By Jinny Ditzler, co-founder Best Year Yet
Summarized--for full article go HERE
"Imagine that I’m there beside you and just told you that "Anything is Possible for YOU." How do you react? Do you say, "Wow – great news, Jinny! I’ve been waiting for someone to tell me that my whole life!"
That would be great, but if that isn’t your reaction, welcome to the human race!
We are so hard on ourselves, filled with negative beliefs, assumptions, thoughts, feelings and paradigms about what’s wrong with us or how we’re a victim of circumstances. And most of the time we’re unaware how the mindless self-talk is guiding – and limiting -- everything we do. In 30 years of coaching thousands of people, I’ve never met anyone without a Monkey Mind –
--that little voice that runs a constant commentary on what’s wrong with us and why we can’t get what we want and need in life. So, while the voice will always be there, you can keep it from controlling your life and the results you achieve...There was a lot of stuff in the middle that I cut out. Interesting but long!
...The good news is that shifting limiting beliefs is absolutely possible, and you can do it. It’s going to take some work to discover what your strongest ones are, but for a long time we have been using an 3-step exercise that works to generate a personal transformation for those who use it.
STEP 1 How do I limit myself?
Write a list of ways in which you limit yourself by things you do,
things you fail to do and ways you behave that don’t bring the results you want. You’re answering the question, How do I limit myself?
STEP 2 How do I explain my limitations?
Here you discover how you explain these behaviors – called your limiting beliefs. For example, imagine that one of your limitations is that you stay up too late at night, then don’t sleep well, then don’t wake up refreshed. What do you say to yourself to explain this behavior? Perhaps something like it’s the only time I have to myself, I’m a night person, I can’t get it all done unless I stay up late, I’m not very efficient… Given that the result you want is to feel healthy and well rested, doing a great job every day as a result, what chance to you have to achieve that result, given these limiting beliefs.
STEP 3 How can I stop limiting myself?
Create a new positive belief or paradigm – one that describes the new reality for you – the way YOU want it to be. I’m achieving amazing results everywhere I go! Or I make the right choices! These new beliefs guide you to be the person you want to be – and give you a place to shift your focus when the Monkey Mind pops up."
I want to challenge you to do this exercise. It only takes a few minutes, or it can take as long as you wish. I did it in relation to losing weight and being healthier, but it can work for any area of your life that you have set limitations for yourself. If you feel like sharing, post it on your blog and post a comment letting me know. I would love to see what you come up with. If you don't blog and want to share, you can email it to me (forloveoffood@hotmail.com) and I will post it here.
Here is what I came up with for me that I'm willing to share :) The limitations are in the same order as the explanations that I use for them.
Step 1:
--I don't run when I should
--I don't get enough sleep
--I eat whatever I want whenever I want
--I don't always plan healthy well balanced meals
Step 2:
--It is too cold out to run, or I should not run in the dark by myself. I can always run tomorrow. My running clothes are dirty.
--Late at night it the only time I have to spend with my husband and we can watch what we want on tv since the kids are asleep.
--Diets don't work anyway, and I'm going to get serious about eating healthy tomorrow--or when we get the next paycheck to go shopping. Eating healthy can be so expensive with all the fresh veggies and stuff. Half of mine go bad before I get to use them.
--I'm tired of fighting with the kids to get them to eat. They just want mac and cheese and pb & j (which is easy!), so let's eat that tonight.
Step 3:
This one was a lot harder for me simply because my monkey mind tells me, "I did it before, so I can do it again. But you didn't stick to it. You reached your goal and then went back to doing whatever you wanted again. Even if you do run regularly, eat sensibly healthy foods and lose the weight again, you will probably gain it all back again."
See, I think I'm half way there. I just need to focus on the "I did it before." End of sentence. I can do it again. I like healthy foods. I love the way I feel after a run. I do have a healthy, strong body capable of doing what I'm asking of it.
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