One sentence has the power to completely change a person’s life.
What if a teacher said to a student, you are intelligent.
What if a mother murmured, “Only I see your potential.”
Or someone silently convincing themselves:
“I am capable.”
What these little doses of faith have in common is that, albeit being invisible, they are quite powerful.
Psychology refers to this as the Pygmalion Effect the self fulfilling prophecy.
The Truth Behind a Myth
The story of Pygmalion comes from the ancient Greek myths, where he was a sculptor.
So immensely and inexplicably he fell in love with a work of art he made that the gods, touched by the power of his belief, gave it life.
His work became living not by magic, but by trust.
Later on, science took this story and turned it into a mental truth:
A human being is what either he or others believe him to be.
If you keep telling someone, you are capable would you not be increasing the chance of that person doing it?
The Science of Belief
During the 1960s, psychologists Rosenthal and Jacobson did a research experiment.
They informed the teachers that some students in their classes have the most potential.
That was only a facade because those students had been randomly picked, and there was no difference between them.
However, by the end of the school year, the allegedly “gifted” students showed a significantly higher level of performance.
How come?
Because teachers, who believed in the students, were more patient and gave the children more time and attention, made the difference.
The kids sensed that trust and reacted accordingly.
Thus: Expectation became reality.
Philosophical Reflection: Does Reality Shape Belief, or Does Belief Shape Reality?
Such an event prompts the re-examination of the ancient question that it touches:
“Does belief follow reality, or does reality follow belief?”
According to Plato, “The mind shapes matter.”
The thought always comes first the form is the follower.
The Pygmalion Effect expresses the same idea with words of today:
“When the mind is convinced, the world is at service.”
Hence, the self fulfilling prophecy is not only psychological it is ontological as well.
Belief changes the person’s behavior, behavior leads to results and finally, the prophecy is realized.
The Frequency of Self Belief
Surely, being a believer in others is great power however, being a believer in yourself is a game-changer.
Surely, the support coming from the outside is only a temporary one,
the support coming from the inside will be your way of life.
If you utter, “I am able to do this,”
wouldn’t it be your mind that starts to work in that direction?
If you utter, “I am not capable,” wouldn’t it be your mind that closes doors to possibilities and ignores opportunities?
Belief influences your brain function, your behavior, and even the type of energy you attract.
The Pygmalion Effect is not just an expression it is a creative conversation between your mind and the universe.
Each person is a sculptor, each idea a manipulation of the sculpture.
It is your thought that forms you. And you are the one who shapes the idea.
Perhaps the entire secret is contained in this single sentence:
“Belief is the unseen facilitator of the mind.”
Therefore, have faith in others as well as in yourself.
After all, each belief is what gives rise to the reality of someone.