Choose on purpose.
We can create new outcomes in our lives with the thoughts that we think. It may seem more complex than that, but really, all new things come from ideas, which are thoughts.
And we know from our coaching model that our thoughts are what create our feelings. Our feelings are powerful drivers of our actions. And our actions create the results we get in our lives.
When we want to create something in our lives, sometimes we need to have new beliefs about what’s possible. Beliefs are just thoughts that we’ve thought over and over again and now we believe they are true.
Some beliefs are very useful to us. And some beliefs create limits within us and prevent us from doing things.
Some limiting beliefs might be:
- I’m not good enough.
- I just don’t have enough confidence.
- I’m not talented enough.
- I don’t have the discipline to do that.
- People don’t understand me.
- All the good ones are taken.
- I won’t ever be successful.
- I hate my body.
Once we’re aware of limiting beliefs we hold, we might feel the need to change them right away to their exact opposites—things that we DO want to believe.
But if we take too big of a leap, we’ll have a thought that we don’t yet believe. And that thought won’t help us because we don’t believe it yet, no matter how many times we may repeat it during the day.
So how do we get to the new belief we want to have that seems so far from our current belief? We practice thoughts that bridge us or ladder us to the next level of thinking.
As an example, let’s take the thought “I hate my body.”
The goal thought might be “I love my body.” But it’s hard to jump from hate to love right away.
Here are some potential ladder thoughts from “I hate my body” to “I love my body”:
- I hate my body.
- I have a body.
- There are other people with bodies like mine.
- Other people with bodies like mine seem to like their bodies.
- It’s possible that I could like my body.
- I am living my life because of my body.
- My body has the potential to change and be healthier.
- My body allows me to do things I enjoy.
- I am learning to enjoy being in my body.
- I am learning to love my body.
- I love my body.
We may need to practice each ladder thought for a couple days, a week, two weeks, etc. before moving on to the next one. Until we truly believe the thought we are practicing, it’s important to stay with it before moving on to the next one.
Our thoughts are powerful. We can learn to create beliefs that empower us instead of disempower us.
Your turn: What are some of the limiting thoughts/beliefs you hold? What are some goal thoughts/beliefs that you’d like to have instead? Explore and practice some ladder or bridge thoughts that can help you get to your goal thoughts.
Need help exploring some ladder or bridge thoughts? Let’s talk about it. Sign up for an exploratory session here.
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What’s on your mind? It can be powerful to learn from each other and our common struggles when it comes to our practice of self-care–or just being a human being. If you have something you’re struggling with and would like some perspective, share it here. Your issue may be chosen and addressed in the next post–it’ll be totally anonymous.
The Healing Modalities 