In 1957, a Johns Hopkins professor named Dr. Curt Richter conducted an infamous experiment (of deeply troubling ethics) using a group of rats.

The researchers placed 12 domesticated rats into jars of water. 3 of the 12 gave up quickly, while the other 9 swam for days before giving up.

They conducted a similar experiment with a group of wild rats, known for their strong swimming skills. Surprisingly, all 34 wild rats died within minutes of being placed in the water.

Dr. Richter wanted to understand why the wild rats had given up so quickly while some of the domesticated rats had fought for days.

So, he designed a third test:

He placed another group of wild rats into the water, but just before they were expected to succumb, he picked them up, held them briefly, and then placed them back in.

Remarkably, the rats that had previously given in within minutes now swam 60+ hours, dramatically longer than the ones who were never picked up.

The researchers concluded that hope changed their survival equation:

"The situation of these rats scarcely seems one demanding fight or flight—it is rather one of hopelessness...The rats are in a situation against which they have no defense…they seem literally to give up...After elimination of hopelessness, the rats do not die."

Leaving aside the brutal nature of the experiment itself, this is an interesting finding:

Belief in their own survival extended their capacity by 240x.

Maybe belief is far more powerful than we realize...

This was a message that was echoing in my head as I read author Nir Eyal's new book, ​Beyond Belief​ (which is outstanding, by the way).

In it, he shares an interesting framework called the Motivation Triangle:

The idea is that most people believe motivation is about two things:

1. Behavior: The actions you take.
2. Benefit: The outcomes you want.

But that misses the third, and perhaps most critical, component:

Belief.

Without belief, behavior and benefit collapse. If you do not believe that your action (behavior) can create your desired outcome (benefit), you simply won't do it.

Belief is the base of the Motivation Triangle. It is the atomic variable upon which all things can be built.

This framework forced me to examine my own beliefs. Because the truth is that not all beliefs are constructive. Some can be outright damaging.

The book distinguishes between Limiting Beliefs and Liberating Beliefs.

Some of my Limiting Beliefs in the past have sounded like this:

• I'm too late to start.
• I need to have it all figured out before I begin.
• If it was going to work, it would have by now.

Flipping those into Liberating Beliefs is powerful:

• I can reinvent myself at any stage.
• I will gain clarity as I take action.
• Each no is information I can use to improve.

The difference in how I perceive my life, challenges, and pursuits with that second set of Liberating Beliefs (vs. the first set of Limiting Beliefs) is profound.

So, my call to action for all of you is simple:

Take a few minutes this weekend to audit your core beliefs about who you are and what you're capable of.

These three questions will help:

1. Is this belief helping me see opportunities or blinding me to them?
2. Is this belief giving me energy or draining it?
3. Is this belief pushing me forward or holding me back?

Your beliefs have the power to shape your entire reality.

Choose wisely.

P.S. If you enjoyed this, I highly recommend checking out ​Beyond Belief​. I think you’ll really enjoy it.