What the Hell is Faith?

For a number of years, I have had this internal battle with myself over a number of issues:

Burnt out or Lazy?

Passive or Respectful?

Self respecting or selfish?

Stressed or am i too easily stressed?

Overthinking or not thinking enough?

I am good enough or needing to improve?

The worlds fault or my fault?

Ego or genuine belief?

Planned enough or not planned enough?

Fixed mindset?

As a result of this I have been hooked on Self improvement podcasts, Youtube videos etc on topic or meta topics such as hustling, get better, be better, be the difference, change you and you will change the world sort of things... I have actually overwhelmed myself going through all of this in a desperate need/longing to find peace within myself... and for my thoughts to calm down. I tried mindfulness, going to the gym, CBT, counselling etc, but for some reason nothing was working... This has been exhausting and also a bit chaotic... some work in parts of it but what I needed to do was take a leap of faith. Get out of my comfort zone.

This is a complex issue as why this was the answer and this article in by no way or shape is supposed to be a victim "oh poor you" article. I don't want it to be that, I would prefer it to be something to either inspire, share and challenge somebody so we are going to keep it that way.

The only thing however - and I would say i'm still in this process - that gave me an opening to the path I am on however... is not the action of going travelling... but understanding what faith means.

What the Hell is faith?

In our secularised world today, people don't talk about what they believe in. It's almost taboo certainly in my perspective. The more I have began to understand what faith means to me... or dare I say... What I believe?... the more I have seen a positive change in me and a possible way out of my internal conflict. The possibility of a route out, or a way towards peace is a slightly better answer...

I decided to try this out and ask a few people close to me and have also asked some travellers what they believe... "What do you believe?"

The vast majority of people don't have an answer to this question. I leave it open ended and give people the opportunity to take the question in anyway they want. On the rare occasion somebody has had answer, it has had depth and that person I can tell just by having the conversation with each other... has their shit together so to speak. I know what they believe, but even better... THEY know what they believe and are acting in that fashion...

So the question has been for me... What the Hell do I believe? What is faith?

I will tackle the second one first... and strangely enough I found the answer in Steve Harvey:

"Faith is the belief in things you cannot see" - Steve Harvey

Faith is the belief in things you cannot see... the things in your heart and your imagination... there is a story to them and a willingness to see them but they are not yet seen... they are a possibility to live into.

I always thought faith was a religious word however when I heard this... it isn't at all. Its the same as putting your trust in somebody fulfilling a specific favour. It's not happened yet but you have FAITH that it will. This for me was a game changer... but also that the fact it wasn't a religious term...

E.g.

• I have faith in people staying on the correct side of the road when driving, before setting out on the road... thats a normal thing.

• I have faith that people won't stab me in a new city... thats a normal thing...

These are normal things and about

What do I believe?

This the more apparent I have read and watched videos is the reason why people follow religion...

FULL DISCLOSURE: I got baptised about a year ago. I am still amazed I did and still know I have questions... however I have a camp I stand in now...

I believe in Jesus... however what the HELL does that mean? This has taken me a year to articulate what this means... and comes down to this statement

"I believe in Jesus being the Son of God who died and rose again for me. Because of this I follow what he taught and said."

Why do I believe in Jesus?

Born

Teachings

Die

Rose again

If you were to do one in thing in your life, could I ask that try to answer these four questions... either way is acceptable but you need to know precisely what you believe to have happened in this guys life. An maybe it just might change everything else in your life and I believe either way.

I have faith in this or otherwise I wouldn't have faith in anything...

The meaning of the word confidence comes from latin word "Confidere" = To have trust/faith