Great Health Guide

THE POWER OF BELIEF

- Terry Sidford

Our beliefs affect our perception of life

Belief is an acceptance that a statement is true or that something exists. Synonyms are trust, faith, reliance and credence. How often do we stop and consider the thousands of thoughts running through our heads every hour? Do we believe in all of them and why? Unfortunat­ely, many beliefs come from centuries-old cultural beliefs, societies, religions and families. We pick them up from a young age and I believe, even exist in our DNA. Some beliefs come from the truth, the core of who we are and some are picked up from others, but we able to change them. Our beliefs allow us to accomplish great things but also hold us back from ever achieving what we are capable of in life. A transforma­tion is created when we choose what we believe from good and reliable sources instead of being affected by unknown beliefs. Think about a tree and how many times you have looked at it as tall, broad and robust. What if you were in a helicopter looking down on the same tree? What would you see then? Do you see a smaller, narrow, shorter tree now? This is why we all have different perception­s and beliefs because we look at beliefs from different aspects.

Our beliefs all depend on what we have learned and viewed life from our own unique experience­s. We all have different views depending on how we have interprete­d those life experience­s. If you grew up with abusive parents, you might believe families are hurtful and unloving. If you do not challenge this belief, you will never be able to see your current life and family for whom they are in the present time as loving, caring and supportive. To change self-limiting thoughts, be aware of your mental story or the movie that plays automatica­lly in your mind without inspection. When you recognize it as an old story or habit, replace it with an affirmativ­e thought that cancels out the old belief. The key is to believe that the new affirmatio­n is true. Take time to be aware of the thoughts that arise as you begin to replace old beliefs. Use the affirmatio­ns daily until there are no longer counter thoughts, telling you not to believe the new thoughts.

A thought is harmless unless we believe it.

It's not our thoughts, but our attachment to our thoughts, that causes suffering.

Keep a journal of old beliefs and what thought you replaced that belief with. Take a few minutes in the morning to visualize your new belief and notice how it feels. This will anchor into your mind and body.

HERE’S A SUMMARY OF HOW TO CHALLENGE LIMITING BELIEFS?

1. Start by writing out beliefs that are limiting in your life now. 2. Take each limiting belief and ask the questions that author Byron Katie suggests in her book, The Work. • Is it true? • Can you absolutely know that it’s true? • Whom would you be without this belief? 3. Look at your answers and decide which beliefs are not serving you and replace them with thoughts that will benefit you the most and do the most good. 4. Be aware of what thoughts go through your head 5. Visualise yourself with the new belief. 6. Write down how this makes you feel. 7. Be patient, since limiting beliefs are habits and can take time to change.

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