Limiting Systems of Belief
Nothing throws a proverbial wrench into the proverbial gears of manifesting your dreams like limiting systems of belief. In order to make your dreams come true, you have to believe that they can come true. Yet, so many of us have these sneaky little doubts about actually being able to live out our dreams. So where do these beliefs come from?
Ironically, this negative programming often comes from well-meaning parents. In an attempt to convince their children to seek out financially stable employment, parents often turn a deaf ear to a child’s true passions. Their own fear of financial instability distorts their ability to see, hear, and support the dreams of their child. There are exceptions to this, of course, but even these individuals can be adversely affected by a well-meaning mentor or teacher. Or often, children with programmed limited systems of belief will parrot the values of their own parents, and a child can receive these messages from their peers in school. Later in life, we can be subject to the same reinforcement of negative programming in the workplace.
So how do we reverse a lifetime of negative brainwashing? (Yes, with positive brainwashing, but there are some steps to do first.)
Write down each of your fear-based limited beliefs in one column
Next to each limited belief, write down the origin of that belief. Was it your parents? A mentor or teacher? Peers? A romantic partner?
In the next column, reflect on the reason this person reinforced this belief in you. Was it their own personal fear? Did they have your best interest at heart? Usually it was not an act of pure evil, and we don’t want to get weighed down by resentment.
Now comes the positive brainwashing. Turn the limited belief around into a positive affirmation, using “I am…“ for example, if your limited belief is “I can never make a living as a musician,” turn that into “I am able to support myself as a musician.”
Recite these affirmations in the morning, as a positive way to start your day.
When doubts creep in, say to yourself, “this is negative programming given to me by my parent/teacher/friend/partner. It is not real. I am…” and repeat your affirmations.
Don’t give up! A lifetime of programming is not easily turned around. But it can be done.
So, remember that your limiting systems of belief are not really yours. They were given to you, and they are not real. By turning them into positive affirmations, you can reprogram yourself, setting you on your way to manifesting your dreams.
Until next time
Scott and Lennart