Attention Quote by William James
“Our beliefs and our attention are the same fact.”
About This Quote
Source Book: The Principles of Psychology, 1890
Our beliefs and attention are inseparable; what we focus on shapes what we accept as true.
In simple terms: Beliefs and focus are the same.
Key Takeaway
Align attention with desired beliefs.
Themes
psychology
perception
mindset
Mood
reflective
thoughtful
Type
philosophical
insightful
When to use this quote
- personal growth
- therapy
- education
- decision making
Key Concepts
cognitive bias
attention theory
Questions to Reflect On
- How does your focus influence your convictions?
- Can you change a belief by altering attention?
A Different Perspective
Beliefs can be resistant to change even with shifted attention.
![“I went to a mosque in Philadelphia with [my wife] in December 24, 1999. And we we went to this mosque in Philly, and I just had such a strong reaction to the prayer. And I was really emotionally - I felt really grounded at that time. And so to be in this prayer and the imam is doing the prayer in…” quote by Mahershala Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/d31/mahershala-ali-6687_attention_i-went-to-a-mosque-in-philadelphia-with_3083.jpg)
