Upgrading your Brain to Break Through Limiting Beliefs
Previously, we uncovered the self-limiting beliefs that you hold, how they were formed and
why you were continuing to reinforce this thinking that wasn’t allowing you to grow. Now,
we’re focusing on creating new, enabling beliefs which will replace the old ones.
The aim is to be realistic so that we can set you up for success. We want to create ideas that will take you to a place of growth and positivity, considering carefully what it will let you think or do and what effect it will create in the next step of your business and life.
It is better to believe you can do something, such as learn a new skill, rather than go with the
statement that you are an expert from the start. Believing ‘I can’ is stronger than thinking ‘I am’.
Remember, ’I am’ thinking assumes we cannot change.
WHAT ARE ENABLING BELIEFS?
Enabling beliefs are thoughts that lead to growth, success and happiness. It’s not to say that you won’t fail by being pushed outside of your comfort zone, but they will get you through the ups and downs of learning and push you to make progress in your business and life.
WHAT TYPES OF ENABLING BELIEFS ARE THERE?
PROBABILITY
Thinking that something might work, so it’s worth giving it a go. We all know that it is better to be hopeful and believe that good things will happen to us and those we love, rather than to be depressively pessimistic. But, sometimes that’s easier said than done! In fact, evolution has a part to play in thinking like this because getting out there and trying gives us an infinitely better chance of succeeding and growing, than not trying at all. Keep in mind that optimistic people are more resilient and will pick themselves up, dust themselves down and get on with things, without any permanent loss of their optimism. That’s a pretty strong argument.
ABILITY
Knowing that you can get there, you just need to keep going.
If you believe you can pretty much do anything and have confidence in your ability to succeed, then you have a far better chance of achieving your goal. Belief in your abilities means knowing that, ‘I can play this well if I keep practising’, then you will likely succeed. Having confidence and resilience are consequently powerful enabling beliefs.
EXISTENCE
Believing that you are intelligent, and if you work hard, you can learn most things.
Believing you are a person who does not do certain things, is a great excuse for inaction. To flip this on its head, we need to establish enabling beliefs that reflect our constructed self, positively. That includes ‘I am’ statements, such as ‘I am friendly’ or ‘I am determined’.
RESPECT
Understanding that you are a person who accepts others as they are will lead you
to have many diverse and positive friends. A self-limiting belief would state that other people do not like you, and they judge you harshly. As a result, you act in defensive ways or avoid other people, which limit your circle of knowledge and influence. An enabling belief would state that you are likeable, liked and respected, not superior to them. Having self-respect and understanding, you are equal with others means you can communicate with confidence and without fear.
HOW DO I START BUILDING EMPOWERING BELIEFS?
START ‘AS IF.’
Start as you mean to go on. Acting as if the enabling belief is true will you trick your brain into
thinking that this is what you believe. Essentially, you are brainwashing yourself into the beliefs that will serve you best.
CREATE EVIDENCE OF SUCCESS
Your self-limiting beliefs were based on evidence from experiences, influences, fears and excuses.
Changing the source of evidence can be a compelling way to reinforce your new enabling beliefs.
START SMALL.
If you believe that you are an introvert and are shy around strangers, you could start with communicating in small ways. Saying thank you, and making eye contact when you are introduced to someone new. This action immediately shows that you can talk to strangers and you can build from there.
Creating these small successful actions will enable you to use this as evidence and affirm that you are moving in the right direction. Stay determined and keep persisting. Also, watch for other limiting beliefs which can appear just when you are making growth.
DISCOVER YOUR ENABLING BELIEFS BY ANSWERING THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS:
RESILIENCE:
What am I good at?
What kind of beliefs does the version of you who lives in the reality have?
What similar events have I dealt with and survived?
What do I need to do (or change), to become more resilient in this situation?
ABILITY:
What are 5 - 7 things I am really good at?
What does my ideal day look like?
What is something I’ve been wanting to do but have been too afraid to try? (Why am I afraid?)
EXISTENCE:
What are 5 words that describe me best and why?
How can I add happiness to my daily life?
Who is my biggest inspiration and why?
RESPECT:
What do I need to forgive myself for?
What does success mean to me?
How can I show myself more love?
KEY POINTS:
Know that you are worthy of creating enabling beliefs
Start small and focus on making incremental improvements in your actions and communications
Begin before you are ready. The situation does not need to be perfect before you begin.
It’s a mental game. Acting as if you have the enabling belief already in progress will trick you brain into the new behavior.
Don’t be hard on yourself if you find that you have feelings of disappointment or resentment.
This is a process of change, we’re not aiming for perfection.
Use your Achievher 90 Day Planner or Gratitude Journal to record your thoughts, emotions and beliefs and the language you use.
Remember, when you know better, you can do better. Knowledge is power.
If you’re struggling, call on a friend to work over the points above together. They will have a better idea of the language and thoughts you share that you might be oblivious to.
