Beliefs are funny things. We collect them—sometimes consciously, sometimes by osmosis—from family, culture, or that one high school teacher who thought they were Socrates. Then one day, out of nowhere, life laughs and spins you upside down…and your mind snaps at you. Wait… what?
For me, that moment came on a random Thursday at 38 years old when I almost died. It was an ordinary day, and then suddenly it wasn’t. Everything I thought I understood about life, about myself, shifted in an instant. I found myself staring down my own mortality and asking: Wait… is this it? Is this life? And is this what I want to do here?
For others, a “wait… what?” moment might come in the form of losing a parent, partner, or child. It could be the diagnosis of an illness or even something as seemingly minor as a fender bender. These moments force us to pause and question everything. They’re uncomfortable, often painful, but also profoundly transformative. They’re the sparks that ignite our most important reflections.
Exploring Beliefs of Others
For me, my most valuable self-work has been prompted by studying philosophy. Philosophers were the ones who brought us existentialism in the first place.
When I first heard of Nietzsche, I didn’t have access to the endless streams of information we have today. If you wanted to learn about someone, you had to hang out in the library or hope their name came up in class. For me, Nietzsche made his debut in an English class. I don’t remember the context, but I do remember his aura—darkness, madness, raw authenticity. Something about him stuck with me.
Years later, he reappeared as I began to seriously study, and I finally had the tools to dive deeper. Nietzsche became my guide to questioning everything. He wasn’t about giving answers; he was about making you uncomfortable enough to find your own.
Through Nietzsche, I found the ancient Greeks. Socrates, Plato, Aristotle—the usual suspects. But when I dug a little deeper, I found Heraclitus, and everything shifted again. Heraclitus didn’t just teach me to question; he gave me a sense of grounding. His idea that life is constant flux—that everything changes—felt like a mirror reflecting the messy, beautiful chaos of being human.
Both Nietzsche and Heraclitus gave me the first glimmers of my truths. Reading them feels like sitting down with old friends who don’t just see you—they SEE you. They challenge and strengthen your beliefs, while sparking a love for the humanity we all share.
Who Are Your People
Beliefs aren’t built in isolation. They’re shaped, stretched, and strengthened by the people we meet along the way. When you meet someone new—whether it’s your co-worker Jane from Accounting, a TikTok creator making coffee in their kitchen, or Nietzsche himself—are you seeing them?
Look for people who inspire that spark of truth and humanity in you. It doesn’t have to be a deep, soul-baring connection every time. Sometimes it’s about seeing the beauty in their beliefs and values, which in turn helps you understand your own.
Think of it like a prism. The people you meet refract the light of your beliefs, showing you colors you didn’t know were there. They don’t have to agree with you, but they should challenge you in ways that make you grow.
The Power of Reevaluating Beliefs
Reevaluating your beliefs isn’t about throwing everything away (unless you want to, but I’d still go slow). It’s about staying curious, staying open, and staying grounded in your own truth.
Nietzsche said, “And those who were seen dancing were thought to be insane by those who could not hear the music.” Reevaluating your beliefs is about finding your own music, even if others don’t hear it.
Those “wait… what?” moments—whether they come from loss, love, or an ordinary Thursday gone sideways—are life’s way of asking you to pay attention. They’re an invitation to question your beliefs, to reconnect with yourself, and to decide what you really want from this one wild, unpredictable life.
Journal Prompts
- The “Wait… What?” Moment: Think of a time when life forced you to pause and reevaluate. What questions did it make you ask, and what did you learn?
- Finding Your People: Who in your life has sparked a deeper sense of truth and recognition? How have they shaped your beliefs?
- Your Music: What’s one belief you hold that others might not understand? How does it empower you to live authentically?
Closing Reflection
Life is messy, unpredictable, and full of moments that challenge everything you thought you knew. But those moments are also where growth begins. They’re the sparks that help us see the world—and ourselves—more clearly. So the next time life whispers wait… what? lean in. Ask the hard questions. Find your people. And don’t be afraid to dance to the music only you can hear.