Many of us have a belief so powerful, it appears to be an unquestionable fact of life. Some common examples are:
- "I need to make a lot of money to be successful"
- "My boss works late so I should be there too"
- "If I want something done right, I have to do it myself"
- "I have to be all things to all people"
Beliefs are assumptions we hold about how things should be, how people should behave and how the world works. It is a feeling of certainty we have about something. Often, we even blend together two facts into one disempowering belief. The belief appears to be a fact of life and it's not.
For example, a common belief that robs us of time: "When people make requests, I have to fit it into my schedule". The separate facts are: "People are making requests AND there is a schedule I want to keep." It's important to separate interpretations if you want to be more resourceful about selecting options. If in the past you've said yes to requests automatically, what would be another way to deal with requests? You could check your calendar first. You could say no. If it's a work related issue, you could find someone else to delegate to.
Remember that once accepted, our beliefs become unquestioned commands to our nervous systems. They have the power to expand or destroy the possibilities of our present and future. Phrases that include "should", "have to" or "need to" are usually beliefs that don't serve us very well. These disempowering beliefs are draining us of time, energy and resources.
In order to create a belief system that doesn't run your life, you must take conscious control. Challenge your beliefs. Where did they come from, or who taught them to you? Stop accepting them as the truth. Look at them critically and see if they still work for you. Then choose to let go of limiting beliefs and replace them with more constructive ones.
One of the most empowering beliefs I embraced in growing my PR business is that other people can do things as well as I can - sometimes even better! By letting go, I was able to have more leisure time, spend lots of time with my young son as well as meet the needs of a growing clientele base.
What beliefs will support you in creating a life of balance and fulfillment?
Do the Try It Out exercises in the sidebar to help you create empowering beliefs
"Nothing in life has any meaning, except the meaning you give it. Make sure that you consciously choose the meanings that are most in alignment with the destiny you've chosen for yourself."
- Anthony Robbins
