Transforming Limiting Beliefs

Most of us have learnt how to sabotage our success through the power of the limiting beliefs we hold, quite simply the myths and lies we hold that keeps eroding our self beliefs and our results. You know the ones that say "I know you. You're not good enough ,are you?" - or it could be about others as in "Rich people are ruthless/egotistical/uncaring/some other negative." (so I don't want to be like them therefore I'll make sure that I never become rich whatever I may say to the contrary).

Well. if we have some awareness that that is what we do and we want to change that, what's to be done? Once we start to work at the level of belief, then we can start to change our thinking, which in turn changes our behaviours and leads to actions that are entirely congruent with our beliefs and values. And then we find that we can start to get the results we want because we are free to engage in actions that will take us there. There are several techniques that can de used to demolish these beliefs and here I describe one.

Simply wanting to 'think positively' is not enough to deal with limiting beliefs. We need to recognise what those limiting beliefs are and then replace them with more empowering statements. So if the belief is "I'm ugly and no one likes me" then replacing that with "I am excellent as I am and liked by people who matter to me" resonates in a very powerful way. But you also have to put some other things in place.

Firstly search around to find compelling evidence that what you used to believe is neither true nor fair. For example that you can find evidence that there are others who achieve success and are warm, caring, fair minded individuals or that there are other people who appear ugly yet are loved and cherished by others. They do exist.

Secondly find a way if you can, to take some action, or if it seems apppropriate, that is the opposite to that limiting belief. For example, if you think you are ugly and no one likes you, get dressed in something that makes you feel good and arrange to meet with/ talk with someone else in a friendly manner.

It won't always be possible to find an opposing action but perhaps something that raises the bar on that limiting belief could be found. Write down your more empowering statement and keep several copies that you can distribute to places where you happen across them -in your chest of drawers, on your desk, by the telephone, near the front door, in your car, inside coat pocket and so on.

When you construct an opposite statement, try if possible to use the same sentence structure as the limiting belief. For example "I am powerless" would become "I am powerful," and not "I am very strong," or "I can overcome anything." Also keep 'nots' out of it. "I'm not ugly" doesn't work because the mind can't not think about the uglyness.

Don't expect the change to happen overnight and also because different people need different approaches, know that this is but one way and that there are others you can use to challenge the limiting beliefs that are hindering your success. Do expect however that once you have cleared this particular demon, new possibilities start to open for you to achieve the things you have set your heart on. Do expect too to have to deal with your beliefs one step at a time - they didn't all get formed overnight.

Transforming limiting beliefs is crucial to our success in life and its worth spending time on this in order to realise our true and full potential or we will surely find ways to sabotage our success.

Be sure to say your new empowering beliefs to yourself when you find them and think of the evidence you gathered already e.g. the successful person who was also compassionate. Resolve to find some action you can do that day, however small to counter your belief. Sometimes there is no action you can take and that's OK.

If you have difficulty finding evidence to the contrary of that limiting belief, let your mind create a picture of it. For example if your old belief is that people won't like you if you say no to them, and you really can't find any evidence that there are people who are liked in spite of saying no, then, create scenarios in your head where you are seeing and living the opposite reality using all of your sences to make it real.

If you do this often enough, you are on the road to retraining or reprogramming your subconscious mind to accepting a different belief. You won't have to do this forever and you will undoubtedly sometimes hit on circumstances that may tempt you to say "See. I knew it. I knew I was ugly all the time." Keep going with your new strategy because surely in time it will become your new reality. And yes this does take effort but perhaps not nearly as much as the effort it took us to mess with our minds in the first place.

My Blessings for today
1. Today Maria spoke about 'Standing on the Shoulders of Giants' and I found it very comforting to consider that I don't have to reinvent wheels. Others have gone before me and from them I can learn and grow.
2. A safe journey into London and back home and the unexpected provisions that were laid out for me.
3. Meeting someone else who was interested in the formation of the new mastermind group. She may have resources to share that will help the group along. I give thanks for her.

Personal Development with Success
http://yvonnem.successuniversity.com