How to Stop Being Superstitious

Superstitions have been around most likely since man learned to communicate. Some cultures are centered around what American culture might consider superstitious beliefs, but these cultural beliefs are considered completely normal and expected in these cultures. However, for some individuals in America, superstition creates a difficult life with debilitating effects on daily functioning and mental state. Stop being overly superstitious and take back the courage to live your life without anxiety.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

1. Take some time to write down your superstitious beliefs. Think of many things that you are superstitious about and write them on notebook paper, then take some time to rate how heavily you believe in that particular belief.

2. Notice your reaction when writing down the beliefs. Think about if it makes you nervous to think about some of the things happening that you believe would happen to you if you did not follow the superstition. Feel how anxious, scared, sad, angry, or happy you are in response to each individual superstitious belief.

3. Take note of how frequently you succumb to the belief by performing certain actions, or not performing certain actions in regard to the superstition. Now take some time to notice how much of an inconvenience it causes you to perform the action or ritual involved in your superstitious belief. Decide if you feel inconvenience, grief, annoyance, or joy to perform the activity associated with the belief.

4. Search the Internet or other resources for the origin of some of your superstitions and arrive at some logical or historical information regarding the belief system. Websites dedicated to urban legends and the like are great for debunking some of the more obscure superstitious beliefs and can ease the anxiety. Be as objective as you can about the possibility of your superstitious belief becoming true.

5. Examine the origin of your belief systems in accordance with what you have learned. After learning as much about your beliefs as possible, return to your list of superstition. See if you can cross off any of the previous beliefs now that you have new information. Re-rate the anxiety or response you get from the belief after you have learned about its origin and examine when it began in your own life.

Tips & Warnings

• Be mindful of whether you adherence to the belief is bordering on obsessive. It could be indicative of an obsessive disorder that needs professional help.
• Feel free to maintain any culturally significant beliefs that you have acquired through your individual cultural background; however note that these beliefs often have symbolic meaning and not literal meaning.

Resources

• Here's a website dedicated to superstitions and legends.
• Read more about superstition bashing.