Difference between belief and knowing

In my book, Spark: Journey from Success to Significance, we discuss the difference between knowledge and knowing.

Knowledge can be acquired from reading, taking a class or practical lessons at work and is external. Knowing is a certainty that comes from experience, contemplation, and reflection. It is experienced in the form of clarity and insight.

Knowing thyself thus becomes the pathway to self-realisation.

However, it’s easy to confuse a belief with knowing. Many times, we think we know something. But often we are holding on to a belief fuelled by our mental conditioning, prejudice, and bias.

Our beliefs encompass both conscious and subconscious thoughts about reality, whether articulated or unspoken, consciously acknowledged or assumed.

In other words, our beliefs shape our reality.

While the power of a positive belief cannot be denied, aligning with a wrong or disempowering belief can do great damage.

Knowing, on the other hand, is conscious awareness grounded in experience and inner wisdom, supported by sufficient reasons or evidence.

Knowing transcends both knowledge and belief.

To transition from a mere belief to a knowing, a belief must successfully navigate three crucial filters:

Reason: The belief undergoes logical analysis, ensuring it is not irrational or imaginary. However, logic alone does not guarantee truth; hence, the next filter is proof.

Proof: Evaluation of evidence or personal experience is essential. Even a compelling belief should be tested to transform into a knowing.

Ethics/Practice: Consider the ethical and practical implications of the belief. Ask, “If someone lived this out, what kind of life would it lead to?” This evaluation serves as a valuable tool to assess the merit of a belief and its enduring quality.

When reason, evidence, and ethics align, a belief evolves into a knowing.