When we are young, our beliefs are formed through our relationships – our parents, teachers, coaches and community.  These adults, to varying degrees, shaped our lives, and influenced our values, beliefs and attitudes. But now as adults, we can look back and see if these beliefs and values truly align with our own. Moreover, when put under a lens – do they make us feel better or worse about ourselves, do they hold us back or push us forward?
 
I grew up with the belief that “if you’re going to do something, do it right or don’t do it at all”.  I heard this repeatedly growing up from my Mom.  This belief was my Moms.  She was always a very hard worker, holding down several jobs at the same time, and always taking pride in having a meticulously clean home.  However, this belief in my mind translated to perfectionism and in turn caused procrastination on anything and everything I found difficult.  I had the attitude that if I can’t do a project or assignment to a high standard, I should not start at all.  This spiraled to negative thoughts - believing that maybe I was just lazy, and not smart enough. It drove self-doubt and a lack of self-worth.
 
"If you accept a limiting belief, then it will become a truth for you" - Louise Hay

Once I sat down and analysed my belief system, I began to question whether some of my beliefs and attitudes were my own, or were they the beliefs of others that I had simply absorbed or taken on during my early years. The question I asked myself was did these beliefs still represent who I was or wanted to be and did they help me, and push me forward? I began to let go the fear of failing. I stopped putting things off – I either did something it let it go.
 
Here is a powerful exercise that I have used, created by Jack Canfield to help transform any limiting belief into empowering ones.

• Identify a limiting belief that you want to change or make a list of them if you have many.
  • Example: “I need to do it right or don’t do it all”
• Determine how the belief limits you.
  • Example: “I procrastinate and don’t start at all”
• Decide how you want to be, act or feel.
  • Example: “I will learn from doing even if it’s not perfect”
• Create a turnaround statement that affirms or gives you permission to be, act, or feel this new way.
  • Example: “I can do many things right and each time I do something new, I will learn from it and grow”.

 
““Failing forward” is the ability to get back up after you’ve been knocked down, learn from your mistake, and move forward in a better direction.” – John Maxwell
 
It’s time to challenge those beliefs – sort out the old from the new, the empowering from the limiting.  We need to go within to ask ourselves who we really are, otherwise we will continue to live our lives living the way others want us to live and be. Whether, like it was for me, procrastination holds you back, or it’s fear of failure, or some other limiting belief – use this exercise to transform your belief from limiting to powerful beliefs that carry you forward.

You are the designer of your own life!

If you would like help in applying this to your life, personal or business - please click here to book in a complimentary call with me Schedule-A-Call

Please feel free to share your comments and feedback.

[email protected]   
www.ki4life.com

2017 was a year I will never forget, although parts of it, I wish I could.  I’m forever changed from it but it was a year that made me feel emotional pain like nothing I’ve felt before with the loss of my Mom, father-in-law and Uncle. Grief is not something that can be rushed, ignored, hidden or dismissed. It’s something I have to endure, feel and express until time makes it less so.

“Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today, and creates a vision for tomorrow” – Melody Beattie
  
It was also a year of feeling very grateful, being surrounded by a loving husband, family and friends. We helped each other through the good times, sad times, and everything in between this year. I know how very blessed I am, and very proud of my 3 kids for their resilience and strength. They lived their entire lives in the US, moving to Ireland, leaving all they’ve known behind this year. Each of them graduated from their respective schools, (Elementary, High School and College).  
 
It was a year for so many changes, some not expected or even wanted but all of them have changed me and helped me grow as a person. I recognise I am a lot stronger, capable and resilient than I ever believed myself to be. The Universe provided so many opportunities to learn, to realise that I had to let go of, or move away from, relationships that only took and seldom gave.
 
Questions to ask yourself, looking back at your 2017:

•  What lessons, on reflection did I learn from the events of 2017?
• Did the conflicts I encountered provide any underlining meaning that I missed at the time?
• Were there opportunities to change that I resisted – what did I fear would happen that caused me to resist?

 
The lessons I learned will help me grow as a person, and enhance my skills as a Coach. Change is something we’re not always in control of or always want, but change is a constant. Everything that happens to us, happens to us for a reason. These are our life lessons, and they represent an opportunity for us to learn. I look forward to 2018, and turning challenges into opportunities, ready to be more nurturing, loving, understanding and accepting of myself.
 
What are you reflective of, and what learning do you take into 2018?
 
Please feel free to share and comment below.
 
If you would like help in applying this to your life, personal or business - please click here to book in a complimentary call with me Schedule-A-Call
 
Rachel@ki4life 
www.ki4life.com