DARE TO BE DIFFERENT!

It’s so easy to get stuck in a rut. Repeating the same patterns day after day, year after year. Joe Dispenza talks about how we are so used to living in the past. Our expectations of outcome are based on past experience. How we  prepare ourselves for a predetermined outcome before an event has even taken place. And when we do this, we limit the infinite, wondrous possible alternative outcomes!
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“When you think from your past memories, you can only create past experiences. As all of the “knowns” in your life cause your brain to think and feel in familiar ways, thus creating knowable outcomes, you continually reaffirm your life as you know it. And since your brain is equal to your environment, then each morning, your senses plug you into the same reality and initiate the same stream of consciousness” - Dr. Joe Dispenza

Imagine if you could start each day with an open mind and heart. What could this day bring? What if you began your day with anticipation for what MIGHT happen as opposed to what you think will happen? 

I always love seeing someone dressed in bright colours, dressed in a way that’s joyful, kooky and creative, not self-conscious, not worried about what someone else might think. And I bet you see people that make you smile, whether it’s through their clothes, their adventurous nature or their attitude to life. And what thoughts run through your head when you see this exciting person?

‘Oh! I could never do...’, or ‘Oh! I could never wear…’,  or ‘I could never go to…’ to which I shout, “WHY NOT?!” And don’t get me started on the ‘I’m not… clever enough, talented enough, tall enough, short enough, rich enough! 

It is so easy to pigeonhole ourselves with our own limiting beliefs. When we repeat the same narrative over and over again we come to believe it as true. Now, these beliefs may have developed through personal experience (it’s happened once before therefore it must be true). Maybe we have come to adopt beliefs passed down through the generations , ‘Well, Bob has always been shy’, ‘No, we don’t like...’. Or maybe we have changed our beliefs to fit into a social circle. There are many ways in which we come to hold an opinion/view of ourselves, but I would hasten to bet, many if not most of your beliefs are not necessarily a reflection of your true self. 

Remember, WE ARE ALL ENOUGH! We have within us a universe of potential, we just need to believe it. We just need to not overthink it. We just need to jump into it! We just need to DO IT. Let’s challenge these limiting beliefs. Let’s move out of our comfort zone and try something new! Let’s dare to be different!  

Here are some easy exercises to help overcome your limiting beliefs:

1. Identify what’s holding you back - what limiting belief is hindering your happiness?
   1. Write each one down (you may have more than one!) 
2. Understand that it is just a belief and you can change the way you see yourself.
3. Challenge the belief - question it. 
   1. Where did it come from? Are there any facts/evidence to support it? • Did I always think that way? If not, what has changed? How would I think about this belief if I were someone else (Eg. An entrepreneur, a doctor etc.)?
4. What are the consequences of holding on to this limiting belief? 
   1. Is it stopping you living your fullest life? Experiencing all the things you’d like to do?
5. Decide to adopt a new belief
   1. This may sound simplistic, but like cognitive behavioural therapy, it’s based on rewiring our conditioned thought patterns. Yes, it’s hard to do, but with time, patience and consistency it is doable.
6. ​Practice, Practice, Practice
   1. Repeat your new, positive belief, and put it into practice. Make changes to support your new, positive belief. For example, if your limiting belief told you that you were "too old to start exercising", instead start to adopt an "It is never too late to start" belief and then, today, go for a 15-minute walk to start exercising and create a habit from there.

When you wake up tomorrow, wake with the knowledge that anything is possible. Wake with the knowledge that you are in control of your thoughts. Wake with the knowledge that you can be whoever you want to be (not who you think you are) Wake with the knowledge that you are enough.

And I would love to hear how you get on! Have a great July.
Lots of love, Zoë xx