If you’ve been struggling to feel more confident, more optimistic, or anything of the sort, the problem might just stem from your core beliefs. More specifically, your beliefs about yourself, life, other people, etc. However, limiting beliefs don’t have to be set in stone. They’re subject to change as you work through them. Rewiring your brain may sound like a daunting task, but it doesn’t have to be. Today’s post is all about a simple yet powerful tool that you can use to develop a positive belief system. So, let’s dive in!
No matter what beliefs have been hindering you, the technique for reversing them that I recommend is the same—collect evidence in support of opposing beliefs. For instance, if you’ve been operating from the belief that you’re not capable of succeeding, the key to changing that belief is collecting evidence that you are capable. Some of the best evidence comes from times you’ve succeeded in the past. Even if those successes seem small, they add up more than you might think. Each past success of yours demonstrates different qualities that you channeled to attain it. All of them put together provide a glimpse into how much you’re capable of, though they certainly don’t paint the full picture.
While, of course, you can find examples of times you didn’t succeed, the point here is to shift your focus to the examples of times you did. The things you choose to direct your attention to most often are naturally the things that shape your core beliefs. So, if all it takes to believe in yourself more is to direct your attention to your past successes, positive qualities, etc., that’s a pretty reasonable ask, right? It’s all about retraining your brain to follow more constructive trains of thought.
In another example, say you have the belief that life is bad. There’s a good chance that this belief stems from bad things that have happened in your life. As valid as that reasoning may be, our bad experiences are just that—bad experiences. While they can shape us in meaningful ways, they don’t need to define our lives. Of course, in the midst of an especially hard time, it’s completely normal to have a jaded view of life as a whole. At the same time, a big part of pushing your way through it is slowly shifting your mindset. Examples of this might sound like:
“I believe there’s beauty to be found in my life on the other side of this time.”
“I believe there’s something meaningful to be found within this time of my life.”
“Deep down, I know that the way I feel now can’t last forever.”
“I love myself so much that I will push through this time to bring myself to better times.”
A great way to believe these statements to your core is to reflect on evidence of their truthfulness. Reflect on past examples of beauty after (and even within) darkness; of hard times not lasting forever; of self-love paying off.
Even if you’re struggling to find past evidence of the belief you’re trying to develop, you can create present and future evidence. Looking to believe in your success? Give yourself a reason to believe in it by succeeding in present day, even if it’s a small success. Make it your mission to prove your limiting beliefs wrong. Even if you fail at your first attempt, the way you proceed from that failure can make all the difference in your beliefs. If you don’t give yourself more opportunities to succeed, you’ll remain a nonbeliever of your success. If you continue trying until you succeed, you’ll see yourself in a whole new light for the better. Not only will you believe in your success, but you’ll see yourself as perseverant, strong, courageous, etc. That’s how much influence your everyday decisions have on your core beliefs about yourself and your life!
All of this to say, creating a healthier belief system isn’t a matter of convincing yourself of anything. (My post Is it the Right Decision? Ask Yourself This Question lays out the key distinctions between convincing vs. reminding). It’s a matter of redirecting your thoughts, energy, and actions toward data that supports this belief system. Find evidence in your past, AND create new evidence in your present and future, of whatever you’d rather believe. You’ll be amazed at how quickly it all adds up!