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Choose What You Believe

Yesterday we talked about how sometimes our longstanding beliefs can become limiting, and how they can keep us from what we want now.

One way to challenge those beliefs, and perhaps begin to change them is to re-frame how we express them - to others and to ourselves.

We can change “I’m not good at math” to “Until recently I wasn’t good at math” or “In the past I wasn’t good at math.”

That may seem superficial at first glance, until you remember where your beliefs came from, and how they became so strong - through constant repetition and re-inforcement over time. You’ve probably said that and thought that many, many times. And with each repetition, it became a stronger belief.

It makes sense then, that if you start saying it in a new way, eventually you can actually change the limiting belief.

It can take time for you to actually believe it, however, especially if it’s deeply ingrained.

So, here’s another thing you can do to perhaps speed up the process.

Think of an example of a belief that is holding you back from something you want, and try this simple exercise:

“Whether you believe you can do a thing or not, you’re right.”     ~ Henry Ford

Go into your imagination, without trying to change the belief, and ask yourself, What if that wasn’t true? How would that change things? What possibilities would that open up?

Spend a few quiet moments with this possibility, and write down whatever comes to you.

Are the rewards of changing that belief big enough for you to really want to change it? Can you find strong enough reasons to make you choose to change it?

Remember, what you believe is your choice. Even if they were acquired long ago, and without a conscious decision on your part, your beliefs are what you choose them to be.

And you can make another choice! It’s up to you!

Just Imagine That!

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You Should…

This past weekend served as a reminder to many of us of where we started, and how far we’ve come. Not just as a nation, but also as individuals.

We’ve come a long way - especially these past few years!

We’ve overcome many obstacles, streamlined our perspectives and priorities, and gained a clearer picture of what we intend to accomplish in our lifetime.

We’ve created amazing tools to help us be more productive, and learned how to use old ones in new ways. 

We are nothing if not adaptable and innovative!

And, for many of us, we’ve come to a point where we’ve done most of the obvious things, acquired most of the necessary skills, and created most of the required habits for success.

Yet it hasn’t become as easy as we’d like.

We’re just not quite there yet.

So what’s left to do - or to learn?

Perhaps it’s time to look a little closer at some of the beliefs and habits that are the basis from which we operate.

We call these the “Shoulds.” We learn them from the time we can talk - from the people we respect. And they learned them the same way.

We should work hard…
We should be responsible…
We should not rock the boat…
We should act our age…
We should set a good example…

The list could go on for volumes, and get very specific. These beliefs are ingrained in us, and they play a part in every decision we make.

Many of them are very helpful to us, and truly reflect how we want to be.

There are some, however, that we accept without question and continue to operate from even when they become hindrances.

We’ve been reading Dr. Wayne Dyer’s new book, Excuses Begone!, which explains with great clarity how and why we adopt these beliefs, and how they can hold us back.

His methodology for examining and potentially changing them is very closely aligned with the Just Imagine That program.

In order to take a new, imaginative idea from inspiration to practical reality, we necessarily pass it through our Shoulds to make sure it aligns with them.

It only makes sense, then, that if we’re holding on to Shoulds that are not really in line with us as individuals, we will not get the results that work best for us.

Take just a few minutes to think about some of your Shoulds. Make a list of some of them that might not be true for you right now, even though they may have been in the past - and they may be for other people you know.

Just list some possibilities. We’re not suggesting you throw them out just yet…just consider if they are really in line with who you want to be, and what you want to accomplish.

We’ll look at the some ways to evaluate them later in the week.

Perhaps you Should. :)

Just Imagine That!

P.S. If you’re in the Atlanta area, Diana is co-facilitating an interactive workshop based on Wayne Dyer’s book each Tuesday this month at the InterFaith Truth Center. Please consider joining us as we use his principles and methodology in working through our interference!

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Stop Wanting

How many times a day do you suppose you say “I want (something)?”

Looking into a future time and imagining that we have something different than we have now is something we do almost without thought. It’s very much ingrained in our training, and in our culture. (How would advertisers ever sell anything if they didn’t convince us to want something we don’t already have?)

We all know the pitfall of that line of thinking, and yet, it’s very difficult to get away from.

I mean, really, look at all the cool stuff that’s out there ~ all the stuff that makes our lives easier, or makes us feel better…I could write a book about that - but that’s really off the point.

The point is - what you say day in and day out, you hear ~ and ultimately believe.

So, when you say “I want…”, you hear “I don’t have…”

That’s why most of the affirmation gurus all tell us to stop saying “I want…”, and start saying “I have…”.

Good advice. Here’s the thing, though. When I say I have something that clearly I don’t, my internal editor jumps up before I can move on, and says, “No, you don’t!” I suppose if I did this often enough, for a long enough time, I could convince myself it was true ~ maybe. I’m pretty practical, though, and “faking it until I make it” really takes a lot of effort for me.

And, another thing: if someone else is listening when I say I have it - well, we don’t want to go there :)

SO…

I found a solution ~ ~ a way to stop saying “I want…” without lying to myself (and without getting those funny looks.)

I simply substitute, “I prefer…”

Let that sink in for a moment. Think of something that you don’t have yet, and say it… “I prefer a new . . .”

Doesn’t that feel better? There’s no lack there. In fact, the message I get from it is, “I’m ok with what I have. I’d prefer something else, if anyone’s listening.”

Certainly does change my perspective! How about you?

What do you prefer? Give it a try, and Just Imagine That!

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You Get to Call It!

Remember last week when we were talking about observing what is around you without classifying it, naming it or describing it as relative to other things? Did you see things about common objects that you hadn’t seen before? Are you willing to take this concept one step further?

OK. Here we go…

Imagine you pick up a round object that you can hold in your hand. It has some depth to it, it is made of a solid material and it has an opening into which you can put something. Now, if it is Monday morning and you are getting ready for work, you may put coffee in it. Thus it becomes a coffee cup.

Now, think about the same object, except that you pick it up on a beautiful spring Saturday morning. You have gardening on your mind and you take this object outside, fill it with rich dirt and plant seeds in it. It has now become a plant container.

Same object. Two different uses. What makes it what it is?

YOU! You get to call it! The same object can be lots of things. It becomes what it is because YOU decide what it is. You choose what something is according to your perspective, frame of mind, experiences and current priorities.

So, if that is true of the round object, I wonder how many other things are what they are because we choose them to be that? (One guess…..)

Everything. That’s right. Everything. You have the power of choice about everything. How you will use it. Whether it is “good” or “bad.” Whether it is an opportunity or a hindrance. Whether you feel you have to do something or want to do it. Whether it is a coffee cup or a plant container.

So, are you ready to give your power to choose a try? Let’s start with something small…

Pick something that is near you right now – on your desk, in the same room, etc – that you have been using for some specific purpose for a long enough time so that it has become almost unnoticeable to you. It is just there, doing what it has been doing for a while. (Hint: Even if something is decorative, it is still being used as a decoration.)

Now, use it for something else. (Don’t worry - - you can switch it back if you want to…just give this a try.) Dump out what is in it. Clean it out. Unhook it. Move it from where it is to another place. Find something else you can to do with it…. and leave it there, doing its new “thing”… until tomorrow…

What! An overnight assignment?

Well, sure! Why not? There are some important things you can learn by seeing how you react to changing what you think something is and how you use it.

Today, pay attention to your thoughts, feelings and actions about the switch, and you may find out something you didn’t know before….

Just Imagine That!

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It’s All About Choices

“Our lives are the sum total of the choices we have made.”  - Wayne Dyer

Without going far down the path of “I wonder what would have happened if I’d done (x) instead of (y) — you know this is true. Where and what you are today is because of choices you made in the past.

Granted, some of them may not have felt like choices. Some situations may have seemed like there was only one choice - because of your obligations, or someone else’s expectations.

And at some point you’ve probably said, “I don’t have a choice.” Especially when talking about something you have to do, but don’t really want to.

Can we take just a minute to look one of those scenarios…one where you felt you had no choice?

Is that really true?

Or, is it more accurate to say that you had to make the choice you did in order to get the outcome you wanted?

For example, I had to do laundry today. (I don’t like to do laundry!)  So, did I really have to? (Is that true?) Not really. I could have chosen not to. I did laundry, because I wanted clean clothes. So, even though it seemed like a “have to”, it was really a choice I made.

I know this is a somewhat silly example, but it does make the point. We do what we do for specific reasons - not because we have no choice.

How about a little exercise in changing our perspective on what we “have to do” on a daily basis?

Take a piece of paper and write “I HAVE TO…” and list 5 things you have to do this week - and make them things that you don’t particular enjoy. (Go to the dentist, get an oil change, pay bills, etc)

Underneath that, create another heading: “I WANT TO…” and copy the same list, leaving a space after each item. In that space, write down “because…” and list your reasons for doing each of them. (I want clean teeth, I want my car to keep running well, etc.)

Hmmm…does that feel a little better?

One more step: Under that, write “I CHOOSE TO…” and copy your same list (with or without the reasons.)

Got it? You’re making choices - and you have reasons.

HINT: look at your reasons for doing things, and see if they are strong. If not, maybe you can make a different choice without dire consequences.

Just Imagine That!

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