The document discusses the need to apply scientific standards to beliefs, but acknowledges that science can be confusing. It notes that metaphors can be useful for understanding but can also lead us astray if incorrect. While things like the law of attraction sound appealing, we should not rely on randomness and must be willing to take risks and face potential failure to achieve our goals.

2. There's a lot of new-agey type stuff
that sounds pretty good, but also can
be pretty useless.

3. I used to love the TV show, "X-Files,"
primarily because in almost every
episode, there was always both a
scientific explanation, and a
parapsychology explanation for what
had happened.

4. One guy was chasing UFO's and was
always explaining things in terms of
alien conspiracies.

5. His partner was an M.D. and was
always explaining everything in terms
of medical science.

6. Whenever it comes to things like law
of attraction, personal achievement, or
anything similar, we MUST hold these
ideas to the same standards.

7. Of course, EVERYTHING must be
explained by science.

8. Not necessarily science we can
understand, but some kind of
repeatable, scientific principles.

9. If we don't believe in science, then
we're pretty much at the mercy of the
gods of randomness.

10. And since the laws of physics,
chemistry and biology appear to be
pretty consistent, relying on
randomness might not be a good idea.

11. On the other hand, sometimes science
is so confusing that the best we can do
is rely on over simplified metaphors to
help us understand the underlying
structure.

12. Unfortunately, if we get the metaphor
"wrong" we may end up looking in the
wrong place.

13. Sometimes we get stuck with a
metaphor not because we think it will
work, but because it sounds good,
makes us feel special, and makes it
seem like we don't have to take any
risks, or face any potential failure.

14. But as Dale Carnegie famously said,
"The sure thing boat never gets too far
from shore."

15. This, of course, is a metaphor that
describes life.

16. If you insist in any proof or guarantee,
you aren't going to accomplish much.

17. Another famous "Carnegie-ism" is that
"If you want the sweet fruit, you've got
to go out on a limb."

18. Meaning if you are safely hugging the
trunk of the tree, you won't be able to
reach very far.

19. Since most people are too terrified to
go out on the thin branches, there's
not much within an arms reach of
safety.

20. One of these metaphysical type
statements is "When You Believe It,
You'll See It."

21. What does this mean?

22. Now, most people think the opposite.

23. They wait for proof, or a guarantee,
and won't believe anything unless they
see it written up in the latest scientific
journals.

24. But humans are very, very good at
conning ourselves.

25. We see things that aren't there, and
we don't see things that are right in
front of us.

26. Cognitive dissonance and confirmation
bias are just a couple of scientific
examples that show this is true.

27. But think of what this means.

28. All those things you WISH were true
CAN be true.

29. All you've got to do is believe they are,
THEN you will see the evidence.

30. Allowing YOU to get whatever you
want.

31. mindpersuasion.com/belief/