How to Break Through Your Old Beliefs
January 25th, 2008 by RyanDo you have a lot of goals but often feel they are taking too long to achieve? Maybe you know where you want to be but feel like it's tough to make changes stick.
In the words of Abraham, a belief is simply a thought that you keep thinking. I see beliefs as a product of the mind and as such, they are not me, just strong thoughts. Yet so many of us define ourselves by the beliefs we hold.
In politics, people who are on the left are leftists, people with conservative beliefs are conservatives. The belief becomes a self-imposed border, a way of boxing in oneself.
Have you ever met someone with strong beliefs, maybe someone "educated" or someone very religious? No matter what new perspectives or information you presented, they somehow managed to fit it into their existing beliefs. You probably gave up and let them miss out on all these other great experiences you were enjoying.
Beliefs are like employees.
You can keep them as long as they are serving your business (ie, your mission). Imagine that your beliefs are employees running a restaurant. What kind of food does your restaurant make? So in the case that your present circumstances aren't too great, you could say you're serving fast food.
Let's say you are sick of making fast food and you want to enjoy some fine dining. Do you think those same employees are going to be able to cook, organize, and present the fine dining experience you want?
Most likely not.
You're probably going to have to let them go and find new employees that will serve you better. It's nothing personal, it's just that they no longer fit with your business' goals.
Beliefs are the same way. Just as employees serve the business yet are not the business, beliefs serve you yet they are not you.
Sure, if you have really loyal, hardworking, and trainable employees that can grow with you, keep them along for the ride. Some beliefs can serve us for all of our goals.
So what is happening when you want to change your life but you feel anxiety about growing or you feel stuck? You are probably trying to cook fine food with a fast food employee. You have to let go of the old belief that no longer serves you and make way for some new ones.
How can we do this?
We must take a step back and observe our beliefs and decide if they are still serving us or holding us back. An easy method to use when you feel you may have outgrown a belief is to simply ask yourself these questions:
Step 1: "What belief is at work in this situation?"
Step 2: "How does this belief make me feel?"
Step 3: "How does this belief affect my life?"
Step 4: "Should I replace it or keep it?"
Step 5: "What is a new belief that makes me feel good?"
Here is an example with a common belief among guys working on their inner game:
Step 1: Belief: "Very attractive women probably won't like me."
Step 2: Feeling: This belief makes me feel not too good.
Step 3: Effect: It prevents me from talking to or interacting with attractive women to some degree.
Step 4: Decision: Replace it.
Step 5: New Belief: "Very attractive women will probably love me. If they don't, then they are not the type of attractive woman I want anyway."
How does this new belief make me feel? Fantastic.
Here's another one:
Step 1: Belief: "I make X amount of money per month."
Step 2: Feeling: Feels like not enough money.
Step 3: Effect: I keep making the same amount of money each month.
Step 4: Decision: Replace it.
Step 5: I am constantly learning and growing my income every month.
How does it make you feel? Great.
Remember to make it believable for you, since it must make you feel good. Change the wording around until you find a belief that is realistic to you that you can integrate.
Break through your old beliefs.
Be consciously aware during your day to day life so that when you act, you notice which belief propelled that action. This way you identify which beliefs no longer serve you and need to be updated.
It's like what T. Harv Ecker says about the difference between rich people and everyone else:
Poor People believe the order is: "Have, Do, Be."
Rich People believe the order is: "Be, Do, Have."
I might even change this to: "Believe, Do, Have"
Your beliefs are the source of your actions. True transformation occurs when you can let go of your old reality and embrace a new one.
I realized this because I've been having some great successes in various areas of my life yet I started experiencing anxiety about them. I realized that I had to let go of my old beliefs because they no longer served me.
So ask yourself, what beliefs are holding you back from your goals?
Stumble it!
January 25th, 2008 at 6:55 pm
Also check out the reality – and the new behaviour your beliefs lead to.
January 27th, 2008 at 12:33 am
I think one of the efficient methods to break through our beliefs is using affirmation method. You use the affirmation everyday by programming your mind into a new belief.
January 28th, 2008 at 12:55 pm
What a great site ! And I need to get there with my wife. She is admirating the subject even more than I do;) Regards!
January 28th, 2008 at 11:05 pm
Ha ha… my name is Stefan as well (the guy above me). Great article.
January 30th, 2008 at 6:12 am
This blog is a really great blog. I will definitely be checking much more.
I totally agree with the idea that beliefs are just something we keep thinking. Wonderful article.
January 31st, 2008 at 4:26 pm
Great article…please visit http://mentalperception.com for Mind Tools that will help you progress forward!
February 2nd, 2008 at 2:14 pm
Hey Evan, if that works for you then go for it. For myself, I usually just go with the feeling since I have come to trust and recognize the feeling of communication with my inner being, which is always for the highest love and good.
Champdog, the affirmations can definitely help when you figure out what you want.
Hey Stefan and Stefan, lol.
Zack, glad to hear you found it useful.
Thanks guys.
February 4th, 2008 at 2:27 am
😀 Lol at the Stefans.
Ryan, on the Question Your Life forums Nils(Nisse) posted a great article about this kind… he shreds his beliefs apart this way.
Who said that?
Why did they say that?
What was their agenda?
Maybe they didn’t know better?
Maybe they tried to fool me?
Maybe they choose to believe that?
It’s their choice.
Can I let go of it?
February 17th, 2008 at 7:57 am
All of us are installed with a set of beliefs as we grow up. Breaking through these beliefs are what sets apart the “Great” from the “Good”.
June 21st, 2010 at 11:45 pm
i never doubt that mind power can also increase the healing ability of the body.;-;