Beliefs that hold us back/Getting to know yourself series

Beliefs that hold us back/Getting to know yourself series

We often don't know ourselves, making it difficult to determine what we want from life. We can also want goods that others want yet believe we need them. It is critical to understand our true essence, which we naturally gravitate toward. It is easier, but yet challenging, to maintain what society expects of you and to fit in yourself. The learnt adaptations are not bad or good; they are there to help you decide what type of person you want to be. To begin building that new destined or ideal existence, it is a good idea to evaluate your fundamentals. 

Ask these questions as deeply as you can now, and then revisit them a few months later to determine if they are still true for you. Repetition is essential for staying in your element and being your best.

Before we get into anything major, let's start with our fundamental beliefs, and I don't mean religion in this context. What is belief or believing? The general definition of believing it is to have confidence in the truth.We frequently believe that our beliefs are fixed and cannot be changed, however your belief systems were formed by the truth you told yourself in the moment, and you created a pattern and confirmation for this idea. That is where your belief came true for you, but what if some of the ideas you developed over the years no longer serve you and are holding you back? So, suppose we have a problem that has been going on for a while and you are tired of it. Example below:

 

”I don't find motivation to do anything I like.”

There are many hidden elements in this example, so let's start by opening it up step by step.

 

Is this an emotional or practical belief? Where could it come from?

As we can see, it is more of an emotional response caused by placing a lot of pressure on yourself to fail to do things you planned in your thoughts but didn't accomplish, which has most likely happened several times and makes you feel horrible about it. You've formed a genuine belief about yourself, and it's now preventing you from doing the activities you enjoy. Remember that your brain listens to what you say.

 

What facts support this belief?

Find scenarios from your own life. Example: 

"After work, I would lie in bed and wonder why I hadn't done anything other than eating."

You now believe that you are lazy and have no life outside of work. There are several concerns here, but let us focus on the fundamental idea. Let's look at what laziness really is. Unwilling to work or use energy. The good news is that we have a choice; the “bad news” is that we must act. Let's also consider the fact that we work 5 days a week and spend the most of our time there, which I'm guessing isn't your ideal job or something that gives you energy. Also, after dining for an hour or two, it's natural to want to rest because our minds and bodies require it. There are more possibilities from here, but let's stick with that one for now. We've broken down the problem, and now we're going to challenge it.

 

What is the opposite of this belief?

"I find motivation in everything I do."

Doesn't it already sound better? If we said that instead, we would accomplish more, right? So clear, but we don't believe it now. Even if we write the opposite, we must discover the truth in it.  

A quick notion for your mind. "I do it, I don't wait, motivation finds me." Redefining motivation can also help us use it to our advantage. Instead of waiting and searching for motivation, go look for it in what you do.

 

What activities must I take to make this a reality? 

You need to be specific about the time and day you will do it. I recommend adding it to your calendar or writing it in your notepad. Measurable goals are easy to track and provide a sense of accomplishment since you can see progress. Example: 

My goal is to draw for 10 minutes every day after work.

Monday at 8 p.m., I draw for ten minutes.

Everyday at 8pm, I draw for 10 minutes.

 

It's also a good idea to set alarms for this time to ensure you get up and do it. 

 

What are the resources and methods I can use to support this action? 

That is what can support and encourage your mind and the beliefs it contains. We need to find a way to support ourselves. Let's imagine you want to sketch more but are exhausted from work. We need to find things that encourage you. Example: 

After work, I take cold showers to refresh my body and mind.

OR

After work, I eat, take a 10-minute break, and make my favorite drink.

 

Adding extra tiny things to your day can help you because your work does not do it for you at the end of the day, therefore you need something to recharge you. It's also a good idea to start with simple goals that appear achievable. Imagine you had a daily battery and the most of it is spent at work or scrolling around social media. If we don't have anything that thrills or benefits us, we won't do anything we enjoy. Finally, we all want to live a life worth remembering. 

We've just touched on a few of the ways we might help ourselves make better sense of ourselves.  I'd like to point out that there were many more factors to consider, so stay tuned for additional sections we'll discuss so you can live an enjoyable and interesting life. 

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