The Power and Influence of Beliefs
Tommy Boone, PhD, MPH, MA, FASEP,
EPC
Professor and Chair
Department of Exercise Physiology
College of St. Scholastica
Duluth, MN 55811
To my friend extraordinaire,
Dr. Gary Adams, for his remarkable ability to accept me yet encouraged
me to challenge my own beliefs.
EMBEDDED IN WHAT we do everyday
are our beliefs. The way we speak to another person is influenced
by our beliefs. Whether we are respectful to someone we don’t know
is a function of our beliefs. Our behavior and what we think are
driven by our beliefs. Each person we come into contact with, what
that person may have said and how it was said, and even interactions with
others without realizing it shape and confirm our beliefs. Even our
bodies are influenced by our beliefs. The connection between the
two is confirmed by scientific research and publications throughout many
journals.
More specifically, the answer to
the question, “Do beliefs about ASEP reside in past experiences, in personal
feelings, or in behaviors?” is ‘yes’. Beliefs either bring
people together or drive them apart. Beliefs, therefore, have a way
of defining who we are and how we go about doing what we do. This
brief article is about understanding the role beliefs play in our decisions,
feelings, and reactions. It is logical that a better understanding
of beliefs will help us unravel the mystery in how we think about exercise
physiology. For example, it is now common knowledge that how negative
or positive a conversation might play out when discussing the control,
commitment, and regulatory functions of ASEP is directly a function of
beliefs. The way in which exercise physiologists of different organizations
speak and adjust to each other is defined by their beliefs.
The challenge of ASEP members who
“believe” in the Society of exercise physiologists is to professionalize
the field and, where possible, adjust to the beliefs of individuals who
do not believe in the Society. The 21st century view of exercise
physiology was founded on the belief that a professional organization is
important. No longer is it appropriate to think of exercise physiology
today in the same way it has been viewed for the past 40 or so years.
This new view is uncomfortable for those who have not made the changes
and adjustments inherently part of ASEP. Fortunately, for members
of the ASEP organization, the belief in their right to belong to a professional
organization has set in motion a truth among them that is empowering.
They have come to understand “what is a belief” and they have chosen to
believe what they sense, think, and feel is right.
“I Believe”
The sentence that begins with “I
believe” is an expression, a preference, or even a prejudice about present
or future events. The word believe is taken to mean the same as the
word belief. To believe therefore is to have a belief about something.
Of course, there are a lot of circumstances that influence how and what
we believe. Past experiences have profound and overarching impact
on beliefs. For example, a college teacher who believes that his/her
work on behalf of sports medicine is everything may grieve over the notion
that another organization is taking its place. This is perhaps as
it should be. Professional lives have a personal component to them.
Many individuals learn to share related ideas to which a commitment is
part of a person's belief system.
What is interesting is that beliefs
persist as long as the shared experiences are interpreted as permanent
or give rise to a connectedness that did not exist before. When permanence
becomes questioned by alternative thinking (such as by the existence of
ASEP), the commitment to persist is strong but not validated by as large
a social network. This is important since beliefs either define a
person’s reality or opinion [1]. A person's reality
provides a sense of comfort, if not encouragement. Hence, certain
exercise physiologists may conclude that exercise physiology belongs within
the sports medicine organization. When asked, “Is it possible that
exercise physiologists would be better off with a professional organization?”
They would likely respond by saying 'no' and, yet their beliefs (although
important to viewing their way of life) fail to correct the underlying
problems that have existed for several decades. That is, their beliefs
have little to do with the students’ fear of not locating a good job.
Their beliefs do not plan for academic credibility, board certification
for exercise physiologists, or a code of ethics, or even standards of professional
practice. The point is that beliefs can often inadvertently trivialize
serious issues.
Beliefs and Blame
Another interesting aspect of beliefs
is the “blame” placed on someone for having a different view; a belief
considered necessary since the alternative thinking threatens the very
core of the person's traditional beliefs. By blaming someone else
for thinking differently or doing something differently, the strength of
the original thinking is temporarily maintained. For example, members
of another organization may blame the leaders of ASEP for their misguided
thinking that is assumed to have negative impact on them. The externalization
of the problems facing the exercise physiologist helps temporarily to separate
the problems from other organizations [2]. In other
words, attitudes and thoughts play an important role in governing the way
we feel and behave. Beliefs, therefore, may lead to a resistance
to persuasion. The ASEP exercise physiologist, for example, is unlikely
to persuade members of other organizations from their emotional conviction
or core belief.
The ASEP belief is the truth for
members of the Society. Members speak to each other and relate to
each other from within the context of their reality. Zukav [3]
said it best:
Reality is what we take
to be true.
What we take to be true is what
we believe.
What we believe is based upon our
perceptions.
What we perceive depends on what
we look for.
What we look for depends on what
we think.
What we think determines what we
take to be true.
What we take to be true is our reality.
Reality is Important
Our reality is what matters.
It is directly a function of our convictions or beliefs that are at the
heart of the matter [
4]. Core beliefs define how
we cope with different ideas and thinking that may be either good or bad
for one’s profession. How individuals think about a profession is
very much like thinking about a family of committed relationships.
Each member of the organization learns to think in relationship to each
other. Central to this notion of social interaction and support is
a deep respect for the prevailing reality privileged to each member of
the organization. The ASEP leadership understands this point and
especially the sharing among organization members of their experiences
and beliefs. Perhaps, one beginning effort to alleviate the negative
emotions between members of different organizations is to acknowledge that
beliefs exist and, according to Zukav, “what we take to be true is our
reality”.
If we look carefully at what this
means, it is not a bad thing. The course of our "professionalism"
can be said to be driven by the investment in the ASEP reality. In
fact, it seems rather intuitive now that there is no question as to whether
ASEP should have been founded decades ago. Its obvious need in the
evolving nature of what exercise physiologists do is a contradiction in
the ongoing actions of individuals with beliefs that run counter to the
limitless possibilities now made possible by the ASEP leadership.
The same is the case with numerous other evolving groups of distinct professionals,
including but not limited to, the sports nutritionist, biomechanists, sports
psychologist, sports managers, and so forth.
Triggering Changes
Listening to, witnessing, and documenting
each group’s reality provides a palliative step in helping exercise physiologists
“live alongside each other” rather than try to “control” or “work against”
each other. As exercise physiologists, it is important to examine
our beliefs about exercise physiology. The notion of promoting the
growth potential of exercise physiology is intertwined with the belief
about what is best for the students in our academic programs. Proponents
of both the old and the new approaches have strong beliefs about how exercise
physiology ought to advance. Of course, the dominant belief by ASEP
is that the members of the emerging profession will be more successful
with professionally specific credentials. The option of continuing
alongside certifications from dozens of other organizations is a major
mistake. The critical issue here is to professionalize exercise physiology
and, thus trigger changes that are palliative and fundamental to our reality.
Our beliefs are basic to what we
do in our work, how we relate to others in the field, the way in which
we do it, and even where we choose to interact with others. Many
exercise physiologists are beginning to understand that “exercise physiology”
will be a profession if they work in accordance with the ASEP beliefs.
They understand that their beliefs are part of the professional pursuit
and the freshness in spirit that commitment encourages. And, thus
it is the same with all people who dare to bring forth their reality in
an otherwise mono-dimensional view of exercise physiology. It is,
perhaps, not the only way or view; instead, it is one of many beliefs that
invites change. It isn’t that the traditional mono-dimensional view
is entirely inappropriate, rather that the established model of professionalism
concurs with the ASEP initiative. Anyone who possess even some insight,
and judges the ASEP effort in a dispassionate way, will regard the effort
to professionalize exercise physiology as valid. The ability to choose
one's path or to demonstrate free will without rejection is the hallmark
of free will.
Organizational Coupling
Having said this, it is reasonable
to support the agenda of others without negating it altogether. Coexistence
is desirable for many reasons and, like our own need to exist, it too has
a legitimate and valid part to play in the professionalization of exercise
physiology. Change within exercise physiology is dependent on the
idea of “organizational coupling”. This means that together two distinct
entities are greatly influenced by the beliefs held by the leaders of each
entity, and that these beliefs can serve as guiding principles for positive
interaction and change. If the problem is with the belief that defines
the leadership, then perhaps the belief itself should be challenged or,
at least, the theoretical underpinnings for the right to a new set of beliefs.
It isn’t that the ASEP leadership
wants or desires an imposing position when it comes to their declared right
to exist, and it certainly isn’t helpful to always preach that another’s
beliefs are wrong. There is an obvious need to be responsible on
both sides of the fence. Clearly, change is inevitable and it will
always be true that there will be different beliefs about the same topic.
It is happening all around us in different directions and at different
speeds. Because it is so critical that change takes place within
exercise physiology so that the students can face less worry and anxiety
about future job opportunities, ASEP leadership is driven to realize a
new reality that corrects the problem. They are passionate about
change becoming reality. They expect it to happen, and they have
embraced steps to ensure it. They are not interested in changing
the beliefs of individuals who have their own professional organizations.
In addition, if we accept that a person has the right to his beliefs and
to act accordingly, as the ASEP leadership believes, we are not denying
the rights of others to believe as they wish. However, the notion
of free will and the decision to write, think, and do as a person pleases
carries with it significant responsibility or even the failure to act responsibly.
Exercise physiologists have seen the results of the latter everywhere,
and the struggle to help our students.
Valuing, Accepting, and Power
It becomes readily evident that
members of ASEP value their beliefs, opinions, ideas, as well as the observations
of others. However, there is a difference between valuing and accepting.
For example, a person may say, “I feel what you are doing is wrong and,
in fact, it is doing a major disservice to the field.” While there
really isn’t any reason not to value the person’s opinion, it should not
be required that his opinion is accepted. Adults have the right to
select from different views what it appropriate for them. It is the
ASEP point of view that caring for exercise physiology is consistent with
caring for the student. It is also about hope in face of the students’
beliefs about job opportunities in the field. To give students the
hope of a better future while coming face to face with the anticipated
challenges before them can no longer be neglected. Because what we
believe is at the heart of our reality, it is important that we keep in
touch with our beliefs (and especially those that center directly on exercise
physiology).
Furthermore, the evidence for the
power of member expectancy comes from those who believe they can make a
difference. This concept is closely tied to self-efficacy expectations
in which the member's belief in his or her control over certain known negative
conditions. The positive expectation sets the stage for significant
and positive change. Optimism is always better than hopelessness!
ASEP is hope and action. It is the collective strength of the members
beliefs who share in the promise of a new reality; one that is similar
and, maybe, someday even better than many of the other healthcare professions.
References
1. Hymers, M. (1995).
Truth and Objectivity. University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada.
2. White, M. (1998/1989).
Externalizing of the problem and re-authoring of lives and relationships.
Dulwich Centre Newsletter, pp. 3-21.
3. Zukav, G. (1979).
The Dancing Wu Li Masters: An Overview of the New Physics. New York, NY:
Morrow.
4. Wright, L.M.,
Watson, W.L., and Bell, J.M. (1996). Beliefs: The Heart of Healing in Families
and Illness. New York, NY: Basic Books.
Copyright
©1997-2007
American Society of Exercise Physiologists All Rights
Reserved.