hell since they took over.

Even more important is the theme behind the words. What tone, what point of view is in effect here? What dream does it spin?

If you listen closely racism and prejudice proposes an all encompassing principle: there is something wrong with them.

That judgment - there is something wrong with them - can not exist unless we believe the very same thing about ourselves. Unnoticed, the inner judge points the finger at everyone else obscuring the fear that comes from the possibilty that someone might judge us in the same way too.

Thus to change racism, prejudice, and discrimination we have to start withourselves. The voice of: there is something wrong with them - can be oh-so subtle. Nuture an awareness of that voice and how it reflects the very same judgement that you are afraid of. Heal the beliefs you have about yourself and you will never sit in harsh judgment of anyone again.

BeliefWorks,

Ray Dodd, author, The Power of Belief

http://www.everydaywisdom.us