Releasing Limiting Beliefs
4 Important Steps for Releasing
Your Limiting Beliefs
The limiting beliefs that you are told your entire life shape everything that you do. They can include things like "I don't have enough time," or "I don't have enough money," or "I'm not smart enough to do that," or "I'm not good enough..." Somewhere in our life, in an emotional experience, we adopted beliefs like this. They affect everything we do in our life. They have even prevented you from seeing opportunities and reaching your goals.
#metoo
One thing I've found that is helpful is to identify the limiting beliefs in your life, and write them down. To do this, you have to ask yourself why things aren't working out. Once you've defined your limiting beliefs, it's time to start releasing them so you can move forward and live the life you've always dreamed of living.
1. Write Down the Limiting Belief
You will have to play detective to follow your thoughts and emotions to discover your limiting beliefs. Write them down on a piece of paper and look at them. This can be somewhat hard, because it is usually an emotional experience that caused us to take on a certain belief. Spend some time noting how strong each of the beliefs is and what emotions they elicit from you. What emotions surface? Where did this belief stem from? What story or life experience were you in where you took on this belief? Becoming aware of them is the first step...
2. Acknowledge They are Beliefs and Not Truths
Once you have written them down, and you have become aware of those stories, next is reframing your brain to understand that these beliefs aren't a universal Truth. They may have been true for you at that time, but they are not True for the universe. Acknowledging that these are beliefs and not truths is the hardest step in releasing your limiting beliefs. The beliefs you've held your entire life, seem like there are real. Understanding that they are not set truths is fundamental. You have the choice to either continue to defend these limitations or let them go so you can begin reaching your goals. What other universal truths can you replace the limiting beliefs with? Instead of "I don't have enough money," replace that belief with the understanding that this world is an abundant place with countless resources, money is simply a measurement of energy (just like ounces is a measurement of water), and "I can begin to allow that energy to flow freely into my life and through my life for the service of others."
3. Consider Different Beliefs
Using your imagination, you can consider different beliefs that are more in line with what you truly want out of your life. It might be something like, "Now that I've been in an unhealthy relationship, I now know what to look for in a loving and happy partner." The trick to making this work is going beyond merely saying it. You have to be able to feel how this new belief feels. Take a moment, close your eyes, imagine and truly feel what it would feel like to be in a loving and healthy relationship, or to have an abundance of financial resources, or to have a healthy body full of energy and vibrancy. When you can do this, the first two steps will go a long way to dismantling your current limiting beliefs
4. Take Different Actions
Doing things differently can be a little bit scary, but in order to release your old beliefs that have been limiting your potential, you have to act as if this new belief is true. You have to believe you are living in your healthiest body, so what choices should be made to have a healthy body? You have to believe you have abundant financial resources, so taking actions (such as making conscious decisions on where you spend your current finances, as well as how you spend your time to create more financial abundance), etc... If you avoid taking any steps toward your new belief, you will merely be feeding your old limiting belief and will continue to fail to reach the goals you set. This can sometimes feel like you are pushing a boulder uphill, because we are establishing new ways of thinking, acting and living. The choices you made in the past (to eat unhealthy things, or to put money on credit cards, or to watch a netflix marathon instead of pursuing a "side hustle" that makes you extra income) have gotten you to where you are now. Making the conscious decision to DO something DIFFERENT than you have been doing before will get you a different result. Making even the smallest step will help to solidify your new beliefs and destroy your old limiting ones. It will take some time, perseverance, and determination (along with some sticky notes and reminders of the new beliefs you are adopting into your life), but it's possible.
I invite you to practice this exercise with each limiting belief you desire to release and see how your life changes over the next 30, 60 or 90 days!