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From: Alan Badmington (to Shannon) (Part 1)
Date: 20 Oct 2007
Time: 03:56:54 -0500
Remote Name: 195.194.75.225
Hi Shannon, Thank you for commenting upon my paper. I am not familiar with the ‘personal construct theory’ – my article is based upon my own life experiences. I think it is useful (and interesting) for us to gain an understanding of how we develop the belief system that, effectively, runs our lives. When we are born, we are provided with a blank slate, totally free of any beliefs, opinions and prejudices. We learn from our parents, grandparents, family members, school teachers and other persons with whom we come into contact. We inherit their beliefs about a variety of things – literally thousands of beliefs relating to the environment, everyday life, and the world in general. They are wide and varied. My understanding is that the majority of our belief system is in place by the age of 14/15 years. So, irrespective of your current age, the beliefs that dictate the way in which you live your life NOW were primarily decided by early adolescence. That critical period will continue to play such a hugely influential part in our CURRENT lives, unless we take time to reassess our true worth, our true values and our true beliefs – based upon fresh updated and relevant information that challenges those long-established and pre-conceived ideas. The beliefs that you hold will stay with you for the rest of your life, unless you examine them, or learn from an experience that brings them into question. If you hold a belief that you are inadequate, ugly, or unlovable; if you believe that you are stupid, incapable, or incompetent, and you do not challenge that belief, then it will remain with you forever. I must close here, but I will complete my response very shortly. Kindest regards Alan