"Vous devez comprendre que voir c'est croire mais sachez aussi que croire c'est voir"

Seeing is believing, right? That’s something we’ve all heard before. It means that we tend to believe what we can see with our own eyes. But flip that around—believing is seeing—and it takes on a whole new dimension. It’s not just about what’s in front of our faces; it’s about what’s in our minds and hearts too.

Think about it: when you believe in something wholeheartedly, you start to see evidence of it everywhere. It shapes your reality. This idea isn’t new. It’s been kicking around for ages because it taps into something deeply human—our perceptions and beliefs are closely intertwined.

Let me take you back a bit. In 1954, a psychologist named Leon Festinger came up with something called cognitive dissonance. It’s a fancy term, but here’s the gist: when our beliefs and our experiences clash, we get uncomfortable. So, we naturally try to resolve that discomfort by adjusting our beliefs or our perceptions. This explains why, when you really believe in something, you start noticing things that support that belief more and more. It’s like your brain’s way of saying, “See, I told you I was right!”

Picture this: you’re training for a marathon. You believe you can do it, despite never having run more than a mile. Day by day, you start seeing progress—where others might see sweat and exhaustion, you see signs of improvement. That’s because your belief in your ability to complete the marathon shapes how you view every training run. It’s not just your legs getting stronger; it’s your mind reinforcing what you believe is possible.

So, how do you apply this? Start by recognizing the power of your beliefs. If you believe you’re capable, you’ll start seeing opportunities and paths that align with that belief. For instance, if you believe you’re good at public speaking, you’ll find yourself noticing events where you can speak, or feeling more confident to volunteer for those opportunities. It’s a self-fulfilling cycle: belief fuels reality, and reality reinforces belief.

Let’s get a bit more personal. Imagine you’re in a job you don’t love—it’s just a paycheck, and you’re counting down the days until the weekend. Now, if you believe that this job is a dead end, guess what? You’ll start seeing every little annoyance as a sign that you’re stuck. But what if you shift your belief? What if you start thinking, “This job is a stepping stone, a place where I can learn and grow while I figure out my next move”? Suddenly, those same tasks and challenges become opportunities to gain new skills and build a network. The job itself hasn’t changed, but your belief has, and that changes everything.

Here’s a story to drive it home: a friend of mine once struggled with public speaking. She was convinced she was terrible at it. Every minor slip-up became proof that she was right. Then, she decided to shift her belief. She started telling herself she could become a great speaker with practice. She joined a local Toastmasters club and began to see each speech as a step forward. She noticed her improvements—her pacing got better, her confidence grew. Over time, believing she could improve allowed her to see her progress, which reinforced her new belief.

So next time you’re struggling or doubting yourself, ask: what do you believe? And how might those beliefs be shaping your reality? It’s not magic, it’s mindset. And sometimes, that’s the most powerful tool we have.