This I Used to Believe

I got the idea to do a "This I Used to Believe" essay from listening to a "This American Life" podcast. So my "This I Used to Believe" essay is a knockoff of that "This I Used to Believe" essay, which is a knockoff of an NPR program,  "This I Believe," which is a knockoff of a 50's program, "This I Believe." *For the record, I think "This American Life" is one of the most fascinating programs on the radio today, and I would encourage everyone to listen to one or two episodes to form your own opinion. Now, for a few beliefs I used to have, essay on "This I Used to Believe."

I used to believe money and fame and power were more important than relationships.

I used to believe nothing bad would happen in my life, because I called myself a Christian. 

I used to believe if anything bad did happen to us, it was necessarily a resistance for growth.

I used to believe having an open mind and deep faith were mutually exclusive. 

I used to believe there are rules and regulations in our life because our parents, teachers, and God didn't want us to have fun, not because they were put in place out of love. 

I used to believe I had to believe what my parents believed or I wasn't a good son (not because they taught me to believe that). 

I used to believe my parents and other close family members were perfect and I had to strive to be like that. 

I used to believe it is better to worry about what people think of you than helping others, even if it isn't what everyone else would do.

I used to believe any remote question about God and Christianity made me a bad Christian.

I used to believe questioning everything about God made me an atheist, not a human.

I used to believe conformity is better than individualism.

I used to believe selfless work was good but not for me.

I used to believe you can be friends with people with the stipulation they believe what you believe.

I used to believe I could pray for answers. 

I used to believe I will never encounter violence in my life.

I used to believe I would someday be a professional soccer player. 

I used to believe family car rides into the mountains were laborious and painful.

I used to believe if I didn't have a girlfriend by the time I was 18, I would be single forever. 

I used to believe being short was a bad thing.

I used to believe I had to judge because people judged me.

I used to believe differences between my brothers and I meant we couldn't be close.

I used to believe my parents choices in raising us were normal, not to be highly admired. 

I used to believe I would someday climb the corporate ladder and one day become a corporate CEO. 

I used to believe war and pain in the world were sad, but I could do nothing about it.

I used to believe Africa was a distant land that I would never reach.

I used to believe the only reality is to live until I'm 100, then die. 

I used to believe that love is not the most important attribute in the world.

What did you used to believe?