Where do these beliefs come from? They may be individual, are collective as a family or even be furthermore collective, as a society.

Because of their nature, they operate below the surface, as they are often initiated by subconscious associations. If we go back to the idea of model dependent realism in the brain, it is easy to see how subconsciously noted patterns are easily generalized into a simplified model to explain what we observe. Then, perceiving what we think to be laziness in a few blacks, it becomes our model.

Once this becomes widespread, it becomes our belief. At this point the beliefs may come to be shared by blacks as well, and they also encounter limited experiences.

(Model-dependent realism is a concept used by Stephen Hawking. It is based on the idea that our brains use information from our senses to create a model of what we perceive the world to be. When this model is successful at explaining events, we tend to attach the idea of absolute truth and reality to the concepts and elements that make it up.)

Because of the passive nature of collective consciousness, it is possible to change beliefs by changing beliefs only in a small number of members of the collective, as it automatically shifts. It is not possible to legislate it, as beliefs cannot be changed in this way. Individual beliefs can be changed by having a different model, through another application of our model dependent realism, where the opposite is experienced. It can also be change by making small progressive changes, shifting to include wider ranges in the belief structure, until it is completely shifted.

Using our previous example, an individual can conceive that not all whites are racist. On one hand, he can note several examples, by being open to the possibility. Once he does this, examples spontaneously appear, and he has the experience that there are whites who are not racist, and so he can change his model and belief. As he does this, his perception shifts, and his reality becomes different.

Alternatively, he can conceive not all whites are racist, by conceiving that most are but there may be some exceptions. This allows him to see exceptions. He can then shift to the idea most are not, but a few are. Once he does that, this becomes his experience.

Once the shift is made in beliefs, then we can ask the question, where is it? As we focus on that, it becomes our reality. Thus, each has the tools already to change his everyday reality. For we can shift these examples to beliefs about inadequacy of funding, lack of the right mate or any attribute we elect to take on.

Once we own it as our individual creation, we are then able to modify it in any way. We do not need the permission of anyone or anything else to change the experience that we are having in the moment.