by Donna Devane

Created on: December 25, 2008

Beliefs are much more than thoughts with which we direct our lives. Beliefs are self fulfilling prophecies, brought to life to give proof of the belief itself.

One of the most poignant stories I've read about on this involved a teacher who without her knowledge was told that certain students starting the new year in her class were above average and gave no trouble to teachers at all. This teacher firmly believed this to be so and planned her class around this assumption.

Unknown to her was the fact that all of these new students had been under achievers. As the school year progressed these students proved what wonderful students they were. Their grades and behavior were wonderful.

The real zap to this story is that the students were not aware of the experiment, nor was the teacher.
Simply by the teacher's strong belief that her students consistently made good grades and behaved in class she was able to create an energy which brought about that very thing.

This is not magic. It works all the time for everyone. Each of us has been told certain things about ourselves and the world which we have adopted as fact; truth even. Just as our common belief in physical things holding a solid shape brings about that very thing, so do our beliefs about ourselves.

Each of us is the product of beliefs, these beliefs are the foundation upon which we build our lives.

Some people manage to think and thus believe beyond limiting thoughts, transforming circumstances into success and happiness.

Others are so caught up in the cycle of strongly held beliefs which they prove to themselves as true over and over again, that they can't stop the process.

Beliefs are thoughts which have strong emotion attached to them. The emotion varies and includes shame, guilt, fear, hope, As long as strong emotion is generated by thoughts and actions, limits are reinforced making the belief that much stronger.

Breaking the cycle of limiting beliefs is done in degrees of understanding. Owning up to having the belief is the first step. Taking responsibility always brings about a degree of freedom. From there you can begin to reshape and transform beliefs that don't serve you by using them for contrast.

The process of contrast allows you to take what already exists and find the opposite of it which is generally what you are really seeking to begin with.

Many throughout time have overcome limiting beliefs and disapproval from family and friends ,going on to accomplish great and wonderful things. The key is realizing and taking responsibility for what you believe and working through it to find a truth that you can more successfully live with.

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