Beliefs can imprison you. Learn when to let go.

At a recent conference, a fellow participant began a long speech about spirituality and what it means to be human. Within ten minutes, the author lost interest. She started wondering about lunch and whether she would catch her train home. This moment taught Dr Nadine Levy a lesson. She is a senior lecturer at the Nan Tien Institute, where she coordinates the health and social wellbeing program and a graduate certificate in applied mindfulness. Her advice: beliefs can be creative and alive when held with curiosity. But they can also trap us. When we cling too tightly, they close down life itself.