I recently watched the Norwegian film Troll out of curiosity. A character observes: "You have to believe in something to see it." This simple statement captures a profound truth and one of humanity's oldest wisdom traditions. The relationship between belief and perception is not just philosophical. It has practical implications for how we approach challenges and navigate life's obstacles.

Faith: Believing Before Seeing

The Christian tradition places belief at the centre of spiritual understanding. The Letter to the Hebrews defines faith as "confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see" (Hebrews 11:1, NIV). This formulation presents belief not as wishful thinking, but as a form of conviction—an internal certainty that precedes external manifestation.

Throughout Christian scripture, the sequence is consistent: belief must come first. This temporal paradox is intentional. One must hold conviction before witnessing the outcome. Faith, in this framework, is not only intellectual agreement but an orientation of one's entire being toward a perceived reality.

Buddhist Wisdom: Mind as Reality's Architect

Buddhist philosophy offers a complementary perspective, emphasising the mind's role in shaping experienced reality. The opening verses of the Dhammapada, one of Buddhism's foundational texts, teach that our mental states precede and create our experience. What we believe about reality determines which aspects of reality become visible to us.

This framework positions belief as not passive acceptance but as an active, creative force in shaping our experience. Our mental formations condition our perception, creating filters that determine what we can and cannot see.

Stoic Philosophy: The Power of Interpretation

The Stoic philosophers of ancient Greece and Rome developed sophisticated theories about belief and reality. Marcus Aurelius wrote in his Meditations: "The universe is change; our life is what our thoughts make it."

For the Stoics, the distinction between objective events and our judgments about those events was paramount. Our interpretations are rooted in our beliefs that determine our emotional and behavioural responses to circumstances. This philosophical position suggests that our beliefs about situations matter more than the situations themselves.

The Practical Implications

When you are facing a challenge, your beliefs function as a lens that either reveals or conceals possibilities. Two people can face identical circumstances and see completely different opportunities, simply based on what they believe is available to them.

I am not talking about naive optimism or denial of reality. Your recognition allows belief to act as a filter. If you believe a situation is impossible, your mind will unconsciously filter out solutions and opportunities. If you believe there is a way through, you will start noticing pathways you couldn't see before.

The Courage to Believe

All wisdom traditions acknowledge that believing before seeing requires courage. It means holding conviction in the absence of evidence, trusting in possibilities not yet manifested. This is not magical thinking. It is about recognising that our current perception of reality is already shaped by beliefs, many of which operate unconsciously.

The practical question becomes: What beliefs are serving you, and which are limiting you? Are you willing to experiment with believing differently, even before you see evidence?

Applying This Wisdom

Examine your limiting beliefs. Often, we hold limiting beliefs with absolute certainty while treating empowering possibilities with scepticism. What if you reversed this by becoming sceptical of limiting beliefs while experimenting with expansive ones?

Notice your mental patterns. When facing obstacles, what's your automatic interpretation? Do you immediately think "impossible," or do you ask "how might this work?" Your default pattern reveals your operating beliefs.

Experiment with new beliefs. Choose one limiting belief and consciously adopt its opposite for a week. Not as "positive thinking," but as an experiment: "What if the opposite were true? What would I notice then?"

Remember: belief precedes vision, not the other way around. You don't wait to see evidence before believing. The belief itself determines what evidence becomes visible.

The Question for You

The obstacles in front of you aren't just external facts—they're also shaped by what you believe about them. If you believe a situation is impossible, you'll remain blind to solutions. If you believe there's a way forward, you'll start seeing pathways.

The question isn't whether you'll face difficulties. You will. We all do.

The question is: What are you choosing to believe about what's possible?

Because until you believe you can see a way forward, you may remain blind to the very opportunities that could change everything.

Your beliefs do not just colour your interpretation of reality; they determine what enters your awareness in the first place. Faith precedes vision. Belief precedes seeing. This is how human consciousness works.

What belief do you need to hold onto today, even before you can see the evidence?

References

The Holy Bible, New International Version. (2011). Hebrews 11:1. Biblica, Inc.

Marcus Aurelius. (2006). Meditations (M. Hammond, Trans.). Penguin Classics. (Original work written ca. 170-180 CE)

Romarheim, R. (Director). (2022). Troll [Film]. Motion Blur Films.Romarheim, R. (Director). (2022). Troll [Film]. Motion Blur Films.

About the Author

Francis Oyeyiola, MA Edu., AmO, MSc. Econ. (in Industrial Management), BEng. IT, founder of CoachMe2.fi, specialises in helping professionals navigate career transitions in the Finnish market and across continents. With more than 10 years of experience in career coaching and a deep understanding of workplace cultures, Coach Oye has guided hundreds of international professionals toward meaningful work aligned with their authentic capabilities.