You should frequently ask yourself if what you are doing is producing the effects you expected, in the same way an orienteer compares where they think they are on the map to the terrain they see around them. If there is a difference between what is happening and what you expected to happen, locate the error in your beliefs and fix it.
Having your beliefs written out will significantly increase your ability to compare your expectations to reality and know where to adjust. If you are aware of your beliefs, you’ll be able to perceive and translate any surprises, regrets, and unfulfilled desires you experience into the necessary changes you need to make.
Begin noticing deviations from or holes in your model, and fix them. If you are surprised by the results of certain actions by yourself or others, take note and fix your model to fit everything you’ve ever observed. If you don’t know how to fulfill what you desire, search for the beliefs that tell you.
When deviations from your beliefs arise that are too great to address with modifications, you should abandon the belief in question. It is dishonest to persist in a belief when the predicted outcomes do not occur. Humans have power to deceive themselves about what they believe and any evidence that controverts those beliefs, but having your beliefs written will at least make it more difficult to do so. Do not excuse yourself for holding to clearly false beliefs in the case where you don’t have anything else with which to replace those beliefs. It is better to be knowingly ignorant than it is to be knowingly dishonest. When you are knowingly ignorant, at least you will be looking for and willing to accept something better.