“Anything is possible” is today becoming a cliche. Empty phrase. You are probably in a conversation with someone and you get the statement; “anything is possible, and you should never give up!” Then you probably now have begun to think, “oh no, not again!” and you are of course right to hold such thoughts. What with people who say this statement yet their face speak of deep resignation.
Ever heard someone say, anything is possible and proceed with, “that’s the way it is here” and if you are in Kenya, you could easily spot an “am not complaining” inserted somewhere in that same conversation!
Perhaps as you read this you have had a series of disappointments. A hectic relationship, less money, more debts, stress from work, with breakdown after breakdown and nothing really seems to go right.
Or perhaps, you are the realist. You know your boundaries and know what to do and what not to. You live in “reality” of what you think possible.Therefore, you have perfected a series of calculated steps, walking cautiously through life lest the lion in you roared and success came your way in a manner that you cannot deal with.
And perhaps, you say “anything is possible” long enough to impress yourself and the people around you with very little actions to match your words.
Either way, the question still stands,
Is anything possible really?
Let’s face it, we can talk all day about the limitless potential we have, the many actions we can take, how busy we are, with little results to show for it. Yet, unless I can change whatever it is I BELIEVE to be true for myself, everything else is temporary. My coach says, “mud icing on a wound”.
You probably heard about these lines:
Happiness does not depend on what you have or who you are, it solely relies on what you think, Buddha
“Whether you think you can, or you think you can’t–you’re right.” — Henry Ford
“Beliefs have the power to create and the power to destroy. Human beings have the awesome ability to take any experience of their lives and create a meaning that dis-empowers them or one that can literally save their lives.” — Tony Robbins
Take the case that where you are currently is the result of what you have believed to be true, the potential you have tapped and the actions you have taken or not taken.
Let’s break it down:
We all have limitless potential, what others call the ultimate potential. Put another way, we all have a life energy that we can direct into something. A power bursting through our veins and often used up in a series of mundane thoughts, busy activities and all the things you dedicate your time and attention to.
Simply put: “energy flows where attention goes”.
Beliefs can either be limiting or empowering you to tap into this energy.
Empowering beliefs often inspire and empower us to utilize our full energy to take sufficient actions. Beliefs like, “anything is possible”, “I can do it”, “I am worthy”, “I am enough” among others, are examples of empowering contexts to come from.
Some people succeed simply because they never have dis-empowering beliefs. These people would hit setbacks, yes, and often come back stronger without any dis-empowering thoughts.
Limiting beliefs hold you back from utilizing your energy fully.
For example, I have had the belief that I am not good enough for the longest time. Because of this belief, every time I took on a project, a dominant thought in the background of my “Yes, I can” was a “really?” In fact, sometimes, the dis-empowering thought would be silent for some time, then a few days later, a thought and two others begin to gang up on you. “Who do you think you are?” “Will you make it?” and several other statements from the limiting belief.
To some people, disempowering beliefs cripple them that they hardly get to make any meaningful steps in life, stuck in a cycle.
So, how do we form limiting beliefs?
First thing, it’s not your fault that you have a limiting belief. If you have some limiting belief, unless you get this, reading further will only trigger feelings of guilt, or self blame, which is the belief replaying itself in another form.
- Limiting beliefs come from our past upbringing and experiences. The stories we made from what happened to us from the past.
Somewhere in the past, something happened and you made a story out of it. The incident may have been painful or emotional in a way that your dominant story about it still carries the emotions.
- These stories replay themselves into decisions that we make, the amount of potential we tap into and the actions we take. As a loop, the results of your actions, fulfil the dominant thoughts you carried in the first place.
A major trap for most people and I have struggled with this one, is the thought that the present circumstances determines what I believe to be true about myself. In most cases, these circumstances are the product of the actions we took and did not take. This is the reality of what we have created. Such a connection creates the loop that strengthens the negative belief.
As you can see, the loop can be vicious and self defeating. In a way, you can see why some people will never be successful at what they try to do. Because the results are set even before they begin the game.
I have been in this situation too; as you may be at the moment. In such situations, life brings you painful experiences that are meant to point you to a different direction. From terrible breakdown in your relationship, a sudden health concern or a loss of a loved one, you jolt back to reality. telling ourselves things to make us feel good? telling ourselves things to make us feel good? telling ourselves things to make us feel good?
Often, for some, these moments comes with a window of opportunity to rethink and restart their life. If ever you get into such a moment, take the cue and begin working on transforming your limiting belief immediately.
When most people get into these terrible circumstances they go deeper into a trail of self blame, victim-hood and woe-be-me mentality. They question, look, and find quick fixes to solve the issues. The easier way out.
Rather than do this and call for more trouble in future, I invite you to look at the belief that you hold. The belief you hold could be sponsoring your current outcomes. And to nip it from the roots is to go right for the core belief.
Do not wait for the terrible life experience to happen as it did for me. Begin today to question your belief and begin transforming it today!
Finally, here is something for you to think about.
What do you believe to be true about yourself? Share with me in the comment section below!