Beliefs define the way we see the world, and we see the world differently based on our unique set of beliefs. This is known as your belief system.
However, you aren’t born with these beliefs. These beliefs are formed by experiences, deductions, inferences, and what other people tell us. Believe it or not, most of our beliefs are developed by 7 years old and last until adulthood.
Now, research suggests that we don’t use reason and logic to decide whether or not we believe something. We believe first, and we look for evidence everywhere that the belief is fact.
And beliefs carry emotion, which turns into action, which influences the way we live. Whatever your belief system entails about your career, relationships, finances or even your abilities, they create your life for you.
The good news is negative and limiting beliefs can be changed. We just have to dig deeper, define the limit, and think differently.
Here are the steps that you can take to cultivate empowering beliefs.
You can apply these questions to any area of your life, like finances or relationships or your health, but for our purposes, we’re going to focus on your beliefs around starting and running your own business.
Step 1… Dig Deeper
First, you’ll answer the following question: What do you believe about starting and running your own business?
If you feel stuck, you can refer to the following prompts:
- Who do you need to be?
- What do you need to have?
- How much do you need to work?
- What does success look like?
- How do you know when you’ve succeeded?
For me, I truly believed that I would have to grind and hustle and work endless hours and be so stressed all the time in order to succeed. Being in this constant state of stress meant that I was accomplishing something and therefore on the right path. The more that I would work the more money I would make. And succeeding for me only meant that I had money.
Step 2… Define the Limit
Second, you’re going to analyze each of your beliefs. This is where you define the limits that you’ve set for yourself.
So, you would ask yourself these questions:
- What evidence proves that this belief is true?
- What evidence proves that this belief isn’t true?
- At what point in your life did you decide this belief was your truth?
- What would it feel like if this wasn’t your truth?
For me, as a child, my father was always working and always providing. We had nice things, a nice house, nice vacations. I never worried about money. My definition of success was established as a child when I lived a very privileged life based on the money we had. Because of the money we had, we were able to do things and see things. Success to me was defined by what I had, what we had as a family. If this wasn’t my truth, then I didn’t know how to define my worth. What I’m worth is based on how much money I have. I would have to define my value and worth differently. If this wasn’t my truth, then I would have a new purpose. Success would be based on my degree of happiness and satisfaction.
Step 3… Think Differently
Third and lastly, you’re going to condition yourself to think differently. Think about what would truly make you the happiest person you know.
You can ask yourself these questions:
- What new beliefs can you cultivate around starting and running a business?
- What does success look like for you without your limiting beliefs?
- Who can you be without the limiting beliefs?
- What can you do more of that you enjoy?
- How can you ensure that you focus on finding evidence of your new beliefs?
For me, I believe that if I focus on what brings me joy, I will be happier. If I come from a place of compassion and service, I will help more people, and therefore live purposefully. Without the limiting beliefs, I can live in flow and with ease. I can follow the guidance within me and around me and look for signs that I’m on the right path, which I do regularly. Success for me looks like service. It looks like gratitude. If I’m helping one person, I’m doing what I am meant to do. If I keep serving, I will fulfill my potential. If I surrender and release control, I will see only joy and love.
How can you transform your limiting beliefs into an empowering belief system?
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