We often hear that social media is shaping our opinions, manipulating our emotions, and influencing how we see the world and in many ways, it does.
But if we pause for a moment, we might realise that influence isn’t new. Long before we began scrolling through feeds and hashtags, we were absorbing the beliefs and worldviews of others.
From the moment we’re born, we’re taught how to see the world. Our parents or caregivers pass down their experiences and beliefs, many shaped by their own upbringing and fears. Teachers guide us with the best of intentions, but within the framework of what society deems acceptable. Religion, culture, politics, books, and media all layer on top of one another until, without realising it, our inner world is painted in colours chosen by someone else.
So how can we ever know what we truly believe?
The Many Voices That Shape Us
Every story we read, every film we’ve watched carries someone else’s perspective. None of this is inherently bad - after all, it’s how we learn and connect.
But there comes a time when we begin to question:
Is this what I believe, or what I’ve been told to believe?
For many, that question arises during moments of change, when a long-held value no longer fits, or when an experience shakes what we once thought was certain. That discomfort is often the first whisper of awakening: the moment when our true self begins to stir beneath layers of conditioning.
The Pull of Collective Thinking
It’s easy to see how others can be swept away by strong opinions or divisive narratives, especially in the digital age. We see people fiercely defending their beliefs online, joining movements, or sharing outrage. But beneath that surface noise lies something tender - a deep human need to feel seen, heard, and safe.
When we feel threatened, uncertain, or powerless, we instinctively reach for belonging. We look for others who share our feelings and validate our fears. This is where confirmation bias creeps in, the comforting thought that if others think this too, it must be true. And negative bias makes fear and anger louder than calm reason, because those emotions make us feel momentarily in control.
When groups unite around shared fear, they often need an “other” to blame someone to project their discomfort onto. This pattern has existed throughout human history, from tribal divisions to online shaming.
What’s heart-breaking is that much of this behaviour doesn’t come from hatred, but from fear.
When we forget who we are at our core - loving, aware, connected beings - we cling to what feels familiar, even if it hurts others.
The Courage to Question
Learning to think for ourselves isn’t about rejecting everything we’ve been taught. It’s about seeing clearly where those beliefs came from and choosing, consciously, what we want to keep.
This takes courage, because questioning inherited beliefs can feel like betraying our families, our communities, or even our faith. But true self-awareness doesn’t destroy connection - it deepens it.
When we understand our own conditioning, we also develop compassion for the conditioning of others.
We begin to see that everyone is carrying stories - stories that shaped them, just as ours shaped us.
Finding Our True Voice Amid the Noise
To rediscover our own beliefs, we must learn to listen inwardly again. The world is loud, but the soul speaks in whispers.
Here are a few gentle practices to help you return to your inner truth:
Pause and notice. When you feel strong emotion about a topic - outrage, fear, or certainty - take a breath. Ask yourself, What part of me feels unsafe right now?
Question with compassion. Before sharing or agreeing with an opinion, reflect: Does this align with love, empathy, and the person I am becoming?
Create stillness. Spend time in silence, nature, or journaling. When the noise of the world fades, what truths rise within you?
Stay open. True wisdom isn’t about being right; it’s about being willing to see differently.
Through these practices, we begin to separate what is ours from what we’ve inherited. It’s not an act of rebellion - it’s an act of remembering.
Coming Home to Authentic Truth
When we strip away the conditioning, we don’t lose ourselves - we uncover who we’ve always been.
Beneath the noise, beyond the narratives and the borrowed beliefs, there is a quiet knowing that has never been influenced or swayed.
It’s the part of us that recognises truth not because others agree with it, but because it feels like peace.
When we live from that space, we don’t need to shout to be heard or cling to what others believe. We simply stand in our own authenticity - gently, courageously, and with love.
“In learning to think for ourselves, we don’t reject others - we just stop abandoning ourselves.”
A Reflection from My Heart
As a holistic wellness coach, Reiki Master, and soul guide, I have seen how easy it is for people to forget their own inner wisdom beneath the noise of life. Every day, I meet souls who are longing to reconnect with their truth - not the version of themselves the world expects, but the one their spirit remembers.
This journey back to self isn’t about becoming someone new; it’s about remembering who you’ve always been before the world told you who to be. Healing happens when we come home to that remembrance - when we reclaim our beliefs, our voice, and our capacity to love, beginning with ourselves.
That’s why I’m inviting you to join me and our beautiful Soulful Journeys Online Community as we embark on a transformative new chapter.
The Soulful Journey Series: Awakening Your Inner Truth
Together, we’ll explore the tender art of coming home to ourselves through shared wisdom, guided practices, and heartfelt connection.
If this message resonates with you, know that you are warmly welcome.
Come journey with us and remember, you’ve never truly been lost. You’ve only been finding your way back to love. 💫
Sharon Fitzmaurice is a Holistic Wellness Coach, Reiki Master Teacher & Practitioner, Clinical Hypnotherapist, Speaker, Author, and Host of The Sharon Fitzmaurice Podcast. She is the author of Someone Please Help Me, So I Did and Awaken Your Wellbeing, and the founder of Soulful Journeys Online Community.
A passionate advocate for mental health awareness and survivors of childhood abuse, Sharon’s mission is to inspire others to heal, grow, and reconnect with their authentic selves. Through her work, writing, and conversations, she reminds us that within every story lies the power to transform and rise.
