Perfection and Belief Systems

“You are perfect. It is because of all the messages adopted from outside influences that make you less than your true perfection. Let go of all the ‘stuff’ you’ve acquired in your heads and bodies and get closer to your true perfection.” ~ Therese Sandhage
This is a realization I’ve had and forgotten many times. I’m always shocked to remember I am perfect. Admittedly, I read similar things about perfection in books and in quotes but the little voices in my head always say the quote will be true when I no longer hold onto injustices, can be proactive in all situations, and nothing bothers me. It’s always a striving, someplace I will be in the future. The thing is, we are each born perfect. Everything that happens, including interactions with every person, place, thing we’ve encountered in our lives, contributes to the continuance of our perfection or we adapt an external belief which takes away from our perfection.
While this realization has been with me for some time, I still revert to feeling badly and beating up on myself for perceived wrongdoings. However, I do keep coming back to the realization of my perfection and the perfection of everyone else at a Soul level. I’ve released many things I’ve held onto for years; things I wanted other people to feel sorry they did to me.
Whether someone intentionally seeks to harm me becomes less relevant when I realize everything people do is about them. If I take on other people’s ideas of who I am and how I need to act then I am allowing them to influence my perfection. If their opinions resonate with me and increase my positive self-image then it is possible I want to adopt those beliefs. I do not have to adopt any of the beliefs, I can adopt some of the beliefs, or I can adopt a modified version of the beliefs.
If a person is upset with me, it is not about me. It is about them. When someone starts yelling at me, I realize I’ve challenged one of their belief systems. If they need me to agree with them that implies, to me, they are unsure of themselves. I do not have to agree with someone to like them.
Some ways to identify our belief systems are to watch other people, either by people watching or by watching TV. While TV is contrived, it does a good job of taking beliefs and exaggerating them to make a point. If I see something on TV which causes a strong reaction then I know I’ve had a belief system confirmed or challeged. That gives me the opportunity to evaluate whether the belief is something I want to keep, modify, or release. There have been many times when I’ve suddenly realized it was time to release a belief  which has served me well for many years. I know it is important for me to look at all of my beliefs whether they are about people, animals, the environment, food, shelter, clothing, politics, religion, spirituality, health, sex, exercise, music, I could go on and on. The point is to look at everything. It’s especially important I do not refrain from looking at a subject, especially any I feel are ‘wrong’ to question. For me, it is important to look closely at any subject which has a lot of dogma around it. It’s equally important, to me, to not be dogmatic in my beliefs. I must be willing to change my beliefs as I learn and grow even if they directly contradict a previously held belief.
I believe that, as long as my belief system is based in love and compassion, I am on the right track. It is only when I feel fearful that I get angry and sef-absorbed, Fear limits what I can see as solutions. It clouds my judgment. I become absorbed by my fear and lose my compassion for myself and others. I do not believe we can hold fear and love at the same time. I prefer the way love feels so I believe it is the better option for me. What do you believe? Why?