As we move forward with what the practice of life looks like, the nitty-gritty of one’s days, we dig deeper into the Greek word, Praxy.  You could say this is the style of our life, our lifestyle and habits, but that would not explain the why behind our choices and actions.  The why of praxy arises from our beliefs and values. We choose an action because we believe that it will result in something we value or desire.  There comes a simplicity and complexity to this praxy as we walk it out daily.

                Assuming that we are acting rationally, meaning choosing according to logic, we will choose an action based on our certainty of our view of reality. Basically, what we believe about reality and how deeply we believe it will play the major role in influencing whether we make one choice or another.  Even choosing to not do something is still a choice to do nothing.  For example, if we believe that gravity will pulls us down a 100 foot cliff, we will not likely step off the cliff.  On the other hand, if we strongly believe that gravity is not real, stepping off the cliff’s edge is a real possibility. 

                This highlights the need for belief to match reality when one considers the ramifications of stepping off a cliff.  Believing something strongly does not make it real unlike the story books of childhood and modern-day movies.  The belief must be a correct belief but not all beliefs are true beliefs.  Again, only true beliefs when acted upon will produce an intended or a desired effect.

                Building on belief, particularly belief that is true to reality, one will choose between actions based on which outcome will result in that which they value the most.  If one values safety, rock-climbing and tornado chasing will be discarded as being inconsistent with held values.  If one’s values thrilling experiences, fame, or a sense of challenge, then those same choices could be different. 

                Looking at yourself, you may not understand your choices of life, your praxy.  You may ask why do you keep up a lifestyle that is risking your life in some way.  The answer to this question may lie in your beliefs about reality or in your values of life or to some degree in both.  If you believe that genetics is the determinant of your health fate, you may not change your diet when counseled by others.  If you believe that you are at the mercy of some supernatural force outside of your control, you likely won’t try very hard to change bad habits.  If you value the taste of food, regardless of its health effects, you won’t weigh the consequences of its sugar content or artificial ingredients.  If you value comfort, you may not maintain any commitment to an exercise routine that requires short-term discomfort.  Your choices arise from your beliefs and your values.

                Making choices which results in whole person health requires both right belief and right values.  Right beliefs require time and effort to attain the knowledge of them and the wisdom in how to apply them.  Right beliefs do not result from following the majority culture of our world nor by watching mainstream media which follows its own set of values and beliefs working to influence you in various ways.  Right beliefs require humility to accept you were wrong about something and need to change your mind or change your actions.  Right values require time to sit and to reflect on what is important.  Right values must also come from outside your own being, from the one who created You.  Right values require a commitment on your part to pursue or else they will be influenced by so many other forces in life that you won’t be in control of your own.  If you want to pursue whole person health you need both correct beliefs and correct values which are supported by vigilance. 

Next in series… Doxy Must Be Applied.

Footnote:

                While beliefs should be practically identical between individuals since we all live in the same reality, each person’s values will differ to some extent.  There can be some legitimate space for different preferences between individuals. There can be legitimate space for different preferences in the same person at different stages of life.  These differences are with the realm of being good as long as they submit in each person at each stage of life to the values of our Creator as revealed to us in the Bible.