Too Much Belief not Enough Knowing

I’ve come to see that belief and knowing are worlds apart. Belief is what others hand to you, shaped by the voices and opinions around you. As a young man, I was driven by the validation of those voices, trying to live up to standards that weren’t mine. But belief only got me so far.

It was the lessons learned in the trenches of my own life that brought me into knowing. Knowing isn’t about following a script someone else wrote; it’s about writing your own with the pen of experience. It’s the difference between believing what’s safe and knowing what’s right for you, rooted in a framework of self-awareness and truth.

For years, I was motivated by what I thought others wanted from me. I followed belief because it felt safe, but it was a false sense of security. When life got real, belief left me hanging. It wasn’t until I faced my hardest moments head-on that I began the journey to knowing. Knowing made me realize that the competition with others was a distraction. Collaboration and connection became the higher path, driven by purpose, not fear.

Knowing also demands accountability. Belief can make room for excuses; it gives you a way out when things get tough. But when you truly know yourself, there’s no more hiding. You own your choices, and you commit to self-reflection. Without self-reflection, there’s no growth. I’ve made it a habit to look in the mirror and ask, “Where did I go wrong? What do I need to change?” It’s not always comfortable, but it’s where real growth happens.

This process has been ongoing. It’s not a one-time shift—it’s a lifelong commitment to self-knowledge. It requires me to stay curious, to keep learning, and to be humble enough to admit when I don’t know. I’ve come to understand that knowing is a practice, just like gratitude or compassion. It’s something I show up for every day.

To anyone out there still living under the weight of belief handed down by others, I encourage you to take the risk of knowing. It’s not always easy, but it’s the only way to live a life that’s true to who you are. And if you need a reminder: Trust the process. The journey from belief to knowing is where you’ll find your strength, your purpose, and the truth of who you are.