Recognizing the Importance of What Anchors You in Life
Warwick Fairfax
May 9, 2019
Our beliefs form the very core of who we are. They are the essence of our true selves. Living and leading our life in harmony with our most deeply held beliefs is a major step toward leading a life of significance – a life that is not about us but about serving others and making a difference in the world.
As we pursue our vision and lead our lives, our deeply held beliefs help ensure that we are on course. They provide anchors for our lives. If we feel that we have led a life that betrays everything that we believe in, that is soul crushing. It is a place you do not want to be.
Where Beliefs Come From
What are these beliefs that can form anchors for our lives? They are typically a set of principles, a moral philosophy, if you will. They may be rooted in a major religion, such as Christianity, Judaism, Hinduism, Buddhism, or Islam. They could also be based on a philosophical way of thought, such as the writings of Confucius, Plato, Aristotle, or John Stuart Mill.
That there are documented writings that address the purpose of life and where we find that purpose is an advantage of a religious way of thought. There are also teachers that can provide guidance and help us live in accordance to our purpose.
Discovering Your Own Beliefs
It’s important that you spend some time examining your beliefs. What do you believe? Is every area of your life in alignment with your belief system? If not, why not? For anchors to be really effective in our lives, we must really think through and believe in our belief system. Having halfhearted beliefs does not provide a strong anchor.
Below are a few things you can get started on today that will take you one step closer to discovering the anchors in your life:
- Write out and describe the principles that you lead your life by. It might be humility, integrity, and self-sacrifice. Or perhaps, kindness, generosity, and compassion.
- Then, think about why you believe in these principles. Why are you so passionate about them? Spoiler alert: If you are not passionate about your beliefs, that is a problem.
- Next, think through where your beliefs come from. Do they come from a particular moral philosophy or a religious way of thought?
- Lastly, start to immerse yourself in more of the writings and teachings behind your beliefs. Talk with teachers of these beliefs or others who have similar beliefs.
Applying Your Beliefs as Life Anchors
Once you have found the belief system that forms the anchor of your life, you can then start to evaluate and apply your anchors to every aspect of your life. I’ve highlighted a few steps and questions to reflect on below.
- Do an audit of your life, your vision, and your path. Are your beliefs in alignment with your life and path?
- If your life and path are not in line with your beliefs, outline the steps you will take to get your life and your path into alignment with your beliefs.
- An important part in ensuring we are living our beliefs is to talk to our closest friends who are open and nonjudgmental. Tell them what your beliefs are and how they should affect how you live. Get their input as to how you are doing in living out your beliefs.
You may find that your daily life is so full of to-do lists and endless tasks that you forget what anchors you. When this happens, make it a daily practice to spend time strengthening your anchors. Whether it’s through teachings or meditations, it’s essential to feeling calm and centered as you go about your day.
