Beliefs.

belief |biˈlēf|
noun
1 an acceptance that a statement is true or that something exists : his belief in God | a belief that solitude nourishes creativity.
• something one accepts as true or real; a firmly held opinion or conviction : c.ontrary to popular belief, Aramaic is a living language | we're prepared to fight for our beliefs.
See note at opinion .
• a religious conviction : Christian beliefs | I'm afraid to say belief has gone | local beliefs and customs.
2 ( belief in) trust, faith, or confidence in someone or something : a belief in democratic politics | I've still got belief in myself.

Don't we believe more than we know? How many of us actually witness an event or have first hand experience in what we have come to accept? Because you believe (in) something it doesn't make it true (or real). Isn't belief for the most part a chosen ignorance if you have no verifiable evidence to back it up?

Do you really know that the politician you have so much faith in will do as promised even though history shows they probably won't or can't? The person you are with loves you or do you just believe it? You believe that your job will be there tomorrow even though the economy may disagree?

I'm not saying beliefs are necessarily a bad thing if they are based on prior experience but making a decision purely by them can be tragic.

As human beings we tend to romanticize life, put a smiley face on it as it were. We obscure the facts with our beliefs to ease the pain of reality. But isn't knowledge and wisdom the cure for that pain?

Cheers.