Using Affirmations to Change Limiting Beliefs

Affirmations are frequently used to help people achieve goals. Using them to change limiting beliefs can be like adding rocket fuel to this process.

Our conscious mind is only aware of a small portion of what is really happening at any time. Our subconscious mind decides what to allow into our awareness based on our beliefs. Since our beliefs effect what we are and are not aware of, they create our sense of reality.

Our limiting beliefs actually keep events, possibilities, and options outside those beliefs from entering our awareness. They also tend to cause more of the things that validate the limiting belief to enter our awareness.

Changing those limiting beliefs will help cause more unnoticed and empowering possibilities, options, and events to enter our awareness.

Here are some simple steps you can use to find limiting beliefs, and then create affirmations to help change them.

Step 1

Write down a list of beliefs about yourself, and who you are. Beliefs about your identity often start with the words, "I am." Try to write down 20 or more of these belief statements, but make sure to get at least 10.

Examples:

* I am a teacher.
* I am a happy person.
* I am a porcupine.
* I am a fast driver.
* I am healthy.
* I am independent.

Step 2

Write down a list of beliefs about other people. Try to get 20 or more, but make sure to write down at least 10.

Examples:

* People are caring.
* People are greedy.
* People don't like me.
* People are mean.

Step 3

Write down a list of beliefs about the gender you are attracted to, and your ability to attract them. Shoot for 20 or more, but make sure to write down at least 10. Examples:

* Men aren't they aren't attracted to me because I'm too plain, fat, loud, or pushy.
* Women aren't aren't attracted to me because I'm too bald, fat, broke, short, timid, or geeky.

Step 4

Write down your beliefs about life. Try to get 20 or more, but write down at least 10.

Step 5

Write down your beliefs about money, material abundance, and your ability to get what you want. Try to get 20 or more, but write down at least 10.

Step 6

Write down your beliefs about any other topic that is relevant to your present situation, want, or need.

Step 7

Go through your list of beliefs, and mark the ones that seem to be limiting in some way.

Step 8

On a separate sheet of paper, write down each of the limiting beliefs you identified one at a time. Just below the limiting belief, write down what you want be true instead of what you believe to be true.

As you do this step, make sure the things you are writing down that you want to be true are reasonably safe, legal, and ethical.

Step 9

Out of your list of limiting beliefs, mark the ten that are causing you the most trouble.

Step 10

On an index card, write down what you wanted to be true for each of the limiting beliefs that you marked. Make sure the statement is positive, focusing on what you want rather than what you don't want. Also make sure the statement is in the present tense.

Examples:

* Instead of saying "I am not dumb," say, "I am brilliant."
* Instead of saying "I will be rich," say, "I am rich."

This is the general format format for effective affirmations.

Step 11

For at least the next 30 days, read the affirmations on your index card out loud when you first wake up in the morning, and when you go to bed at night.