noun. a firmly held belief or opinion.
“Belief is not a matter of choice, but of conviction”.Anon
We each have our own individual set of beliefs and opinions. Some are fixed, some will evolve. Our belief systems centre around our values, how we have been brought up, who we are and what we care about.
If you can’t clearly articulate what you believe in I would question how strong that belief is. Your conviction is your why: why you believe, why you care, why you will defend your belief.
“Belief is knowing what you believe, conviction is knowing why you believe it”.Josh McDowell
An opinion and a conviction are different and have a different pull in our hearts, in our guts.
An opinion is something you believe in, something not everyone will agree with, sometimes we will “agree to disagree” on a difference of opinion or on a different perspective on a situation.
“An opinion is a belief that you hold. A conviction is a belief that holds you.Few would be willing to give up their lives for an opinion, but many have tied to stay true to their convictions”.Michael Youssef
A conviction has a stronger pull than an opinion, it is something you will not let go of, something you will not compromise on, something that your integrity will not let you settle on.
Our conviction compels us to speak out, to stand up, to do something.
Our conviction is the line in the sand, the non-negotiable, the burning platform we will stand on.
“Conviction is not merely an opinion. It is something rooted so deeply in the conscience that to change a conviction would be to change the very essence of who you are”.Ravi Zacharias
Having conviction in what you believe, in what you say and in what you do requires you to dig deep. What you believe in your heart, will not always bring alignment and agreement from others. We need to be prepared for the challenge and the criticism.
To have conviction we need strength.
To have conviction we need resilience.
To have conviction we need courage.
“You don’t change the world with the ideas in your mind, but with the conviction in your heart”.Bryan Stevenson
When we are driven by our convictions, we are driven by our heart. We know and we feel it is the right thing. Our convictions need acting on. Our convictions will make things happen as a consequence of our belief.
Conviction needs action.
Conviction brings change.
Conviction creates hope.
“Change arises from conviction. Stop voting in fear. Start voting in hope”.George Monbiot
Our convictions are the lens through which we see and understand the world. They shape what we understand, what we do and what we stand for.
We are convinced by our convictions.
We are committed to our convictions.
We are rooted in our convictions.
“Conviction is a force multiplier. If you want something, claim it in your gut.
The universe itself responds to your inner certainty”.
Marianne Williamson
When we are certain in who we are, in what we believe, in our convictions – we have the confidence and the courage to carry on, in pursuit of our mission. It is not always easy, but the strong belief and the deep rooted conviction in our conscience give us the strength and the resilience to continue, to take that leap of faith.
Ethical_Leader 