Coach Sharon's Newsletters for 2010

What Are Your Beliefs?

I stumbled and fell down a few steps this week. Aside from a massively bruised pride, I suffered a severely sprained ankle, a solid bruise on one forearm, and two slightly strained wrists. Two days after the mishap, I posted the following status on Facebook: "I am a dancer. I move with ease and strength at all times. Just not on crutches." How fascinating!

No, no, no. I do not think that my inept handling of crutches is fascinating -- I find my willingness to accept my belief in that ineptitude fascinating. I am a strong, capable person, and naturally assume competency in many physical pursuits. I heal easily and quickly, and am naturally athletic. Why was I willing to believe this inadequacy of myself? Because every time I used them I was in pain? Because I found keeping my balance difficult? Because my husband finds them easy and natural to use?

By Saturday, the crutches were easy to use. The change was due to nearly 48 hours of enforced rest, trying to get my ankle to get better in two days instead of the forecasted four to six weeks (my personal forecast remains two to four weeks). In the short span of time, my wrists had healed, and it was no longer excrutiating to use the crutches. Why was I so willing to believe I couldn't? What other, equally incorrect beliefs do I hold about myself?

How about you? What do you believe about yourself? What do you believe you can't or will never do just because you have a belief that it is impossible? How do you change this?

I suppose that I should also ask whether or not I should change my beliefs about myself. After all, these beliefs are there because of reality, aren't they? A week ago, I would have said yes without hesitation, but this whole crutches incident has me wondering. After all, I also have stated: "I heal quickly and easily" That is a belief. "I move with ease and strength at all times." That is a belief. It is also my reality. But, that reality is framed by and created by my beliefs.

The new age pundits, and a number of physicists, would argue that I can change my entire world simply by changing my beliefs. Well, that simply isn't as easy as it sounds. As I said before, beliefs are based on reality. However, what if a belief is exposed as untrue? What then? Do I continue to believe, knowing that somewhere in the back of my mind, I know I'm perpetuating a falsehood? Or do I allow myself to examine that belief and decide if it still fits in my reality?

And this is the point of this newsletter. Are you willing to examine your beliefs and decide which still serve you and the successful living of your life, and decide which do not?

It's hard to pinpoint where "reality" leaves off and "beliefs" set in.

So, I stopped and took a look at some of my recent Facebook status updates. After all, it was one of them that started this train of thought. Reading them, I discovered a woman who loves her job, her clients, her family and her life. These are all true statements about me, and it was very satisfying to see that these public statements were congruent with my expectations (beliefs).

I then started listing everything I "know" about myself. Here's where the beliefs became very obvious. There are things I "know" about myself that others would disagree with. For example, I am an introvert, or at least I see myself as one. Most who know me would snort in derision, and would point to my gregarious personality and absolute lack of fear in most public situations.

But then, when presented with the definition of an introvert as someone who needs time to themselves to recharge, or as someone who is completely comfortable alone, they then concede that I do fit that definition. They then happily announce that I am the most outgoing introvert they've ever met. I still believe I am an introvert.

So how about you? Are you smart? Funny? Athletic? Good at Math? A loving parent? Musical? Skilled at learning new technology? Intellectually gifted? A great knitter, but a seamstress? Are these beliefs or reality?

Which do you want to change? Which do you want to change?

I've decided that a belief is something I can change about myself. So, it is easy for me to accept that I can continue to grow and learn for the rest of my life. It is also easy for me to accept that I will never be an Olympic gymnast -- simply because this is something I can not change.

So, I'm going to start a list of everything I am good at, everything I wish I was good at, everything I am not so good at.... Well, you get the picture. Then, I'm going to decide which beliefs serve my best and highest interest, and which simply keep me from exploring my potential. What I do next will be a great adventure.

How about you? Does this sound like something you'd like to try for yourself? Start small. Find one thing you believe about yourself that you'd like to change. Then start actively making those changes and noting their effects. Within a month, you'll have a new belief. And a new reality.

Allow yourself to be patient and to be true to yourself. Remember to take at least five minutes every day to simply be by yourself and breathe. Allow yourself to indulge in a moment of thought, reflection, and planning when the mood strikes. It's your life, your choice. Allow yourself to simply succeed on your own terms, to live in peace, abundance, and joy. One day, one decision at a time, remaining aware of your choices and your feelings. You CAN get there.

And, as always, if you need help, I'm available. It's what I do, and it's what I love to do.

Sharon.

Hypnotherapy can help you to think healthier, happier, and more successful thoughts while adding the power of relaxation to your life. As you go through your day, you feel better and perform better.

Contact us to learn more about how hypnotherapy can you propel you toward a healthier, happier lifestyle.

Hypnosis or Hypnotherapy, in any form, does not diagnose, treat or cure mental or emotional problems, and is not a substitute for other professional help.