A powerful way to discover and change limiting beliefs is to keep a journal. It's as important as brushing your teeth. Journaling for many is a form of meditation. It's allowing the left side of your brain a chance to dump thoughts onto paper without fear, ridicule, or retribution. It's a safe place to face ourselves.
Step 1
Find something to journal in and with! Take the time to find a special notebook and pen. This is a sacred time and space for you.
Find a special place and show up every day. You must be willing to dedicate time for this process. It's making a promise to yourself and keeping it, much like taking time to exercise each day. My morning routine is to have soft lighting, candles, and my cup of coffee. I close the door to the room I use and sit in my rocking chair with a favorite blanket. It is important that your space for journaling be comfortable and nurturing.
Remember this is for you and it is important to not be interrupted if at all possible.
Step II
Now that you've shown up, it's time to write on those pages. Three pages is recommended by Julia Cameron author of The Artist's Way. This may feel rather daunting at first, especially three hand written pages. Remember, this is a brain dump. Correct grammar, spelling and punctuation is not required. You are simply allowing whatever thoughts and/or feelings in your head to flow from pen to paper. I've been rather surprised at how chatty my left brain is and often will write more than three pages.
Be honest. This is the place to express yourself. If you are angry, sad, frustrated, let it all out here. You will be amazed at what beliefs are running on auto pilot as you allow your emotions to flow with the pen.
What about those times you have nothing to say? Write that. Write it as many times as necessary until something bubbles up. You could write about everything you are grateful for, small and large. Still stuck, then describe your favorite day or what a perfect day would look like to you. Affirmations are wonderful to write out. Notice any negative or nagging thoughts that may spurt up as you write. Jot those down and change them into an affirmation. Those spurts are limiting beliefs making their presence known!
Step III
You may find some resistance as you start to work with this process. Keep going. This is an important sign that you are shedding light on what's been hidden. Often we do not want to face our limiting beliefs. They can be much like worn out comfortable shoes. We know they no longer serve us, yet we refuse to give them up. What is our payoff for hanging onto those old beliefs?
If you skip a morning, you may find it's important to find some time during the day to journal. You may find that if you don't write for a day, you feel a bit off kilter. Write about that.
As you begin this daily journal, be aware that all sorts of feelings may come up. This is all part of the process of becoming more aware of what's been holding you back.
Daily journaling will change your limiting beliefs and your life. It's an exercise that exposes what's hidden and allows us to tap into our inner wisdom. The more you show up, the more beneficial you'll find this daily exercise.
Tuesday, January 6, 2009
Saturday, November 1, 2008
How Your Thoughts and Emotions Can Change Limiting Beliefs
A belief is a thought. A thought that has been chewed upon and mulled over and over and over. It becomes our truth. It is something we believe.
Thoughts are a form of energy. It's an idea that our mind forms based upon data received from our past, our family tendencies, our genetics, society, books, etc. Thoughts can turn into a self sabotaging program running amok in the background of our mind. For an example, let's use one that most of us are familiar with.
I'm not pretty nor good looking. Or, I am ugly.
If you happen to be gazing into the mirror, this thought will lead to some pretty intense scrutiny of the physical body, searching for evidence to back up this "belief". Does that belief serve you? Do you feel empowered or joyful when you entertain such thoughts? No. More likely you are feeling sad, depressed, and unlovable. This is a limiting belief. The feelings that show up when you have this thought is a message. Your emotions will tell you whether a belief is empowering or not.
Changing limiting beliefs is a spiritual journey to remember who you really are.
Try This
The next time you take a look in the mirror, stop and notice where your thoughts are headed. Do you instantly critique how you look? Do you think your nose is too big or your eyes too small? Are unflattering pictures floating into your head? Stop right there. Take a deep breath and close your eyes.
Now open your eyes and gaze straight into them. The eyes are the window to the soul. When is the last time you took a peek at your soul? Really delve into the depths of your eyes. At first this may feel uncomfortable and rather silly. With practice it will get easier. You may find a feeling of love washing over you. You may even wish to say "I love you" to you. Pay attention to what you feel and the thoughts that bubble up. This exercise can open a whole can full of limiting beliefs you weren't consciously aware of.
Without judgment, set those thoughts aside. Instead focus on finding something beautiful in the image you see. Your focus and attention (intention) is the key to changing limiting beliefs. Instead of looking for evidence to back up the limiting belief, you are now looking for evidence for a new and empowering belief.
This takes practice. Those limiting beliefs did not show up overnight. Some of them have deep tap roots and will take some effort to dig them out
.
You are wonderful and beautiful. The physical body you have is perfection. It's design and how it functions with ease is a miracle to behold. You are a unique and wonderful expression. Take your attention away from magazines, the television, and wherever else that sets limits or creates a box of what should be.
You have a choice where you place your attention. Be discriminating and choose wisely. You have the power to create new and empowering beliefs that will serve you well.
You have the power to change your limiting beliefs. It's simply a new thought away.
Thoughts are a form of energy. It's an idea that our mind forms based upon data received from our past, our family tendencies, our genetics, society, books, etc. Thoughts can turn into a self sabotaging program running amok in the background of our mind. For an example, let's use one that most of us are familiar with.
I'm not pretty nor good looking. Or, I am ugly.
If you happen to be gazing into the mirror, this thought will lead to some pretty intense scrutiny of the physical body, searching for evidence to back up this "belief". Does that belief serve you? Do you feel empowered or joyful when you entertain such thoughts? No. More likely you are feeling sad, depressed, and unlovable. This is a limiting belief. The feelings that show up when you have this thought is a message. Your emotions will tell you whether a belief is empowering or not.
Changing limiting beliefs is a spiritual journey to remember who you really are.
Try This
The next time you take a look in the mirror, stop and notice where your thoughts are headed. Do you instantly critique how you look? Do you think your nose is too big or your eyes too small? Are unflattering pictures floating into your head? Stop right there. Take a deep breath and close your eyes.
Now open your eyes and gaze straight into them. The eyes are the window to the soul. When is the last time you took a peek at your soul? Really delve into the depths of your eyes. At first this may feel uncomfortable and rather silly. With practice it will get easier. You may find a feeling of love washing over you. You may even wish to say "I love you" to you. Pay attention to what you feel and the thoughts that bubble up. This exercise can open a whole can full of limiting beliefs you weren't consciously aware of.
Without judgment, set those thoughts aside. Instead focus on finding something beautiful in the image you see. Your focus and attention (intention) is the key to changing limiting beliefs. Instead of looking for evidence to back up the limiting belief, you are now looking for evidence for a new and empowering belief.
This takes practice. Those limiting beliefs did not show up overnight. Some of them have deep tap roots and will take some effort to dig them out
.
You are wonderful and beautiful. The physical body you have is perfection. It's design and how it functions with ease is a miracle to behold. You are a unique and wonderful expression. Take your attention away from magazines, the television, and wherever else that sets limits or creates a box of what should be.
You have a choice where you place your attention. Be discriminating and choose wisely. You have the power to create new and empowering beliefs that will serve you well.
You have the power to change your limiting beliefs. It's simply a new thought away.
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