What Are Beliefs?

Beliefs are built upon our deep level values.  Beliefs make up what we perceive as reality and they tend to operate behind the scenes at an unconscious level.  Like values, beliefs exist at the identity level.  They provide us with direction and meaning in life.  Beliefs are filters about the world we live in, the people in it, and ourselves.  Our beliefs, and the references that support them, provide continuity in life. 

Beliefs are also shortcuts for the brain.  They are generalizations based on our interpretations of past experiences.  Types of beliefs include beliefs about cause, meaning, and identity.  Our beliefs have the power to override the effects of drugs on our body.  People who believe they  Barriers to success in your life are probably the result of limiting or conflicting beliefs.

How Do Beliefs Work?

Beliefs are the on/off switch for our actions and therefore our results.  Whether you believe you can or cannot, you're right!  Beliefs can be empowering and support us in attaining goals and dreams and they can be limiting, holding us back from achieving our true potential.  If you want to achieve what you say you want in life, take conscious control of your beliefs.

Beliefs filter our experience.  Information contrary to what we believe is filtered (deleted, distorted, generalized) to match our expectation.  Beliefs are first distortions.  They are not necessarily the truth about how things are, and yet, beliefs create our reality.  Because we believe what we believe, we delete information that is contrary to our view of things.  We also tend to beleive that everyone else is operating on the same beliefs we hold to be true.  We are therefore, generalizing our beliefs to others.  As a result of these processes, whatever we believe is strengthened. We see our own beliefs represented and reinforced everywhere because we are sorting information through our own filters.  Beliefs become self-fulfilling prophecies.

If you have repeatedly attempted to make a particular change in your life and have fallen short, you may have been trying to make a change that was inconsistent with your beliefs about who you are and what is true and good.  

Exercise: Write at least 3 limiting beliefs about yourself.  

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How to Change Beliefs

All personal breakthroughs begin with a change in beliefs. Here is the FORMULA FOR CHANGE. 

Present State + Resources = Desired State/Behavior

The process is to:

1. Identify PRESENT STATE (what you don't want)
2. Identify the DESIRED STATE.
3. ELIMINATE INTERFERENCE
4. APPLY RESOURCES necessary to get from PRESENT to DESIRED state. 

What is Interference?

• Some part of person does NOT want change
• Person does not know HOW TO change
• Person has no CHANCE TO change

TO CHANGE YOU HAVE TO:

• Know how to do it
• BE congruent about your outcome
• Believe it is possible to change
• Make a decision
• Take immediate and decisive action

For specific Belief Change patterns, order the book, The Life Change Patterns of NLP by Bill Thomason or call 602 440-3578 Voice Mail or 602 321-7192 Cell Phone to schedule an appointment. Please note that there is seminar Conversational Belief Change coming up.  Click here for schedule.

Click here for book.

Bill Thomason

Your NLP Success Coach

and Certified NLP Trainer

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