Our
Mission:
To help people
live happy, successful lives; to harness their natural power and live
to their full potential.
"The minute
you start talking about what you're going to do if you lose, you have
lost." ----- George Shultz
THE TRUTH AS
YOU KNOW IT
Have you ever
wanted something really BIG? Maybe so big that it didn't seem at all
realistic at the time? Most of us have.
Unfortunately, when what we want is really big and seemingly
unrealistic, at least by normal standards, many of us back off. We let
that dream go and settle for one that seems more attainable. Have you
ever done that?
The reason this happens is that our belief in that moment
is not of the same caliber as our dream … but that doesn't mean
it can't be. We'll come back to that thought in a moment but
first let's explore what beliefs actually are and how they develop.
What is a belief? It is simply a thought we have repeated so many times
that it has become a habitual way of thinking around that subject. Or
to put it another way, it becomes our ‘truth’ in regards to
that subject.
As this belief continues to strengthen through thought repetition (much
like weight lifting reps strengthen and increase muscle size), it forms
a belief filter through which we then view that subject … much
like putting a colored filter on the lens of a camera.
This belief filter then does exactly what filters do; it blocks out
anything non-conforming. In other words, it only allows information to
pass through that is consistent with what we already believe to be
true; it simply will not allow contradicting information to penetrate
our brain. As a result, we then selectively hear only the information
that supports our truth and block out, or somehow twist into
conformity, the rest.
Have you ever seen a belief filter in action? I suspect
you have, and it's really quite a sight to behold.
For example, you have experienced a belief filter in action if you have
been in conversation with someone holding a VERY strong but misguided
opinion about something that you happen to be quite knowledgeable about
and, no matter how much you tried to share insights or evidence
that could have potentially caused this person to change their point of
view, he or she just would not hear what you were saying. It was like,
"knock, knock, knock … nope, nobody's home!"
Was it a little frustrating? Probably, but if you were able to remain
objective and unemotional you may have eventually found some humour
there. You might even have chuckled inside to yourself and thought,
"how can anyone be so blind to the obvious … how can they just
not get it?"
Well, here's something you might be interested in knowing.
Each and every one of us has belief filters in place that are every bit
as strong as what we've just described, and they regularly restrict
what we see and hear around the subject of 'what is possible for me in
life'. Despite the fact that they are impacting our relationships,
career, health, weight, fitness, and abilities in virtually every area,
we remain oblivious to their existence.
Interestingly, people who know us well are usually quite aware that we
are somewhat blind to the obvious in this area and typically see far
more potential in us than we see in ourselves.
Many of these filters began forming during childhood as a result of the
environment in which we were raised. Our parents and family certainly
contributed, especially early on, as did teachers and other influential
people over the ensuing years. Their influences contributed to pointing
our thoughts in a particular direction, no doubt with the best of
intentions on their part, and in time this thought direction became
very comfortable, as habits do.
Moving through life many of our accompanying experiences
validated our thought habits, causing them to expand and become
full-blown beliefs. Through continued thought repetition and an
accumulation of validating experiences these beliefs became ever more
entrenched, until filters began forming … filters through which
we then came to view the world around us.
But let's stop for just a moment.
Most of us have already made the connection between thoughts and
outcomes. In other words, we understand that our thoughts determine how
we feel. Then our thoughts and how we feel determine our attitudes and
outlook on life. Our feelings, attitudes and outlook then determine the
actions we do or do not take, as well as our intentions behind them.
And of course, our actions and intentions inevitably generate results
and consequences. This stuff isn't rocket science, it's just the way
life works.
With that understanding however it's not difficult to see
that our life experiences, even going way back into our past, were
powerfully affected by our actions and intentions at the time. Our
actions and intentions were obviously affected by our feelings,
attitudes and outlooks … and our feelings, attitudes and
outlooks of course came about as a result of our preceding thoughts.
Are you with me?
What this is clearly telling us is that our way of thinking at the time
played a huge role in the outcomes we experienced, and our way of
thinking came about through a variety of influences over which we had
little control, at least in our early years.
So if we had positive influences that led us to developing positive,
supportive thought habits and beliefs, then it's likely that our life
experiences reflected that. But if we had negative influences that led
us to developing negative, unsupportive thought habits and beliefs,
then it's likely that our life experiences reflected that as well. Make
sense?
What this really means is that our present beliefs about
what is or is not possible for us in life have nothing to do with what
is REALLY possible, but everything to do with what we have been led to
THINK is possible. And what we think is possible for us might
be a far cry from what we are actually capable of.
So, that BIG dream we released because it didn't seem realistic? It was
probably doable after all ... if only we had known.
But it's not too late. Just as our current beliefs may
have developed without any conscious awareness on our part, our future
beliefs can be developed deliberately, and it's not as
difficult as you might think.
Would you like to give it a go? Great, let's get started.
To set the wheels in motion just follow this simple step-by-step
process.
1. Become aware of your current beliefs, because you can't
fix something if you don't know it's broken. An easy way to identify
these beliefs is to simply look at your present situations in all life
areas ... they will always be an indicator of your habitual thoughts
around those subjects. If you don't like what you've got, don't blame
it on life, your parents, your partner or the economy, look to your
beliefs.
Another way is to pay attention to your language. The words you use
will always point to what you really believe to be possible for you,
especially in unguarded moments. Engage someone you trust to help point
out your words and phrases that indicate an inability to be, do, or
have whatever you are speaking of. I was fortunate to have a course
participant do that for me just the other day … thanks Vicki.
2. Write out what you would really like to have in your
life in each important area, and don't limit yourself with thoughts of
whether it's realistic for you or not … just put it down on
paper.
3. Now write out what you want in story form using descriptive words
that engage all 5 senses, and preface it with "wouldn't it be nice if
…" (thank you Abraham-Hicks for this little gem). The reason for
doing this is that it allows you to freely imagine without your
sub-conscious mind (powered by those old beliefs) sabotaging you by
saying that what you want is completely unrealistic.
4. Tell yourself that story … visualize yourself living it
several times each day. By doing this you are reprogramming your
subconscious mind (read changing your beliefs).
5. Deliberately change your language so that it's in
alignment with and supportive of the successful realization of your
vision. By being conscious of your language you will automatically be
conscious of your thoughts.
6. Stay away from negative influences. You may not have had a choice
years ago, but you do now.
7. Take consistent action, small steps at first, that will move you
closer to realizing your vision. Aside from generating results it also
builds confidence.
8. Watch for signs, likely small ones at first, that
indicate things are changing for the better and moving in the right
direction. This will encourage you to continue.
If you follow this process religiously for a reasonable period of time,
you will soon begin replacing whatever limiting, unsupportive beliefs
you may presently have with new ones that will empower you to be, do
and have whatever you can create in your mind.
Your truth then will not limit you, but rather allow you to live to
your fullest potential.
Wishing you BIG success,
Reg Neufeld
"The outer
limit of your potential is determined solely by your own beliefs and
your own confidence in what you think is possible." ----- Brian Tracy
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Reg Neufeld, founder of Growing Into Success Training, is a teacher of
life success and achievement principles using practical, step-by-step
processes that can help you get from where you are to where you want to
be. If you're ready to take control and begin living a truly happy and
successful life, get your FREE success tips now at www.growingintosuccess.com
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Reg Neufeld
Growing Into Success Training
402 - 1838 Nelson St.
Vancouver, BC
V6G 1N1
604 868 1232
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